Fifty (50!) Tools which can help you in Writing
Update (24/07/2006): Replaced the links with archive.org.
Roy Peter Clark from Poynter Institute has posted up 50 tools that can help you when you do any kinds of writing. This is a extensive list of writing tools, but by no mean you need to apply all of them when you do any writing. There are the Writing Tool links:
… You will become handy with these tools over time. You will begin to recognize their use in the stories you read. You will see chances to apply them when you revise your own work. Eventually, they will become part of your flow, natural and automatic …
Links of 50 Writing Tool
- Writing Tool #1: Branch to the Right
- Writing Tool #2: Use Strong Verbs
- Writing Tool #3: Beware of Adverbs
- Writing Tool #4: Period As a Stop Sign
- Writing Tool #5: Observe Word Territory
- Writing Tool #6: Play with Words
- Writing Tool #7: Dig for the Concrete and Specific
- Writing Tool #8: Seek Original Images
- Writing Tool #9: Prefer Simple to Technical
- Writing Tool #10: Recognize Your Story’s Roots
- Writing Tool #11 Back Off or Show Off
- Writing Tool #12: Control the Pace
- Writing Tool #13: Show and Tell
- Writing Tool #14: Interesting Names
- Writing Tool #15: Reveal Character Traits
- Writing Tool #16: Odd and Interesting Things
- Writing Tool #17: The Number of Elements
- Writing Tool #18: Internal Cliffhangers
- Writing Tool #19: Tune Your Voice
- Writing Tool #20: Narrative Opportunities
- Writing Tool #21: Quotes and Dialogue
- Writing Tool #22: Get Ready
- Writing Tool #23: Place Gold Coins Along the Path
- Writing Tool #24: Name the Big Parts
- Writing Tool #25: Repeat
- Writing Tool #26: Fear Not the Long Sentence
- Writing Tool #27: Riffing for Originality
- Writing Tool #28: Writing Cinematically
- Writing Tool #29: Report for Scenes
- Writing Tool #30: Write Endings to Lock the Box
- Writing Tool #31: Parallel Lines
- Writing Tool #32: Let It Flow
- Writing Tool #33: Rehearsal
- Writing Tool #34: Cut Big, Then Small
- Writing Tool #35: Use Punctuation
- Writing Tool #36: Write A Mission Statement for Your Story
- Writing Tool #37: Long Projects
- Writing Tool #38: Polish Your Jewels
- Writing Tool #39: The Voice of Verbs
- Writing Tool #40: The Broken Line
- Writing Tool #41: X-Ray Reading
- Writing Tool #42: Paragraphs
- Writing Tool #43: Self-criticism
- Writing Tool #44: Save String
- Writing Tool #45: Foreshadow
- Writing Tool #46: Storytellers, Start Your Engines
- Writing Tool #47: Collaboration
- Writing Tool #48: Create An Editing Support Group
- Writing Tool #49: Learn from Criticism
- Writing Tool #50: The Writing Process
Fifty Writing Tools - Poynter Online

Comments
ALC says on June 22nd, 2005 at 3:33 am
I look forward to using some of these helpful tips for my own writing. Awesome source…you rock and roll!
Vitaly Friedman says on June 22nd, 2005 at 7:23 pm
I must say I have found this article very useful. I am willing to visit Lifehack more often ;)
Thanks!
J.D. says on July 4th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Is the title to this entry intentionally ironic?
Fifty tools that can help you in writing. That.
For more, see: That or which?
Alek says on October 28th, 2005 at 6:09 am
Actually, this is a very useful list of links…. although it almost makes writing gynecological (spelling!). What happened to the creative art in writing? :)
Sam says on November 29th, 2005 at 3:16 pm
50 tools you will soon forget and will keep you from writing while you spend hours reading! The author needs to go back to basics - 5 tools tops, keep it short, keep the reader entertained.
Z says on December 5th, 2005 at 7:51 pm
Just read “Make Your Words Work” by Gary Provost.
Ivan Minic says on December 30th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
You get another link from my site :) Great job :)
Helene says on February 28th, 2006 at 9:06 am
here we go ….
http://www.43things.com/things/view/686
The Old Blue Truck says on March 7th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Now… where’s that adverb delete key…
Tim says on March 8th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
Great articles! I’m going to publish them right away.
