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Recommendations

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Dive into some of my favorite services and products, including some reading and writing tools I have collected and used during my writing journey!

This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This support helps my writing career and keeps this site running. Thank you for the support.

Physical Items

Passion Planner

I’ve been using this since 2020, and it’s been a fantastic tool for my planning and time management! Its flexibility, back pages, and accessories has been a savior for my author journey and personal life. With weekly and daily options available in three sizes and digital, there’s a journal option that’s for you!

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Use "JANINE339" at checkout!

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CyberPower Battery Backups

I've used CyberPower's Uninterruptible Power Supply for years. Their line of battery backups saved me from endless frustration and potential data loss from frequent power surges and blackouts. Products available at most major retailers.

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IPXOZO Video Capture Card

The HDMI/USB 3.0 audio video capture card displays your high definition and 4K captures for a variety of uses and compatible for Windows, Mac OS, Linux and more!

 

I use this to stream my HD console games.

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Once Upon A Book Club

A US-based book box service. They offer Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade options, covering a variety of genres. Included is 3-5 items tied into the story, adding a layer of immersion to the reading experience.

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Enerbone Water Bottle

I love this 32 oz. bottle, as it tracks suggested drinking times to keep you hydrated as well as imperial and metric indicators, and is easy to carry with you. Comes in over a dozen colors!

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JLab TALK GO

This studio-quality microphone is compact, portable, and lightweight, with two directional pattern modes for both individuals and group settings. Available at many major retailers.

 

This is the microphone I use for streaming.

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livho UV Light Glasses

These blue light blocking glasses your eyes from eye fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches as a result of long periods of exposure to fluorescent lights. Available in various colors and shapes.

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Kindle Paperwhite

A handheld black and white reading device for your books, the battery can last for days without a recharge and is easy on your eyes.

Become an Insider and load your Kindle with my book recommendations, as well as book review sheets to help you with your own reviews!

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Physical Items
Software

Software and Apps

Scrivener

I’ve been using Scrivener for Mac since 2009 and it’s a staple for my fiction writing life. It’s simple to learn, yet so complex and powerful that I haven’t figured out all the odds and ends after over a decade. It’s so great, I’ve used it for several ongoing non-writing projects! All at an affordable price for Mac and Windows!

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Vellum

I format my books with this Mac-only app, making your physical and electronic books look professional with customization at an affordable price.

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Aeon Timeline

I’ve used this interactive timeline app for over a decade, and has helped keep track of my chronological based info in my stories. Available for Mac and Windows.

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Book Brush

Get professional grade graphics for book promotional images in just a few easy steps. Some options are free, but offer paid plans for more resources and video promotions.

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Unsplash

Get high quality royalty-free images and photos that you can use for any project, commercially or otherwise, many at no charge. Unsplash+ provides access to more photos at an extra charge.

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SE.Live

This free OBS plugin adds StreamElements features into the popular Open Broadcaster Source, providing an extra layer to video recording and live streaming.

 

I use to broadcast my streams to Twitch.

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Chirp Books

Chirp Books provides many audiobook deals for popular books and lesser known treasures without a subscription. This is how I listen to most of my audiobooks.

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Autocrit

This AI editing tool has helped clean up my writing on a line editing level to a more presentable state. It also provides insights of writing style and more. Pro membership offers a community and exclusive lessons and courses. Lifetime subscriptions are offered on occasion. Courses are also offered at a separate cost.

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Publisher Rocket

This powerful tool analyzes keywords and other data from Amazon to assist in publishing and marketing.

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Canva

This web based design platform has helped me craft beautiful graphics that fit alongside my author platform and social media. Many things are free, but they offer paid plans for more tools and resources.

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The Hungry Jpeg

Get quality and fully commercial licensed premium fonts, graphics, crafts, and other design resources, many at a heavily discounted price or free of charge.

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Pixabay

Get over 4 million high quality royalty-free images and photos that you can use for any project, commercially or otherwise.

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VTube Studio

This app makes it easy and fun for Virtual YouTubers (VTubers) to bring their own Live2D models to life for live streaming and recorded videos. Main app is free on Steam, but does have premium features, including mobile app syncing.

 

I use this software to capture my VTuber model.

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More Writing Resources

If you want even more writing resources and software, including my description and motivation guide sheets, an exhaustive list of writing resource links, as well as my favorite authortubers and craft books for writers, become an Insider!

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Courses and Services

Author Website Bootcamp

Brittany Wang’s self-study course takes you from nothing but ideas to a finished site in a manner of weeks using Wix’s platform, walking you through the entire process.

 

This site was built by the help of this course.

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Write Like A Beast Deluxe

Adam Lane Smith helps you conquer writer’s block and optimize your speed and efficiency to write books faster.

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Fiverr

This freelance service marketplace has people ready for almost anything you might need, and useful for authors at any stage of the writing and publishing process. I’ve gotten character art, emotes, and my Vtuber model done via artists on Fiverr.

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Dream Cat Publishing

Author Catherine Kopf provides developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading for a variety of genres. She also provides print interior design.

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Publish and Thrive

Sarra Cannon uses her decade plus of indie publishing know how to demystify the self publishing process and all the ins and outs of making a self publishing career that you will thrive in.

 

The next round of the course will be in August 2024.

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Serial Fiction Bootcamp

Brittany Wang shares her experiences writing in the re-emerging format of book serials in the modern day. Her video lessons take you from what serials encompass, and through writing, editing, publishing, and marketing. Enrollment in the course comes with a helpful Discord community.

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Cherry Pie Author Services

Founded by author Mary Weber, this one stop shop has just about anything an author would need in their careers. From author branding, editing, marketing, and more, there’s something for every author, from the fledgling upstart to New York Times bestsellers.

Cherry Pie Author Services was responsible for my current author branding.

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MiblArt

MiblArt specializes in designing professional book covers for indie authors, including illustrated, ebook, and print covers, and interior book design, all at an affordable price. They also offer formatting design, marketing materials, and author branding packages.

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HB90 Bootcamp

Sarra Cannon goes through her personal 90 day planning method that focuses on three big goals for a three month period. It’s also flexible to most people and not just for writers.

 

The course is only open near the end of each quarter. The next round of the course will be in March 2024.

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Thriving Author Bundle

Want both HB90 and Publish and Thrive in one package? Check it out here.

 

This is only available when Publish and Thrive is open.

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Courses
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