Showing posts with label resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resources. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

20 Awesome and Free Fonts For Sci-Fi Book Covers

When I decided to self-publish my books, I had to become a writer, editor, marketer, and even cover designer. The last one I've struggled the most with. Color schemes, fonts, stock photos, these are all things I've had to learn.  Fortunately, there are plenty of resources online, like this one: Derek Murphy at Creativindie created this info on some great fonts for genre-oriented covers. Here's the ones for sci-fi:


The only problem with this list is it includes both free fonts and licensed fonts where you need to pay to use it on commercial products like book covers. Of course, if the font strikes your fancy and you're willing to buy a license, go for it, but I'm cheap. So I spent an hour on Google and identified only twenty of the fonts that are in the public domain. Here they are. Click on the font names to find the fonts. If the link is broken, use Google:

Liberation Sans (I couldn't find a version that looked like the one in the picture, though)
Neuropol X
New Rocker
Nova Round
Orbitron
Pastelaria
Proletarsk
Rainfall
RNS Camelia
Roboto
Supermercado
Sui Generis
Space Marine
Squada One
Six Caps
Star Next
Spin Cycle
Shortcut

The way this works is, look at the image to find a font you want, and then check the list to see if it's free. Or vice versa. A quick Google search for the font name will usually get you plenty of websites where you can download and start using them to make beautiful covers.

UPDATE: I was reluctant to include links, because things on the Internet change so much, but I decided to go ahead and do it.

Which font would you use?

Right now, I'm having a giveaway until 5/24/2014. Click here to win a free copy of my sci-fi novel, Operation: Masquerade.

To hear about my new releases first and get a free short story, sign up here. Your email will never be shared, and you'll only receive messages about new releases.

Friday, May 16, 2014

8 Easy Tools to Reach Your Fullest Writing Potential

There's a lot of information out there on improving your writing, but I had no idea so many tools existed to automate the process. Today's guest post from freelance writer Robert Morris runs over eight of the best.


Top Tools to Reach Your Fullest Writing Potential
Whether you are a professional writer or a beginner, you can always use writing tools that will turn you into a more effective, faster, and more refined writer. Writing is a fundamental skill for everyone who wants to become a successful professional, regardless of the career path they choose.

As one of the most important skills we learn in life, written expression is quite difficult to master. The way readers perceive your content is rather subjective, and you cannot satisfy all tastes no matter how hard you try.

There is no need to despair and give up on the goal of becoming a better writer. There are great online tools that will help you develop this skill and reach your fullest potential. Try out the following resources and you will surely find the right tool that will save you from frustrations and make you a more effective writer:
Every blog post, article, or even academic text becomes more captivating when you insert the right image. This photography-related website features high-resolution stock photos that are completely free of charge. Of course, you will need to provide proper credits to the artist whenever you use an image from this site.
Maybe you’ve read a great article in a newspaper or an online site, but you cannot remember its name? This tool will help you locate the source.
3. NinjaEssays
Automated editing tools cannot replace a real editor, but professional editing can be quite expensive. NinjaEssays makes expert editing services accessible for everyone. At this website, you can get all types of texts edited by a professional editor for a cheap price, and bring their quality to a higher level.
4. Creativity Portal Prompts
There is nothing strange about not having ideas; you just have to find a way out of that state, and Creativity Portal Prompts will help you get out of the writer’s block. You can use this tool to find inspiring questions, picture prompts, and topic starters that will spark your creative thought.
5. Autocrit
If you were looking for a tool that will identify the structures and words that make your writing less convincing, then you should check out Autocrit. This concept works like the instant book editor you always wanted to have.
6. Writing Room
What could be more inspiring than the support from your fellow writers? The community at Writing Room will provide you with expert advice, motivational boost, and great writing guides that will make you a more confident writer.
7. Acronym Finder
Using acronyms can make you look smart, but can also go the other way if you make a mistake. With the help of Acronym Finder, you can always make sure you’re using the right initialisms, abbreviations, and acronyms. This database is a source of over a million human-edited definitions.
8. Word Count Tool
This tool will count the number of words you type into the document, but will also indicate how many times you have used a specific word. It’s always difficult for a writer to get rid of a word they are stuck to, but when you realize how commonly you are using your favorite phrases, you will easily understand that you need to start adding some variety to your work.

Start improving your writing skills today!

With the help of the right tools, you can elevate your style from the class of Average Joe and make your expression more recognizable and memorable. The above-mentioned tools are helpful for everyone who writes on regular basis, as well as those who want to master the skills of writing with the first piece they start working on.    

Robert Morris is an educator and freelance writer, you can find him on Google+

To hear about my new releases first and get a free short story, sign up here. Your email will never be shared, and you'll only receive messages about new releases.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

How To Become a Bestselling Author, According to Statistics

Traditional publishers spend millions on market research to see what does and doesn't work, and tailor their publications accordingly. Indie authors don't have access to that, but by interviewing each other, and using information from epublishers like Smashwords, we can learn as well. I find this info both enlightening and useful in terms of how to best position ourselves as authors.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

24 Freelance Editors for Indie Authors to Hire [Resources]

One of the most common complaints about self-published books is that they aren't professionally edited. Typos, grammatical errors, poor plot structure - these are all things that can crop up in indie books. Of course, traditional publishers have professional editors who are supposed to review and edit their books before release. One way to avoid that problem for indie authors is to hire a freelance editor yourself. I don't use a professional editor myself, but I plan to hire one once I get the scratch together. I collected some of the freelance editors from Sophrosyne at Kboards and thought I'd share the list. This list will be updated and expanded over time. If you're a freelance editor who'd like to be added, let me know in the comments.

