45 Online Resources for Getting Your Book Written and Published Fast
Are you making excuses about why your book isn’t finished? Not only is someone waiting to hear your story, you are leaving a potential stream of income untapped that could be used to supplement your present income, take a vacation or even start or expand your business.
But writing a book can be challenging when you don’t know where to start. I totally get it. I felt that way when I first started. However, after writing 5 books of my own and helping over 50 authors write and publish their books, I have gathered a list of great online resources that will help you get your book written and published FAST.
Resources listed here will help you brainstorm, research, write, edit and store your work.
Brainstorm
Mind mapping is an excellent way to brainstorm and organize ideas. This site provides great insight to those that are new to the process. It also includes information on some of the computer software and applications available.
Coggle is a free, simple to use mind mapping tool that allows online collaboration. You can save your mind map as a PDF or PNG.
Text2MindMaps is an online mind mapping tool that will convert an outline into a mind map. Each map can be downloaded as a PDF, image, or emailed to share with collaborators.
Feedly is a news aggregator application for various web browsers and mobile devices. It compiles news feeds from a variety of online sources based on your choices. You can then save those articles to various “read later” applications like Pocket and Instapaper.
InfoPlease combines an encyclopedia, almanac, dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, and biography reference.
This site gives access to statistics from more than 100 government agencies.
This site provides data from the Census Bureau online.
Wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free-content encyclopedia written collaboratively by largely anonymous internet volunteers. Since the articles can be edited by anyone, you shouldn’t use it as your sole source of information. However it can be a great way to get basic information and find out where to look for additional references.
Instapaper is a cloud-based tool that allows you to save web articles for later reading. You can then access them on any of your mobile devices.
Pocket is also a “read later” tool that allows you to file away articles you come across in your internet research. It has a few other features, including the ability to save embedded video from articles. You can also send articles to other people via email or directly to other Pocket users.
Evernote is a research organization tool that allows you to capture and store your notes, web clips, files and images. You can access them anytime from your computer or other mobile device.
Creative Commons allows you to give the public permission to share and use your creative work as long as they give you credit. Creative Commons’ licenses work in conjunction with your standard copyright and enable you to modify your copyright terms to best suit your needs.
Open Office is free, open source software which includes a word processor, presentation and spreadsheet program.
Google Drive (previously known as Google Docs) is a cloud-based application that allows you to store and create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and drawings. You can share, collaborate and sync your documents also.
Zoho is another free word processing suite, similar to Google Drive. It allows desktop syncing, file sharing, word processing and includes a spreadsheet and presentation tool.
Scrivener is a word processor and project management tool that allows you to outline and structure your ideas, take notes and view research alongside your writing. It is great for writing novels, articles, short stories, and screenplays. They offer a free trial.
Zamzar is a free, online converter that allows you to convert documents, images, music and video. They support over 1200 file types. It is a great tool to convert word processing documents to pdf, epub or other required formats.
This blog gives you access to the fundamentals of American Psychological Association (APA) style.
The Chicago Manual of Style Online
This is the online resource for the popular Chicago Manual of Style. This site includes an online forum and basic style rules.
This site is based on the classic book by Strunk and White.
Dictionary.com is the world’s leading, online resource for everything word related. The site includes definitions, synonyms, audio pronunciations, example sentences, translations and spelling help through their partner services Thesaurus.com and Reference.com.
Acronym Finder is the world’s largest dictionary of acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms. When used in conjunction with the Acronym Attic, Acronym Finder contains more than 5 million acronyms and abbreviations.
Find rhymes, near rhymes, homophones, synonyms and definitions for a given word.
Grammar Girl is an excellent source for information on proper word usage and punctuation.
The Center for Writing Studies at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana offers access to this grammar handbook which includes basic grammar rules, citation styles and writing tips.
Easybib.com is an online tool that will generate a “Works Cited” page instantly in Modern Language Association (MLA) style for free. Over 59 other styles, including APA and Chicago are included in their membership.
OneDrive is a Microsoft product that allows you to store and access your files on your desktop, tablet or smartphone. OneDrive also works with several applications including Easybib.
Dropbox allows you to store, share and access your documents online from anywhere you have an internet connection, including your phone or mobile device.
Resources listed here will help you register and publish your paperback, hardback or eBook.
Publish
Createspace is an Amazon-owned print on demand service that allows you to sell and distribute books, CDs, and DVDs worldwide through Internet retail outlets, bookstores, retailers, libraries, and academic institutions. They also have a free online tool for building cover artwork for your book.
Lulu is a print on demand service that allows you to print and distribute paperback, hardback and eBooks.
Ingram Sparks is a print on demand service that allows you to print and distribute paperback, hardback and eBooks.
Smashwords is an eBook self-publishing and distribution platform.
Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing
Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows you to publish your books independently to the Amazon Kindle Store. The service allows global distribution and the ability to publish in multiple languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese.
The US Copyright Office allows you additional protection of your written work for a fee.
The Library of Congress catalog control number is a unique identification number assigned to books that will be submitted to the Library of Congress. The Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program is to enable the Library of Congress to assign control numbers in advance of publication.
Resources listed here will help you get the word out about your work.
Promote
Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations with over 25 million members.
Book Talk is a free book discussion group with thousands of members. Members read and discuss fiction, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry and host live chats and interviews with authors.
BookBuzzr offers a do it yourself online book marketing technology suite. The BookBuzzr widget is a portable book website with a flipping pages feature allowing you to invite your readers to sample your book.
PR Log is an online press release distribution and press release submission service. They offer free and premium service packages.
Free-press-release.com (FPR) provides feed and premium press release distribution services.
These eCommerce resources will help you get paid for all of your hard work.
Sell
Paypal allows you to accept all forms of payments anywhere you do business. Many online customers prefer Paypal because their financial data, such as credit card numbers, is not shared with the merchant. The Paypal Here app for your smart phone will allow you to accept credit cards and checks.
The Square is a device that allows you to accept credit cards using your smart phone. You can also track checks and gift certificates but no funds are actually transferred. Transactions from Square are transferred to your bank account the next day.
Flint is an app that allows you to accept credit cards from your smartphone without a card reader. It includes mobile invoicing and digital coupons. Deposits are made in 1 to 2 days.
WooCommerce is a popular WordPress eCommerce plugin. This free toolkit allows you to set up an online store on your self-hosted WordPress Blog.
Ecwid is an eCommerce shopping cart that allows you to set up an online store within your Facebook fan page or self-hosted WordPress site.
There you have it, 45 great online resources for getting your book written and published FAST! If you are ready to fulfill your dream of becoming an author, you will find these online resources extremely helpful. However, they are only resources. You must put the work in and utilize these resources to produce your book.
If the idea of writing a book is new to you and you are a motivated, self-starter in need of a little guidance as to how to proceed with publishing your book, this list will start you on your way. If, however, you have desired to write a book for a while but have not been able to start or complete the task, you may need some extra motivation and encouragement. Our Write Your Book FAST Boot Camp offers instruction, encouragement and accountability. Click here to see when the next boot camp starts.