🧙‍♂️🦇Best Author Tools | Spooky Recs | Shadow Light Press is Here

Welcome! This week, we look at the best Authoring tools on the market, if that’s your fancy, give you the best recs, and look at a publisher that I think is going to storm the walls for the genre.

And as a heads up, interview fell through this week. This was MY fault, and not the Author’s. They have been reshuffled in the coming months. Sorry😥.

WEEKLY RECS | SHADOW LIGHT PRESS IS HERE | ACTUALLY GOOD AUTHOR TOOLS |

Weekly Recommendations - Awesome Stories, some scary ones too

🍾Shadow Light Press storms the castle

Shadow Light Press is a a fast growing leader in the publishing space, and I couldn’t be more excited.

They are publishing by authors, for authors. Readers, for readers.

They’ve got an awesome team of eclectic authors and business-savvy readers, bringing incredible stories to light. Focused on LitRPG, Gamelit, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and more, they’re here to empower authors and connect readers to unforgettable adventures.

Many of my favorite stories of the year have been signed by them, and they have big things planned. I can’t wait to see how they storm the castle and bring the freshest stories of the genres to readers. Keep your eyes pelled folks, they are going to do great things. Check out their website for their upcoming releases! Books they have releasing:

• Terra Mythica - Now Available for preorder on Amazon

• Rise of the Infernal Paladin

• Into the Deep Wood

• Return of the Wind Mage

• Penance

• Endless Worlds Online

• Hounds of Orion

📝Actually Helpful Author Tools

I went through every single Author tool available, I read countless reviews, I watched a million youtube videos, and tried out each of them. Here’s what I found to be actually useful tools if you’re in the market for a snazzy piece of software. I’ll break them down into categories:

Just Good Writing Software

If you use Google Docs or Microsoft Word, or heck, even Lotus Notes (it’s still out there, creeping in the darkness), power to you. Want to upgrade your workflow a bit? There’s two major recommendations I’d make from someone who has to use different software every dang day:

1. Scrivner: Scrivener is the top choice for writers because it’s packed with tools that help you get your work done, without telling you how to do it. You can organize your project however you want. Break it into scenes, link ideas, add notes, and view the whole thing at once or zoom in on specific parts. It’s also great for keeping research in one place, with options to store images, links, and other files right in the app. Plus, it syncs across devices, so you can work from anywhere. Scrivener is perfect for writers who want control and flexibility in one powerful app. Good soup. Good product.

2. Obsidian: Obsidian is a go-to tool for writers who want to connect their ideas in a unique way. It’s a free note-taking app that lets you link your notes together, creating a web of ideas you can easily navigate. Think of it as a second brain where you can store research, drafts, and random thoughts, all interconnected. You can set up different views to see your notes as a network, which is perfect for visualizing how everything fits together. It’s also super customizable, so you can tweak the look and add plugins to fit your workflow. If you like the idea of a flexible, non-linear approach to organizing your writing, Obsidian is hard to beat. AND IT’S FREE. I use it every dang day for work.

3. Ulysses: This one barely passes muster because it’s Apple exclusive. Boo. Ulysses is for writers who love a clean, distraction-free workspace. It’s designed with a minimalist look, so you can focus on your writing without getting bogged down by extra features. It uses Markdown for easy formatting and syncs across Apple devices, making it easy to pick up where you left off. Plus, it organizes your projects , so you always know where to find everything. If you’re a Mac user looking for a simple, streamlined writing experience, Ulysses is a solid choice. I’m watching you, Ulysses.

Actually worthwhile Editing Software

We all deserve a little software help, right? You don’t want to be embarassed by your grammer, do you? DO YOU!?

1. ProWritingAid: This one’s like having an editing coach in your corner. It doesn’t just catch grammar goofs, it digs into your writing style, pacing, and even dialogue. If you’re doing fiction, it’ll help you keep your story flowing without losing your voice. Some of the biggest authors use this and it shouldn’t just be scooted over.

2. Grammarly: Grammarly is everywhere, so it’s super convenient for quick clean-ups. It’s solid for grammar and readability checks, and it works in your browser, Word, email, basically anywhere you need it. It’s not built for fiction specifics, but it’s awesome at catching those sneaky little mistakes.

3. Hemmingway: Hemingway’s all about making your writing punchy. It flags long sentences, complex phrases, and passive voice, pushing you to simplify. If you want to trim the fluff and make your writing hit harder, this one’s a great pick. It helps you write to a 3rd grade, all the way to university level. Yeah, it helps a lot.

AI Tools (Who’s going to know besides you?)

• I’m not linking to AI writing tools. If you use them, good for you.

Other Helpful Tools

Here’s some general tools to help you:

1. https://pomofocus.io/: Set a pomodoro timer and write.

2. https://www.onelook.com/thesaurus/ - Enter a word or phrase and it will find related words for you!

3. https://inkarnate.com/ - create fantasy maps online. Free and paid version

Hope you enjoyed this edition!
🧙‍♂️Saga Scribe