When facing an issue with your writing, it can be difficult to find an effective solution without having to use some sort of resource—and unfortunately, many resources for writers can end up costing you. 

If you fit into the “starving artist” category, or just don’t have the money to spend on an app or monthly subscription, then I have good news! 

We’ve rounded up some of the best free online resources for writers… From browser extensions to amazing communities with tons of information, these free online resources are the perfect tools for writers on a budget.

These amazing free writing resources fall into four categories: grammar/editing, research, publishing, and communities. 

 Whether you’re having trouble with grammar, want to write about a topic you are completely unfamiliar with, or if you have no idea where to start with getting published, then there’s something here for you! 

Grammar/Editing

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What's up with the writing police?

Experts abound in every field and every expert offers advice from their own world-view. The writing advice most often offered to new writers is:

“You should write every day.” 

I hate this kind of writing advice.

To be clear, I’m not saying you shouldn’t write every day -- it’s not the specifics of the writing advice that bothers me in this case, it’s the should.

Any time someone hits me with a should, I want to hit back. That’s their truth, not mine. I’m turned off right away and just not interested. It’s like I have an inner 12-year old who sticks her fingers in her ears and yells NANANANANAH. (She’s a cutie-pie, that girl: red pigtails.)

This kind of writing advice seems to imply that “real” writers write every day, making the rest of us feel like imposters if we can’t get to our desks 365 days of the year. As though the rest of us just have "cute little hobbies."

DIY Writing Retreats: What are they?

I'm heading into a Page Booster Writing Retreat this weekend, with my #FINISHERS group from First Book Finish.

Whenever I plan a DIY writing retreat like this, my whole body goes "Ahhhhhh."

Writing retreats are hands-down my favourite way to make substantive progress on a manuscript and reconnect to why I write in the first place.

At one point in my life, I was a single mother of a young child, doing a Masters degree part-time and working a full-time management level job in the non-profit sector. People would say to me “I just don’t know how you do it!” and I would secretly think “Gah, I don’t know either!”

But it’s also true that I had discovered a secret weapon.

I would organize writing retreats for myself.

Not the kind where you spend a month or so in the woods with a group of fellow writers, where there’s a lunch buffet every day (Hello Banff Centre!) or someone brings lunch to your studio door...

Do you find yourself struggling with writing? Is finding inspiration difficult, or do you perhaps feel out of practice? Maybe you want to get some words on a page, but have no idea where to start? 

Well, whether or not you find yourself struggling with writing, writing prompts are a beautiful concept that can benefit all writers. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced writer or are just beginning—writing prompts are a great exercise for those who want to “warm up” their writing, get their creative flow going, or simply just practice. 

At the bottom of this blog post, you will find 90 writing prompts to use over the next 90 days! 

Want a free Writer’s Weekly Planner to help you plan and track your writing over these 90 days? You can get a copy right here.

What Are Writing Prompts?

Writing prompts are suggestions for writers, and can all be very different depending on the prompt itself. Not only do creative writing prompts, story...