Resources for writers

(Links are in the heading of each paragraph.)

Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com functions as an online dictionary and can be a very useful tool when encountering words that you do not know the meaning of.

Thesaurus.com
Usually a story with good language is easier and more fun to read then a story told with limited vocabulary. To help counter this one can use Thesaurus.com. The site quickly gives several alternatives for the word you’re thinking if you enter it into the search-window. The site also provides antonyms if you should hit a wall and require such in your writing.

Wikipedia
Wikipedia is, as probably most of you already, know a handy resource when you want background info on a subject. Furthermore this site can be really helpful when researching how to incorporate a subject into the story in a historical-correct or realistic way.

Hero Machine
UGOs Hero Machine is an excellent choice if you want to roughly visualize your own character, but lack anything even resembling artistic abilities. The online-version of the program is free and let you create your character based on the layer upon layer system. Since the program holds a decent amount of layers it’s actually rather helpful most of the time too.

Ancronymfinder.com
Even though one should be careful with using acronyms in a story Ancronymfinder.com is handy tool if you really must and can't remember the official short off hand. The site is also useful when you wonder what certain acronym stands for.

Absolutewrite.com
Absolutewrite.com is a writer’s forum that contains loads of information and hints on how to write and enhance your writing.

Urbandictionary.com
Generally it is never a good idea to use slang in a story. Still, if one writes contemporary fiction it might be a necessity in dialogue. In these cases one can turn to urbandictionary.com to get a well of slang and similar panther.
If you do so be aware that urbandictionary.com might be so "hip" that no one else have heard of the expression aside from the site's own users.

Common Errors in English
Common Errors in English is an excellent page that lists numerous common errors alfabetically for easy access. Furthermore the page has several links to other useful grammar and spelling pages.

Metric-conversions.org
Due to the differences between the metric and imperial system when it comes to length and other variables one will often need a converter. Metric-conversions.org is one of many sites that offer such converters.

Babelfish.altavista.com
Babelfish is an excellent translation tool which can translate form several source languages and into your desired destination language. Its translations are not flawless, but will often be enough to give you a good idea of what a writer wants to convey.

Google translate
Google translate is a decent translator and as Babelfish it translates from many source languages into other more desirable languages. Its not always dead on, but it will give you the gist of most written statements.

Behindthename.com
Behindthename.com is an excellent site for those times you want your character to have a name that means something special, and not just a name you happen to like. The sites database deals only in firstnames.

Surenames.behindthename.com
Surnames.behindthename.com is an excellent site for those times you want your character to have a surname that means something special, and not just a name you happen to like. The sites database deals only in surnames.

Last-names.net
Last-names.net is basically the same sort of page as behindthename.com, the only difference is of course that this site deals with last-names. So when your characters lack a meaningful lastname this site might be worth a visit.

20000-names.com
20000-names.com holds exactly what the domain suggests - a wast number of names you can use if you ever should run out of ideas for the names of your characters. Furthermore all the names are logged on country for easy excess to say, Japanese names.

Babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com
Babynamesworld is also good site to find characternames and sports, among other things, an easy searchengine that let you search for names with specific meanings.

Firefox dictionaries
If you use Firefox as your browser you should definitely download a dictionary for it. This installs a real handy tool that checks your spelling every time you write a message or a mail, thus saving you loads of time and earning you better grammar. If you don't have Firefox you can get it here

Scrivener
Scrivener is an application for Mac users. It helps organize any reference material you have and lets you reorganize chapters and scenes easily. It is great for big novels and any new writing projects. I suggest looking at the tutorial before giving up on it, the rewards may be great.

Etherpad
Etherpad allows two writers to write simultaneous in one and the same on line document. This solution is perfect for co-operation project and the created document can be exported as word document, pdf, html and a few other handy formats.

More to come as I find them. (PS if you have any you feel should be mentioned in this list send me a pm!)