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Presenting a world-class StoryBundle of 16 books that will help you up your game as a writer. In order to write your novel in a month or less, you need to develop a plan and increase your productivity. We’ve got several titles to do just that—C. Michelle Jefferies has the 30 Day NaNoWriMo Prep Book, while Monica Leonelle offers a slightly different take with Novel Writing Prep: A 30-Day Planner That Prepares You To Write 50,000 Words in One Month.

Once you’ve got a plan, pump up your output with The No-Nonsense, No BS Guide to Putting Words on the Page by Natasha Khullar Relph and Be a Writing Machine by Michael La Ronn. Kevin McLaughlin shows you how to find more time to write in The Coffee Break Novelist, while Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre help you take care of yourself while you crank out the words in The Relaxed Author.

Next step is to massage those words into something worth reading. The Survival Kit for Writers Who Don’t Write Right by Patricia McLinn will help out, and for more specific techniques, Ian Madison Keller and Mary E. Lowd show you how to write animals in Furry Fiction Is Everywhere.

My own offering in this StoryBundle is my latest book, 8 Steps to Side Characters: How to Craft Supporting Roles with Intention, Purpose, and Power. Detailing how to build side characters full of depth and reader-grabbing sass.

And now to get published! If you’re interested in producing the book yourself as an indie publisher, you have a whole industry to learn. Start out with C. A. Price’s A Simple How-To Guide for Indie Publishers and The Indie Author’s Bible by Christopher D. Schmitz. There’s even a book on how to avoid the slush pile if you’re more interested in trad publishing: Slush Pile Memories: How Not to Get Rejected by Kevin J. Anderson himself.

Getting into more of the nitty-gritty, Craig Martelle offers The Successful Indie Author: Release Strategies and Tao Wong has Marketing Strategy for Authors. For a really deep dive into emails and newsletters, we even offer specific books by Andrea Pearson, Killer Content: How to Write Emails that Get Your Books Downloaded, and Erika Everest, The Strategic Author’s Guide to Mailerlite.

 But hurry, the NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Storybundle will only be available until the beginning of December. 

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It’s a “pay what you like” system but if you meet the bonus price, you can also get discount coupon codes for the ebook editing apps Jutoh 3 and Jutoh 3 Plus! What does “pay what you like” mean? For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

• The Strategic Author’s Guide to MailerLiteby Erika Everest
• Self-Publishing for Authorsby C. A. Price
• Killer Contentby Andrea Pearson
• 8 Steps to Side Characters by Sacha Black

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus TWELVE more books, for a total of 16! You also get two coupon codes for 50% and 75% off the book editing app Jutoh 3!

• Be a Writing Machineby Michael La Ronn
• The Coffee Break Novelistby Kevin McLaughlin
• Slushpile Memories: How NOT to Get Rejectedby Kevin J. Anderson
• The Relaxed Authorby Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre
• Furry Fiction is Everywhereby Ian Madison Keller and Mary E. Lowd
• Successful Indie Author Release Strategiesby Craig Martelle
• The Indie Author’s Bibleby Christopher D. Schmitz
• 30-Day NaNoWriMo Prep Workbookby C. Michelle Jefferies
• Novel Writing Prepby Monica Leonelle
• Shut Up and Writeby Natasha Khullar Relph
• Survival Kit for Writers Who Don’t Write Rightby Patricia McLinn
• Marketing Strategy for Authorsby Tao Wong
• 50% off Jutoh 3 and 75% off Jutoh 3 Plus!by Jutoh

This bundle is available only for a limited time via Storybundle. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get multiple DRM-free formats (.epub, .mobi) for all books!

It’s also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.

To find out more about the bundle, click here.

The post The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Bundle appeared first on Sacha Black.

I’ve been reading a lot of self-help books of late. I’ve said it before, but the transition to full-time self-employment has been turbulent to say the least. So, when in doubt, I always turn to books. Knowledge is power, education is the only solution. I thought I’d share some of the best self-help books for writers out there in the hopes it helps you on your journey too.

In no particular order:

11 Self-Help Books for Writers

Girl, Stop Apologising by Rachel Hollis

Also by the same author in the series and actually the prequel, Girl, Wash Your Face.

To buy Girl, Stop Apologising, you can use these links:

Amazon UK and Amazon USA.

This particular book gave me a couple of revelations which you can read about here, but predominantly, one about focus and how I should treat my to-do list results list.

