I am moderating some panels at the annual conference "Killer Nashville." Please enjoy these tools!

Panel: Writing Tools and Techniques  
Saturday August 22, 2026
1:50pm - 2:35pm
"Birch"
Panelists
Kim Megahee  www.AuthorKimMegahee.com
Michael Lucker www.michaellucker.com
Leigh Hull 

Author Tools Reference

NOVEL WRITING

Scrivener Mac/PC, NO AI, Cost: $50 one-time fee.
Provides a way to capture all your story ideas in one place for a book — all your chapters, scenes, drawings, images, notes, research, Character and Location blueprints, and pretty much whatever else you want to hang onto related to the book.

Atticus Mac/PC, NO AI, $147 one-time fee.
Web-based/PWA; also handles print/ebook formatting for KDP export.

Microsoft Word Mac/PC, NO AI, Subscription (~$70/yr) or one-time Office purchase.
The familiar word processor most writers already know; no book-specific organization tools, but works fine for straightforward drafting.

OUTLINING

Plottr Mac/PC, NO AI, $199 lifetime or $15/mo subscription.
Visual outlining and story-planning tool for mapping plot, timelines, and character arcs before or during drafting.

GRAMMAR EDITING

ProWritingAide Mac/PC, AI optional, Premium $120/yr ($10/mo billed annually) or $399 lifetime.
Style and grammar editor with in-depth reports on pacing, repetition, and readability.

Grammarly Mac/PC, Uses AI, Pro $144/yr ($12/mo billed annually) or $30/mo.
Real-time grammar, tone, and clarity checking as you write.

CONVERT TO BOOK

Calibre Mac/PC, NO AI, Free (open source).
Converts and manages ebook files across formats; widely used for formatting and organizing digital editions.

Vellum Mac only, NO AI, $199 (ebook only) / $249 (ebook + print).
Popular for turning a manuscript into polished, professional ebook and print layouts.

Joel Friedlander Word Templates Both (Word, Pages, InDesign), NO AI, ~$27–$150+ per template (single-use vs. multi-use license).
Pre-built interior book templates for self-publishers who want a professional layout without full design software.

(Note: InDesign can be a book converter, but it's in the cover art design section)

MARKETING

Authormedia.com/patron-toolbox Mac/PC, NO AI, Free.
Free marketing resources and tools aimed at helping authors promote their books.

Publisher Rocket Mac/PC (desktop app), NO AI, $199 one-time.
Keyword and category research tool for optimizing Amazon/KDP listings and ad targeting.

COVER DESIGN

99designs.com Mac/PC (web-based), NO AI, $299–$1,200+ per contest.
Crowdsourced design contests where multiple designers submit cover concepts for you to choose from.

Canva Mac/PC, AI optional, Free or $144/yr.
Drag-and-drop design tool with templates; usable for simple cover mockups or marketing graphics.

Adobe InDesign Mac/PC, Yes (AI credits/Firefly included), $22.99/mo single-app plan, billed annually
Professional page-layout software, commonly used for print-ready book interiors and covers.

Affinity Mac/PC, AI optional, Free.
Design suite (Photo/Designer/Publisher) offering a lower-cost alternative to Adobe's tools.

Adobe Photoshop Mac/PC, Yes (AI — Generative Fill, etc.), $22.99/mo single-app plan, billed annually (confirmed current as of Aug 2026).
Industry-standard photo editing and manipulation software.

Bookish Artists Compendium Web, No (Anti-AI), Free to browse.
A directory for finding human illustrators/cover artists, positioned explicitly as an AI-free alternative.

Additional Resources

Books

“Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” by Renni Browne and Dave King

“Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss

“Elements of Style” by Strunk and White

“The Story Equation” by Susan May Warren

“Story Engineering” by Larry Brooks

“Outlining Your Novel” by K. M. Weiland

“Newsletter Ninja 1 and 2” by Tammi LeBrecque

Any Marketing book by Penny Sansevieri – Penny’s Books

Any Marketing book by Dale Roberts - https://selfpubwithdale.com

Any Marketing book by David Gaughran - https://davidgaughran.com/books-for-authors/

Screenwriting

https://www.writerduet.com/

https://www.finaldraft.com/

Crash! Boom! Bang! How to Write Action Movies by Michael Lucker

Podcasts

"Helping Writers Become Writers” – K. M. Weiland

“The Creative Penn” – Joanna Penn

“Self-Publishing with Dale” – Dale Roberts

“The Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast”- with Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell

“The Novel Marketing Podcast” with Thomas Umstaddt Jr.

"Writing Excuses" with Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler.

"Writing Roots" with Ley Esses and Leigh Hull