When you ask UCWbL tutors which writing resources they turn to most often, most of them will respond with sites like the Purdue Owl or Grammar Girl. Both are excellent resources for grammar and citation rules, but sometimes sites like these don’t foster writing at its rawest purpose—a means of communicating ideas and expressing creativity. Luckily, the internet is a vast and wonderful place, and many more resources exist for writers looking for advice on everything from creative writing to the role that writing plays in the professional world. Here are a few of my favorites.
Maybe you’ve heard of Write or Die, an application that provides punishments when you don’t reach a predetermined word count, such as loud alarms or annoying notifications. But what if you want to be rewarded for achieving your word count instead? Written? Kitten! rewards writers with a picture of an adorable kitten for every 100, 200, 500, or 1000 words they reach. It’s an especially great tool for those of us who are suffering from pet withdrawal because we are broke and renting and have no place to keep our pets over winter break (definitely not talking about myself right now.)
Dear English Major is a great resource for anyone interested in a career in writing, not just those pursuing an English degree. This website interviews professionals from a wide range of careers who use writing on a daily basis, explaining how they arrived at their current position and the ways in which writing plays a role. The site is full of articles with plenty of other general writing advice as well, such as how to build a professional website and portfolio.
Hazel & Wren is a super cool website for creative writers, made up of a hodgepodge of everything from writing prompts to lit journal submission deadlines. Though the site is based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, writers from all over can appreciate the quirky selection of photographs and works of art chosen to serve as writing inspiration, the book reviews, the interviews with people involved in the publishing world, and the online open mics where writers can give and receive feedback on their work.
What is a writer if not someone who loves to read? Book Riot is a great blog for readers and writers alike who are interested in what’s going on in the literary world, or who are looking to hear from other book lovers. Blog posts are written by a varied staff and feature everything from silly lists, to book recommendations, to discussions about the literary world. It’s a cool site for anyone looking for a fun, casual way to stay up-to-date on the current literary happenings.
I hope you enjoyed browsing a few of my favorite non-school-related resources for writers. What are some of your favorite writing websites?
One reply on “Best Non-School Resources for Writers”
Awesome list! I have been an avid user of Written? Kitten! for the last year or so (anything that appeals to both my love for kittens and tendency to procrastinate is a win), but I hadn’t yet heard of Dear English Major. I can see myself spending a lot of time on this website in the future.