LI YUN ALVARADO
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Resources for Readers, Writers, Educators, & Parents

​Below you'll find some of my go-to resources
​for Readers, Writers, Educators and Parents!

You might also be interested in my upcoming Course Offerings.

Don't forget to SHARE this page with others who might find this information valuable, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the resources below. ​
Picture of a wooden desk with a laptop, propped up cell phone, pencil holder, flowers, and a white office chair.
Disclosure: Unless noted, I have personally used the products I recommend here. Some of the links below are affiliate links; if you buy something featured, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way!

WRITER FINANCES

5/4/2023

 

How to Manage Your (Personal & Professional) Writer Finances

I know us creative types don’t always like to talk finances, but ask yourself this: 

​Who is our silence around money actually serving?

I believe it’s beyond time we have more honest, open conversations about the role money plays, and, to be more precise, the role financial (in)stability and (in)security plays in our ability to live the creative lives we crave.

The app and books below have helped me gain that clarity and they might help you too. Some of them tackle personal financial matters while others focus in on financial issues specific to authors.
​​

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WEEBLY REVIEW

3/17/2021

 

WEEBLY Review: The Perfect Platform for YOUR Author Website


​Since 2010, I've hosted my author website on Weebly and I couldn't be happier.

I strongly believe every writer should have a website, and Weebly makes it easy to get a site up and running right away. If you're looking for the right platform to build your author website, read on for the top three reasons I recommend Weebly.
​
Weebly - Websites, eCommerce & Marketing in one place.

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NewZenler Review: Course & Marketing Platform

3/16/2021

 

​Build your course on NEW ZENLER now for FREE

I upped my game this year by hosting my courses, trainings, and workbooks on a legitimate course platform (as opposed to hodgepodging different systems together).

When I was choosing a platform, I looked into several possibilities, including Teachable, Thinkific, Podia, Kijabi, among others.

​Then I stumbled upon NewZenler and was floored.
Zenler Comparison: Feature Stack Up At A Glance with PRO. Chart comparing Zenler, Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS NEW ZENLER COMPARISON

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MAILERLITE REVIEW

3/15/2021

 

MailerLite Review: Authors, Use MailerLite & Email Your Readers

MaileLite logo

Sign Up For MailerLite & Email Your Readers!

If you're a newsletter subscriber, the emails you receive are from my email service provider MailerLite.
​
If you're not a subscriber yet, click here to sign up and see how I stay in touch with my community

​As a writer, one of the best ways to connect directly with your audience, and provide them with valuable insights, information, entertainment, offers, and access is through email. There's nothing quite like updating readers directly and building relationships through this tried and true method of communication. 

Read on for Five Reasons I use MailerLite.

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SCRIVENER REVIEW

7/31/2020

 

The Must Have All-In-One Writing Software for under $75

​I love love love SCRIVENER

This is the #1 tool I recommend for writers and educators. It's an affordable piece of software that allows you to brainstorm, organize research, draft, organize, revise, revise, revise ALL IN ONE PLACE.

​I first bought Scrivener​ in 2012 to write my dissertation.

I brainstormed, drafted, revised, revised, and revised that dissertation (and various offshoots: articles, conference papers, writing samples) on Scrivener.

I quickly realized how powerful this tool was and I started using it for everything: poetry manuscripts, job applications -- even wedding planning!

Read on to learn more about how I use Scrivener, to see Scrivener in action, and to discover how YOU can use Scrivener to transform your own writing life!
​

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PASSION PLANNER REVIEW

7/15/2020

 

Passion Planner Review: Planning My Writer Mami Life one Week, Month, Quarter, and Year at a Time

If 2020 hasn't made you revisit your relationship to planning, then I don't know what would.