http://ashleycase.com/
http://bevharrosproofreading.weebly.com/
http://www.bookeditorcoach.com/index.htm
http://cedarsky.net/
http://ebookeditingpro.com/
http://hollowayhouse.me/
http://indie-editor.webs.com/
http://jenniferpooley.com/
http://www.kristenweber.com/
http://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com/
http://www.moviesmackdown.com/smackrefs/editors/eric-estrin
http://myeditingservice.com/
http://onceuponabookcover.blogspot.com/
http://peggyireland.blogspot.ca/
http://redadeptpublishing.com/editing-services/
http://rewriterewordrework.wordpress.com/about/
http://size12bystpatricksday.blogspot.com/p/cherise-kelley-editor.html
http://theeyesforediting.com/
http://wordvagabond.wordpress.com/editing-services/
http://www.everything-indie.com/
http://www.lastdraftediting.com/index.html
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/
http://rhondaedits.com/
http://www.victoryediting.com/services.html

Related Posts:
100+ Websites for Authors and Designers to Find Cover Art

Monday, March 18, 2013

4 Ways to Read Kindle eBooks, Even If You Don't Own a Kindle

I hear some readers complaining about ebooks that aren't available on their ereader platform. For example, the ebook is exclusive to Amazon and the reader doesn't have a Kindle. Or there are readers who don't have an ereader at all, and think they can't read ebooks. One of the advantages of Amazon is that they've worked hard to make their books as accessible as possible. Here are some ways you can read Kindle ebooks like mine, even if you don't own a Kindle.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

100+ Websites for Authors and Designers to Find Book Cover Art

Source: stock.xchng
If you're a designer or artist who wants a great looking cover, you know that stock photos play a key role in that. Maybe you want to use the images for inspiration or maybe you want to use them as the center of your illustration. If you're looking for photos or stock photos for book cover art, this is a comprehensive list of both free and paid websites that have them. There are even a few websites on here that sell pre-made or custom-made cover art. Be sure to check the rules of each website regarding usage and copyright. Thanks to Sophrosyne at Kindleboards for starting this list. I'll be updating it with more sites and information over time.

UPDATE 3/1/13 : I've added categories and a few more links to take it over 100 links!

UPDATE 3/15/13: Added "cover designer" category

ARTWORK
Artres
Chalkartstudio
Deviantart

PRE-MADE COVER ART
Author Marketing Club: Premade Covers
Bookcoversale
Ebook Indie Covers
Indie Book Covers
Indie-spired Book Covers
Estrella Cover Art
Ebook Designs
My Cover Art
Fantasia Frog Designs
Romancenovelcovers.com
Tibbs Design
Spittyfish
Selfpub Book Covers
Go On Write
Syd Gill
Razzdazzstock

COVER DESIGNERS

Creativindie
Scarlettrugers.com
Candescent Press
mad-gods.com Covers for Hire
http://coverart.joleenenaylor.com/
Digital Donna
Fiverr
http://flipcitybooks.com/
http://gentlepeneditorials.com/portfolio/
http://gobookcoverdesign.com/
jaebee Creations
J Simmons Illustration
Killer Covers
Litteradesigns
http://mycoverart.wordpress.com/
Once Upon a Book Cover
http://spearcarrier.daportfolio.com/
http://streetlightgraphics.com/
http://artbykarri.com/
http://www.missmaesite.com/designingbookcovers.htm
http://thecovercounts.blogspot.com/
https://www.elance.com/
http://www.everything-indie.com/
http://www.waywardsunstudio.com/art.htm
http://booksat.scarlettrugers.com/bookcoverdesign/resource-list-of-stock-image-websites-photo-vector-and-footage-free-and-paid/


FREE RESOURCES
The following websites have photos that are royalty free and free for commercial use
Wikipedia.org:Public domain image resources
Flickr: Creative Commons
Totally Free Images.com
Stock.xchng
Free Stock Photos

STOCK PHOTOS
Photoshelter
Papilio Photos
Fotolia
Visions in Golf
123rf
Acclaim Images
A Digital Dreamer
Alaska Stock
Arctic Photo
Artbitz
Blend Images
Blue Moon Stockphotos
Canstockphoto
Cfgphoto
Cgtextures.com
Corbis Images
Cornerhousestock.com
Crestock
Dartmoor Archive
Deposit Photos
Dinodia
Dreamstime
Europe Stock Photos
Everynight Images
Fairfax Syndication
Food and Drink Photos
Fotolibra
Fotoscopio
Fotosearch
Francis Frith
Garden-collection
Gardenworld Images
Gekko Images
Getty Images
Illustrationweb
Imagesource
Inmagine
Israel Images
istockphoto
http://www.johnbirdsall.co.uk/
http://www.jpsviewfinder.com/
http://www.jupiterimages.com/Collections/BananaStock
http://www.klemcoll.com/
Lebrecht.co.uk/
Leonardsmith.co.uk/
http://www.loupeimages.com/Index.asp
Marinethemes
Masterfile
Minden Pictures
Morguefile
http://www.narratives.co.uk/
Northwind Pictures
http://www.officialpsds.com/stocks
http://www.onimage.co.uk/do/onimage/
Ozimages.com.au/
Pacificstock
Pete Mcarthur
Photo-key
Photoalto
Photoresourcehawaii
Photos.com
Photoshot
Photosindia
Picturesque
Retrostockpix
Superstock
Shutterstock
Simmonds
Stockbyway
Stock Photo Finder
http://www.storee.se/
http://www.theispot.com/
Thinkstockphotos
Travel Library
Victoria & Albert Museum Images

SPACE
Nasa.gov
Scienceimage
Sciencephoto.com
Galaxypix


If you like this list, do me a favor? Check out my books at Amazon.

Related Posts
4 Ways To Read Kindle ebooks Even If You Don't Own a Kindle
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