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Resources We Use and Recommend
Click on the name of the resource/service for a link to learn more.
Christian Indie Publishing Association
Independent Book Publishers Association
Word Weavers International
Christian writers critique forum. Has local and online chapters, and hosts writers conferences.
Bowker Identifier Services
The U.S. ISBN agency. Purchase ISBNs and barcodes.
U.S. Copyright Office
Library of Congress Preassigned Control Number Program
Details on securing a Library of Congress catalog control number, which is important to have if you want to sell your book to libraries.
Create a barcode for free using Ingram Spark / Lightning Source's cover generator
Complete the online form and Lightning Source will email you a template for your cover which includes a barcode. You can use the template to build your cover or cut the barcode from the template and place it in the cover file you have created.
Bookow Free Barcode Generator
ProWritingAid
Online grammar checking, spell checking, and plagiarism detection platform
Book Design Templates
Beautiful, professionally designed book templates that allow you to quickly produce a quality print book or ebook.
Mockupshots
Create professional product shots of your book quickly and easily. Click here to read my blog on why and how I use this tool, and how you can get it for a 60% discount.
Snagit (screen capture software)
Easy-to-use screen capture software lets you capture images and videos from your computer screen. Click here to read my blog on why and how I use this tool. Click here to download a free trial.
Pictorem prints any image on canvas, acrylic, metal, mural, framed, fine art, puzzle, wood, and more. Outstanding quality, craftsmanship and customer service.
Rev
Speech-to-text audio and video transcription starting at $0.25 per minute
Draft2Digital
Ebook distribution service
IngramSpark
Print-on-demand and global book distribution for independent authors and publishers.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Self-publish ebooks and paper books for distribution on Amazon and other channels.
Publisher Rocket
Find keywords that are actually typed into Amazon's search bar by real shoppers. Identify the best categories for your book to make it a bestseller. Go here to read my blog explaining how Publisher Rocket works.
Amazon Author Central
A place on Amazon for readers to learn more about you, for you to list your books, make changes to book descriptions, track sales, and more.
MailerLite
Email service provider to use for your email marketing. Free for up to 1,000 subscribers. This link earns you $20 off your first payment if you choose a paid plan.
Medium
Medium is an open social platform that allows users to publish articles on just about any topic. The site has an estimated 100 million monthly visitors. Use Medium to promote yourself, your book(s), and your business, as well as to build backlinks to your website. Sign up using our referral link here and let us know so we can follow you.
MailerLite
Email service provider to use for your email marketing. Free for up to 1,000 subscribers. Use this link for a 30-day free trial of premium features.
Backblaze
Automatic cloud storage of your Mac or PC files. Access files from anywhere. Go here to read our blog on why and how we use Backblaze. Personal and business accounts available. Free trial.
Pretty Links: Create and Manage Links on Your WordPress Site
Create attractive, easy-to-remember custom links using your website's URL; create QR codes; manage your links and marketing efforts; check your site for broken links; and more with this powerful WordPress plugin. Click here to read my blog with more details.
Thrive Suite from Thrive Themes
A WordPress plugin that lets you easily create courses and quizzes hosted on your own website. Thrive Suite also includes custom landing pages, a list-building tool, a tool for gathering and displaying testimonials, A/B testing, a countdown tool, and more. Click here to read my blog with more details.
Creative Law Center
A resource for creative professionals (writers, artists, photographers) to learn how they can protect their creative assets, deter poachers and enforce rights.
Helen Sedwick, Author and Business Attorney
Helen Sedwick's website has a range of legal and other information for writers.
The Write Conversation by Edie Melson
A top-ranked writing blog covering a wide range of topics
The Passive Voice
A lawyer's thoughts on authors, self-publishing and traditional publishing
How Many Tabs are Open on Your Browser?
Learn how to manage your browser tabs with Chrome's group feature. Organize your tabs for better productivity and less stress with this helpful guide.
Recommended Reading (Books)
Click on the book covers for more information.
Christian Writer's Manual of Style
The definitive guide for anyone who writes, publishes or references religious materials.
The Amazon Author Formula: Insider Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Selling More Books
A comprehensive, illustrated guide to increasing your Amazon sales dramatically
Launch That Book (The Writer's Bookshelf)
How to get the most mileage out of the book launch process.
Note: The content of this ebook has been included as an appendix in Simple Facts About Self-Publishing, Second Edition
10 Publishing Myths: Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed
A realistic picture of book publishing
The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to City Spaces
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma
Hurting Your Characters: A writer's guide to describing injuries and pain from the character's point of view
Learn the immediate effect of the trauma on the body, its physiologic response, and how injuries feel to the character.
How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method
Ten battle-tested steps that jump-start your creativity and help you quickly map out your story.
Focused Backstory: The Key to Writing Deep Character Journeys
Learn how to write characters readers will love.
The Frugal Editor: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets
Great Little-Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers
Infographic Guide to Grammar
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