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kkkkoaaa says on May 26th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Keep a good job up!
Sal says on July 18th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Roy Peter Clark has turned those fifty tools into a book. The tools are no longer available on the Poynter site, BUT if you’re interested in that sort of thing, Clark has started a blog covering similar information.
rimez says on July 23rd, 2006 at 12:46 pm
seems the links are broken now
Homebased Business | Residual Income Business Opportunity {dudung} says on August 20th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Best Writting Tools and Resources, i have ever found… Thanks for the creator..Godluck and Success.
Katie Morris says on August 22nd, 2006 at 11:16 am
Although it’s a long list, most of the tools have proved to be helpful. I’m sure the quality of my writing will improve if I keep them in mind!
Katie Morris
Adam Blinkinsop says on August 29th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
The tools have been removed from the source site! Through some digging, I managed to find them all again, but it seems like he’s put them into a book, so I’m not sure as to the legality of posting them. Contact me at my website if you want a copy.
Stacked Stone says on September 7th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Great list this will help me with my article writing.
Joshua Spaulding says on September 13th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Very usefull, I took a look at the #9 Writing Tool : Prefer Simple to Technical. I learned a few things. Thanks
Claudia Duell says on September 13th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Great site. This will help me create quality articles to promote my site. Thank You!!!!!
Rolf Hohmann says on September 13th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
WOW, very usefully. Just wanted to say thanks. I took a look at a few of the tools. This info will help me when considering articles for acception into my articles directory.
BooTCaT says on September 16th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
Technical tools along with softwares will be a plus .
Because , seeing your caption , i thought it was a software list .
Writing for Money says on October 1st, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Great article. Wish you could compile these tips into a pdf document for easy reference.
darin says on October 2nd, 2006 at 11:29 pm
thank’s for the links…
very useful links for me,
your site bookmarked!!
Xuru Internet Marketing says on October 14th, 2006 at 7:15 pm
Thank you for such a helpful list. If there is one thing I am always trying to improve, it’s my writing. Written words are the most important tool in selling online.
MK tools says on October 25th, 2006 at 2:03 am
Find the resource about tools very useful. An extensive search has been made by them to write such enlighting articles on writing tools.
Joshua says on October 29th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Great Tools, used a few of them allready. THANKS!
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J. Barber says on November 11th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
One of the many benefits to a good website is the writing style. The 50 links was a great start.
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Amir Elion says on November 18th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I like your ideas too.
Related to my 100 Creative Presentation Ideas at: http://www.best100ideas.com/ideas01.shtml
Grosstar says on November 29th, 2006 at 8:07 am
Perfect list of writing articles. I am going to study tonight and I am happy for finding this.
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RAY EDWARDS says on December 11th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Great list of tools for sure. Worth a bookmark!
getMP3Audiobooks.com says on December 11th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
A great post about writing. What I wonder though is whether reading is as important today with the rise in mp3 audiobooks? With reading going down and listening going up, audiobooks are sounding more like niche podcasts and less like traditional books and novels.
Kevin Browne says on December 12th, 2006 at 7:41 am
After 20 years as a Madison Avenue Copywriter, with several hundred television commercials under my belt, I believe that the greatest TOOL that any writer can and should have is DETERMINATION.
The willingness to never stop.
If there is something that needs to come out of you in the form of words…NEVER, EVER STOP.
This is a great topic. I’ve very glad I found it.
your mom says on December 18th, 2006 at 9:32 am
this is gay as aids
Nxqd3051990 says on December 19th, 2006 at 6:47 am
It’s really nice, thank you so much :)
— Thanks for reading and plz comment here — ((( Nxqd )))
The Marketing Mentor says on December 21st, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Great article tons of useful tips.
Audio Book Publishers says on December 23rd, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Hi, I’m new here, I find this blog very interesting! I’m definitely going to bookmark this site! I look forward to contributing.
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Beth says on January 5th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Some good stuff here. Even for an old-timer ;) (professional writer for 20 years). I sent it on to my daughters who are also writers.
Don Lapre Mickey says on January 12th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
This is an awesome list, I can’t say thank you enough. Will come in handy in my life mor ethan youwill know.
Mike
Don Lapre Mickey
webmaster@nanoosenativeplants.org
http://www.nanoosenativeplants.org
timothy smith says on January 13th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
thanks i needed that
Annerose says on January 30th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I thank you for your comment.
