Try something new
Check out these free writing resources created and curated by international writing expert Dr. Helen Sword. To keep up to date, sign up for Helen’s free Substack newsletter, Helen’s Word.
5-Day Stay-Home Writing Retreat
⭐️featured resource
August 10-14, 2026
Join our FREE global online retreat!
Can’t make it to one of our in-person writing retreats? This free online event provides you with twice-daily inspiration for staging a productive, nurturing 5-day writing retreat at home.
Facilitated by international writing expert Helen Sword, our self-paced retreat is suitable for any kind of writer, whether you aspire to carve out just an hour or two of daily writing time or are looking for a full-on immersive experience.
Register below to join our live 5-Day Stay-Home Writing Retreat during the week of August 10-14, 2026.
Writer’s Diet
⭐️craft workout
Shape up your sentences and strip unnecessary padding from your prose with Helen’s famous Writer’s Diet workout.
Roadblock Quiz
⭐️block buster
Turn your roadblocks into your rocket fuel with our free “What’s Your Writing Roadblock?” quiz.
Writing BASE
Diagnostic Tool
This innovative tool will teach you how to harness your strengths and address your writing challenges.
SPACE Gallery
pleasure map
Reconnect with the pleasures of writing by visiting this gallery of images drawn from Helen’s research findings.
AcWriMoments
daily inspiration
Find courage, clarity, and purpose in your scholarly work with these inspiring daily writing prompts.
Helen’s Word
⭐️youtube videos
Develop and sustain a flourishing writing practice with this free collection of wordcraft videos and timers.
Zombie
Nouns
grammar guide
Zap your zombies with Helen’s classic TedED video on nominalizations, watched by more than a million people.
Tarot for Scholars
ancient wisdom
Unlock the unique creative power of your scholarship by weaving the deep wisdom of tarot into your writing life.
Genai’s
Word
ai playground
Meet Genai ⚔️, a generative AI "genie" summoned and supervised by their human companion, Helen Sword.
Artist*
Academic
arts and minds
Put the arts at the heart of academic life with these arts-based resources for research, teaching, and leadership.
Stoneflower Path
digital poetry
Learn about the creative potential of digital poetry through this colorful gallery of hypermedia poems.
Further
Resources
links galore
Browse our collection of Helen’s writing-related videos, articles, interviews, book reviews, and more!
⭐️ Items marked with a star are free demo versions of premium resources available exclusively to members of the WriteSPACE, a vibrant international community and resource treasury with members in 30+ countries. Click below to try free for 30 days.
Image credit: Original artwork by Helen Sword