A Year in Review

 

Hi all.

I wanted to thank everyone who’s followed my blog. My friend, Cara, told me I was overly ambitious to take on a weekly apps blog. And she might’ve been right. Posts went up most weeks, and we reviewed so many programs.

Next year, I plan to continue the same format—three posts for most items. The first tells what the app is, the second how to use it, and the third has some ideas for authors. I’m also hoping to do some Mac-only programs next year, either with guest bloggers or maybe, just maybe, my own i-device. Fingers crossed.

But let’s review this year’s apps. I wanted to find software that helps in many writing areas: Productivity, Organization, Marketing, and Self Care.

Productivity:

• Scrivener—a fantastic app for drafting, editing, and publishing novels. There’s a learning curve, but the support is excellent.
• Scapple—a brainstorming app by the same company as Scrivener. Wonderful for charting, mapping, etc.
• Aeon Timeline—time-lining software that allows tons of detail. Authors can easily create a story bible.
• Blogger—an app to create and publish a blog. (Not as much productivity as marketing, BUT it is writing!)
• NaNoWriMo—a yearly contest but with goals, word counts, and community.
• Grammar Apps—Grammarly, Hemingway, and ProWritingAid (Using all three really helps.)

Organization:

• Keep—a post-it note app that is cloud-based. (I love this app.)
• Trello—a project manager to organize your entire life and then some
• Focus To-Do—a Pomodoro timer with spaces for all your projects

Marketing:

• Canva—a graphic design app with tons of social media templates. It’s the most useful app on the list, next to Keep.
• WordPress—a website builder. Excellent for creating your brand in a few easy steps.
• Digital Picture sites—add images to your ads, social media, or book covers.
• DIY book covers—create fabulous mockups of your cover.

Self-Care:

• Daybook—a journal for writing anything
• Online Meeting apps—ways to stay connected with other humans

Books!

• Online book sources—ways to access digital books
• Literature Map—Find a similar author.
• Series Guides—Find the next book in the series.
• The Fussy Librarian—free books
• Book + Main—book promo
• Goodreads—essential for any author
• BookBub—great marketing and book finding

I hope to have new and wonderful apps again for you next year. So far on the list, I have Vellum, Forest, Plottr, and Airtable. Let me know what else you’d like to see.

Thank you! Love, Ginny