Whether you’re crafting your next novel, writing short stories, or just exploring your creative side, having the right tools can make all the difference. From overcoming writer’s block to perfecting your prose, the internet offers a treasure trove of free resources for creative writers.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into 29 free online tools (no fee!) that can facilitate your writing process and help you produce your best work.
We’ve even grouped these tools into the following categories: Brainstorming and Idea Generation, Writing Prompts and Inspiration, Distraction-Free Writing, Mind-Mapping Tools, Character Development Tools, Name Generators, Plot and Story Structure Tools, World-Building Tools, Grammar, Word Count and Goal Tracking, Editing and Proofreading, Thesaurus and Synonym Finders, Visual Inspiration and Image Tools, and lastly, Self-Publishing Tools.
Let’s get started!
Disclosure: If you sign up for a paid subscription to any of the following free tools, we may receive a bonus at no expense to you.
Disclaimer: Do you due diligence when downloading any software to your electronic devices.
Brainstorming and Idea Generation
Reedsy Plot Generator
Need help with story ideas? Reedsy’s Plot Generator offers a quick spark of inspiration with random plot suggestions. You can choose from different genres like romance, mystery, or fantasy, making it easier to find a prompt that excites you.
Plot Generator
The Plot Generator on Plot-Generator.org.uk is a versatile tool that helps creative writers quickly generate story ideas across various genres, including romance, sci-fi, mystery, and more. It offers customizable fields where you can input specific details like character names, settings, and key plot points, or let the tool randomly generate them for you. This tool is perfect for overcoming writer’s block or just for fun, providing a jumping-off point for new stories.
Writing Prompts and Inspiration
Writing Prompts on Reddit
The Writing Prompts subreddit is a community-driven source of endless inspiration. With daily prompts ranging from simple concepts to elaborate scenarios, it’s a fantastic resource for sparking new ideas and challenging your creativity.
Squibler’s Writing Prompts
Squibler offers a variety of prompts, including genres like horror, romance, and sci-fi. You can filter prompts based on your interests or current project needs, making it easier to find the right inspiration.
Writing and Note-Taking Platforms
Google Docs
Google Docs is a reliable, accessible writing platform that offers real-time collaboration. It makes it easy to share your work with beta readers or co-writers. It automatically saves your work in the cloud, so you can access your projects from any device without worrying about losing your progress.
For easy use, we recommend signing up for a Gmail account.
Evernote
Evernote is perfect for organizing notes, ideas, and research. You can create notebooks, clip web articles, and even record audio notes, making it a versatile tool for writers who like to keep everything in one place.
Distraction-Free Writing
FocusWriter
FocusWriter provides a clean, distraction-free environment tailored for writers who want to immerse themselves in their work. With customizable backgrounds, typewriter sound effects, and goal-tracking features, it helps you stay focused and productive.
Honestly, this website looks a little old-school, but don’t let that frighten you if you’re looking for a simple document space to work from.
Calmly Writer
Calmly Writer takes a minimalist approach to word processing, offering a simple interface that reduces distractions. It’s perfect for writers overwhelmed by too many editing options and want to simply write.
Mind Mapping Tools
MindMeister
MindMeister lets you visualize your story structure, plot lines, and character arcs. It’s an intuitive tool for creative writers who prefer a visual approach to organizing their thoughts and ideas, making it easier to see the big picture of your story.
On their Free Account, you can create up to 3 mind maps. This amount will help you decide if you like the tool enough for a paid subscription.
Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us offers a straightforward, user-friendly interface for creating mind maps. It’s great for brainstorming sessions, helping you connect ideas and build a cohesive narrative.
Related: Narrative Elements
Character Development Tools
Rangen’s Character Generator
Character Generator helps you create detailed profiles for your characters, complete with traits, backgrounds, and even visual appearances. It’s a great resource for writers who want to build rich, believable characters.
This is another old-school-looking website, but the generator functionality is really simple. It generates traits such as worldview, religion, quirks, and many more.
Campfire Write
Campfire Write is a comprehensive tool for creative writers that helps with character development, world-building, plot outlining, and more. It offers customizable templates for characters, allowing you to detail their traits, motivations, backstories, and relationships with other characters.
