I’m often asked for my favorite writing resources, so I though it would make a great first blog post to put a list together, along with a little bit about why I like them.
Best resource for getting started
How to Write Best-Selling Fiction by James Scott Bell and The Great Courses
I have read and listened to a LOT of writing instruction over the past five years, and in my mind this is the best resource out of all of them.
Unlike many craft fiction writers, James Scott Bell actually writes books that sell well. In this course he takes an overview of everything from character arcs and dialogue to revisions and marketing.
He has a few books that cover several of the topics in more depth (more on those later), but I think this is the best place to start for any new writer.
Buy on Amazon (great price here, and on Audible too!)
Buy on The Great Courses (way more expensive here unless you choose the subscription option)
Best free resource for getting started
Writer’s Life Wednesdays by Abbie Emmons on YouTube
Abbie’s entire channel is worth checking out, but in this post I want to specifically shout out her playlist about the 3 Act Story Structure.
She does a fantastic job walking you through each of the structure’s steps, providing tips and motivation for tackling each section along the way.
And let me be clear, this would still be a great resource if it was a paid video series like JSB’s Great Courses lectures.
Most practical writing resource
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody and Blake Snyder
You’ve probably seen this one around before, and there’s a great reason for that—it’s an incredible resource!
You can read it straight through or open it up for quick reference when outlining a new story.
What I love most about it is not only the structure it gives, but also the descriptions of the various types of stories there are.
Best resource for self-editing
Effective Editing by Molly McCowan and The Great Courses
Once you’ve completed your first draft (or even second), it’s helpful to have some guidance on what to actually do during the editing process.
I highly recommend using this resource (or one like it) before hiring an actual editor. Why? Because you’ll get way more bang for your buck if your editor doesn’t have to worry about explaining all of the common rookie mistakes that you’ve almost-definitely made during your first novel-writing attempt. If you polish your manuscript a bit first, then you’ll be able to dive into the issues that could be addressed in your novel specifically instead of wasting your editor’s valuable time and expertise on common issues.
Buy on Amazon (again much less expensive here)
Buy on The Great Courses (more expensive unless you get the subscription)
Best resource for writing children’s fiction
How to Self-Publish and Market a Children’s Book by Karen P. Inglis
Writing for middle grade (or really anything other than adult) adds its own unique set of challenges. This book goes into some of the specifics for what to keep in mind when writing and marketing your book for a younger audience.
Best resource(s) for professional editing
Reedsy
At some point you’re going to have to hire a professional editor. This can be a scary process. After all, it’s your book baby and you want someone who is going to help your novel grow to its full potential.
One mistake I almost made was hiring a friend who has editing experience. How can this be a mistake? Well, while she is a talented editor, she didn’t have experience editing for middle grade. So she directed me to a Reedsy, a resource where you can post jobs to a extensive network of professional editors. Because of the sheer number of editors, you can easily find someone who specializes in your genre. This is how I found a middle grade sci-fi/fantasy specialist, and she was able to help me make my debut novel much more suitable for the age group. The individual I hired had worked at one of the larger publishing companies too and had experience editing hundreds of books.
Note: The biggest tip here is to request a SAMPLE EDIT! Every editor is different and even if they specialize for your age group and genre, you want to be sure you’re a good fit for each other. Don’t rush into this all-important relationship. Be sure to request a sample and if they’re not willing to give one, I would highly recommend finding someone who will.
Other Editing Resources
There is just one problem with hiring a top professional. It can cost a lot! My experience with Reedsy was worth the money, but in my early writing career it’s difficult to hire all of my editors from Reedsy, especially when there’s a big benefit to having multiple sets of eyes on each project.
This is where I’d recommend getting to know other authors who have editing experience. Indie authors especially will know where to target your time and attention to get the most bang for your buck. After you’ve found a few options, check out their previous work (either what they have written or what they have edited) to see if you think they might be a good fit. Then, like I recommended above, be sure to get a sample. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and different writing styles. You want to be sure that your editor’s feedback jives with your vision while also addressing your weaknesses.
If you’re interested in having me edit your work, send me an email at contact@jontilton.com and I’d be happy to hear about your project. From personal experience I also recommend Ellen McGinty.
Best resource(s) for cover design
Next to editing, cover design is the most important part of giving your novel a professional feel. But finding a great designer can be tricky!
Here are a few resources I’ve found helpful in connecting with various designers.
Searching hashtags can be helpful, but like editing, the trick is finding people who specialize in your genre. This is where I found a specific IG account particularly helpful. Belle of Belle’s Middle Grade Library (@bellesmiddlegrade) posts reviews of a LOT of middle grade books. In each review she tags the designer of the cover. This allows for very quick access to hundreds of people designing in the middle grade space. It’s how I found the perfect designer for Please Return to the Lands of Luxury. Just find a few covers that give off the vibe you want for your book and reach out to the designer!
eBook Launch and MiblArt
Belle’s Middle Grade Library is obviously MG-focused, so I wanted to include a few resources that offered design services for a broader range of projects. I haven’t used either of these resources myself, but have author friends who have used both and had great experiences.
More craft books worth checking out!
If you’re anything like me, you often just can’t get enough of craft books, especially when you’re first starting out. The only problem is there are a LOT of terrible ones out there. But below are the ones I found to actually be helpful.
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
This book takes the ideas from Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey and re-organizes it and simplifies it for writers. The author worked at Disney for a number of years where they implemented his methods into many of the films you grew up with.
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass
A great resource for helping connect your reader to your character’s inner conflict and unique way of seeing the world.
Buy the Emotional Craft of Fiction
The 8-Minute Writing Habit and Write Better, Faster by Monica Leonelle
This is a great resource for figuring out how to get more words in every day. You might assume this waters down your writing, but writing more words every day actually improves your writing because it gets you in the practice of actually DOING the work instead of waiting around for the words to come to you. It’s also available in an audiobook bundle. I found the dictation book to be a little outdated, but it’s a great way to go through the other two!
Buy the 8-Minute Writing Habit
Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle
There are a bunch of great books that are less practical and more resonant with the process of writing. This is my favorite of those books. L’Engle discusses her philosophies about writing, much of them deeply rooted in her Christian faith.
Write Your Novel from the Middle and Super Structure by James Scott Bell
More fantastic resources from James Scott Bell. He has written a few others too like The Last Fifty Pages and How to Write Dazzling Dialogue. I recommend all of them, but first do be sure to go through his entire course on The Great Courses. That’s the best way to understand his full approach, then you can pick up these shorter books to help dive deeper into whichever topics you want to learn more about.
Last but certainly not least
There’s no link in this entry—just some general advice.
As much as craft books are great, there are more ways to improve your writing than specifically honing your craft. You want to be a true student of life. Find resources to study philosophy, theology, economics, political science, anything and everything that will give you more perspective on life, both from people you admire but also places that might challenge your current views.
To make our worlds feel real and our characters seem truly alive, it’s good to have an understanding about more than just what makes a good sentence. Many of the craft books above do this, but I find that most of my inspiration comes from outside of learning about the 3-Act Story Structure.
Craft books are great for figuring out what tools to use to communicate your ideas, but experiencing life gives you the ideas in the first place. So spend time with your family and friends, talk about life, listen to great music, explore nature—get out in the world and learn as much as you can!
That’s all for now! I hope you find this list of resources helpful. Feel free to bookmark the page to come back to it later. I will likely update this one from time to time too.
And if you found this information helpful, please consider sharing with a friend who might be able to utilize these resources.
Happy writing!
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