April 27, 2015
Deajei Neufeld and Jenna Mann
This three-part series will introduce resources for writers to facilitate their writing process. Whether you’re struggling with grammar, research, organization, character development or finding a like-minded proof-reader, having the right tools at your disposal can help to see your work from conception to completion with minimal friction.
Section one focuses on resources to help research and authenticate your writing. For writing to be believable it needs a solid foundation. Thoroughly researched projects make for more absorbing worlds. Incorrect information can take readers out of the moment, perhaps for a simple web search to check facts, leaving your work with a lack of credibility.
Authenticity is not just about writing what you know—it’s knowing enough about what you write.
These programs aim to help you stay on task while online. Whether the intention is creative, professional, or scholarly, sometimes writers lack a little self-control. If you’re like me and suffer from ADHD, keeping focused can be one of the biggest hurdles you will face as an author. Both apps work by cutting off access to the websites and internet programs that help us procrastinate. Once you activate the app, a clock is set forcing you to stay on task until it expires. Mac users can download and install Self-Control free of charge. Stay Focused is an extension for Google Chrome.
More tools to help you focus online can be found here.
These are a set of fairly simple extensions for Google Chrome users. Attach these apps your Chrome browser, highlight and right-click a word you’re unfamiliar with or want to substitute and Google will help out without losing your place in the text or opening another window. Alternatively, Chrome and Firefox users can get a similar program from Dictionary.com
Wolfram is a website or an extension for Google Chrome users. This website helps you do preliminary research as you go. The Wolfram extension is set up as a button beside your web bar that you can enter in topics that you’re unfamiliar with and it in turn provides you with systematic knowledge on the subject in a new tab. Wolfram can be a bit hit-and-miss but comes in handy if you need a timeline of World War II and the resulting death toll, the chemical composition of gasoline or other minute details on most subjects. If you’re looking for more extensive research, you could also check out the publications offered on Google Scholar, JSTOR or Project Muse.
Do you need first-hand knowledge of a subject, but don’t know where to look? Reddit’s large user base can probably help you in the initial stages of your research. If you want the latest information on futurology or the toxicology of the blue-ringed octopus you can find almost anything on what is popularly referred to as “the front page of the internet”. Some of the information provided is dubious, but a lot of users are ready to point you in the right direction. Registration is free and doesn’t require an email address. Be warned, however, redditors post an overabundance of mature and potentially offensive subject matter. Reddit has been known to distract for hours on end— but In the process you might learn something anyways. Still not sure what Reddit is or how to use it? For a more extensive explanation, check out YouTube user CGB Grey’s explanation here.
Writer’s Guide to Character Traits by Linda N. Edelstein
In the Age of Information, analog resources should not be overlooked. Character Traits functions as an encyclopaedia of human behaviours, personality types and the influencing factors that lead to their development. The book covers personalities from infancy to elderly in a broad spectrum of traits from the most common to the more deviant and obscure. Wondering what characteristics you might find in a middle child as an adult or what kind of person becomes a pyromaniac? Need to know why your character cheats or bullies? This easy-to-use resource will provide you with solid insights.
Did we miss anything? What tools save you time? Share your favourites with us in the comments section below. Part two will be posted shortly.