Graphics

Not everyone can hire a graphic designer. If you’ve got the confidence to try it yourself, then here are some great resources to help you get started.

• Canva –  
• Adobe Color Wheel –  
• Coolors.co – 
  The free version is great, but the paid version allows perks like saving your palettes and more.
• 3D Mockup Maker –  
• Magic Tool –  
• Free Background Remover – 
• QR Codes – 
• Word Clouds – 
  There’s a new version, but I prefer the classic one.
• ColorZilla Eyedrop Tool (Chrome extension) – 

Stock Photo Sites

There are a lot of stock photo sites that charge anywhere from a few cents to a pretty penny for their images. The ones below are free, but please read the fine print, make sure the photo has a commercial license, and avoid anything with an “editorial use only” label.

• Unsplash – 
• Pixabay – 
• Pexels – 
• Depositphotos –  

Here’s a bigger list but it’s from 2018 so YMMV – https://www.superboltstudios.com/marketing/22-of-the-best-free-stock-photo-sites-to-use-in-2018/ 

Social Media

Here are some resources to help you create and schedule your social media.

• Hootsuite –  
• Emojipedia – 
• Call to Action Words – 
• Conversation Starters – 
• Time Zone Converter – 
• National Calendar Day – 
• Authors Get Social Patreon – 

Productivity Tools

If you need to harness the power of productivity and make it work for you, these can help!

• Tomato Timer – 
• Pomodoro Technique –  
• Coffitivity – 
• Rainy Mood – 
• Cafe Restaurant – 
• News Feed Eradicator (Chrome extension) – 

Writing Tools

Here are some useful writing tools that have helped me in the past. Try them out!

• AutoCrit – This is my favorite proofreading program! There is a paid version, but you can do a lot with the free one.
• Prompt Generator – Stuck for a name? Get inspiration from randomly selected prompts.
• Masterclass Articles – Masterclass courses can cost a bundle. But did you know that they offer free blog articles?
• Hemingway App – Color-coded editing to help you find passive voice, purple prose, and more.
• Sisters In Crime Writing Resources – This mystery writers’ org offers a wealth of free resources for sisters and misters alike.
• Notebook.ai – Worldbuilders unite! Use this tool to build worlds, organize characters, and more. The possibilities are endless.
• Word Anvil – Another fun worldbuilding tool. This is especially useful for sci-fi and fantasy authors but works for all genres.
• Book Description/Blurb Generator – Need blurb help? Let Kindlepreneur help do the heavy lifting.
• Reedsy –  This is one of my favorite sites. It combines an online word processor, editor, and typesetter all in one. If you can’t afford a Mac and Vellum but want to format your own books, I highly recommend giving Reedsy a try. Sign up for FREE today!

Newsletters

Here are four popular newsletter options, listed from most to least economical. I use the first one (Substack) for my author newsletter, and the link will take you straight to my Substack home page. I use MailerLite for Authors Get Social.

• Substack – This is my favorite because it’s 100% free, and the benefits are endless. Imagine if your newsletter and blog had a baby that you could put behind a paywall like a Medium post, add podcasts, videos, and so much more. The only downside is that your welcome automation is limited to a single newsletter. But the real benefit is that while subscribers get the newsletter (aka Substack post) in their inbox, the newsletter/post is evergreen on the Substack site, so new-to-you readers can find it at any time.
• Sender.net – Sender offers a forever-free plan for authors with up to 2500 subscribers. It’s similar to Mailerlite in structure and has a low learning curve.
• MailerLite – MailerLite is quite popular with authors, but the free plan is limited to 1k subscribers.
• Mailchimp – MailChimp is more expensive, its free plan is limited to 500 subscribers, and its pricing strategy is unique.

If you’re wondering how these compare to other free newsletter services, then take a few minutes to read this article. https://themeisle.com/blog/best-free-email-marketing-services/

Courses and Events

There’s no age limit on learning.

• AI Marketing for Storytellers – Join Cassie Alexander and Novae Caelum, storytellers and tech innovators who’ve published dozens of books, produced cinematic trailers, experimented with AI filmmaking, and built automation systems that make their creative businesses run faster, as they share the tools and strategies that have helped them grow. Skool is for authors, screenwriters, filmmakers, game devs, and artists who want to use AI to create, promote, and grow without the overwhelm. Inside, you’ll find practical workflows, marketing strategies, automation tips, a supportive community, monthly live sessions with replays, and an ongoing library of prompts and workflows. This is where craft meets cutting-edge tech — and you see exactly how it’s done.

Fun Things

Fun things can be used to help you launch a new book or boost engagement on social media and with your newsletter.

• Quiz maker – 
  NOTE – The free account gives a limited number of resources.
• Spotify –   
• Jigsaw Planet –  
• Make Your Own Wordle –  
• Word Search Maker – 
  No username or PW required
• Crossword Puzzle Maker – 
  No username or PW required
  You can get a lifetime account for $10 but the free one gets the job done.
• Discovery Puzzle Maker – 
  No username or PW required
• Book Bingo – Whip up your own bingo cards, save them online or print them out, or create interactive bingo cards.