This is where you will find resources related to idea development, plotting, outlining, character development, world-building, scene structuring, researching, etc.

I’m stilling compiling and have way more than what you see. So comeback often to see what’s been added!

All The Things!

resources that cover most of the pre-writing stage

Free Scrivener Template: How to Structure Your Story from K.M. Weiland. If you have Scrivener but feel like you could use a little help getting the most out of its features from start to finish in your Pre-writing and Writing stages, this could be the template for you. I know I love it.

The Pre-Write Project from Kristen Kieffer is a 141-page digital workbook that helps to guide you from first idea to first draft. Though I was lucky to obtain a copy of this a few years ago when it was available for a “pay-what-you-can” price, it does currently cost about $24. Knowing what the full workbook has to offer, and the fact that you can print out as many copies as you have manuscripts for this one time price, I think that’s a pretty reasonable price.

How To Plan & Write A Series is a video series on YouTube by Sarra Cannon. It’s a nine-part series where she covers everything: what are the different types of series, character arcs, story arcs, the emotional toll, publishing, even a Q&A. All specific to writing a series.

Outlining: ideas plotting structure

Any and/or all of these amazing resources from K.M. Weiland. If you are completely lost about plotting, outlining, characters, etc. you won’t be after she’s done with you.

Campfire Technology - This is a company that produces what they call “story design software” that gives writers a highly organized place to log any and all their ideas for their WIP from characters arc tracking, to time-lines, to in-depth world building details, to your own encyclopedia if your super serious. Plus a million other things. I was impressed. Just click the link.

You do have to purchase it to use all it’s cool features BUT there is a 10-day free trial here for the cautious consumer.

One Page Novel - This is an idea by Eva Deverell that is exactly what it sounds like. Plotting an entire novel on a single sheet of paper, well the major beats anyways. It’s actually a pretty neat idea and would be perfect for the planster who does need some kind of idea where s/he’s going but doesn’t want to go too far down the plotting rabbit hole of doom…those of you down here know who you are!

Character Development

Any and/or all of these amazing resources from K.M. Weiland. If you are completely lost about plotting, outlining, characters, etc. you won’t be after she’s done with you.

  • Blog/website: Helping Writers Become Authors. Her website is packed with articles filled with useful information. Often times including advice directly from her books.

Writer’s Guide Thesauruses by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi:

  • The Emotional Wound Thesaurus is a great resource to help discover the traumatic experiences in your character’s backstory that made them who they are.

  • The Positive Trait Thesaurus and the The Negative Trait Thesaurus are both very useful tools for building your character’s personality and showing how both positive and negative traits can each have their own ups and downs for a more realistic and well-rounded character.

World-building

Inkarnate is a web-based map making tool. It has free and paid subscription options.

Setting Thesauruses: The Rural Settings Thesaurus and The Urban Settings Thesaurus give examples of different settings one could find in a Rural or Urban environment respectively. Complete with description examples, use of 5 senses, conflict opportunities, and more for each entry. These are just a couple of the Writer’s Guide Thesauruses by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

Wonderdraft is a one-time purchase, downloadable map making program.

World Anvil is a web-based world-building website ideal for writers who take their world-building very seriously. It has free and paid subscription options.

Research

Hardcore History podcast by Dan Carlin. He does in-depth episodes on historical events from the World Wars to the makings of the Persian Empire. If you want some historical inspiration for story ideas or are looking for some in depth knowledge on something specific, he might just have a podcast episode about it. He’s entertaining and worth checking out.