While most of  my plans got turned on their heads this year, I've still found solace in penciling in Zoom calls and tentative deadlines. I've even appreciated recording milestones like number of weeks in quarantine - ahhhhhh! (maybe that last one is just me?).
​
If you're anything like me and like planning and/or keeping records of these crazy times, then you might also be a fan my go-to planner since 2014: the Passion Planner. 
​
Picture of the Passion Planner 2019
​If you're on the market for a new planner, I highly recommend the Passion Planner. If you're a first time buyer and you use any of the Passion Planner links on this page, you'll get a $5 off coupon code that you can use towards your purchase.

Read on to get more inside looks into my favorite planner.

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AUDIBLE REVIEW

10/15/2018

 

Audible Review: Listening to Books Counts!

2018 is the year I fell in love with Audiobooks...

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LI YUN'S LIBRARY

1/2/2018

 

Li Yun's Library: A Digital Catalogue of Book & Resource Recommendations

I've gathered the books and resources I mention throughout the site and blog into one handy list:
By Li Yun Alvarado
  • Words or Water by Li Yun Alvarado
  • Li Yun Alvarado's Poems
  • Li Yun Alvarado's Bookshop: Li Yun's Publications and Book Recommendation Lists at Bookshop.org

​Book Recommendations on the Blog
  • Busy Book Nerds: It's Time to Embrace Audiobooks (audiobook recommendations included)
  • 2018 Book Round Up: Books for Gifting This Holiday Season
  • Breastfeeding Books (scroll to the bottom of the post)
  • Breastfeeding Resources 
  • Puerto Rico Books
  • Teaching Puerto Rico Resources​​​

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COMELIBRITOS' CORNER / BOOKS FOR LITTLE BOOKWORMS

1/1/2018

 

Comelibritos' Corner: A Digital Catalogue of Picture Books & Children's Books

I've gathered the picture books and children's books I mention on my blog into one handy list. My recommendations especially highlight books that feature underrepresented voices, characters, and historical figures.

Explore and share these gifts with the littles in your life!
Cultura & Family Life
  • ​Puerto Rico Picture Books
  • Libros Bilingües / Bilingual Books
  • Breastfeeding Board Books
  • Picture Books for Siblings
  • Picture Books for Bedtime
  • Eat, Play/Learn, Love
  • Activity Books & Toys

Seasonal Fun & Holidays
  • Picture Books for Women's History Month & International Women's Day (March)
  • Books for Little Baseball Fans (March-October)
  • Happy National Poetry Month: Picture Books for Your Little Poets (April)
  • Picture Books for Fall, Halloween & Día de los Muertos (September - November)
  • Picture Books for the Holidays: Thanksgiving through Día de los Reyes (November - January)
​
  Social Justice
  • Board Books for Social Justice
  • Resources for Raising Anti-Racist Kids
  • Picture Books for this (difficult) Political Climate (crisis at the border)

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    Click here to grab a FREE Worksheet: FIVE W's FOR WRITERS. Use it to help clarify your mission and craft a writing life you love!

    MORE RESOURCES 

    All of my favorite tools:
    Writing
    • Scrivener (writing: drafting and organizing, especially big projects; I use the mac and app versions) 
    • Evernote (cloud based writing software: drafting and organizing shorter and regular writing like blog posts and newsletters)
    Reading 
    • Li Yun's Bookshop (curated book recommendations; lists organized by theme)
    • Audible Plus or Audible Premium Plus (get up to two free audiobooks) ​
    Author Platform & Online Presence
    • Weebly (website & hosting)
    • NewZenler (hosting courses, workshops, workbooks, and virtual events)
    • MailerLite (email service provider)
    Design
    • Canva (design tool)
    • SheBoldStock (stock photos)​
    Organization & Project Planning
    • Passion Planner (physical planner)
    • Trello (project management software)
    Financial Matters & Privacy
    • YNAB (You Need a Budget, online budgeting tool and app: great for both personal and professional finances)
    • Wave (free bookkeeping software)
    • Dashlane (password manager)
    Picture

    Words or Water
    by Li Yun Alvarado
    Finishing Line Press, 2016

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Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.Thank you for supporting my work in this way!
​
Cover of the poetry collection, Words or Water. Features a black and white print of a woman with outlines of birds in her hair.
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