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Writing tools, coaches, and courses

Drafting tools, learning resources, and ghostwriting networks for getting a manuscript written.

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Writing

57 resources

A–Z, not ranked. Inclusion is informational, not an endorsement.

American Literary Translators Association

Association for literary translators. The site lists a translators database, a publishers database, mentorships, and an annual conference.

Useful when: You need a literary-translation association and database rather than a single translator's invoice.

Association · Price unavailable · Confirm membership and whether a database search covers the language pair you need

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Translation · Conferences
Specialties
Translation · Conferences
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
A database entry is not a hiring contract or a warranty of language pair. The site advertised ALTA49 for 21 to 24 October in Portland; confirm the year, fee, and registration. Mentorship windows change.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Amy Goldmacher

Nonfiction book coach. Her about page says she is a traditionally published nonfiction author and an Author Accelerator certified coach working with writers on proposals and manuscripts, and that she won the 2022 AWP Kurt Brown Prize in Creative Nonfiction.

Useful when: You need a nonfiction coach for a book proposal aimed at agents or publishers.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm whether she is taking clients and from where

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing coaches · Queries and book proposals
Specialties
Writing coaches · Queries and book proposals · Nonfiction
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Nonfiction proposals and manuscripts. Confirm availability, fees, and deliverables. Past results described on the site are not a promise of representation or a book deal. Certification is stated by her site.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source 1 · Official source 2

Link to this listing

Anne Janzer

Nonfiction book coaching, book-proposal coaching and critiques, and writing courses.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Nonfiction coaching.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing coaches · Queries and book proposals · Courses and educators
Specialties
Writing coaches · Queries and book proposals · Courses and educators · Nonfiction
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Coaching focuses on nonfiction. Confirm current availability, price, deliverables, and fit before requesting work.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Arvon

Writing centre and charity. The homepage says it has supported writers since 1968 with courses and retreats, in person and online, and names the houses Lumb Bank, The Hurst, Totleigh Barton, and The Clockhouse.

Useful when: You need a UK writing centre that states it runs both residential courses and online courses.

Organization · Price unavailable · Courses in person at the named houses and online; country eligibility is not stated

Courses and retreats since 1968; fees not stated on the homepage.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing centres
Specialties
Writing centres
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The homepage does not state course fees. A course is not a publishing contract. Confirm dates, concessions, and whether a place is residential.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

AWP

Writers' organization whose site features a conference, fellowships, and resources for creative writing.

Useful when: You need a creative-writing conference and its current fellowship or registration terms.

Association · Price unavailable · Confirm the conference city and who may attend

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Conferences
Specialties
Conferences
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Check the year, city, cost, and who may register or receive a fellowship. A fellowship announcement is not an open grant for every writer. The site was reviewing #AWP27 programmes on 3 October 2026.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

British Library

The UK national library. The homepage says it is open to everyone and free to use, and that you can search the main catalogue, visit, and use study spaces. It also lists events in London, Yorkshire, and online.

Useful when: You need a national library catalogue that states it is free and open to everyone.

Organization · Free · Open to everyone, as stated; events listed in London, Yorkshire, and online

Open to everyone and free to use, as the homepage states.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Research and reference
Specialties
Research and reference
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Free use and open access are what the homepage states. Some exhibitions and events may differ; confirm the item you need. A catalogue record is not a loan until the library says so.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Canada Council for the Arts

Public arts funder. Its grants page says it helps individual artists, arts workers, groups, and arts organizations with projects and activities.

Useful when: You need the Canadian public arts funder's grant list and must read the eligibility of one programme.

Organization · Price unavailable · Check the eligibility of the specific programme; do not infer it from the funder's name alone

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Grants
Specialties
Grants
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Eligibility, deadlines, and amounts depend on the programme. This listing does not establish that every writer, genre, or country qualifies. A grant page is not an award.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Curtis Brown Creative

Writing courses and author development programmes.

Courses and education · Paid · UK; online courses

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Courses and educators
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Course participation does not guarantee agent representation or publication.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Dabble

A writing application with manuscript organization and planning tools.

Software and tools · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check plan features and export options.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

EndNote

Reference manager from Clarivate. The page says EndNote helps you organize and cite research, and it offers a free trial and a purchase.

Useful when: You need a reference manager with a stated free trial, and you must still find the purchase price.

