Resources for Authoring
Learn about the publishing process:
- You Should Write a Book by Katel LeDu and Lisa Maria Marquis: Oh, hey! If you’re looking for a guide to the writing and publishing process from two insiders, this is it. And if you’re thinking about pitching your book idea to A Book Apart, it’s essential reading!
- by Stephanie Morillo: Insights into the tech publishing landscape and thoughtful guidance for developers (and others!) aspiring to publish their writing.
- by Dan Poynter: Though the methodologies have changed since its debut in 1979, this manual provides no-nonsense advice for how to self-publish in any genre.
- by Anne Trubek: A crisp view of the publishing industry and how to navigate it as a first-time author, from query letter to launch.
- by Courtney Maum: A comprehensive reference to the nuts and bolts of getting your first book published, with input from more than 150 contributors.
Write and edit with care:
- by Sally Kerrigan: From a longtime A Book Apart editor, this is one of our favorite articles about how to write.
- : Founder Karen Yin helps writers and editors think critically about using language—including words, portrayals, framing, and representation—to empower instead of limit.
- : The standard American English writing style guide, used by many organizations (including A Book Apart) as the basis of their house style.
- : Spiritual activist, educator, organizer, and radical copyeditor Alex Kapitan offers copyediting guidance to reinforce access, inclusion, and liberation.
- The : An intersectional and community-supported guide to using language inclusive of gender, attraction, and acceptance.
- The University of British Columbia’s (PDF).
- : The American Psychological Association’s guidelines for writing about all people and their personal characteristics without bias.
- : A free, living resource for journalists and storytellers seeking to thoughtfully cover evolving social, cultural, and identity-related topics.
Tap into community:
- The : From the Conscious Style Guide, this searchable database is the ultimate resource for finding a freelance editor.
- : Writing, photography, and other art-inspired workshops for creatives of all skills and backgrounds.
- from Kat Vellos: The perfect workshop for making your nonfiction book dreams a reality.
- by Julia Cameron: a guided twelve-week course for discovering and recovering creativity.
- The : A hashtag used on Twitter and most other social platforms to connect to and learn from other writers, “discussing research, conferences, word counts, submissions, and publishing options…Lurking is not only allowed, but encouraged”.
- Newsletters on authoring:
- by Nicole Chung: A newsletter discussing the craft of writing and advice on creative work (subscription required).
- by Ijeoma Oluo: A newsletter shedding light on the trials and tribulations of writing a book.
- by Britany Robinson: A newsletter for freelance writers where she answers emails and offers pitch reviews to subscribers.
Understand marketing:
- The A Book Apart Marketing : Developed by marketing consultant Leslie Zaikis, this checklist of marketing tasks will keep you on track in the lead-up to your launch day
- from the Author Learning Center: A brief guide for ensuring your book is available through public libraries—especially handy for self-publishers.
- : A blog “where the practice of law meets the profession of writing,” to help you better understand publishing law.