My 10 Favorite Writing Resources

I’m getting close to getting my book out into the world! It has been edited and formatted, the cover design is complete, and I’m working on my book launch and marketing plan. It has been a ton of work, but it’s labor that feeds me and keeps me focused while I deal with the chaos in other parts of my life.

During my self-publishing journey, I compiled a list of my 10 favorite resources that I have found extremely helpful—all of which I have used. I do not receive any compensation or other perks from mentioning them, I just thought you might find this list helpful.

1. ebooklaunch.com

Love, love, love these guys! They offer cover art design, interior formatting, and editing services. I worked with Dane for my cover art design and Adrian for my interior formatting, and I was extremely happy with them. They are extremely fast, professional, and do excellent work. They’re super nice, too!

2. TheCreativePenn.com

Joanna Penn is an indie author of dozens of books, including fiction and non-fiction, many of which are geared to indie authors. She provides loads of free information and links on her website, as well as additional information if you sign up on her mailing list. She does writing/publishing podcasts and videos, and teams up with other authors for webinars on various topics. Extremely helpful, and she has a great accent!

3. The Non-Fiction Book Publishing Plan: The Professional Guide to Profitable Self-Publishing by Stephanie Chandler and Karl W. Palachuk

I bought this eBook, then received the print copy as a gift. I have used both extensively. I read through the book once and have referred to the print copy so many times since then, I’m surprised the pages haven’t fallen out. The authors wade through numerous websites and choices and provide a clear summary of the pros and cons of various options available to self-publishers. I also got a bunch of freebie resources like checklists and forms that are soooo helpful!

4. WordPress.com

I created my author website/blog with WordPress. I had never created a website before, and I found their templates and tutorials extremely helpful. It’s a very user-friendly site, although I won’t say I don’t get confused every now and then when I need to do something new.

5. Reedsy.com

Reedsy offers editors, designers, marketers, publicists, ghost writers, and website designers. I used them to find my editor, who did a great job and was a pleasure to work with. I requested quotes from five different editors, then narrowed it down to three and had them do a sample edit before picking one. It was pricey because Reedsy adds a 10% fee on top of the editor’s prices, but good editing services are expensive—as they should be. It’s very time-consuming work. By going through Reedsy, you’re offered some protections if things go awry. I had no problems at all and was very pleased with the editing I received.

6. IngramSpark.com

This self-publishing company provides print-on-demand (POD) and online distribution services. I found their website to be extremely user-friendly, and they responded quickly once I uploaded my formatted book. I’m waiting for a printed proof to do one last proofread before I set up my book for pre-orders.

7. The Nonfiction Authors Association

Tons of resources on this website, everything from a blog to a book club, teleseminars, a Facebook group—you name it. There are three different levels of membership, depending on your needs. There is a fantastic community here! If you’re writing fiction, I’m sure there are plenty of fiction authors groups.

8. Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook by Helen Sedwick

Everything you need to know about copyrights, engaging the help of freelancers, starting an author business, and more is contained in this book, written by an attorney.

9. California Writers Club (calwriters.org) – or similar writing club in your area

I became a member of my local chapter of the CWC a few years ago and have learned so much through this organization. If you’re not located in California, I’m sure there are other writing clubs available to you. I have attended monthly meetings which always include a speaker on a variety of subjects. I’ve also made connections with other writers, and even found a writing critique group through CWC. See number 10.

10. Writing Critique Group

I have been a member of several writing critique groups over the years, and they have taught me so much. I have really grown as a writer not only by getting my work reviewed by others, but also by reviewing the work of other group members. We always strive to be kind but constructive. Sometimes conflicting feedback is provided so you have to consider what feedback feels right, but these groups are critical and priceless.

There you have it, my 10 favorite writing resources. If you’re a writer, I’d love to hear your favorites.