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The Publishing Times · Editorial

Tools We Use

Honest editorial reviews of the tools our editors and contributing authors use every day. Some links are affiliate links — we only recommend tools we genuinely stand behind.

Book Formatting

Vellum

Beautiful book formatting for indie authors

5/5 — Editors' Rating
Affiliate Link

What We Like

  • ✓
    Produces genuinely beautiful ebooks and print interiors
  • ✓
    One-time purchase — no subscription
  • ✓
    Incredibly fast: import a Word doc, format in minutes
  • ✓
    Handles series, front matter, and back matter automatically
  • ✓
    Generates all major ebook formats (EPUB, MOBI, PDF) in one click

Worth Knowing

  • –
    Mac only — no Windows version
  • –
    Limited control over advanced typography
  • –
    No collaborative editing

Pricing

$199.99 one-time (ebooks) · $249.99 (ebooks + print)

Best For

Mac users who want professional results without a learning curve

"Vellum is the closest thing to a magic button in indie publishing. If you're on a Mac and want professional-grade interiors without hiring a formatter, this is the tool. The one-time price pays for itself after a single book."

— The Editors, The Publishing Times

Get Vellum →
Writing Software

Scrivener

The writer's studio — from first draft to final manuscript

5/5 — Editors' Rating
Affiliate Link

What We Like

  • ✓
    Unrivalled manuscript organisation — chapters, scenes, research all in one place
  • ✓
    Corkboard and outliner views for plotting
  • ✓
    Compile feature exports to any format (Word, EPUB, PDF, Final Draft)
  • ✓
    Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS
  • ✓
    One-time purchase with free trial

Worth Knowing

  • –
    Steep learning curve for new users
  • –
    Compile settings can be complex
  • –
    Mobile app is limited compared to desktop

Pricing

$59.99 one-time (Mac/Windows) · $23.99 (iOS)

Best For

Authors writing long-form projects: novels, non-fiction, series

"Scrivener is the industry standard for a reason. No other tool matches its combination of manuscript organisation, research management, and flexible export. The learning curve is real, but the payoff is a writing environment that genuinely adapts to how you think."

— The Editors, The Publishing Times

Try Scrivener Free →
Distribution Platform

Draft2Digital

Publish everywhere. Keep everything.

5/5 — Editors' Rating
Affiliate Link

What We Like

  • ✓
    Distributes to 40+ retailers including Apple Books, Kobo, B&N, OverDrive
  • ✓
    Completely free — no upfront fees, no subscription
  • ✓
    Automated endmatter and metadata tools
  • ✓
    Universal Book Links (UBLs) via Books2Read
  • ✓
    Print-on-demand paperbacks available
  • ✓
    Excellent human support team

Worth Knowing

  • –
    10% cut is higher than going direct to some retailers
  • –
    Amazon distribution available but direct KDP is usually better for royalties
  • –
    Less granular sales reporting than some paid platforms

Pricing

Free — D2D takes 10% of retail price per sale only

Best For

Authors who want wide distribution without the admin overhead

"D2D is the smartest way to go wide. The free model means there's no risk, the distribution reach is unmatched, and the Books2Read tools add genuine marketing value. For any author not going KDP Select exclusive, D2D is a no-brainer."

— The Editors, The Publishing Times

Publish Free with D2D →

Also Worth Knowing

Shorter notes on tools for specific jobs that readers ask us about. These have not had the full review treatment above, so they carry no rating.

Selling books direct

Shopify

More authors now run their own shop alongside the retailers, selling signed paperbacks, special editions and bundles at a better margin. Shopify is the most common platform for it, and ebook delivery apps such as BookFunnel plug straight in.

Worth knowing: It is a monthly subscription, and you take on fulfilment, sales tax and customer service. Direct sales also do not count towards retailer bestseller rankings.

Shopify (affiliate link)

Transcripts and subtitles

Happy Scribe

For authors who podcast, record interviews or give talks, a transcript turns one recording into show notes, blog posts and quotable lines. Happy Scribe offers automatic transcription and subtitles in more than 100 languages, with a human-checked option.

Worth knowing: Automatic transcripts still need a proofread, especially for character names and invented words. The human service costs more and takes longer.

Happy Scribe (affiliate link)

Book trailers and short clips

InVideo

A browser-based video editor with templates and AI-assisted generation, useful for a book trailer or a run of short clips for BookTok, Reels and Shorts without hiring an editor.

Worth knowing: Stock-footage trailers can look generic, so your own cover, quotes and voice do most of the work. Exports on the free plan carry a watermark.

InVideo (affiliate link)

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, The Publishing Times earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. The full reviews cover tools our editors use; the shorter notes are flagged as such. Links to Shopify, Happy Scribe and InVideo are tracked through the Impact affiliate network. Full disclosure policy at /affiliate-disclosure.