Pencrafters: My Pay-It-Forward project

If you've ever said to yourself, "I'd love to write a book, but I have no idea where to even start" — I built something just for you.

It's called Pencrafters, and it's exactly what I wish had existed when I was starting out. No fluff, no upsells, no "buy my course to learn the real secrets." Just one working novelist sitting down with you and walking you through the entire journey from first draft to published book to marketing your work to readers.

I mean entire journey. We're talking writing the book, self-editing, finding the right professional editor, cover design, branding, understanding the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing (and the pros and cons of each), navigating the query process if you want to go the traditional route, finding a literary agent, and yes — marketing. Because writing the book isn't even half the battle.

I've also included realistic cost ranges for professional services, because new writers — especially those considering self-publishing — tend to assume that publishing a book properly is going to cost a fortune. Honestly, it doesn't have to. The numbers might surprise you in the best possible way. And if traditional publishing is more your speed, there's plenty of guidance for that path too, including how to navigate the query process and find a literary agent.

And speaking of costs— there's a whole section on red flags and predatory "publishing" services, because the industry is unfortunately full of people who make their money off writers' dreams rather than their books. Vanity presses, overpriced editing packages, cover designers who deliver unusable or outrageously expensive work — I've seen it all, and I want you to be able to spot it coming.

Everything I recommend on the site is something I've personally used or thoroughly researched. My credibility matters to me, so I'm not going to point you toward something just because it sounds good.

Pencrafters is my pay-it-forward project. It will always be free — no subscription, no paywall, no "premium tier." Just come on in, grab your iced tea, and let's talk writing.