Name Generators
Fantasy Name Generators
This site offers an extensive collection of name generators for characters, places, and even fictional species. It’s a handy resource for fantasy writers looking to find the perfect names without getting bogged down in the details.
Behind the Name
Behind the Name provides authentic names along with their meanings and origins, making it a great tool for writers who want to add depth and significance to their characters’ names.
Plot and Story Structure Tools
Plot Factory
Plot Factory offers a comprehensive suite for planning plots, developing characters, and structuring stories. It’s an excellent tool for writers who want to keep all their plot points and character details in one place. This is super helpful, because we all know how disruptive it can be to flip back and forth in a binder or journal looking for plot nuances while writing.
World-Building Tools
World Anvil
For fantasy and sci-fi writers, World Anvil is a must-have. It helps you create detailed worlds with maps, timelines, and character backstories. It’s perfect for organizing complex settings and keeping your world-building consistent.
Related: How to Create a Fantasy World
Notebook.ai
Notebook.ai is a versatile world-building tool that offers templates for characters, locations, and items. It’s designed to keep your fictional world organized, with everything from geography to magic systems in one accessible place.
Word Count and Goal Tracking
Pacemaker
Pacemaker helps you set and track writing goals, whether aiming for a daily word count or completing a project by a specific date. It’s a great motivational tool for writers who like to see their progress.
WordCounter.net
WordCounter.net is a simple tool that tracks your word count, writing pace, and even keyword usage. It’s a straightforward way to monitor your productivity and ensure you’re meeting your writing goals.
Grammar, Editing and Proofreading
Grammarly
Grammarly is a popular writing assistant that goes beyond basic grammar checks. It provides suggestions for improving clarity, tone, and style, making it a perfect companion for creative writers. The free version includes grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks, helping you polish your work and catch errors you might otherwise miss.
Pro Tip: If you’re a student, educator, or self-employed, you can write a Grammarly Pro subscription off on your taxes (USA-only)
Hemingway Editor
Named after the famously concise writer, the Hemingway Editor focuses on readability. It highlights complex sentences, overuse of adverbs, and passive voice, encouraging you to write clear, strong, and engaging prose. It’s ideal for those looking to tighten their narrative style.
ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is an all-in-one tool that offers detailed reports on your writing style, grammar, and consistency. The free version provides essential editing features that can help elevate your work to a more professional level, making it invaluable for creative writers.
Slick Write
Slick Write helps improve your writing by analyzing grammar, potential stylistic mistakes, and other features of your text. Its real-time feedback can guide you in making immediate improvements to your draft.
Thesaurus and Synonym Finders
Thesaurus.com
Thesaurus.com is a classic tool for finding synonyms and antonyms, helping you diversify your vocabulary and avoid repetition. It’s a quick and easy resource for when you need the perfect word.
OneLook Thesaurus
OneLook Thesaurus allows you to search for words related to concepts rather than just synonyms. It’s perfect for when you know the feeling you want to convey but can’t quite find the right word.
Visual Inspiration and Image Tools
Unsplash
Unsplash offers an extensive library of high-quality, free images that can inspire your writing or serve as visuals for blog posts and social media. It’s great for when you need a little visual spark to get your creative juices flowing. Personally, I like to use images as writing prompts.
Canva
Canva is an easy-to-use tool that can help you create visuals, book covers, or social media graphics. Even with its free version, you can access many templates that add a professional touch to your writing projects.
Self-Publishing Tools
Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital simplifies formatting and distributing your eBook to major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books. It’s user-friendly, with intuitive tools that guide you through the self-publishing process.
Reedsy Book Editor
Reedsy’s Book Editor is a free tool for formatting your manuscript for publication. It’s designed to handle everything from chapter formatting to generating a professional-looking table of contents, making it a valuable resource for indie authors.
Conclusion
These 29 free online tools cover all aspects of the writing process, from brainstorming and drafting to editing and self-publishing. By incorporating these resources into your creative workflow, you can streamline your writing process, overcome obstacles, and bring your stories to life. So explore these tools—your next great writing adventure awaits!
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