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Yes, Google is great. Really, it’s revolutionized the world. But the web doesn’t end at Google’s doors. For the writer, there are some really, really terrific research tools just waiting to be discovered. So, let’s discover ‘em!
Ms. Freckles – Crisply designed site that puts a boatload of info at your fingertips. It’s particularly strong for writers needing translations or definitions of non-English words. http://www.msfreckles.com/index.php?lang=en
Questia – Offers access to a huge collection of books and journal articles in the humanities and social sciences, plus magazine and newspaper articles, much of which are unavailable elsewhere. There’s a monthly cost, but you can get a 72 hour free trial to check it out. http://www.questia.com
Yahoo Kids – OK, you’ve heard of Yahoo, but have you checked out this search tool? From this page, you’ll be able to dig through pop culture in no time. Need to know what your readers are into? Here’s where to turn! http://kids.yahoo.com
Complete Planet - Got some serious research to do? Have a look at Complete Planet, which provides over 70,000+ searchable “deep web” databases and specialty search engines. http://aip.completeplanet.com/
Yes, Google is great. Really, it’s revolutionized the world. But the web doesn’t end at Google’s doors. For the writer, there are some really, really terrific research tools just waiting to be discovered. So, let’s discover ‘em!
Ms. Freckles – Crisply designed site that puts a boatload of info at your fingertips. It’s particularly strong for writers needing translations or definitions of non-English words. http://www.msfreckles.com/index.php?lang=en
Questia - Offers access to a huge collection of books and journal articles in the humanities and social sciences, plus magazine and newspaper articles, much of which are unavailable elsewhere. There’s a monthly cost, but you can get a 72 hour free trial to check it out. http://www.questia.com
Yahoo Kids – OK, you’ve heard of Yahoo, but have you checked out this search tool? From this page, you’ll be able to dig through pop culture in no time. Need to know what your readers are into? Here’s where to turn! http://kids.yahoo.com/search
Complete Planet – Got some serious research to do? Have a look at Complete Planet, which provides over 70,000+ searchable “deep web” databases and specialty search engines. http://aip.completeplanet.com/
As a writer, you’re expected to know enough about your subject to write authoritatively about it. That’s fine if you’ve spent your life as a firefighter and your story is set in a firehouse. But what if you’re writing a story in which the main character dreams of being an Olympic diver, and you don’t even know how to swim?
That’s the sort of pickle writers find themselves in all the time. There’s a setting, an occupation, a hobby that just feels right for your character, but the writer is utterly ignorant about the details and inner workings that would bring such an element to life.
That’s why eHow.com is such a cool site. Their slogan is Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything and it’s a fair boast. Pay them a visit and you’ll know how to do a Forward One-and-a-Half Flip From a Springboard in a matter of minutes!
Whoa, this is cool. Jott.com is a free service that does lots of things, but the most immediately impressive is its voice to e-mail feature.
Here’s how it works:
1. Set up a Jott account by registering your e-mail and your phone number.
2. Program Jott’s toll-free number into your phone contacts.
3. Whenever you want, call the toll-free number and leave yourself a message.
4. The message is transcribed and e-mailed to you, along with a link to the actual audio.
The possibilities are numerous.
You’re in the library or the bookstore and you come across some titles you’ll want to study later. Jott yourself all the info and it will be waiting for you in your inbox.
You’re at a conference looking for subjects to interview for your blog when you meet a famous author. Call Jott and conduct the interview using the phone as a “microphone”. The entire interview will be transcribed and sent to you along with the audio.
Needless to say, there are hundreds more uses, and Jott has a lot more to offer, including the ability to send RSS feeds to your phone. A killer resource!
