Tools and apps every writer should know about

Tools and apps every writer should know about

Writing is hard but writing well and consistently is even harder. Luckily, there's a lot of help available online -tools that can help remove blocks, help you pace yourself or even force yourself to continue writing say Hitesh Raj Bhagat & Karan Bajaj 

INTELLIGENT SPELLING & GRAMMAR CHECKS

One of the core tenets of good writing is text that is free from any spelling and grammatical errors. You may try all you want to minimise errors but sometimes, they'll still slip through. This is where digital tools -for intelligent spelling and grammar checks -can prove to be a boon. Most document editors can do basic spelling and grammar checks ­ however there are also some advanced applications you should see, such as Grammarly (w w w. g ra m m a rl y. c o m ), Hemingway editor (http:www.hemingwayapp.com) and Ginger (http:www.gingersoftware.com). All of these apps offer a free webbased online editor where you can check documents for errors. Hemingway shows you which sentences are hard to read and offers replacement options, but you have to manually make those changes. Grammarly and Ginger are much better: not only do they offer suggestions but also let you apply those suggestions with a single click. If you prefer an offline version, Grammarly offers a desktop app with limited functionality while the premium version is available on a subscription basis (US$29.95month).Hemingway offers a paid desktop app for US$9.99 while Ginger subscription plans start at US$8.30month. 

GETTING RID OF THE DREADED WRITER'S BLOCK 

Writers block is an issue that many writers face at some point. The reason for hitting a writers block could be anything and it's difficult to get out of the situation without any help. Some common ways that writers employ to remove the block include a change of location, going out for a walk or just brainstorming with a friend. If these don't work, you can try out a few apps to get your creative juices flowing. Unstuck (http:www.unstuck.com) acts as a digital coach that suggests tips and tricks to help you find a way out of any situation where you are stuck. Keep in mind that while the service offers a free app, you need to create an account to use it. A similar creative coach option is available with an app called Brainsparker (available for iOS & Android devices). It shows you a motivational prompt with a mix of trigger words, quotes, images, actions, and questions. This in turn triggers your brain to think differently which may help overcome the writers block.

An alternative method is to jot down your random thoughts and idea on paper and let an app organize them for you to draw inspiration. Apps such as Inflow visual notebook and Inspiration maps let you jot down your thoughts, organize them and then instantly let you add notes and diagrams to them later -you can use these notes later in case you get stuck somewhere. In addition to digital notes, the app lets you use your iOS device's camera to take pictures, import them and attach them as reminders or inspirational photos for a topic. 

MORE IDEAS AND INSPIRATION WITH IDEA GENERATORS

Sometimes, online services can be used to identify or even expand on a particular topic you have in mind. There is no harm in taking help from an online service in case you're seeing problems with getting the creative juices flowing. Hubspot has a blog topic generator on http:www.hubspot.com where you can just fill in topic keywords and it instantly generates topics on which you can start writing. Another resource, Wridea (http:www.wridea.com) lets you organize thoughts on a particular topic and then share them with friends and family for brainstorming -it offers various tools to help you expand a topic for in-depth discussion with others. For those who prefer a onestop solution, StoryToolz (http:storytoolz.com) offers various tools such as a story idea generator, a word count meter, half title generators as well as a readability analysis of your text on a single website.

TIMERS AND GOAL SETTING

If you need a simple, downloadable timer for Windows PCs, try FreeTimer (http:freetimersoftware.com). It's a lightweight (2.6MB) tool that shows remaining time as a c o l o u r e d s e c t i o n o f a c l o c k f a c e.TickTockTimer (http:ticktocktimer.com) is a free flash-based timer and Tomato Timer (http:tomato-timer.com) will give you three types of timers, keyboard shortcuts and notifications.

If you've taken any writing courses, you may have heard of the Pomodoro technique.This is a time-management trick created by Francesco Cirillo that uses a timer to break down your goals into bursts, each typically 25 minutes, separated by short breaks. The idea is that it gives your brain enough time to rest and helps you maximise agility, speed and effectiveness. You can also apply it to other tasks besides writing (like coding).You need to keep track of your pomodoros (or intervals) and take a longer break (15 to 20 minutes) after every four pomodoros. If you want to try this out, you can use a simple timer app like FreeTimer and go manual. Or, you could try something like Focus Booster (http:www.focusboosterapp.com) that integrates this technique. There's a free tier that includes 20 pomodoro sessions per month with a timer, time tracking and reports (to see how you've done at the end of the day).

Distraction-Free Writing

When you're sitting down to write, a quiet and distraction-free area can be a big help. Though sometimes, a computer screen is enough distraction in itself, not to mention the word processors that we use. If you want something basic, try CalmyWriter (http:www.calmlywriter.comonline) in a browser tab and go to full screen mode. You'll see nothing except a white screen and your text. Formatting options can appear if you select something and a hidden menu on the left lets you download your text, insert images or switch on focus mode (only the paragraph you're writing stays in focus).

Another favourite of ours is WritersBlock (http:www.writersblock.io) and they take a `forced' approach. You download it to your PC as a standalone program (no installation is needed) and you can set a goal like words typed or minutes. For instance, if you set a goal of 1,000 words, Writers Block will not quit until you have typed those 1,000 words. You only see a white screen and a draft of your work is automatically saved every 10 seconds.The free version is free forever but you can add more features, updates and soundtracks for either a one-time payment of $10 or $19.

And if these two don't work for you, you can try the very spiritual (but paid) Ommwriter (http:www.ommwriter.com). It is available for MAC, PC and iPad and they have a minimum price of $5.11. As always, there's a distraction free environment plus you can choose from multiple calming backgrounds, audio tracks and keystroke sounds. Some writers claim that hearing the sound of a keystroke (like a typewriter sound, for instance) provides more focus and helps get the job done faster.

AutoCrit ­ Get Your Text Critiqued

If you're interested in writing some short fiction, you can't be your own critic. If you need to get someone experienced to read and analyse your work, try a paid service called AutoCrit.There are three tiers available: $5, $8 and $12 per month (billed annually).This is a similar service that a book editor will provide but at a fraction of the cost. Within these three tiers, you can get 1,000, 8,000 or unlimited works analysed at a time. Their team of editors will highlight errors, repetition, boring sections and amateur writing.They can also compare your manuscript to published fiction.

Source | Economic Times | 20 April 2016

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Upcoming Event | National Conference on Future Librarianship: Innovation for Excellence (NCFL 2016) during April 22-23, 2016.

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