52 Helpful Links for Authors
I will be adding to this list of links periodically. Some of these links are Youtube channels and
social media pages or groups while others are helpful articles, websites, or books. This entire
section is great, so please do not just look at the first few links and move on. Look at the entire
webpage to discover what you need or might be helpful to you.
Some links are affiliate links, but most of them are not. If I share an affiliate link and you visit
the site or purchase from it, I might see a tiny portion of income from that interaction. Don’t let
that disuade you from going to these sites because I truly do believe in what I recommended.
1.
Monica Anne Books’ Blogs (My Blogs) - My Tumblr
monicaannebooks.tumblr.com and my main blog monicaannebooks.blogspot.com
2.
Jenna Morreci (YouTube Channel) - Jenna Morreci is a self-published, adult sci-fi and fantasy
writer who makes videos about writing, publishing, and books. She is most notably known for
her books The Saviors Champion and Eve: The Awakening.
3. EverNote - A big part of writing is editing and brainstorming. EverNote allows you to
keep track of your notes, and can capture them from any application. The paid version
can even recognize the handwriting of those who wrote it for you.
4. Bird by Bird (Book) - This writing guide written by Anne Lamott, author of Rosie and
Crooked Little Heart, teaches you how to piece together a narrative one step at a time.
5. The Elements of Style (Book) - This book by William Strunk Jr. is considered to be the
quintessential writing guide of the 20th century. Focusing on the power and diversity of
the English language, The Elements of Style has many quotes that you may have heard of
in your day-to-day writing life. Such as, “Use the active voice” and “Omit needless words.”
6. Daily Writing Tips (Blog) - A blog written by Mark Nichol, a freelance editor and writer
for web-content and textbooks used all over the United States. This blog includes
grammatical guides, language tips and tricks, and even quizzes to test out your skills and
see where you have room for improvement.
7. PDF Creator - If you need to send a document as a PDF, learning how can be a bit of a
learning curve. Luckily, the PDF creator makes it extremely easy. It is open source, and
easy to use.
8. Critique Circle - A free membership protected forum where you can exchange a
critique of your current work in progress with another person. A great way to get fresh
eyes on your short story or novel without losing first readership rights.
9. Zotero - This handy Firefox extension is perfect for writers who include citations in
their work, such as those writing a thesis or other non-fiction paper. Zotero can capture
bibliographic information from any web page, as well as organize them and create the
bibliography for you.
10. Helping Writers Become Authors (Blog) -A blog written by K.M. Weiland, author of
Behold the Dawn and A Man Called Outlaw. This helpful blog outlines the basics of any
novel. From story structure to character development, Helping Writers Become Authors
is a valuable resource for any aspiring novelist.
11. TED-Ed: The Writers Workshop (YouTube Channel) - TED has always been known for
educating the masses on a variety of topics. So much so that they started several YouTube
channels dedicated to that very purpose. One of the most artistic and creative channels is
TED-Ed, a channel dedicated to education through fun animated videos. One of their
most popular sections is The Writers Workshop, which is a series of videos showcasing
the English language, how to use it, and how to make stories come alive.
12. Just Write (YouTube Channel) - Just Write is a popular YouTube channel that breaks
down the writing formats of popular movies and television shows, and tells you how you
can apply those tricks in your own writing. This channel is useful, not just for their
commentary on story structure, but how it relates to real world events.
13. Terrible Writing Advice (YouTube Channel) - The name itself does not inspire a lot of
confidence. However, the YouTube channel Terrible Writing Advice has anything but. This
charming channel uses sarcasm and bad (OG) animation to point out over used writing
tropes and clichés. If you don’t like sarcasm, you should look elsewhere. That said, this is
a great resource for people who are into story structure and plot development.
14. Campfire - If you are in need of a tool to help you world build, this is it. Sometimes,
creating character bios, linking scenes, and determining maps and information about a
world can be difficult. Campfire has used an easy to input system, much like the old
school RPG character sheets, for you to create and write your masterpiece.
15. Wrike - While this is more of a project management app, it can work well for writers
who enjoy teaming up with others. Wrike also has an email interface, which makes adding
documents and assigning tasks easier.
16. iGoogle - Creating a personal homepage on iGoogle specifically for your work can
make writing a breeze. This thoughtful platform has a place for everything, including
notes, a calendar to keep track of your deadlines, and access to all of your important
information. It also links to Google Docs, which gives you the ability to write anywhere
using an online word processor.
17. Google’s Voice Typing - Long commutes aren't just a bore, they can rob you of valuable
writing time. You can use Google’s Voice Typing to transcribe your voice messages into
text. This allows you a hands free way to write, as well as giving you the ability to leave
yourself reminders while on the go. Simply open a blank Google Doc and have the audio-
to-text recorder (keyboard usually) is activated. It will automatically change to your words
to text. Be precise and limit filler words.
18. Jeff Herman’s Guide To Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents: Who They Are.
What They Want, How to Win Them Over - Jeff Herman clears up confusion as he
identitfies the essential information needed prior to and while prospecting agents and
publishing houses. In addition, he provides detailed informaiton on agents, editors, and
publishers.
19. Grammarly (Free Program) - Grammarly is free software that checks your story for
spelling and grammatical errors. It’s not perfect. But it’s by far the most accurate writing
assistant you’ll ever find online.
20. Celtx (Free Program) - Want to write a novel? Or a screenplay? What about a stage
play? Then Celtx is the program for you. With multiple formatting options, Celtx is one of
the most popular free programs for writers looking to expand their horizons. It even gives
the options to take notes and add citations with little to no hassle.
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