A writer’s job can be quite challenging; it may be easy to put words on paper for yourself, but the art of drawing a reader into your imagination is a pure craft. Perhaps, that explains why many writers are known to seclude themselves for long periods when planning a novel, for instance. With over 45,000 writers in the US, what are some of the essential tools you’ll need to make your craft stand out? Here are a few.
- A notebook with a pen loop or band
Writers are known to write from inspiration, which they can draw from anywhere and anything. That explains why many at every point in time keep pocket-size notebooks with a pen loop or band. Even with the digital age, some prefer the more traditional style of putting pen to paper to record ideas that spring up in their minds. Some writers opt for the fountain pen for prestige or due to style preference, because of its aesthetics and rich history.
In 1827, a Romanian inventor called Petrache Poenaru received recognition from the French government for his invention of the fountain pen. The French administration offered Poenaru a patent on May 25 of the same year. This water-based ink pen went through transformations over the years in the hands of Azel Lyman, Duncan Mackinnon, and Alonzo T. Cross. Today, it has become an essential writing tool for many successful writers.
Your favorite pen and a handy notebook are just what you need to get your creative juices flowing and keep you prepared whenever fresh ideas spring up.
- Grammarly
This is a digital writing tool that many people consider as an improvement over Microsoft Word corrections. Whereas MS Word shows errors made in spellings, Grammarly is quite extensive in its grammatical checks. Even better, it allows the user to determine what kind of English spelling to use, i.e., American, British, or Australian. Founded in 2009 by Alex Shevchenko and Max Lytvyn, this digital writing tool identifies the following:
- Dangling modifiers
- Unclear antecedents
- Overused words
The three items listed above are only a few of the broad range of grammatical checks that this digital tool has mastery over. As is common with many apps of this sort, there are two versions; the free and the premium. Although the free version works excellently, the premium offers writers a more comprehensive service with details on your writing performance. For many writers, Grammarly is that strict English teacher who ensures that every ‘T’ is crossed.
- Hemingway
Unlike Grammarly, Hemingway isn’t the usual software designed just for spelling and grammar checks. What it does more is to check a piece of written work for readability. Named after the famous writer Ernest Hemingway, this writing tool is designed to make written pieces understandable without ambiguity. It checks for long and winding sentences, adverb misplacements, and other areas within a written piece that need to be worked on.
The writing tools mentioned above help simplify your writing process and improve the quality of your work. Therefore, the next time you plan on writing, why not try your hands on some of these essential tools?