An Alternative to Black Friday 2025: Tools for Writers Who Value Creation Over Consumption

Welcome to Five On Fridays, my monthly-ish straight-no-chaser newsletter where I help demystify the publishing industry and share the resources and insights new writers and early-career authors need. Let’s jump right in.

I remember many years ago when Black Friday was a novelty and my knees, patience, and tolerance for crowds allowed me to venture out into the unknown for … stuff. Some stuff I needed, some I wanted, and some I just bought because I could. Hello, pasta maker I have used exactly one time.

Boy, how times have changed. First of all, those knees I mentioned earlier aren’t knee-ing like they used to, so the thought of being waist-deep in a crowd of people pushing to buy whatever the latest thing is, is a giant NO for me. And my knees.

But there are still things we want and need this time of the year, and for writers those things often look like the tools that can help us finally finish the manuscript we’ve been working on forever. So today I’ve put together a sort of anti-Black Friday list, one that encourages creation over consumption.

I’ve used these tools as both an author and an editor, and they’ve helped me do everything from hosting my many websites to plotting a novel with more twists and turns than the Devil’s Highway. And at the end of this post, you’ll find my own limited-time editorial offers for those of you who, like me, are determined to complete your manuscript in 2026.

Scrivener

One of the first writing tools I ever bought and still one of the most useful. Scrivener allows you to write non-linearly, organize scenes, track revisions, and manage longer projects with ease. Excellent for drafting and restructuring. Learn more here.

Plottr

My preferred visual outlining tool. It makes story structure, character arcs, timelines, and series planning intuitive through simple drag-and-drop mapping. They’re offering 40% off their lifetime plan this Black Friday. You can learn more about Plottr here. 

SiteGround

Your website is the only online space you truly own. With Instagram accused of wrongfully suspending thousands of accounts and Amazon having shut down author accounts in the past, it’s more important than ever to have your own digital real estate. I use SiteGround to host multiple sites and have found their uptime and speed consistently reliable. Their Black Friday sale offers up to 88% off new hosting plans.

Vellum (Mac)/ Atticus (PC)

Vellum doesn’t typically run Black Friday deals, but, in my opinion, it’s worth the full price. It’s a book formatting software that allows authors to create print and ebooks for every platform (Kindle, Kobo, Apple etc.). It’s not a subscription, but a one-time purchase that allows you to build, style, and publish all your books. Check Vellum out here. Vellum only works on Macs, though, so if you’re a PC user, Atticus is a strong alternative. Atticus handles writing and book formatting in one place, and during Black Friday, they’re offering their Publishing for Authors Course free with purchase. You can learn more about Atticus here.

My Black Friday & Cyber Monday Offers

If you want to hit the ground running with your WIP in 2026 and want deeper guidance and professional editing, I’m offering a few deals of my own.

15% Off The Sessions (FRIDAY15)

The Sessions are my one-on-one consultations designed to help writers gain clarity, strengthen their pages, and move forward with confidence. Writers have described working with me this way:

Use code FRIDAY15 at checkout. Offer valid Nov 28–Dec 1. Click here to learn more and book a session.

Tackle Your WIP in 2026 (Limited Openings)

If you’re preparing a full manuscript for the new year, I’m opening a small number of editorial project slots for February–April 2026. These spots are ideal if you want in-depth feedback, structural insight, or ongoing editorial guidance.

• $100 off Platinum Package — WRITER100

• $75 off Gold Package — WRITER75

• $50 off Editorial Assessment — WRITER50

Only five project slots are available. To inquire, email [email protected] with the subject line: 2026 Editorial Project Slot Inquiry.

That wraps up this edition of Five On Fridays. Thank you for subscribing and reading. If you found this newsletter helpful, please share it on social media and forward it to your writer friends. Happy writing!

Some links in this email are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely find useful for writers.

-Grace