Smart Writers, Smarter Tools (AI Primer for Authors – Part 3)

How Authors Feel About AI (Spoiler: It’s Complicated)

Authors are all over the map when it comes to AI. You’ve probably seen every camp represented.

There are the anti-AI writers. The “I will never be part of the machine” crowd. These folks have drawn a hard line, promising they won’t contribute to Skynet’s rise,not even if Grammarly tells them their semicolon placement is off. In some circles (especially on Substack), it can feel like the ultimate loyalty test is whether you used ChatGPT to brainstorm or em dash yourself into trouble. Writers are clutching their well-earned punctuation, assuring the world, “I’ve been using em dashes for decades, thank you very much.”

Then there’s tech. In that world, no one blinks. AI is a tool, like spellcheck or Slack. If it saves time, great. If it helps you write faster while managing ten other things, even better. The tool isn’t the point,efficiency is. And frankly, most authors could learn something from that mindset.

Somewhere in between, you’ll find the middle grounders. These are the writers who get that AI is helpful. They’re not evangelists, but they’re not hiding either. They might be using it to brainstorm a few titles or summarize research. They’re probably not using it to its full potential yet, but it’s becoming part of their process,quietly, daily, and more than they’d like to admit.

And finally, there are the full-on AI authors. They use AI to find market gaps, outline the book, draft it, edit it, format it, and even generate their marketing copy. These folks aren’t pretending to be artists in the traditional sense,they’re mechanics. Builders. Systems people. They know exactly what they’re doing, and they’re doing it at scale.

Not all of them are publishing good books, but many are publishing fast, often, and with measurable results. The spectrum is wide, and wherever you land, the real challenge isn’t how much AI you use—it’s why you’re using it. If you're not a full-on AI mechanic, and you're not clinging to your em dashes like a lifeboat, what can you use AI for as a writer?

That’s what we’ll dig into next.

Where AI Can Help Authors Write - Without Taking Over

Used wisely, AI can save time, spark ideas, and make the writing process less overwhelming. But it should never do the writing for you. Think of it as a collaborator, not a ghostwriter.

Nonfiction authors often turn to AI for help with the parts that happen before the writing begins: research, organization, and outlining. It can summarize long articles, compare perspectives across topics, or help you identify what’s missing from a crowded content niche. It’s not replacing your thinking, it’s helping you gather material so you can think more clearly.

Then there’s brainstorming. Fiction authors use AI to explore “what if” questions, build character traits, or test out alternate plot twists. It’s a prompt engine,not a plot generator. It can’t create an original world, but it can help you notice where yours needs more texture or tension.

Some writers use AI to organize scenes, summarize what they’ve already written, or create simple chapter overviews. These are tactical, helpful ways to stay focused without outsourcing their voice.

AI can also help with decision fatigue. When you’re overwhelmed by structure or unsure what to write next, it can offer a few options to get you moving. But those options should always be starting points,not substitutes for your imagination.

And here’s the test: if you hand a paragraph to AI and it improves clarity or flow, great. But if it changes the tone, the energy, or the intent,it’s doing too much.

The best uses of AI happen when the tool makes your work sharper,not flatter.

So no, you don’t need to resist AI entirely. And no, you don’t need to hand it the keys to your creativity either. You just need to know where it fits,and where it doesn’t. AI can support your writing process, but it shouldn’t define it.

In the next post, we’ll look beyond the writing and into the world of marketing,where AI tools are quietly changing how authors plan, post, and show up online. If writing is one side of the author coin, visibility is the other.

And yes, AI has something to say about that too.

If you’re ready to see what ethical, author-first AI can actually do to help you launch your book (not write it for you) I built a free tool to get you started.

Try the Book Launch Starter GPT here.

Lynn brings her more than 30-years experience in small business marketing, publishing, and multiple best-selling author campaigns to her Substack newsletter. She helps authors build and grow their platforms to reach their unique marketing goals through private coaching, non-fiction consulting, and done-for-you marketing programs. And all this, through her computer, in her little lake house in rural Pennsylvania which she shares with her husband, son, and two fluffy companions, Kaiju and Bella.

Book Signings Aren’t Just About Sales—They’re About Showing Up

If you want that prime holiday slot at your local bookstore, you need to act like a partner, not a stranger. Here’s how.

Andrej Lišakov for Unsplash+

Book signings can be helpful, but only if you treat them like professional opportunities—not casual drop-ins or quick sales grabs.

