Throughout my (previous) writing career, I had many, many aspiring writers ask for resources, tips, etc. So I thought I’d just make a page solely for resources, be they websites, software, or books. I have used/read/visited all of these, but if you have anything to add, please feel free to let me know on the Contact form. I’d be more than happy to check out any link(s), software, and/or books. A lot of the things on this list pertain to fantasy writing, but not all. Also, I won’t be adding any reviews here, and I didn’t get paid to list anything on this page.
So, without further ado… on with the lists!
BOOKS
Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth
The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy, Vol. 1: Alchemy with Words
The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy, Vol. 2: The Opus Magus
The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy, Volume 3: The Author’s Grimoire
Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: How to Create Out-of-This-World Novels and Short Stories
The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction: 6 Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Bestseller!
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
WEBSITES
Dreamstime.com – stock photo site I use exclusively (unless I hire a cover artist who uses another site). All photos on my site are from Dreamstime, and credits are in the alt-info of each pic.
Inkarnate – my go-to online mapmaking site.
Seventh Sanctum – this has been my go-to generator site since Day 1 way back in 2004/2005. TONS of generators for pretty much anything you can imagine.
Serendipity – another (smaller) generator site I use a lot, especially for country naming.
SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America) – lots of good info on this site. I plan on joining at some point.
Mythic Scribes – another site for fantasy authors with tons of good info.
Grammar Girl – great website for any grammar questions you may have.
SOFTWARE
Scrivener – an insanely useful program for any kind of author. I just started using it, and it helps so much in keeping my world info organized.
AutoRealm – another mapmaking tool, but this one is offline. It’s open-source (free), and although there is a bit of a learning curve, it’s a lot of fun to play with.
Katherine Cook 