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writing aids for writers and authors

Electricka and her muses are pleased to offer this list of aids for writers and authors (see below). Some items on the list serve as reference works; they contain information that writers may look up to help themselves while writing. Other items are intended to help writers hone and polish their skills in between writing sessions.

  • For more information about the purpose of this feature, click About These Writing Aids, below.

All of the aids on the list are available at features located at Electricka's web site:

  • To visit a specific aid, click the name of the aid.
  • For additional information on how to get the most from an aid, click the name of a page in the More Information column adjacent to a citation.
  • For general information about the aids on this list, click About These Writing Aids, below.
  • For instructions on how to use this list to access aids, click How To Access These Writing Aids, below.
  • To see both About These Writing Aids and How To Access These Writing Aids, click Expand All, below.

about these writing Aids

Writing Aids For Writers And Authors is a list of features at Electricka's web site that can help writers and authors write easier, better and with more accuracy:

  • It provides links to a number of factual information references a writer may want to access while writing.

  • It suggests links to features containing general information on topics that can help a writer improve his writing.

Basically, there are three kinds of aids:

  1. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, tables, or other kinds of references that yield direct answers to a writer's direct questions. For example, the Table of Latinisms is an automated table of Latin terms with English translations that is located at Electricka's web site. Open the Table, type in a Latin or English keyword, and the translation appears.
  2. Facilities that help writers identify and find sources of writing-related information and writing aids. For example, Electricka's Resource Shelf is an automated database that lists resources, references, and writing aids. This database can help writers identify writing-related reference materials and writing aids and then to access them:
    • Some of the reference materials and writing aids on the Shelf are located at bookstores, libraries, or similar facilities. A writer must physically travel to these locations to obtain a specified writing aid.
    • Other reference materials and writing aids are located online at Electricka's web site or at other web sites. If a writing aid is located at a web site, the Shelf provides a link to it. To access the aid, a writer can click the link and open a page at the web site directly from the Shelf.
  3. General information on topics that a writer may want to brush up on. For example, a writer setting out to compose a story about seafarers may want to know about how sailors tell time onboard oceangoing vessels; a writer setting out to write a story about painters may want to brush up on art history.

How to access these writing aids

The table below is a list writer's aids:
  • Click the name of a writer's aid and it will open.
  • To learn more about a specific writer's aid, click in the More Information column.

Writer's aids

Writer's Aid Description More Information
Electricka's Resource Shelf An electronic bibliography of arts-related institutions; people; traditional and computerized reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopedias; bibliographies of books, readers guides, sound and video recordings, films, and much more. The Shelf also lists arts-related institutions, people, facilities such as museums, performance halls, theaters, and performances. Many of these resources are reader's aids that can be used online. Electricka's Resource Shelf
Works In The History Of Western Art A searchable and sortable table containing the names of scores of artists, their works, and movements in the Western fine arts tradition. Capsule History Of Western Art
Movements In Western Art A searchable and sortable table that identifies the most significant and prominent arts movements that have arisen in the Western art tradition and the periods in which each movement occurred. It briefly describes the salient characteristics of each movement Capsule History Of Western Art
Western Artists A searchable and sortable table that identifies works by important or prominent artists in the Western art tradition and identifies the main art movement each work represents or expresses. Capsule History Of Western Art
Latin Terms A searchable and sortable table containing hundreds of definitions of Latin words, phrases, quotations, and abbreviations. In addition to definitions, the table offers you information about the origins of the terms it contains, their sources, alternate translations and meanings, explanations, comments, and other kinds of useful and informative items About Latinisms
Animal Group Names And Descriptors A searchable and sortable table that may surprise or amuse you. For example, did you know that one of the names for a group of pigeons is a dropping? One may speak of a dropping of pigeons.

The table contains a list of the popular and common names for many different kinds of animals (e.g., ape, baboon, ass, and bat). One or more group names for each animal is supplied in most cases. For example, shrewdness and troop are terms used to refer to a group of apes—a shrewdness of apes; battery is a term used to refer to a group of barracudas—a battery of barracudas. The table also contains a descriptive term (genre or class name) for most of the animals. For example, a sparrow is a member of the passerine family.

 
Animal Sex And Progeny Names Many animals have different names for the male, female, and young. For example, a male alligator is a bull; a female alligator is a cow; and a baby alligator is a hatchling. This aid is a searchable and sortable table of such names.  
Sailors & Sailing Sailing, sailing over the bounding main... Bound with the muses as they translate nautical terms into English; keep time with ship's bells; bone up on all sorts of sailing miscellany, from superstition to fact, from the time of the trireme to today's nuclear aircraft carrier. If you're reading or writing about sailing and the sailor's life, you'll be glad you did.  
Tell Time Like A Sailor Shed your landlubber status. After you read this page you'll be able to tell time like a sailor—The Muses guarantee it.  
Proofreaders' Marks Proofreaders' Marks is a multi-page list containing most of the standard proofreader marks you are likely encounter when writing. These marks are especially useful to a writer whose work has been edited and who needs assistance with interpreting an editor's markups. Entries contain a description of a correction or change an editor might request and the graphic symbols that represent the change. Examples are included. Proofreaders' Marks is contained in a file organized in PDF format.

Proofreaders' Marks is aimed primarily at writers but is also helpful to editors and avid readers.

