From CraftBeacon
Resources researched and written by CraftBeacon specifically for the author community.
Copyright & legal
Official U.S. government sources for copyright registration, AI policy, trademark, and commercial email compliance. These are primary sources — not summaries or third-party interpretations.
Publishing platforms
Official documentation from the major publishing and distribution platforms. These pages contain the actual requirements — not summaries. When specifications matter, go to the source.
Trade organizations
Nonprofit membership organizations and unions that advocate for authors. Many offer free resources regardless of membership status.
Business & tax
Official IRS and SBA resources for self-employed authors. CraftBeacon does not provide tax or financial advice — these links go directly to the authoritative government sources.
Note on tools and services: The resources below are organized by category for reference. CraftBeacon has no financial relationship with any tool or service listed. Pricing, features, and availability change frequently — verify everything directly with the provider before making any decisions.
Writing & drafting tools
Software for drafting and organizing a manuscript. These are the environments where most authors do the actual work — from first words to final draft. Also see Formatting Software below for tools that handle both drafting and production.
World-building tools
Dedicated platforms for building and maintaining a story bible — characters, locations, lore, timelines, and series continuity. Particularly useful for complex fiction and multi-book projects.
Email newsletter platforms
Platforms for building and managing a direct reader list. Your newsletter is the one channel you own outright — independent of any social platform or algorithm.
Social media scheduling
Tools for planning and scheduling posts across platforms, so your author presence stays consistent without requiring daily manual effort.
Marketing & discovery
Tools for reaching readers — through discoverability research, promotion channels, reader magnets, and advance review copy distribution. These are the building blocks of an author platform strategy.
Book formatting software
Tools for preparing manuscript files for print and ebook publication. File requirements vary by platform — always verify specs with your target distributor.
Ebook conversion tools
Tools for converting manuscript files into EPUB and other ebook formats required by distribution platforms.
Cover design tools
Tools for author graphics, cover concepts, and reader-facing visual content. Note that professional cover design for commercial release often requires more than a DIY tool — these are starting points.
Author website builders
Platforms for building and maintaining an author web presence. Your website is a foundational asset — independent of any third-party platform.
ISBN registration
An ISBN is required for most retail and library distribution. Platform-assigned free ISBNs limit portability and imprint control — understand the tradeoffs before choosing.
Print on demand
Platforms that print and fulfill physical books per order — no inventory required. Distribution reach and cost structure vary significantly between platforms.
Audiobook distribution
Platforms for distributing finished audiobook files. Exclusive vs. non-exclusive agreements have significant implications for reach and royalty rates — verify current terms directly.