Writing Resources
You can go down the resources rabbit hole forever when it comes to writing. There are a lot of things offered that you don’t need or that won’t work for you. There are also a lot of things that come in handy. Something that works great for you may not work for me and vice versa. However, if you’re a beginner and looking for a place to start, here are some resources that have helped me a lot.
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression
by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
I learned about this book from author Sarah Sutton. I bought the Kindle version because I can search for an emotion and it pops right up as opposed to trying to find what I need in the paperback. This book is extremely helpful when you’re just starting out because it frames the internal and external things a person would see or feel with a variety of emotions. It gives you a ton of wonderful examples and is a great tool to strengthen your descriptions of emotions.
Otter
I learned about Otter from The Courtney Project (Kennedy Fox/Lyra Parish) on YouTube. I was apprehensive at first, but once you get the hang of it you can get a lot done in a short amount of time. There are times where I have a scene playing out in my head, especially in the car, and I’m not in a position to type it out. The fact that I can open this app and speak it and then go back later and edit the text has been so helpful. It keeps me from forgetting scenes and it also helps describe things quickly as though I’m talking to someone instead of having to stop and think about how to type it out. I don’t use it a lot, but when I do I’m never disappointed.
Canva
I use Canva for everything, my writing and my job at the shelter. Canva is super user friendly and even the free version has a lot to offer. Canva has templates and fonts that you can use to create promotional materials. I recently saw that Canva now also has AI so that will be a fun thing to explore.
ChatGPT
I am new to AI, but so far I’m loving the potential. I heard about ChatGPT from Johanna Penn’s podcast and I’ve been slowly trying it out for different things - including some of my blog posts. You can “tell” it that you want a blog post or a scene or an email and then add details and in seconds it spits something out for you. I think of this sort of like having a writing partner. I can try out different ideas and see how I feel about them. I can also get a starting place for a scene and then run with it. It’ll be interesting to see how much AI influences the author-sphere.
Fiverr
I recently started offering Beta reading services and copy editing/proofreading through Fiverr, but long before that I used Fiverr for a variety of different projects. After I wrote Soul Jumper, I hired an artist from Fiverr to draw the two main characters and I sent that out with the signed copies. Isn’t it gorgeous? I am obsessed with it. I’ve found Beta readers on Fiverr for my own books as well.
Fiverr is a treasure trove of talent for indie authors. It connects you with freelancers who can help with various aspects of your publishing journey, from cover design and editing to marketing and formatting. Whether you need a professional book editor, an illustrator, or a social media marketer, you can find skilled experts who can bring your vision to life.
Bookfunnel
BookFunnel simplifies the process of distributing your books to readers, making it a must-have resource for indie authors. It enables you to create custom book download pages, deliver advanced reader copies (ARCs), and build your mailing list effortlessly. Plus, it provides valuable insights into reader engagement. I’ve used Bookfunnel to send out all of my books and plan to use it when I publish The Grand Mesa Men series.
The Image Apothecary
This website is so fun and great for people who aren’t as versed in making graphics for their books. Visual content is crucial in today's digital landscape, and The Image Apothecary offers indie authors access to high-quality, diverse stock photos and graphics. Whether you need images for your blog, social media, or book covers, this resource has you covered with a unique and artistic selection.
Virtual Book Tours
Book tours are a fantastic way for indie authors to connect with readers, gain exposure, and build a fan base. Participating in virtual book tours can increase your book's visibility and help you establish relationships with bloggers, reviewers, and fellow authors. I used Book Tours with my first three books. They were fun, but I didn’t see a huge spike in sales over them. I’d say a book tour is better used for the networking aspect than the sales.
In the world of indie publishing, these resources can be your weapons for success. They empower you to streamline your publishing process, create stunning visuals, access professional services, and connect with your target audience. I hope this gives you a place to start exploring resources and take your writing career to new heights. Happy writing!
What resources do you recommend? Let me know at shalanabattles@gmail.com
