Basic Tools for the Beginning Writer

It was Virginia Woolf who wrote that every woman writer need a room of one's own. Well, every writer does need their own space to write. Beginning writers also needs key writing tools.

1. A Space of One's Own A space where you like to write could be a physical space, perhaps at a desk or a table in your house, where there is an Internet connection. There might be a quiet space in your house, a tucked away corner where you write where nobody will bother you. Perhaps your space is at a Starbucks or otherwifi enabled coffeehouse. For some writers, there local library is a quieter place to collect thoughts and write. And for others, the great outdoors, under a tree, or by a lake is a place to make one's own. Lucky writers will have an entire home office at their disposal, where a closed door will help the words flow.

2. A Good Dictionary Every writer needs a really good dictionary. Perhaps a hardbound dictionary that you've had forever, and it's kept within arms reach of your coveted writing space. Your favorite online dictionary could be the Merriam-Webster dictionary or Dictionary.com. A subject-specific dictionary is a must for any technical or specialty writer. Writer of science fiction will also benefit fro ma topical dictionary. One place to find topical glossaries and dictionaries is Glossarist.

3. An Idea File Every writer needs an idea file. Ideas come at the most inconvenient times, while showering, driving, drifting off to sleep or exercising. Those tiny scraps of paper a writer might be collecting from the monsoon of ideas can easily get lost if not organized and filed away properly. The options for maintaining an idea file are endless. A simple index card file box can be found at any dollar store and is a great tool for any writer. Index cards, too are an inexpensive yet indispensable resource. Keep a small stack of index cards wherever you are likely to think of ideas. File them daily. When you sit down to write, pull out a random card or find a specific one that you'd like to tackle.