International Literacy Day: Apps to Support Your Literary Experience

Literacy has always been a dividing subject. Simply put, you either love it or you don’t – whether this is due to a lack of time, a feeling of inaccessibility or just a general lack of interest. But what if we told you there is an abundance of helpful and engaging apps available to support you with your reading or writing experience and help you discover, or reclaim, a passion for all things literary.

Luckily, we won’t keep you waiting so here are our top 3 apps or services to help you find a love for literacy!

One Word… Audiobooks

Now, a major reason that many of us don’t sit down and open up a book or pick up a pen is that it can be difficult to allocate time in our hectic schedules – which is, of course, understandable. But, fortunately, the literary world has evolved hugely from physical books alone and now you can listen to your favourite novels, poetry and autobiographies while on the go!

If this appeals, some great audiobook platforms to consider are:

Audible

It’s unlikely that you haven’t heard of Audible, but perhaps you haven’t fully considered it. Audible is a strain of the Amazon company – meaning you’ll never be short of choice when it comes to picking a new title. The monthly subscription weighs in at £7.99 a month and includes a free title each month.

The platform also boasts some added benefits, such as; exclusive offers, access to original podcasts and offline listening ability.

Google Play Audiobooks

Whilst, Audible might be more well-known, Google is never far behind. The platform hosts its own audiobook service that similarly offers a wide array of titles across several devices. The platform comes with no monthly subscription fee, so if you’re looking for something a tad more relaxed, then this could be an ideal choice.

Kobo Audiobooks

If you’re still not convinced and are worried about cost,  then perhaps Kobo could be a better fit. The service offers a lower subscription cost in comparison to Amazon’s audible at £6.99 – however, the platform additionally offers a 30% offer for your first three months. So, you’ll be able to ensure that it’s ticking all of the boxes without breaking the bank.

What Should I Read Next?

No, this isn’t a rhetorical question. What Should I Read Next? is a book recommendation service that gives you a comprehensive list of book titles that suit your preferences. The plan uses past titles that you’ve enjoyed to provide you with alternative titles of a similar genre and writing style. 

For instance, if the last book you enjoyed was Harry Potter this platform would suggest you look towards Clockwork Angels written by Kevin Anderson and Neil Peart in just a couple of clicks.

A Prompt a Day Keeps the Writer’s Block at Bay

If you enjoy writing then it’s highly likely that you’ll have experienced the all-too-common occurrence of writer’s block. Whether it’s on a short story that just popped into your head or a longer piece of prose that’s been in the works for a while now. Whatever the scenario, we understand that this can be unbelievably frustrating and demotivating for old or new writers alike.

That’s why applications or platforms that can offer you daily writing prompts are so valuable – such as Daily Prompts. These services offer you visual or written prompts along with prose or poetry starters that can help you get back into the right headspace – which is no easy task. 

So, whilst they won’t always help you write your best work, they’ll allow you to get going again!