If you’re a writer of any kind, whether that be a blogger, a novelist, or a casual scribe of any kind, you’re probably constantly on the lookout for any new tool or software that could help you to work better and more efficiently.
You’ll find everything from anti-procrastination tools to plugins for bloggers. So, there’s no way there won’t be something for your here.
Simple Author Box
To kick things off, let us present you with a great WP plugin for any blogger out there. Simple Author Box makes it so easy to create a stunning author box within minutes, and the best thing of all, it’ll also be fully responsive. With this plugin, it’s possible to customize virtually anything, from font types and sizes to color palettes and layouts. Unlike many author boxes found on WordPress, by using Simple Author Box, those found on your site will no longer be an eyesore but will seamlessly fit into the overall aesthetics instead.
Aside from simple appearance changes, there are also features that allow the user to add social icons with links attached, change the position of the author box, and display a link to their website. And while having an aesthetically pleasing author box is great, this plugin’s standout feature is entirely different. Simple Author Box gives you the option to add guest authors to your posts without creating an account from them. This is a great asset when it comes to guest posting, as you can give credit where it’s due. In addition, you can also add multiple authors to a single post, including your own in-house authors and guests, so collaborating on articles is simpler than ever, and everyone involved gets the credit they deserve.
Some of these features are reserved for PRO users only, but the price is more than sensible, so we strongly urge you to check this one out, as the number one deterrent for guest writers is not being given proper credit.
Hemingway Editor
While most people will probably recommend Grammarly, and they wouldn’t be wrong in doing so, we decided to swap that suggestion for a tool that’s completely free. And I know what you’re thinking, Grammarly is free, and yes, the basic version is free, but if you want any features other than correcting your grammar mistakes, you’re looking at a hefty fee, unless you subscribe for a whole year, so let us present a worthy alternative – Hemingway Editor.
Every writer needs an editor, and with this app, you can swap out a real-life editor for a virtual one – at least for some formats, that is. To use it, there’s no need to download anything. Just copy and paste your text into the editor, and Hemingway will highlight mistakes and make change suggestions based on style. This will make sure your text isn’t difficult to read and eliminate any unintentional typos.
Cliche Finder
Some types of texts call for idiomatic expressions and well-known phrases, while others do not. If you’re only writing for one blog or company, you probably won’t have any problems keeping up with their style, as it demands consistency. But, if you’re a freelancer or simply write for many different blogs or websites, you might have to jump styles very frequently. This is where Cliche Finder could be a real lifesaver. If you want to avoid using colonialisms, stale expressions, or idioms that international audiences might not understand, we strongly urge you to check out this tool.
It could also come in handy, even if you do write for a single source. Every writer wants their writing to be fresh and exciting to read, and Cliche Finder could be a step in the right direction towards polishing your style.
StayFocusd
Writing can sometimes get pretty intense, especially if you’re doing research. So, it’s no wonder that people sometimes lose focus quickly. You’re reading an article for research, and then something catches your attention, and you end up watching a two-hour YouTube documentary on the origins of the letter w, and why it is not called a double v. StayFoucsd is here to help you get rid of that problem. It’s available as a Chrome extension, and its main task is to stop you from procrastinating by spending time on the so-called time-wasting websites.
The app is fairly customizable and allows you to block websites that usually steal your focus, like games, social media, or YouTube. Simply set an amount of time you’re allowed to spend on these websites per day, and then once the allotted time is spent, you’ll be banned from visiting them for the rest of the day. If you can’t control yourself ( let’s face it, most of us can’t), StayFocusd can do it for you.
Evernote
To write a good copy, you have to conduct proper research and revisit all the notes you made when writing. But, if your method thus far has been to put a bunch of scattered notes into a Word document completed with a million open tabs, it’s easy to get lost and leave out information you thought crucial at an earlier point. Evernote can help organize all of your notes and research by allowing you to save everything in one hyper-organized space.
Let’s put it this way, Evernote is your writing research, Marie Kondo. This app allows you to capture notes in the form of a video, voice recordings, and screenshots taken from other web pages. All of your notes can be highlighted and organized in specific folders for easier access later on. It works across all devices, so if inspiration strikes you on the go, this time, there’s no way you forget about that fantastic idea you had on the tram and promised yourself you’d remember.
Over To You
When it comes to writing as a job, time is money, and you want to make sure that you do your job well and in the correct time frame. By eliminating distractions and improving your style, you will most certainly do so. However, if you’re in the business of blogging, don’t forget about your fellow writers. Give them proper credit and create a more rewarding environment on your own site. It’s essential to be appropriately credited for your work, and that’s why our number one entry, the Simple Author Box plugin, is our number one recommendation.
Organize, time-manage, give credit, and improve your writing, but most of all, don’t forget to enjoy your job. It’s the number one thing that’ll make your writing truly great.
Published on September 23, 2021 under online tools, writing.
