Everyone has tools that they believe help them best that may be the worst tool for someone else. I’ve talked about my favorite tools on Instagram beforehand, but very briefly and never in-depth. I have written several novels, revised a few of them, but everyone’s process is different and that is important to note. Don’t beat yourself up if you see someone doing something you tried and hated, it might just not be for you at the time. Try again later. That’s some of the best advice I can give you before we dive into the list.
Canva…I know, I know, so basic, but I hate having all of my things /documents in different apps and softwares. I have a separate folder on Canva for my novels and keep my outline on a whiteboard and almost everything lives on that whiteboard. Pacing, what the word count should look like at what chapters and acts, and a general character arc preview. I also keep a paper copy of everything in my binder in case disaster strikes, but its not updated nearly as much. I also have social media post ideas that I come up with that I don’t want to post yet and I don’t want to lose the thread like reel ideas, even if its just words on a blank post, quotes, photos, etc. All of this stuff could still live on the whiteboard, but if you take the extra step while you have the momentum, it’ll be easier to get it finished later on.
Any Word Processing Software… I use Scrivener, Word, and now Ellipsus (more on that here—link to the post about ellipsus). Scrivener is my go to because I love how organized it is and I know they’re not scrubbing my document to train their AI models. You want to scrub my work? Run me a check, I don’t care if it’s for five dollars. However, I use Scrivener because in my initial drafts, organization is KEY for me. Once I know that no other chapter is going to be moved around, I switch over to Word LibreOffice and tinker with it there. I crossed out Word because they told me that my software will no longer work because it’s too old so I switched to Ellipsus.
Music…I have a playlist for every single work in progress because who here doesn’t? I almost never listen to it, but it’s there if I want to. When I wrote Churchbred, I listened to Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter on repeat. Specifically Gibson Girl and Televangelism and I really believe it bleeds into every sentence.
For May is Due South, I might’ve actually listened to most of the playlist. A bit of country, some Noah Kahan, SZA, and Amber Mark. I think it was such a great blend of what someone would listen to if they’re moving from the packed streets of New Jersey to a small, coastal town in South Carolina while dealing with unstable housing, rocky relationships, small town drama, and yearning.
I think music has a way of transporting me directly into the story if my brain associates it with whatever song enough. I can’t listen to Ethel Cain without thinking of Churchbred. I can’t listen to ‘You Should Probably Leave’ by Chris Stapleton without thinking of a certain scene from May is Due South. I think its great when you’re supposed to be writing/revising/editing, but horrible when you’re just trying to keep your mind off of it for whatever reason.
Craft Books, Online Resources, and Youtubers… I use many things to help with plotting and story and to improve my craft. I’ve come to love getting emails from Rosecliff Literary and Naomi Write & Co, which is technically for screenplays, but its still story so it counts. I could read through all of her emails and just come out a new writer every time.
Also, I’m an outline girlie. I need an outline. I’ve been using Derek Murphy’s 24 Chapter Outline, but Dark Grove Press has a workbook on Amazon for novel writing that features most of the popular outlines.
I love watching POC authortubes because it keeps me excited about publishing some day. I have no idea when or how, but it helps to see the process and the behind the scenes and know that you’re not alone because someone out there who looks like you is also struggling with their revision or getting words on the page. Recently, I was struggling with maybe May is Due South and I just felt like such an imposter. I kept asking, “who am I to write this book or write a book in general? Maybe Churchbred one was the last one. No one wanted it (more on that here—post about what id tell if you if your novel queries were rejected dozens of times).”
Not even a day later, Jasmine Guillory posted her usual travel Q&A on Instagram stories and said she was having a hard time with her current novel and feeling the imposter syndrome and I thought…. THE Jasmine Guillory is feeling like an imposter? Let me just shut up and get back to work.
I encourage you to follow writers and authors online who are lovely and uplifting because more often than not, they’ll encourage you at one of your lowest points. Even if it was unintentional. Also, just be open to any and all advice when it comes to process because you never know what gold nuggets you may come across. And just have fun with it to the best of your ability.
Honorable Mention because I’m an affiliate and I really love them: Reedsy!
I love that Reedsy CAN be your one stop shop for everything writing. I use their Studio for really simple, quick, and free formatting, but I know a lot of writers who use it as their sole writing software. They also have a learning membership for $399/year that includes access to their conferences, workshops, and masterclasses. I’ve done a few now that have helped me with my editing and writing in general, including the last one, Layer by Layer: How to Edit Your Book. If you need an editor or book cover designer, they have a marketplace where you can shop for whatever you need from editors who have worked with Big 5 publishers to book cover designers to marketing and ghostwriting. It truly is a one-stop shop!
Have you thought about what helps your drafting and revision process?
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