The following are writing and blogging resources I personally use. I can wholeheartedly recommend each of them if you have a particular need in that area.

I have joined the affiliate programs for some of these products, so by making a purchase you will be supporting Write It Sideways in a practical way. Please do check them out for yourself to see if they suit your current needs before considering a purchase however.

Story Structure: Larry Brooks

What if you could take the big picture of novel writing and condense it into one handy resource? That’s how I feel about bestselling author Larry Brooks’ ebook, Story Structure Demystified.

His tagline is:

What to write, where to put it, why it works there, and why none of it will be remotely formulaic.

If you’re planning on writing a novel, you’re going to need a solid grasp of story structure. You’ll learn about:

• Part I: The Set Up
• Pinch Point I
• Part II: The Response
• The Mid-Point Contextual Shift
• Part III: The Attack
• Pinch Point II
• Part IV: The Resolution

Larry gives you a simple breakdown of what is required at each stage, along with insight into character arc and foreshadowing.

I’ve read Story Structure Demystified cover-to-cover several times, and keep a file of notes on the content in my writing resource binder, so I can refer to them at a moment’s notice.

Click here to find out more about Story Structure Demystified along with Larry’s other eBooks.

Proofreading: Grammarly

Grammarly is an immensely useful online grammar and plagiarism checker for anyone who writes.

Ideal for bloggers, freelance writers, authors, and students. I subscribe to the program and use it often to check my blog posts, freelance articles, and even fiction for errors.

Writing Software: Scrivener

Oh, how I love Scrivener. It makes working on my novel a pleasure.

Specifically designed for Mac users, Scrivener is an easy-to-navigate program that allows you to break down your manuscript into sections and chapters, then click and drag the files to reorder them.

Reading: Amazon Kindle 3

I finally broke down and bought an Amazon Kindle in November 2010, and I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy using it.

Watch my video review of the Kindle 3 here.

Video: Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera

My Youtube videos are recorded using the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera. I also use this brilliant little camera for capturing videos of my children.

Keep an eye on the Write It Sideways Youtube channel for my latest videos.

WordPress Web Hosting: Hostgator

Hostgator is my web host. From my non-technical perspective, it’s just where Write It Sideways is stored, and is brought reliably to you each time you come to visit

WordPress Theme: Thesis

My “Web Guy”, Peter, tells me that Thesis is the theme used to customise the site.

If you know a good WordPress Web Guy (like I do!) then a theme like Thesis gives you a lot of great options to make the most of your blog.

Email Subscriptions: Aweber

I use Aweber to run my monthly newsletter and also to email out all new articles to subscribers.

Try it for just $1 in your first month. They have some great training videos to help you get started. If you’re like me, having the chance to try at no or low cost is really important when you’re on a tight budget!

Blog Mentoring: A-List Blogging Club

Whether you’re a new blogger or an experienced one, the A-List Blogger Club has something for you.

I first learned about the club and became a member after joining the first A-List Blogging Bootcamp offered by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits and Mary Jaksch of Write to Done.

Read more about my personal experience with past A-List bootcamps and as a member of the blogger club.

Blog Support: Peter from Web Services for Business

Behind every good blogger is a reliable web guru, and it just so happens that I’m married to one of the best out there!

Peter’s technical expertise is truly the driving force behind Write It Sideways. Everything you see on my site (minus the writing and photographs, of course) is set-up and managed by Peter.

Jennifer Blanchard of Procrastinating Writers wrote a post about how Peter came to the rescue when her blog got hacked and she lost all of her content.

If you have a blog, website, or business which could benefit from reliable website advice and support, please contact Peter to learn more.