If you’re looking to write your first story, have just finished your first book and dream of having it published, or are deep in the query trenches with no end in sight, sometimes the author life can feel overwhelming. Want advice?

Here are some of my favorite resources:

The first place I would start is with free information online, which can be found in droves! In fact, anyone can find anything about the querying process and best ways to tackle a plot JUST online. I promise you never need to spend a penny to successfully write, edit, and query a book! Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise! Here are some of my favorite starting points:

My favorite resources were YouTube videos and Substacks, some great ones listed below.

  1. YouTube

    1. Lindsay Puckett

    2. Lynn D Jung

    3. Dami S

    4. BookEnds

  2. Substack

    1. The Honest Editor

    2. Ventorship with Jason June

    3. Publishing Confidential

    4. Jenna Satterthwaite (mostly free; some are paid posts)

For querying:

For learning to write:

The best thing here is to keep your butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard, and practice writing. Practice completing a project instead of simply starting dozens. Practice actually editing a project after you complete it (major edits that change the plot, not just line edits). Writing is the best teacher.

There is also heading to your local library for any books on craft, some of my favorites below:

  1. Mastering Plot Twists, Jane K Cleland

  2. Anatomy of Genres, John Truby

  3. Before and After the Book Deal, Courtney Maum

  4. Save the Cat, Blake Snyder and/or Jessica Brody

For community:

I recommend joining BlueSky, Twitter, and Discord to meet writerly friends! Depending on where you live there also may be local, free writing groups, book clubs, and events for writers.

  1. Publisher’s Marketplace— my favorite website in the whole world. This one is NOT cheap. Here you can have access to all the book sales that happen with all the publishers and agents (if they choose to list them, which we think at least 80-90% or more of book sales are represented). You can use this data to make agent lists for who to query, find out who is making the largest sales, who might have the busiest lists and less likely to take on new clients, and what is trending in your genre.

  2. Query Tracker— find data on agents, organize your queries, hear minor gossip about agent drama (in comments sections). There is also a paid version of QT which offers fun reports.

  3. Conferences— these can be anywhere from relatively inexpensive to exorbitantly, outrageously expensive. I suggest asking your writing friends if they know of the specific conference you are interested in, and if they would recommend it.

Great Resources that DO cost money:

  • If you include picture books and one book I technically wrote twice (scrapping most of the plot), then the book I found my agent on was number 7. Counting novels only it was number 4. I queried two books, and the total time I spent from first query sent to finding my agent was over 6 years! That includes a side quest I took for an MFA 😊

  • I think the free resources online are the best place to start! For paid ghost writing or coaching I would suggest Reedsy.

    If you have written a middle grade novel (in the genres of: fantasy, sci-fi, or horror) and you’re interested in 1:1 paid feedback for your query package or advice on agents, feel free to use my contact page to get in touch.

  • Absolutely! I adore being in front of both large and small groups and have experience presenting to Pre-K through adult audiences. I am available for author classroom visits, craft or query discussions with your writers group, and conferences. Contact me for pricing and specific course offerings.