Are you a Linux user with a passion for writing? If so, check out these essential tools for the job.
Writing is a key skill in the modern world, whether it's directly how you make a living or not. Whether you're writing notes or emailing clients, most jobs include at least some use of the written word. Even outside of work, more and more communication is moving towards the written word. Don't rush through these things, take your time and do it right. Develop writing as a skill, because it will reward you. But it's much easier to do if you have the right tools.
Word processors are great, and Linux users can use Open Office / Libre Office or AbiWord. Abiword is the best free lightweight word processor. Abiword is the best free lightweight word processor. If you need a program that supports a wide variety of file formats, Abiword might be the one for you. It's not as powerful as Microsoft... Read More
These free writing tools are not first of all However, to write. They are for placing content on a page for printing. If you're writing for a website or email, or just not concerned with design, they do a lot more than you need. That's why I like FocusWriter FocusWriter - Beautiful, Distraction-Free, Minimalist Text Editor FocusWriter - Beautiful, Distraction-Free, Minimalist Text Editor Read More
Repeating the same word when typing is problematic. Add a little variety by using a thesaurus. There are plenty of options online, but if you want something hosted locally on your computer, check out Artha. This simple program runs quickly so you can go back to typing after you find the word you need.
You can almost certainly find Artha in your distro repositories right now, so go ahead and install it. Ubuntu users can simply click here to install Artha. Users of other distributions can find Artha's installation instructions here.
It is important as a writer to keep your thoughts organized. A personal wiki can help a lot, giving you a place to collect ideas and organize them with cross-links. TomBoy, a Linux note-taking app How to Sync Tomboy Notes Across Different Computers and Operating Systems How to Sync Tomboy Notes Across Different Computers and Operating Systems Read More .
If you don't like the way TomBoy works, check out Zim, a desktop wiki ZIM - A Desktop Wiki / Note Taking App [Linux, Windows] ZIM - A Desktop Wiki / Note Taking App [Linux , Windows] Read more. It's a desktop wiki, but different from TomBoy in many ways. If you like using wikis on the web, you'll love this tool.
Plus:It's named after the greatest cartoon alien of all time.
We mention Dropbox more than enough here at MakeUseOf, but there's a reason for that:it's awesome. If you're a writer who primarily uses Linux, it's almost essential.
Dropbox can automatically sync your writing between your computers, so it's essential if you own more than one device. Even if you own only one computer, you'll want to use Dropbox, as it automatically backs up your work to the cloud every time you save it. Even better is that you can go back to an earlier version of the file, within the last 30 days, at any time. This is great if you accidentally delete a large chunk of text and click "save."
I do most of my writing for this and other blogs on Linux, and find these tools indispensable. Together they make my workflow what it is, and I am extremely grateful to the developers of all of them.
While researching this article, I came across Writing On Linux, a blog dedicated to describing Linux tools for writers. Be sure to check out the blog for more cool ideas, but keep in mind that updates are rare.
Do you have any other great free writing tools for Linux? Let us know about them in the comments below, because we love learning from our readers.
