Curated by AIWR
The Short List
Every tool, podcast, and resource here passed the same test: Does it make the writing better — or just faster? This is what we actually use.
Browse the ListWhat earned a spot
This isn't a directory. It's an editorial list. Everything here connects directly to something in the DIY MFA with AI curriculum or fills a gap we kept running into. If a resource disappears from this page, it's because we stopped using it.
Category 1
Sharpen the instincts
These are for the writing itself — voice, structure, revision, the long game. AI doesn't show up here. On purpose.
- Craft Podcast
Writers on Writing
Interviews with working authors about how they actually build books — not the polished press-tour version, but the messy structural decisions, abandoned drafts, and revision habits that shape real work. Pairs well with the DIY MFA with AI reading units.
Visit writers-on-writing.com - Long-Form Writing
Scrivener
The best long-form writing app that exists. Binder navigation, research folders, compile workflows — it's built for the kind of project management that novels and screenplays demand. Not intuitive on day one, but worth the learning curve.
Visit literatureandlatte.com - Screenwriting Software★ AIWR Pick
Final Draft
Our favorite screenwriting tool, full stop. Industry-standard formatting, real-time collaboration, and a Beat Board for structural planning that actually works the way screenwriters think. Final Draft offers two pricing paths: a one-time perpetual license if you want to own the software outright, or a cloud subscription if you prefer rolling updates and cross-device access. If you're working through the Cinema Writing Studio, this is what we recommend writing in.
Visit finaldraft.com - Literary News
Literary Hub
Daily essays, criticism, excerpts, and literary news from writers and editors who take the work seriously. Good for staying connected to the broader conversation about books and culture without doomscrolling publishing Twitter.
Visit lithub.com
Category 2
The toolkit — vetted, not collected
These are the AI tools referenced in our tutorials and lesson modules. Each one does something specific and does it well. We don't list tools for discovery's sake — if it's here, there's a lesson or workflow that depends on it.
- Research & Synthesis
NotebookLM
Google's notebook tool for uploading sources and generating grounded AI responses. We use it in the research modules for source synthesis, interview prep, and building annotated bibliographies. The audio overview feature is genuinely useful for processing dense material. Covered in depth in AI & The Craft Post 11.
Visit notebooklm.google.com - Storyboarding & Visual Narrative
Google Vids
AI-assisted video creation inside Google Workspace. We use it in the storyboarding tutorials for scene visualization and sequence planning — not as a production tool, but as a thinking tool for narrative structure.
Visit workspace.google.com - Audio & Atmosphere
Suno
AI music generation. We reference it in the creative worldbuilding modules for building atmospheric soundscapes that support writing sessions. Also useful for soundtrack prototyping if you're working in screenwriting or multimedia.
Visit suno.com - Voice & Audio
ElevenLabs
Text-to-speech and voice synthesis. We use it in the audio storytelling tutorials for narration prototyping and dialogue testing — hearing your prose out loud catches rhythm problems your eyes skip over.
Visit elevenlabs.io - Creative Experimentation
Google Flow
Google's experimental creative AI tools. We track it as a sandbox space for testing new capabilities before they roll into stable products. Worth bookmarking if you want early access to what's coming.
Visit labs.google
Category 3
Find scripts, share scripts, sell scripts
Good screenwriting and playwriting starts with reading the real thing — not summaries, not coverage, the actual scripts. These are the places we trust for sourcing published plays and screenplays, and the platforms worth knowing if you're ready to put your own work in front of producers.
- Plays in Print
Concord Theatricals
Formerly Samuel French — the definitive source for purchasing published plays and musicals. If you're studying dramatic structure, building a reading list for the DIY MFA with AI playwriting units, or just want a physical script on your shelf, start here. The catalog is enormous and the licensing side is legitimate.
Visit concordtheatricals.com - Screenplays
Script City
A long-running retailer for purchasing movie and television scripts. Useful for close-reading exercises in the Cinema Writing Studio — nothing teaches scene structure like sitting with an actual shooting script. Browse by title, writer, or genre.
Visit scriptcity.com - Script Sharing
Script Revolution
A free platform for screenwriters to host and share their scripts publicly. Good for getting reads, building a portfolio page, and browsing what other independent writers are producing. Low barrier to entry, which is the point.
Visit scriptrevolution.com - Script Marketplace
InkTip
A long-standing marketplace where producers actively search for scripts to option for independent features. This isn't a vanity platform — real films have been made from scripts found here. Worth listing on once your screenplay is polished and you're ready for professional exposure.
Visit inktip.com
Category 4
Beyond the desk
Writing is solitary. Publishing isn't. These resources connect you to the professional side — finding editors, understanding the market, and keeping up with how AI is reshaping the industry.
- AI Podcast
Everyday AI Podcast
Practical, workflow-oriented coverage of AI tools and trends. Not hype, not fear — just clear explanations of what's new and how people are actually using it. Good weekly check-in for writers who want to stay literate without becoming obsessed.
Visit youreverydayai.com - Marketplace & Tools
Reedsy
A marketplace connecting writers with freelance editors, designers, and publishing professionals. Also offers free writing tools and courses. Useful once you're past the drafting stage and thinking about what comes next.
Visit reedsy.com