No-Cost Downloads From Electricka
Prizes For Literature Prizes treated in this feature are awarded by recognized institutions and agencies. Historically, each institution has concentrated on a specific branch of literary endeavor and each has adopted a characteristic name for its prize.  
Glossary Of Literary Terms An automated literary glossary containing a large number of definitions of a variety of different kinds of literary terms. These definitions are arranged in the form of an automated table. A visitor can conveniently search table entries for occurrences of a text string that represents and expresses his literary interests. Look for an explanation of the Glossary and directions for how to use it at The Muse Of Literature's page called Literary Terminology - Glossary Of Literary Terms: click here. Literary Terminology Glossary Of Literary Terms
Literary Forms Here, The Muse Of Literature explores authors and works that are strongly associated with a specific form of literature. Examples of authors and works of literature characterized by their form are novelists, short story writers, literary dramatists, poets, essayists, and their principal works. The Muse also explores issues and questions related to the subject of literary form. Technical Aspects of Literature
Literary Genres Here, The Muse Of Literature explores authors and works strongly associated with a specific literary genre or themes and subjects. Examples of authors and works characterized by or associated with genres are Isaac Asimov (Science Fiction), Zane Grey (Western Fiction), J.R.R. Tolkein (Fantasy), Agatha Christie (Mystery Fiction), and Stephen King (horror). The Muse also explores issues and questions related to the subject of genre in literature. Technical Aspects of Literature
Literary Periods In these pages, The Muse Of Literature explores authors and literary bodies of work from the point of view of the periodthe time and placein which they are written. The authors and works explored here are strongly associated with a specific national or regional literary tradition. The Muse also explores the idea of literary period itself, as well as literary issues that arise because of literary periodicity and location. Technical Aspects of Literature
People First-Name Equivalents The Muse Of Language Arts presents a table of people-first name equivalents. With the help of this table, if you know a person's first name in one language, you can find the equivalent name in any one of a number of other languages.

If you're an author seeking to find just the right name for a character, you'll be able to search the table for ideas.

 
Welcome To Expository Prose Writing The primary goal of this feature is to explore aspects of prose writing that help writers understand and write expository prose. Writers who explore the general nature of expository prose are better able to know how to write it. Polish your expository writing and reading skills and deepen your knowledge of exposition generally.  
Welcome To The World Of Creative Writing Creative writing is the creativity exhibited by a literary work is its originality of thought or expression. A work that is creative results from and displays its author's originality of thought or expression and his imagination.

Explore the nature of creative writing and discover reasons why writers of all types of literature should seek to write creatively. Along the way, define and examine the creative writing process itself and improve your own creative writing.

 
Writer's Universe Writers' Universe is a collection of writing resources you can explore and exploit, some of which are located at Electricka's web site and some of which are located in or at publications, web sites, educational institutions, books, software, bookstores, libraries, educational institutions, and elsewhere.

The Muse Of Language Arts has compiled this list of resources especially to meet the needs and desires of writers and authors and to assist them to expand their creative and expository writing horizons.

Many of these resources offer opportunities for writers to improve, publish, distribute, or sell their writing or their writing skills. Others offer education, training, or the chance to teach what they know and love.

Writers' Universe also keeps writers abreast of what's happening in the world that affects writers and authors—what writers, publishers, and the public are doing, saying. or planning. It allows writers to compare and contrast their work and their world with the work and world of other writers.

 
Writer's Discussion Group

Keep up with what’s happening in the world of writing. Submit your questions about writing to authors and writers. Volunteer to help others by answering their questions.

Send in (post) your questions about writingstyle, grammar, good usage, logic, and the liketo the Writer's Discussion Group. Expect and answer from another discussion group member or The Muse Of Language Arts.

Share what you know with others interested in writing. Help others with their writing or get help. Exchange tips and ideas. Discuss writing pros and cons, experiences, issues, writing, writers, or anything related to writing that seems relevant. Ask questions about writing, literature, and the language arts.

 
Electricka's Resource Shelf Electricka's Resource Shelf is a compendium of all sorts of arts-related resources, including many of interest to writers. It's similar to a reference desk at a library or to reference works you might buy at a bookstore to use at home, school, or at the office. With the help of Electricka's Resource Shelf you will be able to identify the writing resources you want to consult and then visit, contact, or obtain them, whether they are online or at physical locations.

Here's a smattering of some of the different kinds of resources listed in the compendium: web sites, books, software, bookstores, libraries, educational institutions, pages at Electricka's web site. The Shelf also contains citations of places you can visit, things you can do, and people or organizations you can contact about writing.

 
Writing Right User's Page Writing Right© is a computerized personal writing assistant developed by ETAF that can help users write better prose. Electricka has set aside a page at her web site called the Writing Right User's Page. Writing Right users visit this page to learn about the latest developments in the world of writing. The Users Page is a writer's resource.  
Technical Aspects of Literature The technical aspects of any written work are its properties and techniques as seen from a literary and language perspective.

All writing incorporates and is made up of technical elements like meter, form, sound (rhyme), and figures of speech. Techniques and language elements like these are common to all fields of writing; all writers use them, deliberately or subconsciously. Any particular work can by analyzed, understood, described, and classified by the combination of the writing elements it incorporates.

Explore writing and writings from a technical and design point of view—structure, organization, tone, style, language constructions, and all the other technical aspects that make for coherent, expressive, and effective writing, or its opposite.

 
No-Cost Downloads Of Interest To Writers Electricka offers a selection of no-cost writer's aids that you download to your computer for your personal use. Look for them at this feature.  
Miscellaneous Additional Features As a writer, you may also be interested in these features:  
The People First Name Equivalents Table

This table lists over 200 male and female English language first names that have equivalent names in other languages. The etymological meanings of names are provided.

If you're an author seeking to find just the right name to give your fictional or non-fictional character, this table can be a real help. If there's more than one equivalent name for a given language, the additional equivalents are included and alternative spellings are accounted for. You'll be able to use your computer to come up with all sorts of naming ideas.

About The People First Name & Given Name Equivalents Table
...More Coming!    

 

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