Recommendations for Writers
Below are books, websites, technology and apps/software that I recommend for writers. Please note: I only recommend books, websites, apps/software that I use or have used in the past and that I believe in. I am an Amazon Associate. If you follow a book link, I may receive a small affiliate payment, which helps me fund this website.
Writing a Book
• Apple Pages - https://www.apple.com/pages/
• Microsoft Word - https://www.microsoft.com
• Google Docs - https://www.google.com/docs/about/
• Ulysses - https://ulysses.app
• Dabble - https://dabblewriter.com/ (like Scrivener with low learning curve)
• Scrivener - https://literatureandlatte.com (high learning curve)
• Grammarly - https://www.grammarly.com (corrects errors and more)
• ProWritingAid - https://www.prowritingaid.com (corrects errors and more)
Formatting a Book
• Vellum - https://www.vellum.pub (for Mac computers only)
• Atticus - https://www.atticus.io (for Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook)
• Reedsy - https://www.reedsy.com
• Draft2Digital - https://www.draft2digital.com (Self-Publishing with Support - can format a book here and publish elsewhere or use D2D to do it all.)
Services for Publishing a Book
• KDP Amazon - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/ (ebooks and print)
• Draft2Digital - https://www.draft2digital.com (ebooks and print)
• IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com (ebooks and print)
• Bookvault - https://bookvault.app (print books on demand - many direct integrations)
• Bookfunnel - https://bookfunnel.com (ebooks, advanced review copies, reader magnets)
• Lulu - https://lulu.com (print on demand)
• BookBaby - https://bookbaby.com (self-publish and print your books)
• Blurb - https://www.blurb.com (expensive but might work for publishing just a few books)
• Acutrack - https://www.actrack.com (prints books, warehouses, ships)
• Morris Press Cookbooks - https://www.morriscookbooks.com) (Nation’s #1 Cookbook Publisher)
• Bowker - https://www.myidentifiers.com - (where you can buy your own ISBN numbers)
• Skinner Book Services - https://skinnerbooks.com (bookformatting in Vellum and more, editing and more, author of Format Your Book With Vellum)
Cover Art
• Canva - https://www.canva.com (cover templates and much more)
• Jonathan Lewis - https://www.jonlincreative.com (cover design and interior typesetting)
• Kara Starcher - Mountain Creek Books (cover design, book formatting, editing, self-publishing help, ghostwriting
• James Woosley - https://freeagentpress.com (cover and book design, custom-coded ebooks, publishing advice, website design, audiobook consultations)
• Fiverr - https://fiverr.com (book cover design and much more, usually cheap, research and check out anyone you plan to hire)
• BookBaby - https://www.bookbaby.com (cover design and more)
• GetCovers - https://getcovers.com (book cover design for Indie Creatives on a budget)
• Miblart.com – https://miblart.com (book cover design) More info: this book cover service offers a higher level of book cover design and is a sister service to GetCovers. Graphic artists begin designing covers for GetCovers, then when their skills progress to a higher level, they move to Miblart. GetCovers does not offer illustrated covers--they use stock images. Miblart offers artist drawn covers, including two types of children’s book covers for $200. Adult covers are more.)
Making a Website to Promote and/or Sell Your Books
• Shopify - https://www.shopify.com (can be used to make a full e-commerce website or use their Starter plan to sell through social media, messaging apps, or a simple online store)
• Payhip - https://payhip.com (a popular alternative to Shopify, has a free forever plan as well as paid plans), store builder that can serve as an e-commerce website)
• Wordpress - https://wordpress.com (standalone and includes hosting) or use the version of Wordpress that installs on your website host.
• Weebly/Square - https://www.weebly.com (e-commerce by Square)
• Square Space - https://www.squarespace.com (hosted, includes e-commerce)
• Wix - https://www.wix.com (hosted, can build an e-commerce website)
Recommended Books