Self-publishing resources for writers

Check out our list of writer resources for independent authors. These companies and organizations are endorsed by BookBaby and offer related products and services that we thought you might find helpful.

Book Exclusives

MasterWriter

MasterWriter is the premier writing software built specifically for authors. Used by renowned writers William Peter Blatty, Bob Zemeckis, Andrew Davis, Paul Brickman, Peter Seaman, MasterWriter is a writer’s best friend.

As a BookBaby author you receive a free trial of MasterWriter as well as an exclusive savings of $15 on a one-year membership, or $20 on a two-year membership, making MasterWriter super affordable for writers at any level. Learn more about MasterWriter.

PR Newswire

Creating and distributing your press release is fast and easy with PR Newswire. It’s easy to create and upload your press release and they will be instantly distributed through the vast PR Newswire network. Press releases are an important element in your book marketing mix, and PR Newswire helps you spread your news far and wide!

As a BookBaby author you receive a 10% discount on press release distribution from PR Newswire. Learn more about PR Newswire.

Book Writing, Coaching and Developmental Editing

Since 2007, Kevin Anderson & Associates (KAA) has been a trusted partner for authors at every stage of their book-writing journey. Whether you're starting from scratch or polishing an existing manuscript, KAA's expert team of ghostwriters, book coaches, and developmental editors works closely with you to bring your vision to life.

KAA's talented team of former Big-5 editors and publishing executives has combined for 200 New York Times bestsellers and 600 national bestsellers, and KAA has launched more than 5,000 new authors.

BookBaby's #1 choice for:

Professional Ghostwriting: Premium book-writing services to help you start or finish your manuscript.
Expert Book Coaching: Write your book with an industry professional guiding you every step of the way.
Developmental Editing: Expert editorial services for your book’s structure, content, and marketability.

As a trusted partner of BookBaby, KAA provides custom-tailored book services to ensure your manuscript is set up for success to publish your book with BookBaby. Learn more about Kevin Anderson & Associates.

Book Promotion

Goodreads

Goodreads is the world's largest site for readers and book recommendations. Since we started in 2007, we've grown to more than 130 million members, with 3.5 billion books added and 110 million reviews. Every second, Goodreads members add 15 books to their "want to read" shelves. More than 300,000 authors have joined the Goodreads Author Program to take advantage of the promotional tools Goodreads offers to reach a wide network of passionate readers. www.goodreads.com

CraveBooks

CraveBooks is a book promotion platform built to help authors get discovered, grow their readership, and increase sales. Authors can create a professional author profile hub, then use a smart promotion dashboard to launch, schedule, and track campaigns in one place. CraveBooks also offers email list-building giveaways designed to help authors grow their newsletter audience and build long-term momentum. Find out more here.

Bublish

Accelerate your book marketing success with Bublish. Bublish’s powerful, award-winning suite of creation and social marketing tools is used by thousands of great writers around the world to share stories, reach new readers, track engagement and build a dynamic author brand that drives book sales. www.bublish.com

BookLemur

Do you want to get your eBook in front of thousands of readers who are hungry for new and interesting titles? BookLemur eBook promotions are sent by email to thousands of readers every day. Featuring your eBook promotion with BookLemur will increase downloads and sales for new and existing titles, which also boosts your eBook rankings.

Here’s what author, Cyndie Shaffstall, said about her experience, “My eBook made it to the number one position in its genre in just four days. BookLemur gets kudos from me for helping me attain that and is now a leader in my book campaigns.”

All BookBaby authors save 10% on a BookLemur eBook listing when using coupon code BOOKBABY10, click here to get started.

Book Reviews

Readers’ Favorite

Readers' Favorite is the fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet. We have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins, and have received the Best Websites for Authors and Honoring Excellence awards from the Association of Independent Authors. In addition to providing free reviews for authors we also host a respected annual international book award contest to help authors obtain more recognition and exposure. www.readersfavorite.com

Story Cartel

Story Cartel harnesses the virtually unlimited power of readers producing crowd-sourced reviews that go straight to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, blogs and more. www.storycartel.com

Self-Publishing Review

Self-Publishing Review offers professional self-published book review packages and indie book editing services from less than $1 a page, as well as featuring news and resources on the self-publishing process. SPR, founded in 2008 in LA, has a staff of professional reviewers and editors from the US and UK. With 170,000 views a month and nearly 40,000 social followers, SPR has been cited by The Guardian UK and The NYT as a top resource for indie authors. www.selfpublishingreview.com

