Writing Tools
Scrivener – In my opinion the best tool for Writers! You can even try it for FREE!
eBookTracker -Quick and easy way to check you Kindle ebook sales rank and much more data, especially if you have more than a couple titles.
Grammarly – Offers accurate suggestions and makes sure everything you type is mistake-free.
OneLook – Online thesaurus that gives you a list of words or phrases related to any description.
Sigil – Fantastic alternative to word processing and it allows you to structure and compose a book. There is also a user’s guide for download and it is completely FREE!
Evernote – Just like a Sticky note for everything.
Dropbox – Access to all your files on any device at any time (up to 15 GB free).
OneDrive -Microsoft OneDrive also gives access to all your files on any device anywhere (up to 5GB free).
Google Drive – Access to all your files and photos anywhere (up to 15 GB free)
Community Writing/Publishing Forums
KBoards – A forum for authors and readers. Get insight into the self-publishing world in the writer’s cafe.
KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing with accomplished authors and publishers who are very knowledgeable about all things self-publishing.
Writing Forums – Anything you have questions about you can probably find the answer.
Publishing & Distribution
Amazon KDP – Independently publish with DKP to reach millions of readers.
Smashwords – Distributor of self-published books. It’s free and easy and they distribute to major retailers such as Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, Amazon and more. There are some submission guidelines for formatting but easy to do.
Kobo Writing Life – Another great distributor for self-publishers. Just as the others they also distribute to many places.
Createspace – This is a print on demand through Amazon that provides an easy way to sell your book in paperback format. If you sell your ebook through Amazon then and do Createspace then the buyer will show two option to buy the book (kindle & print) more ways to profit.
Bookbaby – All in one book distribution.
Calibre – Free open source e-book library management software. It can convert Word docx files into Epub, Mobi and a long list of other popular ebook formats. Also used as an ebook library.
Marketing
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a great open source software for video recording and live streaming to help with all your training needs, live streaming or just to put up help videos and it is FREE!
Socialoomph – Sign up for the free subscription to be able to schedule your post on Twitter in advance so you don’t have to spend all your time on there and have more time to spend writing.
MailChimp– This is a great site to sign up to send out group emails for newsletters up to 2,000 emails for FREE!
Author.Email – is the only email service provider with YOU, the author, in mind. Send thousands of emails a month, for only $10.
Book Design Templates
Book Design Templates – Check out Joel Friedlander ‘s interior design for print (POD) book. His templates can also produce EPUB files.
Formatting
Vellum – Create Beautiful E-books for every store, for every device. Vellum has built-in book styles that incorporate classic touches like custom drop caps, ornamental flourishes, and are automatically applied to your book. The only downside is that is only available to MAC users.
Editing
Word Essential – Alida is a wonderful editor and her site has lots of great information
Reedsy – Book Editor you can use with ease. simply write and the editor takes care of the rest, automatically. It is fully compliant with most ebook and POD retailer requirements.
Book Cover Design
99Designs – Freelance Designers compete to give you a great book cover.
Canva – Canva’s book cover maker makes book covers amazingly simple to design – even for non-designers.
Scribus – Open Source Program for helping you with marketing and book cover design.
LunaPic-Free Online Photo Editing…even blending of two photo and making transparencies.
DIY Book Covers– Want to make your own Book cover to look just right, it’s customizable and yet easy to do.
Fiverr – Don’t want to mess with trying to make a book cover, logos, or just about anything then have someone else do it and pick from several different designs for several different people.
Stock Images
Free Images – Lots of free stock images.
Pexels – More free stock images.
Wallpaper Abyss – Free images and wallpaper, anything you can dream of.
Pixabay -Free images and Videos.
Websites/Web Hosting
Wix -Create your own website for Free.
Weebly – Website building with drag and drop design.
Free Website Template – Free website template.
HostGator – This hosting service is usually one of the cheapest on the market that still has a reputation of being reliable and still pretty easy to use.
BlueHost – Is ranked as one of the most user-friendly and reliable hosting services out there.
Hosting Facts/Website Builders – How do you know the performance, flexibility, speed, up-time, reliability or even if you can start an online store without limitation without paying extra with different website builders and hosting companies. Well Hosting Facts has done a comprehensive review and compared 30+ different website builders and here are the 10 most popular ones reviewed so make it easier for you.
Taxes Tips
Tax Cheat Sheet – For Kindle eBook Self-Publishing by Intuit.
Recommended Podcast
If you don’t download and listen to podcasts then you’re are missing out on worlds of fantastic information for self-publishing or for publishing traditionally. There are several podcasts that I religiously download to keep up with what other authors are doing with marketing strategies and with all the new changes going on in publishing. Here are a few that stand out above the rest that I have found.
Story Works Round Table/Word Essentials – Alida Winternheimer
Smart Author Podcast/Smashwords – Mark Coker
The Creative Penn– Joanna Penn
Sell More Book Show – Bryan Cohen, Jim Kukral
Self-Publishing Questions – Steve Scott
Unruly Guides – Suzanne Parrott
Creative Career Paths for English Majors
Creative Jobs for English Majors – Maryville University