Top 8 Free Online Tools for Freelance Writers

Today's guest post is written by freelancer Heather Johnson.

Thanks to the Internet, managing a career as a freelance writer has never been easier. Whether you are looking for help with the actual writing and research or the business end of things, you can find countless resources on the Web. Even more exciting is the fact that many resources are completely free to the public. Below are the top eight free online tools for freelance writers.

1. Google Docs & Spreadsheets – Never worry about losing your written work again. With Google Docs & Spreadsheets, you can write from any location with an Internet connection. Securely save your work online and pick up where you left off from another location. Not only can you save your work online, you will never again have to pay for commercial word-processing software. Also, you can share any of your online docs and spreadsheets with others for collaboration.

2. Citing Sources – This handy online guide from Duke University will help you to cite any source using MLA, APA, Chicago or Turabian style. If you have any doubts about whether or not you are citing something correctly, it is better to double-check than to accidentally plagiarize another writer.

3. OneLook Dictionary – Why use one online dictionary when you can use a dictionary search engine that combines hundreds of reference texts? Not only can you find definitions on this site, you can also translate any word.

4. The Elements of Style – Every writer should have this bible nearby. If you don't have a copy handy, Bartleby actually hosts the book online for free. Never again will you have to second-guess your sentence structure.

5. PayPal – This is the easiest way to invoice a client and to collect money. PayPal is used by millions of people worldwide and is considered to be a very secure way to conduct online transactions. The free invoicing tool couldn't be easier.

6. Morguefile – Need a free stock image to go with your latest written masterpiece? Look no further than Morguefile, a free resource for public domain imagery.

7. U.S. Census Bureau – When you are in need of a reliable statistic to back up your writing, you can always depend on the U.S. Census Bureau. You can find many studies and survey results on this site and they are all categorized by subject for your convenience.

8. Writeboard – This online collaboration tool is free of charge and comes in very handy for freelance writers. With this tool, you can view and edit work with people from around the globe in real time. For telecommuters, nothing could make collaboration easier.


By-line:

Heather Johnson is an industry critic, as well as a regular contributor on the subject of business credit cards. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.