There’s an App for That: Top 5 Writing Apps for 2013

By Julia Cox, Writing Consultant

Do you ever wish an omnipotent force would freeze your browser and lure you back to your writing project? 

Not to be cliché, but there’s an app for that. Technology has made it easier than ever to manage your time, enhance your writing, and achieve your academic goals.  As I sit here attempting to write this blog post on a sleepy Sunday—with open tabs of Facebook, Perez Hilton, Oprah.com, and Gchat—I can certainly relate.

In no particular order, here are some popular apps to help you make the best of your writing:

Freedom

Freedom literally takes away your ability to browse the web during certain hours. Simply load the software, tell the program how long you wish to write internet free, and it does the rest.  Highly recommended for procrastinators, blog junkies, and professional time wasters.  If the antics of Justin Bieber hinder your writing goals, this app’s for you.

Dropbox

Adhering to the mantra of no bad crash goes unpunished, Dropbox prevents a computer disaster from signaling a lost document. Available for computers and mobile devices, Dropbox saves all files to a cloud folder accessible anywhere.

Grammar App HD 

Ever had a brainwave on the go? Needed to jot down a personal communication? This iPhone/iPad app is a transcriber for the future. Simply speak into the app and it generates text. You can then email it to yourself or store it on the app. You can even tell Dragon Dictation to send texts!

Advanced English Dictionary and Thesaurus

This is not your average mobile dictionary. With 250,000 entries, 1.6 million words, and 134,000 pronunciation guides, the AED can help you determine the right word, access synonyms, discover root words, compare multiple meanings, and find examples. It’s also excellent Scrabble training.