Useful free writing resources
This is a slight repost from well over a year ago, and if you somehow manage to find it, idk you get a digital cookie or something. Oh, and btw itâs mainly YouTube channels since thatâs where I live. Note that there isnât right (write) way to write, and all of these channels vary in subject coverage and levels of advice advancement. Hopefully there is something here for everyone! With that out of the way, letâs get into it.
Brandon Sandersonâs YouTube Channel
More specifically his 2020 creative writing lecture at BYU playlist
Sanderson is a massive fantasy author (having written Mistborn, Way of Kings, Arora Rising, and many many other books) and I really enjoy his work. The 2020 lecture series is a free college class (essentially) where he dives into world building, character creation, plot, outlining, and anything you would need to know about writing fantasy. I have found his lectures useful for other genres. And is overall very beginner friendly with his approach to teaching. That lecture series is the perfect place to start if youâre looking to start getting serious about your writing.
Outside of his lecture series, he serves as a massive inspiration for with work ethic and manner in which interacts with his audience. Another video of his would recommend is âThing I wish I knew as a teenage writerâ; it goes into detail about the mistakes and mindsets he had a teenager, which is applicable to those outside of their teen years!
Abbie Emmonâs YouTube Channel
Emmons is an indie YA author known for her book 100 Days of Sunlight. Her videos are short, easy to digest, and jam-packed with information about character building and story structure. Having read her novel, I can attest to the fact she knows what sheâs talking about and applies what she teaches into her writing. Along with her videos she provides free worksheets to help you get started.
She also hosts a podcast called âThe Kate and Abbie Showâ where she and her sister, Kate, dive into various writing topics. It ranges from tactical advice to more discussion based content. You can find the podcast on YouTube (on K.A. Emmonâs channel) or wherever you listen to podcasts. I find these podcasts useful for getting inspiration.
Alexa Donneâs YouTube Channel
Donne is a traditionally published author, having published two YA sci-fi books and a YA thriller (another one is coming out soon). I have read her most recent thriller and one of her sci-fi books, and while I wasnât blown away by her writing, she has a lot of skill and kept me reading.
Along with general writing advice and advice on writing thrillers (which have helped me so, so much), she also gets into the weeds of traditional publishing. She covers a wide range of topics within trad pub, along with more discussion based videos.
Bethany Atazadehâs YouTube Channel
Bethany is an award winning self published author, and I have read her YA fantasy book The Stolen Kingdom. I enjoyed it as a light romp and can clearly see where her principles of writing apply.
Her channel is a treasure trove of information about any and everything self publishing. From marketing to outlining, she has it all. She also publishes slice-of-life vlogs, giving insight into the day to day of a professionally published author. If youâre looking to self-publish, check out her channel.
ShaelinWrites & Rachel Writes
Both are separate YouTube channels
Shaelin works with Reedsy and is a published short fiction writer. She provides out-of-the-box advice on the craft of writing, and offers a different perspective on the same old advice you see. She altered my perspective on writing and taught me to think outside my limited perspective of writing. If youâre seeking deeper, more advanced advice on writing, check out her channel.
Rachel hosts discussion and advice based videos on her channel. I love her insight and nuanced takes on various writing subjects. Her channel is more laid back, and is like an older sister chatting with you about writing. Itâs really refreshing to see! She also talks about really difficult writing discussion with delicacy and ease. ďżź
Heart Breathingsâ YouTube Channel
Sarra Cannon is a very successful and knowledgeable self published romance/YA urban fantasy writer. Having been in the game for a decade, sheâs a wealth of information on self publishing, outlining, and inspiration. She taught me how to manage and write a series (see her playlist âhow to write and plan a seriesâ), which many authors donât get into!
Liselle Samburyâs YouTube Channel
Sambury is a traditionally published YA fantasy author of Blood Like Magic and its sequel Blood Like Fate. I found her âDebut Diaryâ series a useful insight into what itâs like debuting into the trad pub space. Overall, her content is more slice-of-life vlogging, but I find it relaxing to watch. She does have some advice videos sprinkled in, but itâs not the focus of her channel.
If you quickly need to know anything about any writing subject, look no further than masterclass articles. While the articles themselves vary in quality and specificity, theyâre easy to read and get you started in your research about any writing topic.
And the best channel Iâve found for writing is:
Diane Callahan â Quotidian Writer
This channel single handedly lead to so many breakthroughs with my writing improvement. The channel is professional, covers in-depth and advanced writing advice on so many subjects. She provides concrete examples of all of her advice. I wouldnât recommend this channel for a complete beginner, seeing as the information can her overwhelming, but if youâre tired of seeing the same three bits of advice and want to take your writing to the next level, check out this channel.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this list helpful, and I wish you the best in your writing journey.