7 Essential & Free Tools To Leapfrog Your Productivity as a Writer
10x your writing power now!
Every writer has a deadline. Every writer had a deadline.
The first-ever writer, Enheduanna, and today’s bestselling authors have something in common: struggles. Ancient writers achieved more and were more productive than we are in this age of the internet. Why?
Sobbing into tears, I add: “when you become a pro in the field, you create easiness and shortcuts.”
Drops back to the point, if we do not know about writing tools, we’re missing out on a fresh chance to boost our productivity.
Below is a list of 7 gold-chunk shortcut tools to help you become a productive writer.
Let's get started:
1. Momentum
- Best For: Motivation
- Price: Free and paid
- Available On: Web
I’ve been the laziest writer you’ll meet. Lack of motivation, willpower, and purpose draped me.
Since people are deadline-driven, time isn't taken seriously if there’s nothing tick toking in the abyss. Jokes apart, I downloaded a chrome extension named “Momentum” — which breathes life into every new page I open, unlike my previous screensaver — Fliqlo.
Momentum extension, once installed, serves you the best possible quotes, and pictures for free.
Well, I often open a new tab in search of finding the motivation to write. That's where momentum caught me. It stops me right there, makes me read a quote, cheers me to make a to-do list, and looks me say in the eyes to make sure I don't end up opening a guilty webpage.
Webpages like: Netflix, gaming, & Amazon.
Download here.
2. Monkeytype
- Best For: Lazy writers
- Price: Free
- Available On: Web
Everyone starts from somewhere.
The problem (and I am no exception) is many writers (like me) suffer from writing quality articles.
Because: We hardly ever concentrate on our writing speed. This is the #1 problem for almost every writer I’ve ever met.
Of course, you do everything in your favor (from the below list) to become the best writer ever, but it doesn't seem to serve your dreams in any way:
- reading books
- writing books
- working out
- brainstorming
I learned this from an Aug. 4/17 story in Quartz, a digital news outlet for business people. Headlined, “Professional romance novelists can write 3,000 words a day. You can do it too if you focus on writing speed, says” Thu-Huong.
To improve your writing speed, take help from “Monkeytype.com” — a minimalistic, customizable typing website. This is a free app and enables you to work on writing correct words, thinking better, and making it easier for you to edit your draft.
Download here.
3. Booky call
- Best For: Inspiration
- Price: Free
- Available On: IOS and Android
As much as I love reading books, I absolutely love the person who made this app.
According to Morgan Marisa, on Sept. 30, a new “dating” app launched on the app store with a little twist. Instead of matching its users with people, Booky Call matches its swipers with potential books using the same algorithms as popular dating apps.
“Bookycall” is a book discovery app disguised as a dating app. You can find every genre mixed up, and you get to swipe left or right to find the right book. This app sets you up with a book, but you can cheat and read a new book (never do this).
Book App’s primary goal is to inspire your creativity. Like when you are dog tired and can’t write enough, this app can do you wonders.
Perhaps, everyone has their own way of quieting fears. For some people, this app would serve: as a daily reminder to read books and become a better writer every day.
Download here.
4. Simple Auto scroll
- Best For: Easiness
- Price: Free
- Available On: Web
Well, I must say:
- I would be happier if I knew such a tool existed.
The “Simple Auto Scroll” is a browser extension that you can use to make reading simple for you. Operating as a slow, medium, and fast-paced scrolling, you can sit back and “nourish your hands” while the auto-scroll does its job.
I use this tool when I need to go through a survey and get lost among the lines. This tool allows me to read a sentence and then move on to another without pressing any keys.
Honestly, this app even while reading Medium articles or editing drafts as an editor.
Download here.
5. Tomato Timers
- Best For: Time tracking
- Price: Free
- Available On: Web
A lot of us are not just writers.
“You can be a part-time worker, a student, or even a parent.”
Taking track of time is the best way to lift productivity. Although I did not know if these apps do any good, I can feel a difference since I’ve started using one. Personally, I used a Pomodoro timer before, but it never came with a custom timer.
Luckily I found “Tomato Timer,” — works exactly the same and focuses on the Pomodoro technique timer.
If you don't know:
The Pomodoro technique is a 25-minute studying technique associated with a 5-minute rest. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with their time — rather than against it, adds Kat Boogaard on themuse.com.
Consider this timer as your friend when you want to study, write, or even read. Crunch time to increase your productivity. The next thing you know, the bell's thud becomes your savior.
Download here.
6. Portent’s Idea generator
- Best For: Ideas
- Price: Free
- Available On: Web
Like everyone, I prefer to handpick my titles manually.
Mostly, I have the idea in mind, and by changing a word to two, the title is ready (hatched).
Sometimes my mind is dry and needs a well to spice things up. For that, I use an app called a “Portent’s Idea Generator.” I don't use this app every time, but you cannot ignore the possibility of searching for results.
Often, you get: results, words, and phrases that were in the back of your mind but did not appear while writing.
I recommend this app for every writer, regardless of having writer’s block or not.
Download here.
7. Cliche Finder
- Best For: Inspiration
- Price: Free
- Available On: Web
So… what are Cliches even? Jessica Jungton — the co-founder of Writing Co-operative, says:
Clichés are mental shortcuts to familiar concepts. Having heard the phrase many times, your brain interprets the meaning quickly without having to visualize the image or think about the writer’s intentions.
In writing, “Cliche Finders” help you discover errors such as cliches, spelling errors, and word choice results.
Although many of us use Grammarly, there's no drawback in using more than one checker. There’s no downside to “using free apps” not to let any mistake slip through. Before submitting my article, I check tricky errors with Cliche finder and Grammarly.
The best thing about cliche finder: it also gives you suggestions in word search results to tailor your words. If you feel like Grammarly of pro writing aid is too overwhelming for your needs, you can definitely opt for a cliche finder.
Download here.
Final thoughts:
I read a quote by Ashish Kumbhare:
You don't choose writing. Writing chooses you.
So if you are being chosen as a writer, the noble thing you can do now is retain your position. Using some free tools mentioned above, you can make writing smooth as a soup.
Obstacles to writing always get by. How about killing this productivity-sucking problem and bashing them in the face with some good writing tools worth using?!
Tell me in the comments how you feel about these tips.