Software and tools · Free and paid · Software for individuals and institutions; country limits are not stated

Free trial and a purchase; purchase price not stated.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Research and reference
Specialties
Research and reference
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page reviewed does not state the purchase price. Marketing language on the site is the company's language. A reference manager is not a library membership.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Gladstone's Library

Residential library at Hawarden. The scholarships page says a reader or researcher pass is free, and that residential scholarships include one-week stays. It also says some scholarships can include travel help up to 100 pounds, and that students, clergy, and Society of Authors members can receive discounts.

Useful when: You need a residential library stay and must see whether a scholarship, rather than the full room rate, is available.

Organization · Free and paid · Hawarden; confirm which scholarship, if any, you can apply for

Reader pass is free; residential scholarships are separate.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Each scholarship has its own rules, dates, and eligibility. A free reader pass is not a free bedroom. Confirm the current room rate if you are not awarded a scholarship. The library also runs paid courses and lectures.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Google Docs

Browser-based documents for drafting and collaboration.

Software and tools · Free and paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Account and storage terms apply; review sharing permissions.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Gotham Ghostwriters

A network connecting clients with professional ghostwriters.

Professional network · Price unavailable · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Ghostwriters and collaboration
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Scope, ownership, confidentiality, and fees require an individual agreement.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

GrubStreet

Creative-writing centre. The homepage lists classes, mentorship, and editorial support, and says programmes run at its centre in the Seaport, in neighborhoods around Boston, and online.

Useful when: You need a writing centre with classes in Boston and online, and you still have to check the fee.

Organization · Price unavailable · Seaport centre, neighborhoods around Boston, and online, as stated

Classes in Boston and online; fees not stated on the homepage.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing centres
Specialties
Writing centres
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The homepage does not state class fees. Scholarships are separate from a paid place. Confirm the format and who may enrol.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Hedgebrook

Writer residency of two to three weeks. The page says the cottage, meals, and the residency are free to selected writers, and that travel is not included. It says the programme is for women-identified writers, including transgender women and female-identified writers, age 18 and older.

Useful when: You need a free writer residency and must check whether you meet the gender and age rule.

Organization · Free · The page says writers from all over the world; confirm the site and travel

Free to selected women-identified writers; 2027 applications are closed.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page says 2027 applications are closed, with notifications in November 2026, and that those residencies run from February to December 2027. The application window it lists was 17 February to 17 April 2026. Up to six writers at a time. Travel is the writer's cost. A listing is not an invitation.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Jane Friedman

Publishing guides by Jane Friedman, including a start-here page on getting a book published and articles on queries, proposals, and publishing paths.

Useful when: You need a current explanation of publishing paths, queries, or book proposals before you pay someone or submit.

Guide or essay · Free and paid · Online guides; they do not set your eligibility for any publisher

Guides, not a hireable service.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Queries and book proposals · Submission research and tracking · Author-business support
Specialties
Queries and book proposals · Submission research and tracking · Author-business support
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Published guides, not a hireable consulting service. The site also lists classes and a separate paid newsletter. Read the date on each article.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source 1 · Official source 2

Link to this listing

Jenkins Group

Custom publishing company. The homepage says it has offered independent book publishing since 1988, lists ghostwriting among its services, and says clients retain their rights.

Useful when: You need a company that lists ghostwriting and says the client keeps the rights, before you ask for the fee.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Custom publishing; client location is not stated

Ghostwriting is listed; fee not stated. Clients are said to retain rights.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Ghostwriters and collaboration
Specialties
Ghostwriters and collaboration
Relevant routes
Self-publishing
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The homepage does not describe the ghostwriting process or fee. A free consultation is not a booked project. Retaining rights is the company's statement; read the contract. This listing does not classify the company as a traditional or hybrid publisher.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Jericho Writers

Writing courses, editorial services, and publishing resources.

Courses and education · Free and paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Courses and educators · Developmental editing
Specialties
Editorial work · Drafting and writer development · Manuscript feedback
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Membership, courses, and editorial services have separate scopes.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Jule Kucera

Offers the StoryJoules handbook for understanding story structure and getting a stalled draft moving.

Courses and education · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Handbook, not a coaching service.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Courses and educators · Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Courses and educators · Drafting and outlining
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
This listing describes the handbook, not an independently verified coaching service. Check download terms and whether its approach suits your project.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

LibreOffice Writer

An open-source word processor for drafting and document preparation.

