Tools for Writers
Thoughts - Pages - Structure - Marketing
I just finished the first draft of another manuscript. And while I step away from it before the next phase, I’m reminded of some steps I went through along the way. In this article, I’m going to talk about a couple of things I do to keep my thoughts from drifting and some tools I’ve used to make my writing life a little more focused. Some tools mentioned I no longer use, but all six are worth looking at. I’ve provided links to the websites and a couple of videos that will take you through a deeper dive than I can provide.
ONE | Google Keep
Google Keep is a free note-taking app. It is a tool used to capture text, images, video, etc. Google Keep is a useful tool for those who need their works available anywhere they have an Internet connection. The app is pretty basic with few bells and whistles, but some (myself included) find that a plus. With Google Keep you can quickly capture thoughts on the go while they are still fresh in your mind. A good way to think of Keep is to compare it to a digital sticky notes with some organization thrown in. You can color code your notes as well as attach labels. As a bonus, there is an option to collaborate with other users. If your device does not have the built-in capability to jot down notes on-the-fly, Google Keep is an option worth considering.
TWO | Scrivener
I live in Scrivener by Literature and Latte. I have used this app for over 12 years. It is an excellent writing app with versions for Microsoft Windows, macOS and iOS. Unlike a word processor, Scrivener is a writing environment. Literature and Latte designed it from the ground up for large documents. If you’re writing novels, this is the app for you. It is hands down the most advanced writing environment you’ll ever use. There is a bit of a learning curve, but there are plenty of resources available to help you through it. With Scrivener you can create outlines, use a cork board, character sketches, keep research documents, make annotations, and track changes. The list goes on and on and on. I’ve found that having all the information you need to complete your work readily available without having to leave the writing environment is an invaluable feature. The user interface is easy to understand and well designed. Just about every aspect is customizable.
When it’s time to publish, it has built-in templates for properly formatting paperback, hardcover, and ebooks. Of course, there are options for you to override default settings and tweak to your needs. There are also options for exporting your document to .pdf, rich text, MS Word, OpenOffice, and Multi-markdown to name a few. It keeps your work safe by making automated backups to a folder and intervals of your choosing. The pricing model is a onetime purchase as opposed to the subscription model that so many companies have gone to. The cost, 49.00 for the Windows and Mac versions, and 19.00 for the iOS version. You simply can’t go wrong with this app.
I didn’t point to a video because there are so many available. This is the most documented writing app on the market. Browse the Literature and Latte website or YouTube for a plethora of training videos highlighting the many, many incredible things about Scrivener.
THREE | Hypotenuse AI
Hypotenuse AI uses machine learning to generate textual content. It is fairly simple to use and creates impressive results. You can use it to create content, articles, and blog posts without fear of plagiarism. You start by entering a topic and some keywords. Hypotenuse AI takes it from there and uses its AI engine to generate the content you’ve asked for. Hypotenuse AI is so good It is hard to tell the difference between the AI-generated text and that created by a human. There have been side-by-side tests performed to prove it. The quality of its SEO ready output is hard to beat. People who use Hypotenuse AI include:
Marketing
Copywriters
Authors
Entrepreneurs
Content Creators
SEO Professionals
What about blog articles?
Hypotenuse AI takes the middleman out of the equation. It can create SEO-optimized lengthy blog content effortlessly and eliminate the need to pay someone.
OK, tell me about pricing.
Sure! There are three plans: starter, growth, and enterprise. Let’s look at them all.
Starter
The Starter Plan is 29.00/month with 75 credits
Growth
The Growth Plan is 59.00/month with 250 credits
Enterprise
Contact Hypotenuse
About Credits
View credits as copywriting currency, where the number of credits needed depends on the content. 1 credit will generate two descriptions for a single product. A complete blog post requires 4-6 credits. while marketing copy such as Google ads, Instagram captions, Facebook ads, and website headlines and taglines. require none. You can view Credit balances within the app.
What are the downsides?
I honestly don’t see any.
FOUR | Name Generator
Though it’s called Name Generator, it does much more than that. With Name Generator you generate the following:
Character Names
Dating Profiles
Plots
Song Lyrics
Letters
Poems
and more coming soon. If you just need a quick random name, there are many categories to choose from, pen names, nicknames, cat names, pirate names, and fantasy names just to name a few. While there are many name generators on available online, this one stands out.
FIVE |Pacemaker Planner
Pacemaker Planner is an online tool that you can use to set word count goals. It generates charts that allow for superb dynamically adjusted visual analysis. Designed for writers and students, Pacemaker Planner allows you to set your goals and strategy. Once you have created your plan, you can import it into iCal or store it online. Once you begin work towards your target, every day counts. Record your progress and Pacemaker Planner will adjust your workload based on your input.
You can use Pacemaker Planner for novels, dissertations, blog posts, and more. There are Free and Paid versions. The paid version is 8/month or 72/year. After evaluating the options for my needs, I feel the paid option is the better choice.
If you want to track your progress against goals you set for yourself, the details that Pacemaker Planner offer make it a good choice. It is very flexible and adjusts to your needs to keep you on track.
SIX | Publisher Rocket
If you’ve ever done an Amazon ad campaign, you know that dealing with keywords can be a major PITA. Thankfully, Publisher Rocket comes to the rescue. I kicked off an ad campaign for one of my Kindle books about two weeks ago and found that I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I needed significantly more keywords than I used but found that I was just grabbing at straws. Publisher Rocket changed all of that and I now feel I have a fighting chance at competing with the masses to get some eyeballs on my book. Publisher Rocket, formerly known as KDP Rocket, comprises four tools in a package that helps you fine tune your ad campaigns. This is from their website.
“Publisher Rocket will help you get your book in front of more Amazon shoppers so you can spend less time marketing and more time writing.”
There is a onetime cost of $97.00 with a 30 day money-back guarantee. I’ve read somewhere they may go to a subscription model so if you’re interested, be sure to check on that.
Publisher Rocket uses four methods to help you increase your sales.
Keyword Search
Which keywords shoppers use
How many times they use it
How much money books using those keywords make
How many books are in competition for those keywords
Competition Analyser
Lists your potential competitors
Shows their book covers and list price
Shows their daily and monthly earnings
Category Search
Discover niche categories
Categories that may help you sell more books
How many sales you’d need to become a #1 bestseller
How many sales you’d need to make it to the Top 10 list
AMS Keyword Search
Generates a list of all Amazon suggested keywords
Titles and author names from the produced results
ASINs and ISBNs to help create targeted campaigns
The video below does a good job of explaining some of the functions within Publisher Rocket.
If you intend to launch an Amazon Ad Campaign for your published works on Amazon, you could certainly go the manual route. You’d likely spend days, possibly weeks combing through keywords to upload. Publisher Rocket can take the manual labor out of the equation. It’s worth a look. I hope you found this article helpful. As always, thanks for stopping by.
