October edition of Writer’s Tips. This edition has some great lists on what’s open for submissions, what you need for an effective author website, and apps for authors to help create marketing ads.
Doris Heilmann of 111 Publishing offers an extensive list for writers to submit
Joan Hall is over at the Story Empire with some helpful tips on the essentials for your author website
Author Judith Briles is featured at the Bookdesigner’s blog offering up some helpful apps for authors to use for marketing
Question: Authors, have you used Book Brush? If so, I’m interested in learning how you think it differs from Canva?
©DGKaye2020
DGKayewriter.com 
Great resources. Thanks for sharing. If you come across more Canadian-eligible competitions for Indie authors, please share, D.
LikeLike
My pleasure Cynthia. Doris’ blog is a wealth of this kind of information – as she is Canadian 🙂
LikeLike
Cynthia,
There are quite a few listed here:
https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites
https://www.cbc.ca/books/literaryprizes
Leon
LikeLike
Thanks for curating these great articles, Debby.
LikeLike
Most welcome Norah 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the Story Empire shout out!
LikeLike
Pleasure Joan. Great article! 🙂
LikeLike
I was told that I would spend as much time marketing my book as writing/editing it, and that prediction is coming true. Right now I keep submitting to magazines and other outlets. It’s exhausting, but it’s the only way I can hit the “50” mark on Amazon.
These resources are so helpful, Debby! Thank you. 😀
LikeLike
Good for you Marian. I’ve been absolutely terrible at marketing my own books. You go through phases after so many years, lol. Happy to enlighten. 🙂 x
LikeLike
lots of useful tips, as always… thanks, Debby!
LikeLike
Pleasure Jim. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for the links, Debby. I’m always interesting in tweaking my marketing plan. (I say that as if I actually have one. Lol)
LikeLike
LOL Diana. We must have the same plan. LOLLLLLLLLLLL 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Nice yo see Joan and Story Empire featured, Debby. Thank you.
LikeLike
My pleasure John. I try to feature an article from Story Empire in my writer’s tips posts. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for passing on these resources, Debby, and for being such a supportive blogger. Since we tend to hang out in the same places, I’ve seen most of these, but you always come up with something fresh.
LikeLike
Thanks Pete. I do try and post things that aren’t in our usual circles, but The Story Empire has a great cast of contributors that always have something worth sharing for writers. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for these links, Debby.
LikeLike
My pleasure Robbie. 😉
LikeLike
Such a great list of resources! How nice to see Joan Hall’s Story Empire post here, too
I haven’t used Canva (tried it way back when), but I do use Book Brush and I love it. Very easy to use, and fabulous tools. I do have one of the paid plans, but they do offer a free one too, that is also very handy and helpful.
LikeLike
HI Mae, thanks for dropping by and letting me know Bookbrush is easier than Canva. I do struggle with it, lol. 🙂 Thanks.
LikeLike
Fabulous tips, Debby – thank you so much.
LikeLike
You are most welcome Toni 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Another helpful selection of links..thanks Debby ♥
LikeLike
Thanks Sal. ❤ xx
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing these Debby, I often save into my little book folder I have created in my browser… One never knows when these tips will come in handy.. 🙂
Sending thoughts your way my friend..
Hope your week is going well 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks my Lovely, happy to oblige ❤ x LOL, yes, it's a wild week! ❤
LikeLike
Always good for bookmarking! Finally getting around to cleaning up and better organizing all those bookmarks–not much use if you can’t find them when you need them. LOL
LikeLike
I hear you,lol 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for the helpful resources, Debby! I don’t use Canva or Book Brush. I actually use Pic Monkey for my adds, but I’ve been wanting to check those out, though. 😀 xo
LikeLike
Thanks so much Vashti. Wow, I’d forgotten about Pic Monkey, I used it years ago and started exploring. I think I’ll check back there. Thanks. ❤ 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Debby. I’m busy with other stuff at the moment, but this will be very useful to catch up as soon as I have a moment. I must check BookBrush. I use Canva sometimes but it can be very frustrating, so anything easier would be welcome. Keep safe! ♥
LikeLike
Thanks Olga. I too struggle with Canva, but I use it, not to its full potential though. It’s good to try new things. 🙂 Stay safe too my friend. ❤
LikeLike
Thanks for these tips, Debby. x
LikeLike
Happy to share Stevie xx
LikeLike
I love Judy Briles and her tips. I apologize for my absence! Somehow, my WordPress won’t deliver blog posts to my email anymore. I spent about a week trying to figure out if I unsubscribed or they went to spam and now solved it by reading blogs through the reader. Not my preferred way, but oh well!
LikeLike
Hi Jacqui. Thanks for checking in, lol. I’ve been hearing about many bloggers having trouble getting notifications lately – it’s Mercury Retrograde, it will pass – hopefully! Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
A great list of resources, Deb! Thanks! When I move north and not teaching next semester, I have nothing more to do than finish the edits on my fitness book and get it published. Oh and unpack, LOL!
LikeLike
I hear you Terri – priorities. Good luck on the packing and the move! And stay safe! 🙂 x
LikeLike
Many great gems in this post, Debby. I read these articles a few days ago, bookmarked, and then reread them this morning. It is good to return and read the comments. More gems. Thank you! 🙂 Erica
LikeLike
Hi Erica, thanks for stopping by. So glad you found these shares useful.<3
LikeLike
I use both BookBrush and Canva, and so far I find Canva easier, but I suspect that’s in part because I’ve been using it for longer.
BookBrush seems to have lots more functionality, and they keep adding features, I just find there’s almost too much, and often have to go searching for the tutorial videos. I only have the free plan, and it does what I want for the most part, but I tend to use Canva for more ease and flexibility. I suspect if I spent more time using BookBrush and got to know it better, I would favour it, but I’m reluctant to devote my precious, limited time.
LikeLike
Thanks Deb. I appreciate your feedback. I find both challenging, lol. But I can work with the basics on Canva. I’ve looked into Bookbrush and I find the more bells and whistles, the more overwhelming, so thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Hi Deb! Thanks for the links, as always. Based on the comments, it seems like Canva and BookBrush are marketing tools? I thought Canva was a free tool to create book covers. So much more to learn and look into. One day… 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Liesbet. Canva is a tool to make all kinds of things, ads, promos, memes, etc. Seems Canva is easier than bookbrush from what I’ve heard. 🙂
LikeLike