Heath Row says on February 16th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
You might be interested in the book Stop, Look, and Write! by Leavitt Hart Day. It’s a useful tool.
aqabon says on March 8th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Thanks for the list, and even more for the links to archive.org
I would like to add this link http://www.connexin.net/englis.....-good.html to a list of self-contradictory rules, which are nevertheless useful.
mark says on March 10th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
yes, the title should definitely be “Fifty Tools that can help you in writing.” Anything after “which” should be unnecessary, and in this case, it really isn’t. bad grammar…
dare says on March 12th, 2007 at 12:53 am
damn.i liked ur tricks nd kool suggestions .thanx
google synonym search tool says on March 14th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Here’s a nifty synonym search tool I came across. Good for writers, copywriters, songwriters.
http://www.synonymlab.com
We improve Search Engine Rankings says on April 26th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I got this book marked ! Great resources to teach yourself copywriting.
scott says on April 27th, 2007 at 10:36 am
I am journalist and this tool is very helpfull.Thanks.
writer4web says on May 2nd, 2007 at 9:43 am
Great Tips for writers!
I gave you a ‘thumbs up’ at StumbleUpon
writer4web
Alejandro Reyes says on May 12th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
phenomenal list! As someone that is learning to write - i find this list very comprehensive.
Thanks!
joezul says on May 24th, 2007 at 12:22 am
I stumbled on this site…wow, thank a lot. Great list. :)
Chris Denny (Lead Optimize) says on May 28th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Fantastic stuff. I am including this page as one of the writing tools on LeadOptimize.com/blog. Thank you for this great list. Chris Denny
Nxqd3051990 says on May 31st, 2007 at 2:33 am
Great list :)
nXqd
Rory says on June 3rd, 2007 at 7:33 pm
While I think this is useful to a point, some of these seem horribly off-base. “Beware of adverbs?” Adverbs tend to be the MOST powerful part of writing if used right. This is more a guide to simple writing rather than actually learning to write well.
Rob says on June 18th, 2007 at 5:56 am
I’m gonna follow these steps! thanks!
Daniel says on June 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Nice list, archives.org rock.
The Old Vic says on June 24th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
What an excellent site, so much stuff, I’ll be back to read it in more detail. Vic
Abela says on June 24th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Interesting tips. Thanks for providing them.
goonie baby says on July 21st, 2007 at 3:57 am
very great writing tools.thanks for this great tools, I have dugg this post.many thanks.
Goonie
Baby First Year
grace says on July 22nd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
useful tips…
sell your written material on my site:
http://www.gazhoo.com
much2say says on July 24th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Good work. Kept it in my favourites.
Nate says on August 1st, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Love this list. Thanks for pointing it out and creating the list of links.
Christopher says on August 3rd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Super useful. Thanks.
Jenny says on August 15th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Oh neat. I can use these tips for the upcoming nanowrimo! Thanks for the article.
Chris says on August 15th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Thanks for this article!! :)
Joe says on August 17th, 2007 at 11:27 am
If only I’d had these tools before I started writing
Rambo says on September 2nd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Let me guess - this site is a put-on, a joke, a hoax, right?
Between the headline and the first paragraph on this page, there are 9 errors - more, if one considers each instance of a mistake as a separate mistake.
Molly says on September 10th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Thanks. I’m sure the quality of my writing will improve ten times.
hanghoang says on September 11th, 2007 at 7:59 am
could you please contact me sa long as you can
Bonnie says on September 13th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Amazing list - a great springboard for beginners, and a rich reminder for more experienced writers. Two of my favorites: #19 and #39.
Terri says on September 17th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Not all of these links are working any more, seems like some of the original content has been moved from the Poynter site.
steve says on October 11th, 2007 at 8:48 am
confirm for links. Could somebody add new links…
jerlin says on October 24th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Hai…
you done a good job.. this tool is very useful to everyone…. keep touch with our link………..
A friend says on October 26th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Great work!
SF says on November 19th, 2007 at 3:13 am
Looked interesting, could NOT access the site for Fifty (50!) Tools which can help you in Writing. Tho’t i’d actually learn something… Is this a hoax?
Mike says on November 20th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
This is great,but some links don’t work…
salma says on November 24th, 2007 at 4:54 am <