I have lusted after an iPhone from the minute the launch was announced. I waited and waited and tried to come up with all kinds of reasons to get one. Finally, with all the amazing apps around, I've finally been able to justify an iPhone ... it's necessary for my work!

So here is a list of my top 10 favourite apps for writers. Actually, it's nine apps for writing and one for reading:

iTalk - by Griffen Technology, this app is free with ads (you can upgrade to the premium, ad-free version for $4.99). You know what it's like, you always get your best ideas at the most inopportune moment. With iTalk, you can record your thoughts and then come back to them later. Whether a light-bulb moment or something you just need to remember for day-to-day life, this app is super handy for keeping your thoughts in check.

NameShake - NameShake was created as a baby naming app, but if you're needing a little inspiration for the latest character of your work, this app is a lot of fun. You can search by gender, origin and letter of the alphabet, or any combination of the three. Just make your choices, shake your wrist and voila ... you have a name. (Cost - $2.99)

iStop WritersBlock - As the name suggests, this app is meant to help with writers block. One of over 800 plots, ideas and twists will appear just by pressing the plot button. You can also generate characters and be inspired by random quotes. (Cost - $0.99)

Idea Generator - by The Directors Bureau will also help alleviate writers block. This app is simple to use and can come up with an unlimited number of ideas. By shaking your iPhone, Idea Generator randomly combines three words. Creative possibilities are endless. (Cost - $0.99)

Dictionary.com - Everyone needs a good dictionary and this app includes more than 275,000 definitions and 80,000 synonyms in this dictionary and thesaurus app. It also includes audio pronunciations and similarly spelled words. Super easy to use (I'm a fan of the website and have used it for years), plus it's free!

WorkLog - This is a great app for any freelancers, not just writers. WorkLog has a very simple interface and allows you to track the time you have been working on a project. This app offers a basic way to keep up-to-date records of the time you spend on each project. You can track different projects by including notes, etc. (Cost - $7.99 or free for the Lite version)

iBlue Sky - If you want to do a bit of brainstorming, or you want to organize your random thoughts, this is app for you. iBlue Sky is a cool mind mapping tool that helps you capture, summarize and organize your thoughts. (Cost - $7.99)

Google Mobile - This app is for everyone, not just writers. It translates spoken words and sends them to Google where they are translated into text and entered into the search bar. No keys or buttons required, just voice your thought and have Google searching for you. All the power of Google, voice-activated and free!

Vocabdaily - Who doesn't need to build their vocabulary? With Vocabdaily, words of the day from the Merriam-Webster are downloaded to your iPhone. (Cost - $1.99 or free with ads)

SnapTell - This has got to be one of my all time favourite apps! With SnapTell, you take a picture of the cover of any book (or DVD or CD or game), upload it and within seconds, you get a list of where you can buy the book online, plus further information such as descriptions and ratings. (Free)