Must-Use Websites and Resources
Once you've gotten into these different websites and programs for writers, there's no turning back. You will be fully armed and trained for battle.
Not only will you feel like a boss once you see everything fall into place thanks to these websites--you will be able to confidently call yourself a soon-to-be-published teenage writer.
And no, I'm not being sponsored, although I wouldn't mind the money.
Quickly, before I get into the list, I'd like to share the direct link to this website:
https://kawiriacreed.wixsite.com/theteenagewriter
Here's why: for the first little while, TheTeenageWriter will be hard to find on Google (and other places, you get the idea) because it's just starting out and not too popular.
So if you want, copy and paste the link into your search engine bar (the narrow bar on the top, not the main one) to find this website easily. And please share with your friends and fellow writers so the community can grow!
Allrighty, enough with the self-promotion. Let's get into things....
TOP BLOGS TO SUBSCRIBE TO:
1-TheWritePractice
link: https://thewritepractice.com/
This blog offers super useful lessons every day--lessons more than worth space in your email. You'll be signing up for nonstop learning, I assure you. With posts written by professional writers from around the world, TheWritePractice will encourage you to, well, practice everything you learn. And if you do so, you should see improvement almost instantly. Long story short, I highly recommend this blog.
2-Reedsy Blog
link: https://blog.reedsy.com/
This site offers many specific lessons and courses that you can handpick manually, once you set up your free account. They'll teach you everything from the basics of writing a novel to the complications of getting that same novel published the right way. Reedsy is very useful as a blog, but offers several other services that have helped me even more. I'll be mentioning one of them below.
3-The Positive Writer
link: http://positivewriter.com/
These guys will keep you in the know about any new webinars, eBooks and blog posts that will help you become a better writer. A lot of what they send you may seem like promotion, but trust me, it pays to keep this site around at all times. The Positive Writer has a blog of its own, which helps you get over those little moments of self-doubt that every author experiences.
TOP SITES TO WRITE YOUR BOOK ON:
1-Reedsy
link: https://reedsy.com/write-a-book
This is another feature of the Reedsy site. They have an easy-to-use, clean-cut format for you to write your books in! I'm currently using this alongside Microsoft Word, because I can easily copy and paste chapters into the format and they'll do all the word-counting for me. Not only will they make writing your novel easier, they'll also present you with a whole network of professional editors and designers for hire after your novel is completed! And the best part is, everything is 100% free!
2-NaNoWriMo Young Writers' Program
link: https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/
You might have already heard about NaNoWriMo, and even the part of it made specifically for writers under 18. I suggest participating in the monthly writing program, but you're also able to write on the site all times of the year. It's a very straight-forward, fun format to use, with a very friendly, encouraging community. And once the book is done, you're connected with a partnering self-publishing company ('Blurb'), then guided through most of the process. NaNoWriMo YWP is highly recommended for your very first novel.
3-Now Novel.com
link: https://www.nownovel.com/
This one's fairly new, and not free, but for sure the most professionally complex. It's an extremely thorough site that covers nearly all the areas of writing. There are tips, word-counters, mentors, and tutorials. Now Novel may be a bit harder to access for younger people (because of the fee, and all the adult influence), but this site is still worth mentioning. If you choose to put the money and work in, I'm sure it'll all be worth it.
P.S: usually what I do is I write the first draft of my book on a simple documents program (using a USB stick to back it up), and then write the second and third (final) draft using programs like these above. This is because when you're book's in online programs like these, it's much easier to get editors and publishers connected to it. Things might be easier for you if you do the same, but that's only a suggestion.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Here are a few other sites and programs that will help with your improvement and involvement as a writer.
--Wattpad
You might already know about this site, or even already be using it. Wattpad is very popular, and for a good reason. You can read and write as many books as you could watch videos on Youtube--and you know how just reading and writing for fun can improve your professional writing.
....Just don't look for my old profile on there, because I wrote some cringy stuff.
--Young Writers' Society
A close-nit community of writers between 13 and 25, YWS encourages creative submissions and offers many tips for you to practice with.
--Writers' Digest
Although this website isn't specifically designed for young writers, it's helped me so much over the years. Think of it as a mix of the earlier described 'The Positive Writer' and 'TheWritePractice'--a mix of promotion, useful resources, and writing lessons. You can subscribe to these guys or just visit their site every once in a while.
I hope all of this helped you! Have a great weekend, everyone, and keep your eyes peeled for next week's post!
http://www.readbrightly.com/6-great-websites-teen-writers/