BlueInk Review

Writing "The End" is just the beginning...Now build an audience with a professional book review. Self-publishers face an uphill battle finding readers. Greatly increase your chances with an objective review. Our critics have written for The New York Times, Washington Post and more; others have edited at top publishing houses including Viking and Crown. BlueInk’s widely syndicated reviews are taken seriously by readers and book professionals. BookBaby authors receive a $75 discount using coupon code D7G4. www.blueinkreview.com

IndieReader

IndieReader’s team of professional reviewers boasts a range of background and experience and includes journalists, teachers and librarians, as well as published writers. Whether your book is a vampire love story, a sci-fi action adventure or a memoir, we make every effort to match your book’s genre to the interest of our reviewers. Your finished review will be posted to the IndieReader site, where it will be seen by book-lovers, bookstore buyers and publishing professionals, as well as being available for purchase. IndieReader is offering Bookbaby authors an additional 15% off our already low prices (almost 1/2 that of like services). Sign up here and enter authorsfifteen at check out. www.indiereader.com

PR Services

PR by the Book

PR by the Book is a boutique publicity firm specializing in traditional media relations, online media relations, social media services, book tour support, and brand consulting. PR by the Book believes in long-term impact that goes beyond the book, using every outreach tool at their disposal, they’ll connect your message to your audience, creating a personal brand that’s built to last. www.prbythebook.com

Writing Software

The Novel Factory

Writing a novel is a daunting task, but with the right tools, you can simplify the process of finishing your manuscript and get your story into the hands of your readers. The Novel Factory is a premium software developed by writers that helps you write, organize, and plan your novel all in one place. It contains dedicated tools to aid with plotting, character development, and drafting.

Learn more about The Novel Factory

AutoCrit

Become a better writer - guaranteed! AutoCrit combines the research of thousands of bestselling novels with feedback from authors, agents, and publishers in an easy-to-use tool designed to make good writers great.

Learn more about how you can utilize AutoCrit to polish your manuscript while saving time, money, and frustration in their free ebook: The Secret Formula to Publishing a Bestselling Novel

Fictionary StoryTeller

Fictionary StoryTeller helps writers tell powerful stories with creative editing software that simplifies editing. StoryTeller guides great writers through a scene-by-scene story edit using manuscript analysis and universal storytelling elements to tell stories readers naturally connect with. Transform your story, not just your words. Learn more.

Write Brothers Inc.

Write Brothers Inc. is a world leader in developing software products for writers and has been since 1982. It is the only company with software for all phases of writing: creativity, brainstorming, outlining, and formatting. Its top-selling Movie Magic Screenwriter and Dramatica Story Expert, Word Menu, and Outline 4D (formerly StoryView) writing programs are used by leading novelists, fiction writers, screenwriters, and playwrights. Thousands of novels, stage plays, comic scripts, and Hollywood films and TV shows have been written and produced with Write Brothers software. www.screenplay.com

Scrivener

Literature & Latte was founded in 2007 with the sole purpose of creating software that aids in the creative process of writing long texts. Our flagship product, Scrivener, is an award-winning program used by acclaimed authors, Hollywood and independent filmmakers and countless authors in professional and academic fields. www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener

Crowdfunding

Publishizer

Publishizer is a book marketing platform for authors. Launch a preorders campaign or book marketing campaign at publishizer.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started on writing my book?

Starting the book writing process can be daunting, but the first step is to simply start writing your ideas. Create an outline of your book and break it down into smaller sections to make it more manageable. Set realistic writing goals and find a writing routine that works for you. It's also important to remember that your first draft doesn't have to be perfect, so don't worry about professional book editing until you've finished the entire manuscript.

How do I know when my book is finished?

Knowing when your book is finished can be tricky, as there's always room for improvement. However, a good indicator that your book is complete is when you feel satisfied with the story, characters, and pacing. Additionally, you should have gone through multiple rounds of editing and have beta readers give feedback. It's also important to remember that at some point, you'll need to let go and move on to your next project.

How do I find a publisher for my book?

Finding a publisher for your book can be a challenging process, but there are a few ways to increase your chances of success. Opt for a book self-publishing service that gives you full creative control over your story and marketing.