Writers need all kinds of resources, from writing guides to video essays. The following are some of my favorites—they may not all relate strictly to writing, but I’ve found them useful, fun, or informative. I’ll be adding more as I discover them!

Websites

Newpages.com
Newpages is a great site that offers so many resources, including which journals are currently open to submissions. You can find writing contests, book reviews, writing programs, and more. It’s my go-to site when I’ve got a packet of poems burning a hole in my poetry folder.

Poets & Writers
Arguably the most “official” hub for writers, P&W offers tons of content and help for writers. You can also find calls for submissions here, as well as MFA programs, literary events near you, and publishers that may be interested in your work. Their magazine is legit and useful if you want to spend the money on a subscription.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
NaNo, as it’s called by participants, is a wonderful organization and event that takes place every November, where writers around the world connect and attempt to write 50,000 words in one month. But even if it’s not November, NaNo has fun stuff going on. You can track your writing progress, find a community near you, and learn about their charity and school projects.

Writers Write
This New Zealand-based resource is amazing. They have over 1,400 articles on the subject of writing, fun prompts, literary trivia, and dozens of writing courses (some are even free!). I love the simplicity of their website and how easy it is to navigate and read. Their articles are always helpful and up-to-date, such as their “What Do Publishers Want in 2023?” They definitely know how to bring the tea.

British Library Free Historical Illustrations
I can’t count the times I’ve visited the British Library’s Flickr account to find illustrations from the time period of my novel! They have all sorts of albums, from letters & topography to fauna and comic art. All of it’s historical and completely free to use—just remember to credit the British Library wherever you post or publish it. I’ve utilized many fun illustrations for my side projects, but I also just like to browse and step back in time.

Fantasy Name Generators
No matter if you’re writing a historical novel, a fantasy novel, a D&D adventure, or literally anything—this site will help you find the perfect name. Generate character names, location names, civilization names, tribe names, magic artifact names, J-Pop group names…anything under the sun (and beyond). If you need a little inspiration, you can even generate whole descriptions. There’s no beating how insanly specific this site gets.

Asteroid Typing Game
I learned to type back in 1998 from a game that came on a disk. This game doesn’t teach you to type (though the website itself has good quality lessons that I recommend), but it’s addictive, challenging, and great for when you just need to focus your mind on something. Plus who doesn’t love asteroids? Whet your finger muscles and try to make it to level 30!

RhymeZone
This site is prime when you need to rhyme—indeed, I use it all the time! Okay, so that was lame, but you get the idea. RhymeZone has helped me access the lyrical part of my brain. I love how it offers rhymes based on how many syllables they are, so you can always find something to match your rhythmn. Now go and write, you bedlamite!

YouTube Channels

Tasting History with Max Miller
Every Tuesday Max posts a new video of him making and discussing a historical dish. He’s a fantastic storyteller, has a great sense of humor, loves Pokemon (there’s always one lurking in the background of his videos), and he goes above and beyond to ensure his research is correct. Some of my favorites were his meals of the Titanic series and of course the very odd and entertaining ancient-era dishes.

Kaz Rowe
Kaz’s videos are basically like beautifully-written, fascinating essays. They say in their About section, “I love history and I love subjecting people to my unhinged rants about it.” But they are far from ranting—they are eloquent, funny, and know what the heck they’re talking about. I love that they even dress in historical garb! My favorite is Kaz’s deep-dive into ghost-hunting and its history.

Khadija Mbowe
Khadija’s content is more current as opposed to historical, but her deconstructions and analyses of media, culture, society, and psychology are always on point. Listening to her is like listening to your best friend who is not only passionate but brings the sources, and she’s got a great singing voice to boot. Her videos are thought-provoking and relevant to anyone who identifies as a feminist, LGBTQA+, and/or a minority in society. I really love her Beauty is in the Eye of…the Colonizer?

Alyssa Matesic
With a decade of editing experience in the publishing industry, Alyssa knows her stuff and her channel reflects it. She creates industry-specific videos that help writers figure out all the steps of the process—even writing itself. I love her perspective and insider knowledge about what editors do, what literary agents are looking for, and how to create the perfect query letter and book manuscript.

Christy Anne Jones
A fellow writer and book-lover, Christy’s videos are delights for the curious and creative. She tries famous authors’ writing routines, talks about books she’s read, posts cozy writing vlogs, discusses productivity, and even reads short stories by the sea. Her sweet, autumnal, and relatable vibe makes watching her videos feel like you’re hanging out with your best writer friend who always knows exactly what you’re going through.

The Institute of Human Anatomy
This one’s for the science curious out there who want to know more about the human body. The channel is run by a private human cadaver lab that teaches healthcare professionals, but they make short, informative videos for the public as well. You can learn what sugar does to the body, why the heck we have knee caps, how the brain changes in reaction to blindness, and a lot more. Just be careful if you’re particularly squeamish!

Blue Turtle
Out of hundreds of fantasy ambience channels, Blue Turtle stuck out with its incredible art and animations and overall vibe. It makes me feel like I’m actually stepping into another world. The channel owner is the artist and each music track has different composers, so you’re getting something fresh and interesting every few minutes. Blue Turtle offers all kinds of ambience, from busy marketplaces to calming seasides.