Without my Vellum software, I wouldn’t have published The Beauty of a Spiral yet. Vellum is costly at 249.99 (199.99 if you want just the ebook software). Making up for that, it’s a one-and-done purchase. I don’t pay a monthly fee for it, and it formats print and ebook files efficiently, producing an end product…
Category: Nutshell Reviews
Review: Grammarly Editor
I’d gone through several rounds of editing my manuscript. Finally, I was ready for a proofread. I’d planned on hiring a professional but decided to try “Grammarly Editor” first. How I did it I set up an account on Grammarly, a free process. The site is easy to navigate. Once I had an account, I…
Review: Fiverr (as a source for beta readers)
Fiverr.com is a website where you can find freelancers offering a variety of services. In my case, I hired two beta readers from this site. As well, you can offer your own services here. Navigating Fiverr I navigated the site easily, signing in through my Google account. To find a beta reader, I clicked on…
Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines
John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines (Penguin Random House) shines in the young-adult category. In fact, it’s a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book. The contemporary story reels readers in with a relatable plot and “an abundance of” unique features that flip Humdrum on its head. Although published in 2006, the read is timeless….
MasterClass: Quality over Quantity
Main focus of review: writing Why I purchased this: I wanted to learn from experts on writing. I learned about Masterclass from their YouTube ads. This educational-content product offers an app and provides lessons from big-name experts in a variety of fields. James Patterson and David Mamet stand out as my favorites to listen to,…
Writing Software: Scrivener
Why I purchased it: to facilitate my creative writing process Literature and Latté is a sotware company “founded by writers for writers,” according to their “About Us” page. Their Scrivener offers a number of features aimed at simplifying novel writing. My favorite feature is the chapter “binder,” which houses chapters and scenes I create and…
Plotting Help: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
Why I purchased the book: wanted to learn more about “plot points” and story development Every creative writer knows a novel needs a hero who hurdles obstacles toward a goal or necessary outcome, but plotting poses challenges. Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel delves deep into plot points using familiar stories as examples—“spoiler…