Writing tool
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Definition
A writing tool is software that helps people to write.
In education, they can be considered as a kind of cognitive tool. See also: professionnal software since some writing tools have been made for and are used by real writers.
Tools
There are many kinds of tools.
- Any kind of word processor
- Structured word processors
- Outlining tools
- Concept organisation, see: Concept maps
- On-line collaborative writing tools (such as Wikis or through-the-web editing/storing/sharing à la Writely)
Such tools can either be for individual use, for group use (e.g. integrated in a groupware application) or based on social computing, e.g. several social software includes note taking tools.
Links
Important notice: The initial author of this page (DSchneider) did not test any of these.
Collaborative writing systems
There are dozens of systems, but probably not many of them in large scale use.
- wikis
- Writely.com A Google project
- Writeboard
Outlining and draft building
- Any outlining mode in word processors
- WriteEZ
- KeyNote
- Papel
- Draft Builder helps your students develop a strategic approach to planning, organizing and draft-writing.
Tools for specific genres
- Story writing
- WriteThis. The tool generates writing exercises, based on a set of keywords and criteria. It can generate characters, locations, items and special rules, and you - the writer - have a specified number of minutes to combine these things into a story.
- QuickStory 5 (A free version is QuickPlot ) ?
- Resume/CV writing
- e.g. Resume Builder
- Wordprocessing for writers
- RoughDraft has features specifically designed for creative writing: novels, short stories, articles, plays and screenplays.
- yWriter, Story writing software (by Simon Haynes, free)
- Argumentation and dialog
Note taking tools
- Scribe note-taking application
- The Literary machine “is a dynamic archive and an idea management tool aimed at creative thinking - built especially with the writer in mind. It is packed with indexing and display techniques so general and potent that you will use it as an intelligence center.” (There is a freeware version)
- EverNote
- Text Block Writer “is a virtual index card program for writers. It can be used to organize research papers, articles, fiction, non-fiction, books and whatever related to writing. It is intended for people like me who use paper index cards to write all the notes and pieces of an essay, and then arrange the pieces and then use that to type them into the computer.”
Concept maps
See:
Guidelines
Sometimes guidelines for writing are also called tools, e.g.:
- Online Technical Writing
- Fifty (50!) Tools which can help you in Writing
- Word and the Writing process (good advice for using MS Word ... also useful for people who prefer - like DSchneider - other software)
General links
e.g. indexes of writing tools