Resources for Independent Authors
We all need guidance sometimes. That's why we have put together a list of resources for independent authors like yourself to use! Whether you're looking for community, feedback or want to know what a WIP is, we're here to help!
Named after their famous National Novel Writing Month challenge (Every November, authors everywhere attempt to write an entire novel in a month!) NaNoWriMo is an excellent, FREE source of community for writers everywhere. They are a non-profit powered by their community—which is quite lively! Make some new writer friends and even get feedback on your manuscript with NaNoWriMo!
Advertising is one of the most important components of writing your book—in order for others to read it, they have to know it exists. This site is a great source of pointers for advertising, using certain advertising software such as Amazon ads and Google ads, and mo
Unfortunately, there are scams everywhere these days. Writer Beware has taken it upon themselves to expose fake literary agents, agencies, and publishing companies posing as the real thing. Some may want your manuscript, your money, or worse, your identity. Read their scams list to see if you have been contacted by a fake literary agent or not!
This page is phenomenal for those wondering what a 'WIP' or 'HEA' is! Some of the common abbreviations you'll see on our site include:
WIP-Work in progress
MMC-Male main character
FMC-Female main character
For more terms, visit this amazingly put-together glossary website!
Sorry guys—this one's for the girls! WWEAP is where Lillian got her beginnings in writing. Bringing together women of all ages, races, trades, and genres, this group lifts each other all day, all year round. The Administrators of the account are great when it comes to creating a respectful environment. They even have fun 'daily projects,' such as 'First Line Friday,' where women share the first line of their novel, and 'Self Promotion Wednesday,' where they allow for advertisement of your own work in progress!
Lillian found her first editor on Upwork—and she did a phenomenal job on her first self-published novel! Upwork lists reviews, previous jobs, and rates of job successes for each freelancer, which means they are reliable. Scan through this list of Best Freelance Editors For Hire in January 2024 and see if any of them match your requirements!
8 Best Free Self-Publishing Sites (2023)
Not sure where to publish? This site has great recommendations for those just getting started with KDP, Barnes and Noble Press, and more! Read through it, and find what best fits you and your publishing needs!
By the time your book hits the shelves (or the internet), it helps to have some reviews under your belt already. Booksprout is a wonderful, affordable service that puts together groups of readers for your ARC (Advanced Reader Copy.) They are able to read your work and post reviews far before your launch date—so when you do publish, you'll already have a few stars next to your title! This is great for enticing other readers to pick up your book. Reviews mean everything, so why not get some of them early?