Tools
Sites which help with various aspects of writing and publishing.
Etymonline
"Online Etymology Dictionary...This is a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English. Etymologies are not definitions; they’re explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago."
Has a Mobile App
Does Not Have Ads
Identify Font
"Identifont was launched in November 2000 to provide designers with a tool to help them identify fonts or select the best fonts for their projects. Since then it has grown to become the largest independent directory of digital fonts on the Internet, with a number of unique tools for locating fonts for particular applications."
Does Not Have Ads
Purdue OWL
"The online writing lab offers global support through online reference materials and services for creating citations, cover letters, major-specific writing help, and general writing advice."
Does Not Have Ads
Word Counter
"Apart from counting words and characters, our online editor can help you to improve word choice and writing style, and, optionally, help you to detect grammar mistakes and plagiarism."
Has Ads
Miscellaneous
Other sites related to writing.
"Hou tu pranownse Inglish"
"Everybody agrees that English spelling is horrible."
"There have been almost as many proposals for spelling reform as there are rewrites of Esperanto. (Tellingly, there has been precisely one success in each category-- Noah Webster and Ido-- and neither caught on universally.) Most of these proposals spend their energy fixing what isn’t broken. For instance, they search hard for clever new ways of spelling the ch sound-- even though ch does the job just fine in hundreds of languages. Or, they insist on ’correcting’ the Great Vowel Shift, using Italian values for the vowels."
"Whenever the subject comes up, someone is sure to bring up all the words in -ough, or George Bernard Shaw’s ghoti-- a word which illustrates only Shaw’s wiseacre ignorance. English spelling may be a nightmare, but it does have rules, and by those rules, ghoti can only be pronounced like goatee."
"The purpose of this page is to describe those rules-- to explain the system behind English spelling, the rules that tell you how to pronounce a written word correctly over 85% of the time."
Does Not Have Ads
Archive of Our Own
"A fan-created, fan-run, nonprofit, noncommercial archive for transformative fanworks, like fanfiction, fanart, fan videos, and podfic."
Does Not Have Ads
Atomic Rockets
"While this site originally focused on rocketry equations, as you can see it has grown to encompass other topics of interest to science fiction authors and game designers. Things like galactic empires and interstellar trade."
Does Not Have Ads
Better Letterer
How-to’s on various topics related to comic book construction and lettering. Includes a storefront with a mix of free and for-sale fonts.
Does Not Have Ads
Calculating Empires
"A Genealogy of Technology and Power Since 1500"
Does Not Have Ads
Common Errors in English Usage
A list of common errors in (American) English Usage.
Does Not Have Ads
convertcase
"Accidentally left the caps lock on and typed something, but can’t be bothered to start again and retype it all? Simply enter your text and choose the case you want to convert it to."
Has Ads
Dafont
"The fonts presented on this website are their authors’ property, and are either freeware, shareware, demo versions or public domain."
Does Not Have Ads
DIY Book Formats
"DIY Book Formatting (What You Need to Know) -- The main purpose of this site is to give you some templates and help you use them to format your book for free (or very cheaply). I’m also making some guides and video tutorials that will help you design a professional, balanced, aesthetically pleasing, well-spaced and flawless book."
Does Not Have Ads
Fite Write Blog
"Carla is a FightWriting instructor and regularly teaches across the country. She is the host of the FightWrite Podcast and, as far as you know, not working with cats in their evil plot to overtake the world."
Does Not Have Ads
Fontspace
"130,000+ Free Fonts... Free downloads of legally licensed fonts that are perfect for your design projects."
Does Not Have Ads
Fountain Pen Network
Forum and gallery for fountain pen users and enthusiasts.
Does Not Have Ads
Lorem Ipsum
Lorem ipsum is placeholder text commonly used in the graphic, print, and publishing industries for previewing layouts and visual mockups.
Does Not Have Ads
Mythcreants
"Mythcreants is an online publication for speculative fiction storytellers. To better understand and tell the stories we love, we analyze popular works, theorize on storytelling craft, and explore the technical aspects of writing and tabletop roleplaying. We’re here to educate you on the most effective ways of engaging your audience while providing entertainment, insight, and inspiration."
Does Not Have Ads
Pretty Bookshelf
"Discover indie books you’ll love. Support the "little guy" while finding great stories to escape into."
Does Not Have Ads
Reverse Dictionary
"This reverse dictionary allows you to search for words by their definition."
Has Ads
Royal Road
"Royal Road® is the home of web novels and fan fictions! In our amazing community, you can find various talented individuals who write as a hobby or even professionally, artists who create art for them, and many, many readers who provide valuable feedback and encouragement."
Has AI Features
Has a Mobile App
Has Ads
The Phrontistery
"Welcome to the Phrontistery! Since 1996, I have compiled word lists and language resources to spread the joy of the English language in all its variety through time and space. A phrontistery (from the Greek phrontistes ’thinker’) is meant to be a thinking-place for reflection and intellectual stimulation. I invite you to explore the various site features relating to language and lexicography, find that half-remembered rare or obscure word you’ve been looking for, or to read and explore essays on language, linguistics, and culture. Have a look around, and enjoy!"
Does Not Have Ads
Victor J. Banis Family Foundation
"Victor J. Banis, often hailed as the "Godfather of Gay Pulp Fiction," was a prolific author who made significant contributions to LGBTQ+ literature. Born in Eaton, Ohio, Banis wrote over 200 books throughout his career, spanning genres from gay pulp fiction to gothic romances and historical novels."
Does Not Have Ads