Back to the start of the Patron Toolbox

Patron Toolbox

Forge Your Publishing Career

You write the book. These 92 tools help you edit it, publish it, find readers, and run your author business.

Start forging
Browse all tools

New here? Four tools are free for everyone, and Novel Marketing patrons at $10 a month get all 92 tools. How to join

A career, forged one stage at a time.

A bellows feeds the forge beside an anvil and finished swords.
  1. 1Edit
  2. 2Platform
  3. 3Publish
  4. 4Promote
  5. 5Business

Ready when you are

Most popular with patrons

Your most-used tools, ready when you are.

    Edit It

    Strengthen the book you wrote. Get feedback, check your facts, and decide what to revise.

    Manuscript Prep

    I want to get my manuscript ready to edit.

    Clean up your dictated chapters, find character names, and plan where to split a long novel. You supply the words and make the creative decisions.

    • Chapterizer

      Turn messy dictation into a clean, edit-ready chapter in your own words.

      Patron

    • Character Namer

      Find character names that fit your story's era, culture, and tone.

      Patron

    • Book Splitter

      Find where to split your long novel so each book has its own arc.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Trope & Genre Finder, TwainBot, JaneBot, Cosmarch

    Editing

    My manuscript needs an editor.

    Editing tools that give big-picture developmental notes, clean up your chapters line by line, find weak or missing plot beats, and check your story’s genre and reader expectations.

    Also useful here: Trope & Genre Finder

    Continuity Compendiums

    I can't keep all my characters straight.

    Continuity compendium tools that track the characters, places, factions, creatures, terms, and dates in your book, and merge character compendiums across a whole series.

    • Character Compendium

      Get a character bible with audiobook voice notes for your whole cast.

      Patron

    • Map Maker

      Turn your hand-drawn sketch into a clean, professional map of your story world.

      Patron

    • Timeline Chronicler

      See your story's events in true chronological order and catch timeline mistakes.

      Patron

    • Compendium Consolidator

      Merge your per-book compendiums into one series bible, current through your latest book.

      PatronNew

    • Glossary Builder

      Get an alphabetical glossary of your book's key terms, spoiler-free if you choose.

      Patron

    • Location Compendium

      Get a reference sheet of your book's key places so details stay consistent.

      Patron

    • Faction Compendium

      Keep your world's houses, guilds, and races straight across a long book.

      Patron

    • Creatures & Plants Compendium

      Get a bestiary and plant guide for the creatures and plants of your story world.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Pronunciation Guide Generator

    Fact Checking

    Did I get my facts right?

    Fact checking tools that catch medical mistakes, historical anachronisms, and setting details a local would spot, and put your story's events in true chronological order.

    Also useful here: Timeline Chronicler

    Beta Readers

    I need honest feedback on my manuscript.

    Get another perspective on your manuscript, from Twain and Austen-inspired feedback to potential one-star reviews and conversations with Cosmarch.

    • TwainBot

      Get blunt notes on your pages from a coach who talks like Mark Twain.

      Patron

    • JaneBot

      Get Austen-voiced notes on the tension, dialogue, and subtext in your scenes.

      Patron

    • Roast Engine

      See the one-star reviews your book could get before real readers write them.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Cosmarch

    Build a Platform

    Keep your audience growing. Find your readers, strengthen your website, and give them a reason to stay connected.

    Target Reader

    I don't know who my reader is.

    Audience tools that sketch your ideal reader, find comparable books, name your tropes, and shape an author brand readers recognize.

    • Timothy Finder

      Find out what kind of reader to look for and where they gather.

      Patron

    • Trope & Genre Finder

      Learn which tropes your novel uses and how well it fits its genre.

      Patron

    • Comp Finder

      Find comparable books to use in your queries, proposals, and ads.

      Patron

    • Tagline Brainstormer

      Brainstorm short author taglines for your bio, website, and social profiles.

      Patron

    • Life Themer

      Turn the stories you love into a clear author brand and reader promise.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Zeitgeist Vibe Checker

    Branding

    I want readers to recognize my author brand.

    Clarify your author brand, find a memorable tagline, and help readers connect with you through your About page.

    Tools that help here: Life Themer, Tagline Brainstormer, About Page Drafter, Trope & Genre Finder, About Page Scanner

    Reader Magnets

    I want to grow my email list.

    Reader magnet tools that brainstorm freebies readers will trade an email address for, make printables like coloring pages and discussion guides, design the cover, and draft the sign-up page.

