Top ten free resources for writers

Top ten free resources for writers

 

It often baffles how people think – and I used to be one of those people – that art is simply a matter of talent. Don’t even bother to write or draw or play an instrument unless you are supremely talented. While I’m not going to say that talent or a predisposition is not necessary, I am going to claim that all the talent in the world is useless if one doesn’t apply oneself to their craft. This is not true for art only but any aspect of life. No tennis player succeeds because they have a god-given gift to hit a ball in just the right way. Sure, they are talented but the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours they spend in the gym and simply hitting the ball cannot be underestimated. The same applies to writing or any other facet of life.

Once I realised that, and stopped thinking of myself as ‘just not that talented,’ I embarked on educating myself. This can be expensive, but I have come across many superb resources that are available for free on the internet. Here is a list of my top ten choices.

  1. University of Iowa IWP – MOOC Packs (Massive Open Online Course) – the University of Iowa has held these courses for many years (no longer, unfortunately). I did a few while they ran and benefited as much from the material as the feedback received from participants. While the courses are not run anymore, all the material – videos, assessment tasks, practice sheets and recommended readings – is available on this website. I am convinced it is equivalent to a Master’s degree. All for free.
    https://www.distancelearningiwp.org/moocpacks

  2. The Crafty Writer – a service started by fiction author Fiona Veitch Smith. It helps teach aspiring and current writers how to improve their craft. It is self-paced and covers various areas such as how to write short stories, developing characters, POV, etc.
    Creative Writing Course

  3. The Open University – Start Writing Fiction – this course in its entirety charges for the qualification but a significant part is for free. If you are at the beginning of your writing journey, this is an invaluable source.
    Online Fiction Writing Course: Start Writing Fiction

  4. The Thoughtful Bro podcast – there are almost as many writing podcasts as there are writers. However, this one stands out. And it is not even a writing podcast. Mark Cecil interviews writers, mostly those who’ve recently published a book. A large part of the interview is about the book and the respective writer’s writing journey. But the last part, which can be of varying length (occasionally it is almost the whole episode!), is dedicated to the craft of writing. Mark Cecil asks all the right questions. He comes so well prepared, the writers do not have a chance, even if they wanted to avoid the questions. But they are mostly very generous, and the advice they give is truly amazing. Highly recommended. And the books I discovered by listening to this podcast have all been great!
    Thoughtful Bro — MARK CECIL AUTHOR

  5. Writers Write – this website has a large number of free (and paid) resources and several free courses.
    Free Courses - Writers Write

  6. Authors Publish – The Canadian outfit are the best thing that has happened to writers making their way in the publishing industry. They have a weekly newsletter which includes submission opportunities (all checked by the writers on staff) as well as useful articles written by writers. They also conduct monthly video presentations with writers, poets, publishers, agents. These are for free. There are also workshop that are not for free. The ones that I have completed were worth every dollar.
    https://authorspublish.thinkific.com/

  7. Writing Excuses podcast – short, 20-minute podcast episodes that tackle various issues, from point of view, to cooking as a metaphor, to interviews, to various lenses in the editing process.
    Home | Writing Excuses

  8. Writing.ie – a magazine for writers by writers. The number of resources available here covers aspects from the world of writing and publishing
    Home - Writing.ie

  9. NewPages.com – encompasses almost all imaginable aspects relevant to writers – a guide to literary magazines, indie bookstores, indie publishing, university presses, creative writing programs, writing and literary events, writing contests, calls for submissions, and more.
    NewPages.com Your Home for Literary Magazines & Submission Opportunities

  10. Poets and Writers – America’s largest non-profit organisation serving the writing community. It contains a large variety of information, announcements and fosters a culture of sharing and belonging to a community.
    Poets & Writers | Contests, MFA Programs, Agents & Grants for Writers

 

Do you have any free resources that you would recommend?

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