Sometimes all you need to do is to ask the right question. Here is a pretty big directory of questions. No answers--just questions.Haiku Generators from everypoet.com generates different forms of Haiku's at the push of a button.
Imagination Prompt Generator From Creative Portal. They suggest a topic or let you choose a seasonal picture to inspire your writing.
The Metaphor Machine Hans Christian Andersen Online Metaphor Machine randomly flashes different metaphors.
Poetryexpress Takes you through the steps of writing free verse poetry.
Abstract Art Title Generator A dry title like Metaphysical Continuation may be the jumpstart you into writing your next essay or parody.
Behind the Name Random Name Generator names based on intended etymology or family history.
Errant Dreams Articles, writing warmups, exercises, and links.
Detailed character Generator by Serendipity also offers a fantasy name generator and Frenchboy generator.
Electronic Knowledge System Negotiations - language of gestures. Not by any means all inclusive. A smile may be a sign of benevolence or it may be a threat. But this site may help you get started on character actions beyond "He nodded." "She smiled while shaking her head no."
Dramatic Situations Georges Polti says that all stories boil down to just 36 dramatic situations and takeoffs of those situations. Somebody else out there added #37. If you're stuck for a situation, try this.
Fake Name Generator Name, address, mother's maiden name, visa card number...
Feaths Bookcase Random generators including character, plots, and quotes. Sentence starters and daily prompts.
Food for Thought a Bible verse, a quote and a website for more background.
Sometimes all you need to do is to ask the right question. Here is a pretty big directory of questions. No answers--just questions.
Hatch's Plot Bank over 2000 scenarios designed to help novel, short story, movie, television, play, and video game writers develop new plot ideas.
Language is a Virus Overcome writer's block with these computer generated texts.
The Nightmare Room Find and click on the teachers link to access the pdf file geared for grades 3-8 but useful for adults who want to learn how to generate writing ideas for writing fiction to getting your work published. Save this useful handout to a folder on your computer. Requires Adobe Acrobat.
Random Name Generator uses data from the US Census to randomly generate male and female names.
Seventh Sanctum Story line, character, villainous plot, B-movie title generator just to list a few.
The Story A Day Writers Kit is a structured approach. This page gives you plenty of topics to write about.
Story Starter Story starters for childrens language arts. Sometimes if you start from the beginning...
Story Starter Provides 298 million creative ideas for writers of all ages.
WritingFix Plot generator and prompt generator, right and left brain inspirations.
(Windows programs-- it will work if your modem is dead.)
Brain Box Freeware to: generate ideas, sort info, discern meaning in your writing, polish your speaking and reading skills. Use a download manager for this one. Write Now contains templates to brainstorm, structure, research and begin evaluating your essay or story for MS Word and Open Office.
FFlite Helps writer by generating random ideas based on movies and the audience you want to reach.
Greenfish Relief Map Generator Generate a landscape for your characters and plot to revolve around. Sometimes you just need your bearings and the story comes forth. Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista.
The Inspirator Generates random pieces of inspirational text. Choose from sci-fi, fantasay, literature, modern or names under Themes, and click on Inspire. Open yor Word processor and start writing.Windows, Mac and Linux versions.
MikkoMatrix Runs from extracted file. Press the button SURPISE ME to get two random words or phrases to jump start your memory. Windows 9x/ME/XP/2000/NT.
Smart Bee Sometimes a quote will snap you out of writers block. Freeware quotes Murphy's laws, Devil's Dictionary, myths, jokes, computer mimics, facts, stories, Hacker Jargon File, Deep Thoughts and from famous people. Allows you to extract the supplied fortune cookie file and make your own cookies. Windows 9x/ME/XP/2000/NT4
Write Sparks sits alone on your desktop. Like the Imagination Prompt Generator, Write Sparks gives you a cue. So write your heart out. Windows95/98/2000/ME/XP/Vista.
(One or two software programs should do it. I prefer Text Block Writer and Argumentative but friends swear by The Literary Machine. The best program allows you to complete whatever accomplishment in a way you can cope with.)
Argumentative Visually map out your stand on any subject. A plus for plotting out editorials, essays, and mystery plots. Exports to MS Word and Power Point. 32 bit Windows.
Diary Book includes event reminder, address book, an alarm, picture manager, built-in mailer, HTML & Web Diary and To-Do List. Windows 95/98/ME/NT/XP.
The Guide an open source program that helps organize thoughts, ideas, info, notes and ideas in a hierarchical, tree-like structure. Exports to rtf. Windows 2000 and upwards- XP, 2003, 2008, Vista.
Free Mind Essay writing and brainstorming outlining software. Works with Windows, Macs and Linux operating systems.
The Literary Machine Freeware that helps you organize random notes and ideas for analysis and future reference. Works with Windows NT, 2000, or XP.
Keynote Tabbed notepad and tree form outliner. Works in RFT file format. Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000 and XP.
Notebox Disorganizer. is for people who like to keep their mess splattered all across the screen right where they can see it; a spreadsheet-style note collection program. Windows 95-98-ME-2000-XP.
Ready Notes Ctrl+click on any valid URL, e-mail or Windows directory. Create as many categories as you need. Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP.
Text Block Writer Software by Brian. A virtual index card program intended for people who use paper index cards to write all the notes and pieces of an essay, and then arrange the pieces and then use that to type them into the computer. Exports to an RFT file format. Windows.
Topicscape Student Edition 3D concept mapper and study aid. Saves and organizes text and websites to a 3D visual aid on your desktop.
Tree Pad Lite A personal data base with spell check, bible study and novel writing templates. Windows, Mac, Linux and Java versions.
TreeDBNotes Freeware version stores and represents your information in a comfortable and clear tree-structured form. Full text and paragraph formatting functions like in WordPad. Import and export from and to txt, wri, rtf, Excell, Word, and html. Windows 98/ME/XP/NT/2000.
Vizual Einstein ME Needs Visual Basic 5. Works poorly with VisualBasic 6. Cool Program if you don't have other programs you can't part with that run under Visual Basic 6. Create unlimited database files. Drag and drop graphics and text from other applications. Import from Freeware program LITTLE yelow stickers. View visual tree in data base and outline views. Each note virtually unlimited in size. Import, edit and save text, graphics, Windows shortcuts, and HTML files in a Note. Separately save a note as a .txt or .rtf file.
WriteItNow Free demo features allows you to view sample stories, create characters, names, titles and ideas but won't let you save anything. You must download the demo before registering the full $40 version. It allows you to save your work, spell check, format your novel in RFT format, and record your submissions.