    Also useful here: Book Cover Designer, QR Code Generator, Discussion Guide Builder, Coloring Page Maker

    Email

    I never know what to send my list.

    Email tools that draft your newsletter and its subject lines, turn what you read and watch into reviews, write a welcome sequence for new subscribers, and win back quiet ones.

    • Subject Line Brainstormer

      Brainstorm three dozen subject lines for your next author email.

      Patron

    • Email Drafter

      Turn this month's notes into a finished author newsletter draft.

      Patron

    • Review Drafter

      Turn quick notes on what you read and watch into newsletter-ready reviews.

      Patron

    • Drip Email Sequencer

      Get a welcome email sequence that introduces new subscribers to you and your book.

      Patron

    • Email List Cleaner

      Get the emails that win back quiet subscribers and let the rest go.

      Patron

    Author Website

    My website isn't bringing in readers.

    Author website tools that scan your homepage, about page, and book pages, draft new pages, and optimize any page for search and AI answers.

    • Homepage Scanner

      See your homepage scored out of 100, with the fixes ranked by priority.

      Patron

    • About Page Scanner

      See what your About page is missing and which fixes matter most.

      Patron

    • Book Page Scanner

      See what your book page is missing, from buy buttons to reader extras.

      Patron

    • SEO/GEO Optimizer

      Get paste-ready SEO titles, meta descriptions, and a ranked fix list for any page.

      Patron

    • About Page Drafter

      Draft an About page, short bio, and tagline from your own story.

      Patron

    Also useful here: 3D Mockup Maker, Tagline Brainstormer, Landing Page Drafter

    Author Blog

    I don't know what to blog about.

    Blogging tools that brainstorm post ideas tied to your book, turn podcast transcripts and reading notes into posts, and write titles and keywords that help readers find each one.

    • Podcast Blogifier

      Turn a rambling podcast transcript into a clean blog post you can publish.

      Patron

    • Blog Optimizer

      Get dozens of magnetic titles for your blog post, plus SEO keywords.

      Patron

    • Blog Brainstormer

      Get 30 blog post ideas that tie your book to books your readers love.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Subject Line Brainstormer, Review Drafter

    AI Visibility

    What does ChatGPT know about my book?

    AI knowledge checkers that show what ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta's Muse, and DeepSeek say about you and your book.

    Also useful here: SEO/GEO Optimizer

    Publish It

    Shape your finished manuscript into a book readers can choose. Prepare the cover, description, and publishing details.

    Book Covers

    I need a cover that sells.

    Book cover tools that check whether your cover fits its genre and works as a thumbnail, design a concept, brief your designer, and turn the art into a 3D mockup.

    • Book Cover Analyzer

      Learn whether your cover makes strangers click, and how to fix it.

      Patron

    • Book Cover Designer

      Get an AI cover design for your reader magnet or work in progress.

      Patron

    • Design Brief Drafter

      Brief your cover designer on your genre cues and thumbnail needs.

      Patron

    • Barcode Generator

      Get a bookstore-standard ISBN barcode with a price code for your print cover.

      Free

    • 3D Mockup Maker

      Turn your cover into a 3D book mockup for your website and ads.

      Patron

    Blurbs & Pitches

    I need a blurb that sells.

    Blurb and pitch tools for back cover copy, Amazon book descriptions, one-sentence pitches, titles, subtitles, and series names.

    • Book to Blurb

      Turn your finished manuscript into back cover copy and an Amazon description.

      Patron

    • Novel Blurb Generator

      Get novel back cover copy and an Amazon description from four answers.

      Patron

    • Book Title Optimizer

      Brainstorm genre-right titles, subtitles, and series names to choose from.

      Patron

    • Pitch Optimizer

      Get fresh rewrites of your current book description, plus pitches and title ideas.

      Patron

    • Nonfiction Pitch Generator

      Get nonfiction back cover copy that shows readers what your book does for them.

      Patron

    • Romance Pitch Generator

      Get romance back cover copy that captures your couple's chemistry and conflict.

      Patron

    • Plot Pitch Generator

      Get a tension-packed blurb for your thriller, mystery, or suspense novel.

      Patron

    • Setting Pitch Generator

      Turn your fantasy or sci-fi world into back cover copy and pitches.

      Patron

    Agents & Publishers

    I want an agent or a publishing deal.

    Traditional publishing tools for query letters, synopses, chapter summaries, book proposals, comp titles, and a second opinion on contracts.