Software and tools · Free · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check exported files in the receiving application's format.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Lisa Cooper Ellison

Coaching, courses, and writing resources with a focus on memoir and personal storytelling.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Memoir-focused coaching.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing coaches · Courses and educators
Specialties
Writing coaches · Courses and educators · Memoir
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Review the stated coaching approach and course scope before committing. Confirm availability, fees, and whether the service matches the help you want.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

London Book Fair

Book-industry fair advertised for 16 to 18 March 2027 at Excel London, with a conference programme and an international rights centre.

Useful when: You need the dates and nature of the London Book Fair before you treat it as a writing workshop or a rights agent.

Organization · Price unavailable · Excel London for the advertised 2027 fair; confirm access rules

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Conferences
Specialties
Conferences
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
A trade fair, not a craft workshop and not a legal service. Confirm which sessions authors can attend and the current ticket price. The site has warned about fraudulent messages concerning a Writers' Summit. Dates can change.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

MacDowell

Artist residency in Peterborough, New Hampshire, with literature among its disciplines. The apply page says there are no residency fees, and that need-based stipends and travel grants are available. The next deadline it lists is 10 February 2027, for residencies from 1 September 2027 to 29 February 2028, with the application opening 15 January 2027.

Useful when: You need to know whether a MacDowell residency charges a stay fee and when the next literature deadline opens.

Organization · Price unavailable · Peterborough, New Hampshire; the page invites applicants from all countries

No residency fee; next listed deadline is 10 February 2027.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The spring and summer 2027 deadline of 10 September 2026 had closed by 3 October 2026. The page says acceptance is based on artistic excellence, which is the residency's criterion, not a ranking here. Confirm whether the application portal itself charges a fee. About 300 fellowships a year is the page's figure. Applicants in a degree program are limited; read the guidelines.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Mehta Book Editing

Sangeeta Mehta offers manuscript critiques and assessments, including editorial letters and feedback on query letters.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Package-specific manuscript-length limits.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Manuscript assessments · Line editing · Queries and book proposals
Specialties
Manuscript assessments · Line editing · Queries and book proposals
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
The published packages have manuscript-length limits and different deliverables. Confirm availability, fees, and whether the scope fits your manuscript.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Millay Arts

Core artist residency. The page says a selected resident pays a 100 US dollar nonrefundable deposit, stays for two weeks or a month, and joins a group of six or seven artists chosen by a blind jury, with a private bedroom and studio.

Useful when: You need the deposit and the length of a Millay Arts core residency before you apply.

Organization · Paid · Confirm the campus and who may apply

Invited residents pay a 100 US dollar deposit.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The deposit is charged if you are invited, not as an application fee the page states here. A stipend may be offered when funding allows. The page refers to March and October deadlines; confirm the session dates. Selection is not guaranteed.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Nathan Bransford

Editor and former literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. His site offers manuscript editing and critiques, query critiques, and coaching on the publishing process.

Useful when: You need an edit or a query critique from someone who states he is a former literary agent.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm availability

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Manuscript assessments · Queries and book proposals · Writing coaches
Specialties
Manuscript assessments · Queries and book proposals · Writing coaches
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Confirm the current service, fee, and availability. A former agency role is not an offer of representation. Marketing and social-media consulting on the site is a separate service from editing.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

National Centre for Writing

Writer development, events, and learning resources.

Courses and education · Free and paid · UK; online resources

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Courses and educators · Workshops · Writing centres
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Event and course availability varies; some activities are location-specific.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Novelcrafter

A writing workspace for planning, drafting, and organizing story information.

Software and tools · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Optional AI integrations may have separate costs and data terms.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Novlr

An online writing workspace for drafting manuscripts.

Software and tools · Free and paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check current free and paid plan limits.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Obsidian

Linked notes for organizing research and writing projects.

Software and tools · Free and paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Research and reference
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Optional services have separate terms; not a book-production service.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Open Roads

Free co-writing group. The page says sessions are Tuesdays from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and that the group has written together for over six years. The host is not named.

Useful when: You need a free weekday co-writing session with a stated Eastern Time schedule.

Community · Free · Online, Eastern Time, as stated; country eligibility is not stated

Free. Tuesdays 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. and Thursdays 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Accountability groups
Specialties
Accountability groups
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page says the group is completely free. The host is not named. Claims that the group is proven to help writers finish are the page's marketing, not a result established here. A session is not a critique. The page does not limit the publishing path.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Plottr

Visual outlining and planning software for authors.

