The following places offer free (or low cost) access to a range of resources to help write your first (or latest) novel.
National Centre for Writing: Early Career Writers’ Resource Packs
Watch and listen to expert advice from writers including Jenny Offill, Kieron Gillen, Eimear McBride, Sarah Perry, download character and world building templates and explore topics from plot to character to dialogue.
Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. Scrivener won’t tell you how to write—it simply provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing. You’ll likely find discount codes if you search online.
Canva is the cheapest possible Do-It-Yourself option for book covers. However, many publishing experts out there recommend investing in a professional designer instead. The rule of thumb is: Do what you do best and leave the rest to a professional. (Read: Use your own discretion here.)