Tools I Use in my Writing…
Emerging as a self-published author comes with a lot of hurdles and a lot of learning…
Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links.
When I was writing my debut, As Above, So Below, I was not involved with BookTok. I didn’t have an author account (as I do now), I didn’t follow Booktokers or authors so learning what software/programs, and the tips and tricks of the trade were learned by good old fashioned trial and error (and a whole hell of a lot of Googling).
I don’t write in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
I used to have a subscription to MS Word, one given through my uni when I was matriculated. Unfortunately, that ends upon graduation. I wasn’t keen on the idea of paying for MS Word again when I wasn’t fond of its formatting process. It’s not intuitive and it just isn’t geared for novel writing. While Google Docs is a touch better with regards to formatting a book with chapters, the ambiguous language regarding their AI scraping policy is an oof for me.
I use Scrivener for drafting.
It’s a one time purchase. Full price it runs for about $60 for the Windows version, but it goes on sale quite often. (The iOS version is a bit less.) The split view capability is amazing when drafting. I keep my WIP on one side of my monitor, and my timeline/plot planning/notes on the other. It’s easy to store everything from character sheets, location drafts, all the worldbuilding documents, and so much more in one easy to access place while writing.
Not going to lie, it’s got a rather steep learning curve. But once you have it set the way you want it, it’s set. You never have to touch it again. You just have to write. The thought of it being stored locally (versus on a cloud) was also super appealing. I don’t have to worry about data breaches, leaks, or whatnot.
But that means if my PC or HD fails, I’m stuck without my work until it can be retrieved. (Which happened in Nov 2024—my GPU died and I lost access to the drafts I had of As Within, So Without.) A rather unnerving experience, to say the least.
Now, I keep a copy of the compiled and zipped files in Scrivener format on an external HD. I back up my work nightly. Is it an extra step? Sure. But when it comes to data preservation, redundancy is never wrong.
If you’re interested in which external drive I use, you can find that here.
Now, Scrivener also allows for ebook formatting and export. Awesome, makes my life easier. Downfall, it’s hard to make the chapter heading pages pretty. It’s also impossible to have full-bleed images (such as a map) included. Granted, it may be possible, I just haven’t done the due diligence in figuring it out. It’s one of the reasons in why I priced the ebook version of my debut at $4.99. The print versions come with the map(s), pretty chapter heading pages, and of course, looks amazing on any bookshelf.
To get those pretty-in-print chapter pages, I use Atticus.
I don’t quite remember what I spent when I bought the software—but I do remember it was on sale. Right now it runs around $150 for a lifetime license. Like Scrivener, it has a bit of a learning curve. If you really wanted, you could use Atticus in place of Scrivener for drafting, and not opt for both programs. Atticus offers formatting for print and ebook versions (I just haven’t bothered to mess with learning their ebook formatting process. One day. Maybe.)
That being said, it’s not an inexpensive investment. Full price, it sits around $150 for a lifetime license. (Though sales do happen, usually before the holidays.)
If you invest, know Atticus recently made some changes that allow for collaborative editing/formatting. Meaning you and your editor or co-author can work on the same document at once. Great in concept for some I suppose, but awful in execution. It’s bogged down the software, rendering it near impossible to use. BUT, it is possible to roll back the update and run their limited version which removes the collaborative update. If this wasn’t an option, I would have left Atticus and found a formatting alternative. When I purchased my license, it did not have the collaborative feature. So imagine my surprise when I logged in after months to begin formatting my second novel and felt it was going to take five thousand years to make the changes I need.
The software allows for dual-page, full-bleed images—which I use for my chapter heading pages, map, and title page.
But wait, how do I create my maps you ask?
I use Inkarnate for maps.
While they do offer a free plan, please, please, please note that you must have a paid license to use any of the maps you create in commercial works. Here you have a couple different options: a monthly subscription of $5, or a yearly investment of $25. Spring for the full year if you’re able because if you’re like me, it’s going to take you a hot minute to create a whole ass map.
If you’re not familiar with the program (e.g., you don’t already use Inkarnate for Dungeons & Dragons or other TTRPGs) it too has a relatively steep learning curve. But once you get the hang of it, it’s an amazing and powerful software capable of so much. If you get overwhelmed, there are countless tutorials on YT and a pretty active subreddit to lurk (or ask questions) in.
For my covers I use a blend of Photoshop, Canva, and Adobe Express.
Photoshop is the last software used to build the cover in the size it needs to be (as determined by KDPs formula). I add final touches here: text/title overlays, final manipulations of vectors/images (all licensed), etc. I pull vectors/images from both Canva and Adobe Express. Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Adobe Express come wrapped in a bundle if you’re a creative entrepreneur for a monthly cost of $20. (It’s an expense I don’t count in my author journey because it’s covered in my photography business.) I believe you can opt for just Photoshop for around $12 a month.
I also use Canva for a majority of my marketing graphics.
I avoid Adobe’s generative AI like the plague. The whole discourse on AI is a heated one, especially in creative spaces. While Canva’s generative AI is a better ethically—they allow their artists to opt in and pay them—from an environmental standpoint, AI usage is just bad. It’s one where I very firmly stand on one side:
Humanless calculations fed the stolen words and art of humans does not deserve room or recognition in creative spaces. When you give AI heart of creativity, it no longer reflects anything truly human.
This includes using AI for writing prompts, timeline planning, plotting, book covers, developmental editing (people are fast to argue spellcheck is AI, and in some cases it is), or anything else that results in the loss of a creative job. Why line the pockets of techbros who don’t give a shit about the heart and soul of creative expression? Hire a human developmental editor who will cry alongside you, a human narrator who will breathe dimensional life into your dialogue, or a human artist who will blow you away with their skill. I promise it’s worth it.
Do not be tempted by the ease of AI. If you cannot afford to hire (which let’s be real, becoming an indie author can be an expensive endeavor), the alternative is paying in time. Learn the skill you need. If you’re skilled in other areas and willing, offer a trade of services (e.g., partner with another author for proofreading and proofread one another’s work). The offer may not be accepted, but it doesn’t hurt to ask (just make sure to ask in a respectful manner).
Once you have your book in hand, it’s going to feel amazing! Celebrate that! You’ve joined the 1% of the population who have published a book!
But, unfortunately the path of the indie author doesn’t stop there.
It’s a perpetual cycle of writing and marketing. And if you’re like me, the interest in marketing feels a lot like having to present yourself like a car salesman. Hard pass.
But in the next blog post, I’ll talk about what marketing avenues I’ve chosen to get the word of my debut out into the world. Until then, happy writing!