Software and tools · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check supported platforms and licence terms.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Powerhouse Writers

Daily writing meeting called A Very Important Meeting. The page says it meets every day, including weekends, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, which it also gives as 7 a.m. Pacific Time. A session starts with a 10-minute guided meditation and then 45 minutes of writing. It says meetings are led by Paulette Perhach or a substitute, and that she has four years of experience guiding meditations and 20 years of writing experience.

Useful when: You need a daily writing meeting with a named host and a stated time, and you still have to ask what it costs.

Community · Price unavailable · Online, 10 a.m. Eastern Time, as stated; country eligibility is not stated

Daily at 10 a.m. Eastern. This page does not give a dollar amount.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Accountability groups
Specialties
Accountability groups
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
This page does not give a dollar amount. It does not say the meeting is free, and it does not say a fee is required. Quotes on the page are participants' comments, not a rating. A session is not a critique. The page does not limit the publishing path.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Purdue Online Writing Lab

Writing guidance and learning resources.

Courses and education · Free · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Courses and educators
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Much of the guidance concerns academic writing rather than novel craft.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Ragdale

Artist residency on the north shore of Chicago that includes writers. The residencies page says sessions are 18 days and include individual accommodations and a private workspace. It says the application portal for 2027 residencies is closed.

Useful when: You need the length of a Ragdale session and whether the 2027 application portal is open.

Organization · Price unavailable · North shore of Chicago; applicant country limits are not stated

18-day sessions; 2027 applications are closed.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page does not state the fee. Applications go through Submittable and ask for a statement, a work plan, a CV, and recent samples. Confirm the next open portal and any fellowship rules. A residency is not a publication contract.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Reedsy

A marketplace connecting authors with publishing professionals, including editors and designers.

Marketplace · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Cover design · Manuscript assessments
Specialties
Editorial work · Drafting and writer development · Book design
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Request a scoped quote; marketplace inclusion does not guarantee project fit.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Royal Literary Fund

Offers grants to professional writers who need financial support, and describes that help as available across the UK.

Useful when: You are a professional writer who needs to know whether a UK hardship or income grant exists before you apply.

Organization · Price unavailable · Across the UK, as stated on the Royal Literary Fund site

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Grants
Specialties
Grants
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page describes support for professional writers facing bills, reduced income, or an inability to write because of circumstances, sickness, or disability. Confirm the fund. This is financial support, not contract advice.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Sarah Chauncey

Developmental editor for memoir, humor, and narrative nonfiction. Her site lists developmental editing, book doctoring, manuscript evaluations, supported revision, and proposal and query assessments. She states that she is a trade-published author and has written for Writer's Digest and Jane Friedman's site.

Useful when: You need a developmental edit or a proposal and query assessment for memoir or narrative nonfiction.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm availability and whether the work can be done remotely

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Developmental editing · Manuscript assessments · Queries and book proposals
Specialties
Developmental editing · Manuscript assessments · Queries and book proposals · Memoir · Nonfiction
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Confirm which service you are buying, the fee, and the timeline. Book doctoring is described as hands-on rewriting, which is different from an assessment. A free consultation, if offered, is not a booked edit.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

Link to this listing

Scribe Media

Ghostwriting service. The Scribe Elite page says the work is done for you by one senior writer and a dedicated team, that custom pricing starts at 135,000 US dollars, and that the timeline is typically twelve to sixteen months.

Useful when: You need a done-for-you ghostwriting package with a published price floor and a stated timeline.

Professional service · Paid · Online ghostwriting; geographic limits are not stated

Scribe Elite starts at 135,000 US dollars.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Ghostwriters and collaboration
Specialties
Ghostwriters and collaboration
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
That price and timeline are for Scribe Elite, not every service on the site. Confirm who is named as the author, what rights you keep, and what the publishing add-ons cost. Client and sales claims on the site are the company's claims.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Scrivener

Writing and organizing long manuscripts, notes, and research.

Software and tools · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining · Research and reference
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Desktop and mobile editions differ; check the licence for your device.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Shut Up & Write!

Writing community. The page calls itself a free global writing community and lists a directory of in-person writing groups and online writing groups.