    • Book Proposal Drafter

      Turn your manuscript into a book proposal draft for agents and editors.

      Patron

    • Plot Synopsizer

      Get short, medium, and long plot synopses of your novel for submissions.

      Patron

    • Chapter Summarizer

      Summarize every chapter of your manuscript, ready for a book proposal.

      Patron

    • Not a Literary Agent

      Get a calm second opinion on contracts, career moves, and publishing decisions.

      Patron

    • Query Letter Writer

      Draft a complete query letter you can polish and send to agents.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Comp Finder, Not a Lawyer

    Amazon & KDP

    I want more sales on Amazon.

    Amazon and KDP tools for keywords, a stronger book page, search-friendly titles, review links, and bookstore-standard barcodes.

    Also useful here: Review Linker, Book to Blurb, Book Title Optimizer, Keyword Planner, Royalty Analyzer

    Audiobooks

    I'm making an audiobook.

    Audiobook tools that give your narrator a pronunciation guide and voice profiles for your characters.

    Also useful here: Character Compendium, Reader Magnet Brainstormer

    Promote Your Book

    Put your finished book where readers can discover it. Plan your launch, find promotion opportunities, and improve your ads.

    Book Launch

    My launch is next month.

    Book launch tools for influencers, media angles, podcast interviews, press releases, events, shareable quotes, launch ads, and one-click review links.

    Tools that help here: Influencer Finder, Media Hook Brainstormer, Podcast Host Directory, Review Linker, QR Code Generator, 3D Mockup Maker, Ad Drafter, Quotable Quote Finder, Event Finder, Press Release Drafter

    Ads

    My ads aren't working.

    Book ad tools that write ad copy from your manuscript, plan ad targeting keywords, stack paid promo sites to revive an older book, check your cover as an Amazon ad thumbnail, and sketch the reader to target.

    • Promo Stacker

      Plan a day-by-day promo stack to revive sales of a backlist book.

      Patron

    • Ad Drafter

      Get ad copy for Amazon, Facebook, BookBub, and Google, drawn from your manuscript.

      Patron

    • Keyword Planner

      Build a long list of ad targeting keywords from your own manuscript.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Book Cover Analyzer, Comp Finder, Timothy Finder

    Reviews

    I want more reviews.

    Review tools that give readers a one-click Amazon review link and a QR code for your back matter, preview what critics might say, and find influencers who review books.

    • Review Linker

      Give readers a one-click link to your Amazon review form.

      Free

    • QR Code Generator

      Turn any link into a QR code for bookmarks, back matter, and events.

      Free

    Also useful here: Roast Engine, Influencer Finder

    Publicity & Podcasts

    I want press and podcast interviews.

    Publicity tools for media angles, press releases, podcast host contacts and pitches, quotable lines, influencers, and events where readers gather.

    • Podcast Host Directory

      Search podcast hosts by show or category and get their email addresses.

      Patron

    • Quotable Quote Finder

      Pull shareable quotes from your manuscript for social posts, graphics, and trailers.

      Patron

    • Media Hook Brainstormer

      Find the angles and pitches that help you land podcast and press interviews.

      Patron

    • Influencer Finder

      Find book influencers your readers already trust, with proof they fit.

      Patron

    • Event Finder

      Find in-person events where your readers gather and buy books.

      Patron

    • Press Release Drafter

      Announce your book, award, or event in the format newsrooms expect.

      Patron

    Kids, Classrooms & Book Clubs

    I want my book in classrooms and book clubs.

    Tools for children's authors, teachers, and book clubs: lesson plans, classroom activities, quizzes, discussion guides, coloring pages, and party themes.

    Run the Business

    Keep your author business working. Understand your royalties, review contracts, and plan for the next book.

    Chat with an Expert

    I just need a straight answer.

    Chat tools that answer your questions: AI Thomas on publishing and marketing, plus specialists for contracts, taxes, agents, and craft.

    • AI Thomas

      Get answers to your publishing and marketing questions, linked to the episodes behind them.

      Free

    • Cosmarch

      A conservative AI chatbot created to defend the canon of Western Civilization. 100% Based.

      Patron

    Also useful here: Not a Lawyer, Not a CPA, Not a Literary Agent, TwainBot, JaneBot

    Worth a closer look

    Useful tools you might have missed

    These tools get the fewest visits from this page. One of them might be exactly what your book needs.

      The complete toolbox

      Every tool, A to Z

      Tools marked Free work for everyone. Every other tool comes with a patron membership.