Yes, it’s summer, and bookstores in walkable, tourist-friendly towns are buzzing. If you’re still hoping for a summer event, there might still be time to land something around Labor Day. But don’t wait much longer—most shops plan their events weeks in advance, and their calendars fill fast.

If you're thinking ahead to fall festivals or Small Business Saturday, now’s the time to reach out. Most stores aren’t planning December yet—they’ve got back-to-school, Halloween, and fall promotions to deal with first. That gives you a window to start the conversation before holiday season is in full swing.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, live author events are about more than sales. They’re about visibility, reader connection, and being present in your local literary community.

When You’re Ready to Ask, Be Professional and Brief

Store owners and managers are busy. You’re not there to linger—you’re there to introduce yourself, make a clear ask, and leave a great impression.

Drop by during a slower time if possible, look to see if the store has a local author shelf and ask to be considered. Bring one clean copy of your book for them to review—not a carton—and be ready to explain how the book is distributed.

Books must be available through IngramSpark. Bookstores cannot and will not order books from Amazon. They buy wholesale through IngramSpark because it integrates with their ordering, returns, and accounting systems. If your book was only published through free KDP, it’s not eligible for store placement. This isn’t a preference—it’s standard bookstore operations.

If the store expresses interest in hosting you for a signing, great. Some offer them regularly, others only for special occasions. Be flexible, clear, and respectful of their time.

Event Day Essentials

Before you even land a signing, build an event kit. You’ll need a clean tablecloth, an upright display of your book, bookmarks or flyers, and a good signing pen for a basic kit. Have plenty of books on hand (ask the store whether they’ll order or if you should bring stock). If allowed, consider a small giveaway or a dish of candy to make the table more inviting. And always bring a way to collect email addresses.

Before you leave the event, ask if the store would like you to leave signed copies. Some stores love them—signed copies often sell at a premium and can’t be returned. Others prefer not to hold excess stock. Always ask first.

Promote Like a Partner Before AND After

Once your event is on the calendar, promote it like you’re co-hosting. Share the date and details on your social media more than once. Tag the bookstore. Use local hashtags. Add it to your newsletter before and after the event, and always thank the store publicly. A few good photos go a long way. Take your promotion to the next level by sharing event alerts before and press releases after to your local media.

This shows you’re invested in the store’s success—not just your own—and positions you as a professional they’ll want to work with again.

Pro Tip: It’s About Connection, Not Just Copies Sold

Don’t measure success only by how many books you sell that day. Author events are about building awareness, meeting readers, and creating connections that grow over time. Some of your best readers won’t buy in the moment—they’ll buy later because they remembered you, or the bookseller recommended your work.

Now’s the Time to Make Your Move

Bookstores are scheduling September events now. Fall and holiday opportunities are just around the corner. If you want to close the year strong, you need to get proactive.

Not sure how to pitch or what to say? I help authors with this every week—pitching, prepping, and promoting for a solid event. Set up a free 30-minute call here. Show up well-prepared, professional, and generous—and bookstores notice. So do readers.

Lynn brings her more than 30-years experience in small business marketing, publishing, and multiple best-selling author campaigns to her Substack newsletter. She helps authors build and grow their platforms to reach their unique marketing goals through private coaching, non-fiction consulting, and done-for-you marketing programs. And all this, through her computer, in her little lake house in rural Pennsylvania which she shares with her husband, son, and two fluffy companions, Kaiju and Bella.

Will AI Replace Authors? (Spoiler: Nope.)

AI Primer for Authors – Part 2

Yes, AI can write a book.

That’s the line that makes the headlines, fuels the fears, and sells the shortcuts. And technically, it’s true—AI can generate thousands of words, structure them into chapters, and spit out something that looks like a book in record time.

But just because you can doesn't mean you should.

There’s a difference between creating a product and writing something real. A book isn’t just word count. It’s craft, perspective, and voice. It’s the result of lived experience and clear intention. And when you hand the creative process over to a tool that doesn’t think, feel, or imagine... it shows.

In a world where authors are encouraged to write a book in a weekend with AI, should you? Yes, I know authors who have written a book in a weekend, but not with AI. They are experienced authors writing their third or twelfth book from refined ideas, proven frameworks, and their own writing style. They’re not racing to get their words out, they’re just ready to.

That kind of speed comes from practice and experience, not shortcuts.

But when first-time nonfiction authors use AI to quickly publish a lead magnet or authority-building book, it often hurts more than it helps. These books are meant to introduce your voice, demonstrate your credibility, and set the tone for how readers perceive you. If they’re rushed—assembled from generic prompts, lightly edited, and pushed out without clarity or intention—they can damage your reputation. Instead of building trust, they create doubt. And once a reader questions the substance of your book, they’re far less likely to take the next step with you.

