8 Free Tools You Need to Know About as a Writer
Boost your creativity and productivity with these essential tools for authors
In the digital world, writers have a variety of tools at their disposal that can make their work easier. From organising ideas to promoting your work, here are the 8 most useful free tools every writer should know about. These tools will not only improve your productivity, but also help you optimise your writing and stand out in an increasingly competitive environment.
1. Google Docs: Real-Time Writing and Collaboration
Benefits of Google Docs for Writers
Google Docs is an essential tool for any writer. It allows you to create and edit documents in the cloud, which means you can access your work from any device with an internet connection.
- Remote access: You can continue working on your manuscript from anywhere.
- Collaboration: Share your document with editors, fellow writers or friends to receive real-time feedback.
- Version history: Recover previous versions of your work if you need to revert changes.
This tool is ideal for writers who work in teams or who need constant feedback on their work.
2. Hemingway Editor: Improve the Clarity and Conciseness of Your Writing
How to Use Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor is an online tool that helps you improve the readability of your texts. It points out complex sentences, excessive use of adverbs and passive voice phrases, all with the aim of making your writing clearer and more direct.
- Edit online: Copy and paste your text into the editor to get suggestions for improvement.
- Simplify your writing: Eliminate complicated language and make your texts easier to read.
- Increases readability: Optimise your content to make it accessible to a wider audience.
Use Hemingway to polish your manuscripts before sending them to publishers or publishing them on your blog.
3. Grammarly: Advanced Spelling and Grammatical Correction
Benefits of Grammarly for Writers
Grammarly is an online grammar checker that offers automatic suggestions for spelling, grammar, style and tone. It works as a browser extension, allowing you to correct your writing in real time on any platform, from emails to social media.
- Error detection: Automatically finds and corrects grammatical and punctuation errors.
- Style suggestions: Improve the tone and fluency of your writing with precise suggestions.
- Free version: Access basic fixes at no cost, or subscribe to the premium version for advanced features.
Grammarly is ideal for making sure your writing is flawless before you publish it or send it to an editor.
4. Scrivener: Organisation of Literary Projects
Key Scrivener Features
Scrivener is a tool that combines writing and organisation in a single platform. Although its full version is paid, it offers a free trial that allows you to explore its functions.
- Management of chapters and scenes: Organise your texts into more manageable segments.
- Notes and references: Store all your research and references in one place.
- Cork board: Visualise the structure of your project and rearrange your scenes easily.
Scrivener is particularly useful for writers working on long and complex projects, such as novels or screenplays.
5. Evernote: Organise and Manage Notes and Ideas
Getting the most out of Evernote
Evernote is a versatile tool for capturing ideas on the go. You can save notes, links, images and audio recordings all in one place.
- Automatic synchronisation: Access your notes from any device, whether on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
- Labels and notebooks: Organise your content for quick and easy searching.
- Web clippings: Save articles and resources online with a single click, allowing you to organise your research efficiently.
Evernote is ideal for writers who need a centralised place to collect and organise their ideas and research.
6. Canva: The Graphic Design App for Authors
Use Canva for Your Covers
Canva is a graphic design platform that allows you to create book covers, promotional banners and visual content for your social networks without the need for advanced design skills.
- Pre-designed templates: Easily customise templates for a professional and attractive design.
- Promotional materials: Create visual content for your marketing campaigns and book presentations.
- Free resources: Access thousands of graphic elements at no cost, or explore the premium option for more tools.
Canva is especially useful for freelance writers who want to create promotional material without hiring a designer.
7. Trello: Project Planning and Management
How to Use Trello in your Writing Projects
Trello is a project management tool that helps you organise your tasks and maintain an efficient workflow. It is especially useful for planning the writing of a book or the promotion of a launch.
- Boards and lists: Break your project into manageable tasks and track progress.
- Labels and deadlines: Prioritise your tasks and set clear deadlines.
- Collaboration: Work as a team and share progress with your collaborators, editors or co-authors.
Trello is an excellent choice for writers who want to stay organised and productive in their projects.
8. Coggle: Creating Mind Maps
Advantages of Coggle for Writers
Coggle is a free tool for creating mind maps and outlines. It is ideal for writers who want to visualise the structure of their stories, develop ideas or plan chapters graphically.
- Visualisation of ideas: Develop and organise your ideas graphically.
- Real-time collaboration: Share maps with others and collaborate in real time.
- Export: Save and export your maps in high quality formats, such as PDF or image.
Coggle is perfect for writers who need a visual tool to organise their thoughts and structure their literary projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I increase the visibility of my writer's blog?
To improve the visibility of your blog, explore our 7 must-have SEO strategies for writers, and learn how to drive more traffic to your website.
Is it necessary to pay for premium tools to write effectively?
NO. There is no need to pay for premium tools. See our a comparison between free and paid tools for writers to decide which option is best for you.
Resources and Sources:
- https://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia/noticias/11753862/05/22/El-error-mas-tonto-de-Google-Docs-hace-que-los-archivos-no-se-puedan-abrir-.html
- https://thewritelife.com/writing-software-quiz-result-hemingway-editor/
- https://www.grammarly.com/media-assets
- https://www.stickpng.com/es/img/iconos-logotipos-emojis/marcas-emblematicas/logotipo-de-scrivener
- https://www.stickpng.com/es/img/miscelaneos/en-el-cine/nuevo-logotipo-de-evernote
- https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Canva_logo..png
- https://www.formadoresit.online/cursos/gestion-de-proyectos/curso-trello-online/
- https://pinae.es/coogle-herramienta-para-crear-mapas-conceptuales/
8 Free Tools You Need to Know About as a Writer
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