Brr! Hope you are staying warm this month.

It’s been a cold but busy time for me as I edit the books coming later this year. I’ve said it plenty of times: editing is my favorite part of the process. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a lot of work and can be a vulnerable moment. But I am in awe of the editors I have worked with and their storytelling skills. My books are the better for the wonderful editors I have had the pleasure to partner with over the years.

BUT! Don’t leave everything to the end. Storytelling is a craft and requires study and practice. My favorite craft book is Story Genius by Lisa Cron. I’m a big fan of Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes (really helps with understanding structure) and highly recommend Sandra Gerth’s Show, Don’t Tell (to learn deep POV writing).

What do you do if you’re stuck? My friend, Bryn Donovan, has an awesome series to motivate you and get your creative juices flowing. Blank Page to Final Draft, Master Lists for Writers, and 5,000 Writing Prompts are always on my desk to spark an idea. Bryn also has an amazing blog: https://www.bryndonovan.com/

For marketing, I love Zoe York’s Romance Your Brand, Romance Your Plan, and Romance Your Goals. While she is a self-published author, her principles translate to traditional publishing as well.

In terms of software, I’ll be honest, I’m mostly a boring word processor gal. I bought Word (I know there is a subscription model now, but I don’t love a monthly fee) and that is where I do most of my work.

BUT! I also enjoy Scrivener for starting a new project. I don’t use all the features (not by a long shot). I have Scrivener on my laptop and I downloaded an app on the phone. Via Dropbox I’m able to sync between the two. Why does this matter? Because I’ve found the dictation on my phone in Scrivener is great. When I’m stuck, I like to go for a walk and talk into my phone. I am not in a place of dictating an entire book (although, what a skill! definitely a long term goal) but even a couple of scenes helps to speed up my process.

Do you have any favorite resources?