The problem shows up in fiction too. Entire categories—romance, thrillers, and especially science fiction—are being flooded with AI-written books. These books often follow formulas, recycling plot points and tropes pulled from existing content. They're not written to tell a story; they're written to make a sale. And it’s creating noise. Thoughtful, creative, and deeply researched novels—especially in genres like science fiction that demand imagination and technical credibility—are getting buried. Authors who pour months or years into building original worlds are now competing with content that was generated in a weekend. And readers are starting to notice. Many can feel when a story lacks heart. They may not always know it’s AI, but they know something’s missing.

And it’s not just happening in the writing. AI has crept into every part of the process. Grammarly, predictive text, Canva’s Magic Write, Microsoft Editor—most authors are already using AI without realizing it. That’s not always a bad thing. But if you're relying on these tools to clean up your sentences, rewrite your paragraphs, or "fix" your voice, you're slowly editing out the thing that makes your work unique.

Worse, you may not even notice it’s happening—until your writing starts to sound like everyone else’s.

There’s also a deeper risk I don’t think enough people are talking about: creative atrophy. Writing is a skill. It takes practice. When you let AI do the hard part—wrestling with a sentence, choosing the exact right word—you lose that muscle. And over time, the creative instinct that once felt natural gets dull.

AI can’t imagine. It can’t discover something new. It doesn’t surprise itself. And if you start relying on it too heavily, you’ll stop surprising yourself too.

Still, I’m not saying you should ignore it. You shouldn’t.

Authors should be using AI for research—because in many cases, it’s more useful than Google. You can ask for lists, summaries, frameworks. But you should also question it. Push back. Ask where it got its information. It will rarely resist. That’s by design. These tools are built to be helpful... sometimes at the cost of being accurate.

That’s what we’ll talk more about later in this series—how to use AI to support your work without erasing your voice. Because the real threat isn’t being replaced by AI—it’s falling behind while others learn how to use it more effectively than you do.

AI might help you move faster. But it can’t replace the work of thinking, imagining, and writing something that matters. That’s yours to do.

And that’s what makes you an author.

Not sure what’s standing between you and the readers you want to reach?
Let’s take 30 minutes to look at where you are, where you want to go, and what might be getting in the way. If I can help close the gap, I’ll share how - whether that’s coaching, consulting, or done-for-you support.
Book your free UnStuck appointment here.

Lynn brings her more than 30-years experience in small business marketing, publishing, and multiple best-selling author campaigns to her Substack newsletter. She helps authors build and grow their platforms to reach their unique marketing goals through private coaching, non-fiction consulting, and done-for-you marketing programs. And all this, through her computer, in her little lake house in rural Pennsylvania which she shares with her husband, son, and two fluffy companions, Kaiju and Bella.

Inside Six Real Book Launches: A Peek Behind the Curtain

Here's a little of what I'm working on with my clients right now.

A.C. for Unsplash+

I thought I’d try an audio version of my newsletter. Click below to listen! ~Lynn

This week, I thought I’d give you a peek behind the curtain and share a little about what I’m working on with some of my my coaching and done-for-you clients. Three are pre launch and three are post… and all still deep in launch activities.

Everyone is on schedule. But that didn’t happen by accident—and that’s what I want to talk about.

Why Your Book Needs a Launch Plan (Even If It’s Not Your First Rodeo)

Authors love to say, “I just want to get it out into the world.”
And I get that. You’ve spent months—maybe years—birthing this book. You are done with this part of the process and you’re ready for it to fly.

But if you publish without a plan, your book won’t soar. It’ll splat.

A good launch plan does three things:

• Creates momentum before the book is available

• Builds urgency and attention the week it releases

• Extends your visibility for weeks (or months) after launch

And none of that happens by accident.

The goal of all this planning might surprise you. It’s not about sales. It’s about reviews.

Here’s The Secret Sauce

One of my favorite benefits of a well-planned book launch is the opportunity to collect reviews. Book reviews are very hard to get. Sales and rankings are bonuses—especially if you're able to hit a #1 New Release—but it's the reviews that help sell books. They build trust and influence buying decisions.

Rushing to release without a launch means you lose that golden window to gather them.

Once the launch window closes, it’s notoriously difficult to get reviews. During launch, readers are more willing to engage, more likely to follow through when you ask, and more excited to talk about your book while it’s still fresh. That’s when the momentum is real—and when reviews are most likely to stick.