Useful when: You need a free writing group, in person or online, rather than a software streak.

Community · Free · In-person and online groups; the page says the community is global

Free writing groups; confirm the session.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Accountability groups
Specialties
Accountability groups
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page says the full site works best with JavaScript. Confirm the time and format of a group. A writing session is not a critique.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Society of Authors Grants

Grant programmes administered by the Society of Authors, including the Authors' Contingency Fund for writers in need, the Authors' Foundation for a work in progress, and the K Blundell Trust for British authors under 40.

Useful when: You need a writer's grant with a named fund and a stated limit, not general membership advice.

Association · Price unavailable · Eligibility differs by fund; do not assume every writer or country qualifies

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Grants
Specialties
Grants
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Each fund has its own rules. The K Blundell Trust page says British authors under 40. Other funds differ. These are grants, not a contract review. The Society of Authors itself is listed separately. The page also names further funds whose terms should be read there.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Resources, professional networking, and community opportunities for children’s-book writers, illustrators, and translators.

Association · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

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Details
Tasks
Professional associations · Writing communities · Workshops
Specialties
Professional associations · Writing communities · Workshops · Children’s books
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check membership fees, event access, local chapter arrangements, and programme eligibility. This listing is not an endorsement of individual members.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Studiolo Secondari

Book coaching, publishing strategy, design, and communications support for independent authors and organizations.

Professional service · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing coaches · Interior design · Positioning and book descriptions · Author-business support
Specialties
Writing coaches · Interior design · Positioning and book descriptions · Author-business support
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Confirm current availability, service eligibility, fees, deliverables, and rights or confidentiality terms directly with the provider.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Tessera Creatives

A freelance directory covering editing, book coaching, proofreading, and sensitivity reading.

Directory · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Directory; contract with the selected freelancer.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing coaches · Developmental editing · Copyediting · Proofreading · Sensitivity and specialist readers
Specialties
Writing coaches · Developmental editing · Copyediting · Proofreading · Sensitivity and specialist readers
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Formerly Tessera Editorial. Listings describe individual freelancers; negotiate scope, fees, availability, and confidentiality with the selected practitioner.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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The Literary Consultancy

Manuscript assessment and writer development services.

Professional service · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Manuscript assessments
Specialties
Manuscript feedback · Editorial work · Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Assessment is not publication or a guarantee of representation.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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The Loft Literary Center

Literary centre. The homepage lists classes for adults and youth, including online classes and classroom classes, plus writing groups and manuscript critique.

Useful when: You need a literary centre that lists both classroom and online classes.

Organization · Price unavailable · Online and classroom classes; the site lists a Minneapolis Poet Laureate programme

Classroom and online classes; fees not stated on the homepage.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing centres
Specialties
Writing centres
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The homepage does not state class fees. A class or a writing group is not a critique contract unless that service says so. Confirm the format.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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The Novelry

Novel-writing courses and coaching for writers developing a manuscript.

Courses and education · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing coaches · Courses and educators
Specialties
Manuscript feedback · Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check course fit, access duration, and feedback scope.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Ucross

Artist residency in Wyoming that includes literature. The page says residencies last from two to six weeks, that about 115 people attend each year, and that up to ten people are in residence at once, typically including four writers. The next open call it names, for fall 2027, opens 1 November 2026.

Useful when: You need the length of a Ucross stay and the date the next application call opens.

Organization · Price unavailable · Wyoming ranch residency; confirm who may apply

Stays of two to six weeks; fall 2027 applications open 1 November 2026.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page does not state a fee. It says artists come from the United States and elsewhere; confirm eligibility. Meals on weekdays are described as provided. A residency is not a publication contract.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Ulysses

A writing application for drafting and organizing text.

Software and tools · Paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Drafting and outlining
Specialties
Drafting and writer development
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Apple platforms; check device support before subscribing.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Useful Books

Resources and community for writers creating useful nonfiction books.

Courses and education · Free and paid · Online; confirm service eligibility

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Details
Tasks
Writing communities
Specialties
Manuscript feedback · Drafting and writer development · Launch and reader outreach · Nonfiction
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Nonfiction focus; check current course and community access.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Vermont Studio Center

Residency program in Johnson, Vermont, for writers and artists. The fees page says the amount asked of partial-fellowship recipients is 2,700 US dollars for two weeks, 3,825 for three weeks, and 4,950 for four weeks, with a 10 percent discount if a shared bathroom is available.

