Every gardener has a toolshed. Mine happens to have invoicing software and a worldbuilding platform in it, but the principle is the same—the right tool makes the work better. These are the things I actually use, recommend, or think are worth knowing about.

Thinking about trying something on this page? Drop me a line first—I may have a referral link with a bonus or savings attached.

ProWritingAid

I know what you’re thinking: it’s a grammar checker. ProWritingAid is different enough to earn its place here, though. It goes well beyond comma policing by offering over 20 report types covering pacing, repeated phrases, clichés, sentence variety, overused words, and readability. The Word and Google Docs add-ons make it useful mid-draft rather than just at the end. Very helpful for using during revision before sending to an editor.

Scrivener

If you’re writing anything, even a short story, Scrivener is the industry standard for good reason. It keeps your research, notes, character sheets, and manuscript all in one project—no more eighteen open Word documents. Export to Word when you’re ready to send to an editor (hi 👋), or format directly to ebook or PDF. Tailor-made for long-form writing, and worth every penny.

Scapple

From the same folks who make Scrivener, Scapple is a freeform idea-mapping tool. Think sticky notes on a virtual wall, connected by lines and arrows. If you’re a visual thinker (like me) who finds linear outlining limiting, Scapple will feel like a dream. I use it to map out scenes, story structure, and series flow before diving into the manuscript. Free 30-day trial available.

One Stop for Writers/Writers Helping Writers

Writers Helping Writers is a long-running resource blog for fiction writers, and their companion site, One Stop for Writers, takes it further with searchable databases for character traits, emotions, settings, and more; the kind of reference material that used to require a shelf full of books. If you’ve never used the Emotion Thesaurus or the Setting Thesaurus, you’re missing tools that will genuinely change how you write sensory and emotional detail. Free resources on the blog, subscription access for the full One Stop database.

Campfire

Campfire is a worldbuilding and writing platform built specifically for fiction writers who have a lot to keep track of— characters, timelines, maps, lore, the whole ecosystem of a complex story. If you’re writing fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, or anything with a large cast and a world that needs to stay consistent, Campfire is worth serious consideration. No affiliate arrangement here—just a genuine recommendation.

Inkarnate

If your story has a world, which most good fantasy does, it may just need a map. Inkarnate is my favorite tool for creating fantasy maps, and I use it myself. World maps, regional maps, city maps, close-up maps, all can be built with a drag-and-drop interface and a vast library of amazing fantasy styles and objects. No artistic talent required, just a world worth exploring. Free version available, Pro subscription unlocks significantly more. No affiliate arrangement here, I just genuinely LOVE it.

Vellum

Vellum is the gold standard for book formatting on Mac—clean, intuitive, and produces beautiful ebooks and print-ready files without requiring you to wrestle with Word’s formatting demons. I own it and it’s on my list to put through its paces. Everything I’ve seen from authors who use it suggests it’s worth every penny. Mac only, one-time purchase.

Notion

Notion is where I run a significant chunk of my business: content planning, project tracking, editorial pipelines, and more. It’s endlessly customizable, which means it takes a little investment upfront to set up the way you want it, but once it’s yours, it’s really yours. The free tier is genuinely functional for most users unless you need to share workspaces.

Trello

Trello is my long-standing go-to for visual task management. Boards, lists, cards, drag, drop, done. I’ve used it to map out groups in my fantasy story, track client work, and keep myself from dropping balls during busy seasons. Simple enough to learn in an afternoon, flexible enough to grow with you.

Canva

Canva is the tool that made me stop apologizing for my graphics. Templates for nearly everything, a free photo library, and an interface so intuitive it’s almost suspicious. I use it for social media content, branding documents, and anything that needs to look polished without taking three hours. 

Ionos

Ionos hosts this website and has been a solid, no-drama provider. Reasonable annual pricing after the first year, email addresses included at no extra cost, and a drag-and-drop website editor that doesn’t require a computer science degree. If you’re shopping for web hosting, they’re worth comparing against the bigger names.

Invoice Ninja

Getting paid is the whole point, and Invoice Ninja makes that part of freelancing significantly less painful. Clean invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and client management all in one place. The free plan is genuinely useful, and the paid tiers are reasonably priced if you need more. I switched and haven’t looked back.

Wise

If you work with international clients, and if you're a freelancer in this industry, you probably do, Wise is the obvious choice for cross-border payments. The exchange rates are real market rates, the fees are transparent and low, and it beats both PayPal and traditional bank wire transfers for anything crossing a border. I use it specifically for my UK and EU clients. I share my referral link directly rather than posting it publicly—just drop me a line and I’ll send it your way.

Libro.fm

Libro.fm sells audiobooks and sends a portion of every purchase to an independent bookstore of your choice. Same titles as the big audiobook platforms, better ethics, same listening experience. If you’ve been looking for a reason to move away from the ’Zon’s audiobook ecosystem, this is a genuinely good one. I listen constantly. It’s how I fit books into a life that doesn’t always have room to sit down and read—and not edit.

Fresh Dog Food

This one is personal. Nyssa, Dash, and Cedar(my canine companions) eat well, and after dealing with some food sensitivities, I’ve switched them to 50% fresh or more. I’ve tried several fresh dog food brands and have referral codes for The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Nom Nom, Maev, Spot & Tango, and Open Farm. Fresh food isn’t cheap, but the referral bonuses help, and I’m happy to share them. If you’re curious about any of these brands, get in touch and I’ll point you in the right direction.