We’re not in Kansas anymore…
I’ve been writing and creating for many years. But it wasn’t until 2008 when I started co-writing a novel. It took another seven years or so to start thinking about self-publishing.
Opening the door to self-publishing was like Dorothy stepping out of her relocated house into the Land of Oz. It was a whole new world, far from “Kansas” and full of wonder and fraught with danger. I realized I would need some trusted companions to walk with me on this new journey… to help me find my way “home.”
Finding companions along the self-publishing road is not difficult. We all have various needs, desires, and dreams. There are dozens of tools, support groups, books, courses, apps, workshops, and conferences. But finding the tools and services that worked for me was another story.
Here’s a glimpse into my self-publishing journey (so far), how I wandered about looking for writing, publishing, and marketing tools, and why I decided to create Best Author Tools.
Support Groups for Indie Authors
Many support groups (whether local writer groups or online Facebook groups) provide an opportunity to ask other authors which tools they’ve used and what works for them. This level of peer reviews gives us confidence to spend time and money on tools that will help us at each stage of the writing and publishing journey.
I’m constantly amazed by the generosity I see in indie author communities. But I found that when I have lots of questions, consulting support groups means I sometimes need to wait for responses. I get impatient. I also don’t want to abuse their generosity because I know other authors are busy. Many of them write as a hobby or part-time side venture (as I do).
Online Searching for Author Tools
Google search is an amazing tool. But one can get sidetracked and very lost. I often find myself fast asleep in a beautiful online poppy field, far from the road I was following.
I’ve found endless lists of recommended author tools, most of which are very helpful. But I’m also aware that those who compile these lists are not entirely unbiased. They want to be helpful and usually are. But ultimately, they’re often promoting their own service or resource for authors. And that’s fine; they have a business to run too.
What tools are successful authors using?
Through all my searching, reading, trials, errors, and money invested in author tools, the one question I kept asking was “What tools are successful indie authors actually using?” I wanted to find the best tools that would help me be most efficient and effective at every stage of my author journey.
And so I set out to create a home for the best author tools.
How will I (and you) know if they’re the best? I ask other authors. I’m trying to gather a community of indie authors who are willing to share the tools they’ve actually used and that have worked for them. I’m compiling the results in a published report that I will make available to all indie authors, whether or not they’re part of this community.
This idea might sound like crowd-sourcing, and you might question the authority of the crowd. That’s fine. You could be right. I’m not saying mine is the best solution. It’s just the best I can offer.
My hope is that Best Author Tools becomes a home for the best resources that indie authors actually use. And as Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.”
If you’re an indie author, please sign up to add your book to our library. I’ll add your book to be featured in the Bookstore (plus a few more benefits).
If you have a tool or resource for authors, please add it to the directory (we’ll include it in the directory and promotions, whether or not authors choose it as the best).
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