Useful when: You need the session lengths and the partial-fellowship fees before you apply to Vermont Studio Center.

Organization · Paid · Johnson, Vermont; country limits are not stated on the fees page

Partial-fellowship fees depend on a two-, three-, or four-week session.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Those amounts are what the page asks of partial-fellowship recipients, not a single price for every resident. Confirm the full fee, fellowship rules, and the current deadline. A fee is not acceptance.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source 1 · Official source 2

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Write at Noon

Free online accountability sessions from the Noon Institute for Art and Thought. The page says the fall sessions meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, 5 October to 18 November 2026, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, on Zoom. Participants set a goal, write in silence for about 1.5 hours, and check in. It says writers and artists of all levels may join, and that a formal programme is not required.

Useful when: You need a free scheduled writing session with the dates and time on the page, including the fall 2026 run.

Community · Free · Online, Eastern Time, as stated; country eligibility is not stated

Free. Mondays and Wednesdays, 5 October to 18 November 2026, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Accountability groups
Specialties
Accountability groups
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The page says the sessions are free. They are also open to art projects, not only book manuscripts. A session is not a critique. The dates are 5 October to 18 November 2026. The page does not limit the publishing path.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Writing NSW

Writing centre formerly known as the NSW Writers' Centre. The homepage says it has offered courses, writing groups, events, and advice for writers in New South Wales since 1991, including online courses.

Useful when: You need the New South Wales writing centre and must check whether a course is open to you.

Organization · Price unavailable · New South Wales, as stated; online courses are also listed

New South Wales writing centre; course fees not stated on the homepage.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Writing centres
Specialties
Writing centres
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The homepage does not state course fees. The state focus is the organisation's own description. Confirm whether a course is open to someone outside New South Wales.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Writing the Other

Classes, workshops, and resources on writing characters whose identities and experiences differ from your own.

Courses and education · Price unavailable · Confirm service or submission eligibility

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Courses and educators · Workshops
Specialties
Courses and educators · Workshops · Fiction
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Before committing
Check the dates, access arrangements, and fees for each class. These are writing resources, not a sensitivity-reading service for your manuscript.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Yaddo

Artist residency that includes literature. The apply page says residencies last from two weeks to two months and include room, board, and a studio, for professional or emerging artists from all nations. The nonrefundable application fee is 35 US dollars, paid by card through SlideRoom.

Useful when: You need the length of a Yaddo stay and the application fee before you start a literature application.

Organization · Paid · Residency site; the page says artists from all nations may apply

Application fee is 35 US dollars; stays are two weeks to two months.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Residencies and retreats
Specialties
Residencies and retreats · Fiction · Nonfiction · Poetry
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
Literature samples have their own page limits on the page. The summer-cycle portal opens 1 June and closes 1 July or when 1,300 applications are reached. Acceptance is not guaranteed. The fee is for the application, not for the stay. Confirm the cycle that matches the months you want.
Access
Confirm remote service with the provider.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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Zotero

Reference manager from the nonprofit Digital Scholar. The page says Zotero is free and that it collects, organizes, annotates, cites, and shares research. It creates bibliographies in Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs, supports over 9,000 citation styles, and says a shared library is available at no cost.

Useful when: You need a free reference manager that can build a bibliography in your document.

Software and tools · Free and paid · Online and desktop software; no country limit is stated

Free reference manager; optional storage price not stated.

Visit website
Details
Tasks
Research and reference
Specialties
Research and reference
Relevant routes
Traditional trade · Independent / small press · Self-publishing · Hybrid · Specialised / institutional
Applicability
Writer-selected
Before committing
The download and library sharing are described as free. Optional storage sync may be paid; the page reviewed does not state that price. A bibliography is not a fact-check. The open-source and nonprofit claims are the project's own description.
Access
Online resources or access available. Confirm service eligibility.

Checked 2026-10-03 · Official source

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How to choose

Start with the obstacle: drafting, structure, research, accountability, or help writing the book. A new tool is useful only if it solves that obstacle.

Checks before committing

Test exports and backups. For coaching or ghostwriting, agree the deliverables, ownership, confidentiality, and payment milestones in writing.

Informational listings, not endorsements or quality ratings. Descriptions are checked against official pages, not through an independent service audit. Confirm current prices, service availability, and terms with the provider.