      Your toolbox

      Your toolbox starts at $10 a month.

      Get all 92 author tools with a Novel Marketing patron membership. Four tools are free for everyone.

      What is the Patron Toolbox?

      The Patron Toolbox is a set of 92 tools that help authors edit, publish, and market their books. Thomas Umstattd Jr. crafts and tests each one. Novel Marketing patrons at $10 a month get every tool.

      It serves fiction and nonfiction authors, indie and traditional, from first draft to backlist.

      • Your manuscript stays yours

        The tools reach each AI through its business API with privacy set to the maximum, so the AI companies do not train on your words.

      • The right model for each job

        Thomas picks the model for every tool and switches when a better one arrives. You never have to guess which chatbot is good at what.

      • Tested, then improved

        Thomas tests each tool before it ships, and the tools keep improving as patrons send feedback.

      • Your book stays your book

        None of the tools writes your book for you. They help with the research, editing, packaging, and marketing around it.

      Four tools are free for everyone: AI Thomas, Review Linker, QR Code Generator, and Barcode Generator.

      Your membership also includes the Podcast Host Directory, a patrons-only Q&A episode every month, free BookVault setup, and over $600 in patron-only discounts.

      Made with the Toolbox

      What patrons say

      I’ve been a patron for a year or more and have never tried this tool. I was amazed.

      Marilyn ParkerBiblical fiction authorOn Not a Developmental EditorRead the whole post

      Within two days ... I had a printable book club kit.

      Laura CheeverAuthor, Scrappy Marriages For Weary HeartsOn Discussion Guide Builder, 3D Mockup MakerRead the whole post

      Now cleaning up a chapter takes just a minute or two.

      Jeremiah FriedliChristian YA writerOn ChapterizerRead the whole post

      That tool saved us from hiring an illustrator and starting from scratch.

      Patti Townley-CovertAuthor and editorOn Book Cover DesignerRead the whole post

      And the cover that won, hands down, above all others? It was the 11th variant. The one created by Thomas’s tools. NOT the covers created by the pros.

      J A WebbChristian fiction authorRead the whole post

      After playing with it for 20 minutes, I feel I got my money’s worth for the first-year membership fee.

      Nancy MassandAuthor, The Circle UnbrokenRead the whole post

      Get every tool for $10 a month

      Patron Toolbox + Podcast Host Directory

      $10a month

      • All 92 Patron Toolbox tools
      • The Podcast Host Directory
      • A patrons-only Q&A episode every month
      • Free BookVault setup and over $600 in patron-only discounts

      Become a patron

      No commitment. Cancel anytime on Patreon.

      Other tiers: $4 a month brings the Q&A episode and discounts without the tools, and $30 a month adds periodic mentions of your name and book on the show. Four tools stay free for everyone.

      Put your tools to work

      Use the Toolbox from your AI agent

      Grok Bot, Codex, and Claude Code can run Toolbox tools for you with one patron token.

      A few practical questions

      Questions authors ask

      How much does it cost?

      The Toolbox comes with a Novel Marketing patron membership at $10 a month or more. That tier also includes the Podcast Host Directory, AI Thomas, a monthly patrons-only Q&A episode, and over $600 in patron-only discounts. Four tools are free for everyone: AI Thomas, Review Linker, QR Code Generator, and Barcode Generator. You can cancel anytime on Patreon.

      Will my manuscript stay private?

      The tools reach each AI through its business API with privacy set to the maximum, so the AI companies do not train on anything you submit. Thomas cannot see what you post either, which is why he asks you to report a tool that misbehaves. AI Thomas, JaneBot, and TwainBot are the exceptions. Human Thomas sometimes reads the questions people ask them for future episode ideas.

      Which AI models do the tools use?

      The Toolbox uses models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI, Perplexity, and others. Thomas picks the best model for each tool and switches when a better one comes along.

      Will the tools write my book for me?

      No. The tools help with research, editing, packaging, and marketing. The writing stays yours.

      Do the tools work for my genre?

      The tools work with nearly every fiction and nonfiction genre. The exception is erotica, where they will not work as well. Pick Fiction or Nonfiction under Categories to see which tools suit your book.

      I'm a patron. Why can't I open a tool?

      The usual causes are a Patreon account under a different email, a pledge below $10, or a pledge to a different show. The Toolbox FAQ walks through each fix.

      Can I suggest a new tool?

      Yes. Some of the best tools started as a patron's idea. Send yours through the contact form.