By Cate Pitterle
Every profession has its resources—journalists have contacts, lawyers have case files, doctors have… WebMD?—and writers are no different. We trawl the web, getting caught up in hours and hours of winding, circular research. Wikipedia takes us to obscure websites to the search engine and back again. That’s why I’ve been compiling lists of writing resources that have been helpful to me and others I know. Though there’s no exhaustive list of resources or a completely efficient research method, these websites, books, and podcasts might help make your process a little easier. You might still find yourself trudging through search engine waves, but hopefully these places will help you push back the tide. Happy researching! Websites: Writer’s Digest - A go-to site for any and all writing problems, tips, and questions. Indifferent Languages - A translator site that translates English words and phrases into those of over 80 other languages. Good for historical fiction, naming characters or places, or perhaps creating a fantasy language of your own. Office Timeline - If you’re writing a longer piece and aren’t sure what happens when, this site is a good place to start. Organize your events into graphs based on when they start and how long they last for. Inkarnate - Writing a fantasy? You’ve come to the right place. Inkarnate is some great free software with which you can build detailed fantasy maps, no prior skill needed. Of course, there’s also the universal writer problem of naming your characters. Here are a few websites that have helped me find names in the past: Books: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King is such a well-known writing book, it might as well be Jane Eyre. A great place to start for any writer. Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process by John McPhee talks specifically about writing creative nonfiction, but the advice is priceless for writers of any genre. The Word-Loss Diet by Rayne Hall probably isn’t for writers tackling a first draft, but it’s certainly for any trying to edit one. A book about focusing and condensing your writing to make it as powerful as possible. Podcasts: Lore explains the origins of folklores and fairy tales with a darker twist. A possibility for any writers looking for inspiration or for a fairy tale to retell. I Should be Writing with Six Wakes author Mur Lafferty provides writer interviews and how-tos for authors everywhere. Stuff You Should Know covers topics ranging from Elvis to desert survival, making it a great place to go for both inspiration and research. Stuff You Missed in History Class, another source for research and inspiration, covers obscure, interesting stories that you probably didn’t read about in your textbooks. Throughline, one of my favorite podcasts, seeks to explain current events by showing how past events have led to the current situation. If you’re a historical fiction writer, this is the place for you.
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