Writing Tip Wednesday - Free Online Writing Resources

Merriam-Webster.com
Listen, Merriam-Webster has some issues, though it's gotten a bit better with slang and "vulgar" words in the past few years. But it's the industry standard and should be your first stop to see what the conventional spelling, hyphenation, etc. are. 
 
WordHippo.com
I love this thesaurus. It's easy to use, includes all kinds of slang, vulgar words, and idiomatic/phrasal synonyms. It's easy to switch to antonyms, shows UK vs. US spellings, and has a dictionary, too, in case MW comes up empty.
 
Grammarly.com
I personally prefer the paid version of ProWriting Aid, but for free, Grammarly is much better for basic grammar, punctuation, and spelling. 
 
Behind the Name Random Name Generator
Behindthename.com/random
Lots of options to choose from. I come up with lists and then chuck them into the doc as needed. If you click on the name, it will tell you the origin and meaning, too, so you don't accidentally name your princess Buttercup. Speaking for a "friend" (it's me, I was trying to be too clever).
 
Other Name Generator
FantasyNameGenerators.com is great for everything else. Like, literally everything else. Ships, taverns, hotels, companies, planets, parks, castle, dragons, angels, pirates, drinks, brands, plagues…
 
The Writing with Color Blog
WritingWithColor.tumblr.com
If you're trying to write people who are not white in a conscious and conscientious manner, this is a great resource. 
 
Writer Beware
https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association provides this site for free to help writers avoid scams and shady businesses. Plus, it offers basic information on some basics, like copyright, editors, agents, and the like. 
 
The Editorial Freelancers Association 
The-efa.org
Under their resources list is a free "New Author Guide." Lots of great basic information about the different kinds of editing and how to find reputable editors. 
 
Jane Friedman
JaneFriedman.com
Lots of great free business and writing advice for all writers, whether you're self-published or go the traditional route. There's also a paid newsletter and courses you can take. 
 
CritiqueMatch.com
A free resource for finding critique partners and beta readers. Free to join, then you have an option to find free partners or search through their vetted editing professionals if you're looking to pay for certain services.
 
David Gaughran
His Starting From Zero class is so helpful for wrapping your head around marketing a book. It's free if you sign up for his newsletter, which is another fantastic resource. He talks building a platform, cover design, deals newsletters, and ads. It's a great overview that you can return to when you're ready to tackle each step.
(just google David Gaughran Starting From Zero and you'll find it. He also has a wonderful YouTube channel)
 
Google Docs
Listen, there are better word processors out there, but few free ones are as good and intuitive as Google Docs. If you have no money for anything else, this will get the job done. You can even create EPUBs using Google Docs, so if money is super tight, you can still put out a decent book. 
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