Part memoir, part actionable self-help book, it’s split in two: excuses you need to get rid of and behaviors you need to adopt.

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

You can get it from Amazon UK, Amazon USA

This for me was less about the actionable things I need to do and more that I finished the book feeling like I could do anything I damn well wanted. A proper powerhouse of motivation. Part philosophical fooey (which I happen to agree) it’s full of anecdotes and memories of a life you wish you could have led.

Jen Sincero is seriously badass, and now I feel like I am too.

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield

You can get it from Amazon UK and Amazon USA

I actually listened to this one on audiobook. One of the most powerful books I’ve read, this is probably my number one recommendation. There are tons of actionable steps you can take in this book. I kept a post-it note in my wallet which read

I will leave my job in 2020

I signed the note and kept it in my wallet for two years. I ended up leaving in 2019.

His book is full of stories of success, tips and a boatload of motivation. If you’re a writer, this is one self-help book for writers you should not miss out on.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA.

I adore Elizabeth Gilbert. Every time she opens her mouth it’s like molten gold and flowing inspiration. Big Magic is a whole book of it. Her style sucks you in and grips you until the finish. I’m pretty sure I sank Big Magic in one or maybe two sittings.

Very much a book for writers and creatives. It’s largely about mindset and moving beyond fear, but it’s an all-round motivational read that reassures you you’re not alone in the highs and lows of creative life.

I highly recommend it.

Indie Author Mindset by Adam Croft

Purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA

I had the pleasure of reading this before it was published. This is a refreshing, short read for any author (trad or indie) looking to give their mindset a check.

Key takeaways are around how to view your writing as a business and the key things you need to do in order to set yourself up for business success.

This book pulls no punches, but it’s a fantastic guide and I highly recommend it.

The Successful Author Mindset by Joanna Penn

Purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA

Similar to the above book, this one is also for any author (trad or indie) looking to give their mindset a check. However, this one is focused much more on the mental highs and lows of writing and the journey we take to publication and beyond. A great one to read and then re-read as you continue in your career.

How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh

*Winner of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards: Non-Fiction Book of the Year!*

Purchase on Amazon UK or Amazon USA

Listen on Audible UK or Audible USA

This is another one I listened to on audiobook. Lilly is a YouTube sensation. But she’s also an inspiration. Young, ambitious, and super successful. She’s motivational and hilarious to boot. I actually recommend you listen to the audiobook. It’s narrated by Lilly herself and is so much the better for it. If you fancy a feel-good book and a giggle, go listen, NOW!

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Purchase on Amazon UK or Amazon USA

This one is a mind-blower. It’s pretty heavy going, lots of science and research and facts.

But I HIGHLY recommend it. It’s all about the concept of shallow ‘busy’ work versus doing deep effective work. It’s challenging, thought-provoking and a must-read for anyone with a goal.

The War on Art by Steven Pressfield

Purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA

I’ve read absolutely every non-fiction book Steven Pressfield’s ever written. I would recommend ANY of them. I particularly like Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t and Do The Work as well as.

He has a particular way of writing. You’ll love it or hate it. I’m the former. I find him inspirational, motivating and the provider of a jolly good kick up the backside!

Grit for Writers by Tamar Sloan

Purchase on Amazon UK or Amazon USA

A fantastic book for authors, all about keeping the right mindset, digging deep and pushing hard to meet all your writing dreams and goals.

If you’ve ever felt the slump, this is a short sharp reminder to pick yourself up and keep on keeping on.

The One Thing by Gary Keller

Purchase on Amazon UK or Amazon USA

Another fantastic book about focus. Gary’s point isn’t that you can’t do and achieve lots of things, just that you have to focus on one at a time. There’s science and research to back up his points. A fascinating read and one that’s sure to change your point of view.

Next up on my to-read list are the following recommended by some author pals.

• Do Less by Kate Northrup purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA
• Grit by Angela Duckworth purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA
• Daring Greatly by Brene Brown purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA
• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA
• Be the Change by Marin McCue purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon USA

Please note because these are books I’ve read and loved, this post does contain affiliate links.

11 of The Best Self-Help Books for Writers #indieauthor #selfpublishing #IARTG #ASMRG #writingcommunity
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So that’s my reading list. What about yours? What self-help books for writers have you read or would you recommend? Let me know in the comments.

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The post 11 of The Best Self-Help Books for Writers appeared first on Sacha Black.