Real Talk: Here’s What Happens 4–8 Weeks Before Launch

Three of my clients are here and this is what’s happening right now:

• ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) are going out to a curated list of early reviewers and launch team members.

• We’re building email sequences, updating websites, and creating social media content.

• They’re gathering endorsements, prepping bonus materials, and finalizing book files.

• I’m nudging them for follow ups, bio updates, and podcast prep.

There are a lot of moving parts, and when you're working solo, it’s hard to stay organized and remember everything that needs to happen. That’s where I come in.

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

If you’ve never planned a book launch, there’s a lot that can slip between the cracks like…

• How and when to send ARCs

• What a launch team actually does (and how to build one)

• How to pitch yourself for podcasts

• Whether you should send a press release (and if so, where)

This is why it feels overwhelming. Because you don’t know what you don’t know.
And that’s why so many authors skip it entirely and try to play catch-up post-launch.

But here’s the truth: It isn’t easy to come back from a weak launch.

Let Me Help You Launch Like a Pro

You don’t need to do it all yourself.
You just need someone who’s done it before, who knows what to expect, and who can help you anticipate (and avoid) the most common mistakes.

That’s what I do for my coaching, consulting and done-for-you marketing clients. No two author’s are the same. Together, we look at you, your book, your goals, your audience, your network, and more. Then we map out a custom launch strategy, build the pieces together, and make sure everything is timed, tested, and ready to go.

Want to see what that looks like for you?
Book a free 30-minute UnStuck call.

P.S. If your book is already out and your launch was more of a “soft sigh into the void,” don’t worry. I see that all the time! There are smart ways to re-engage your audience. But that’s a post for another day.

Lynn brings her more than 30-years experience in small business marketing, publishing, and multiple best-selling author campaigns to her Substack newsletter. She helps authors build and grow their platforms to reach their unique marketing goals through private coaching, non-fiction consulting, and done-for-you marketing programs. And all this, through her computer, in her little lake house in rural Pennsylvania which she shares with her husband, son, and two fluffy companions, Kaiju and Bella.

An Author’s Guide to AI, Part 1: Understanding the Basics

This is the first in a plain-English primer on AI and what it means for your writing life.

Alex Shuper for Unsplash+

If you’re an author, chances are you’ve already formed an opinion about AI.
Maybe you’re cautiously curious, wondering if it could save time or spark new ideas.
Or maybe you’ve already made up your mind: “No thanks, robots. I saw Terminator. I know how this ends.”

Either way, the conversations about AI aren’t going anywhere. And neither is the technology. What is changing is the way authors are expected to write, market, and show up. Tools are evolving fast, and many of the ones you already use (yes, even Canva and Google Docs) are powered in part by artificial intelligence.

That’s why I’m writing this series. Not to convince you to start using AI, but to help you understand what it is, how it works, and what it means for your writing life. You don’t need to love it; you just need to know how to navigate it.

So, What Is AI?

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, refers to computer systems that try to mimic human thinking, decision-making, or creativity. It shows up in more places than you might expect.

If you’ve used auto-suggestions in Google, predictive text on your phone, or clicked on a recommended show in Netflix, you’ve interacted with AI. But lately, the real buzz has been around tools that can create things: blog posts, book covers, marketing copy, even audiobooks.

These are called generative AI tools. And they’re the ones most relevant to your life as a writer.

How It Works (No Tech Degree Required)

AI tools don’t actually “think.” They don’t have ideas. What they do is process enormous amounts of existing information from books, articles, websites, forum posts - and learn patterns from it.

When you type a prompt into a tool like ChatGPT, it generates a response by predicting what’s most likely to come next based on what it has seen before.

It’s less creative genius and more very advanced autocomplete.

Sometimes, it nails it. Sometimes, not so much. But even on its off days, it’s fast; when used well, it can help you move from stuck to starting.

Where Does AI Get Its Information?

This is where things get murky.

Large language models are trained on massive amounts of data pulled from across the Internet. That includes publicly available websites, books, social media posts, forums, and more. Some of it is licensed. Some of it isn’t; and in a few high-profile cases, companies have been caught training AI on pirated books, without permission from the authors who wrote them.

That raises a lot of ethical and legal questions we’ll explore in a future post in this series. For now, just know this: AI doesn’t create content from thin air. It remixes what it’s been fed; content that was, in many cases, written by people like you.

This is part of why authors are right to approach AI with a mix of curiosity and caution. It’s powerful. It’s useful. And it’s not always transparent.

So Why Should You Care?

Because AI is already here, and it’s not going anywhere.

It’s embedded in tools you’re likely using right now:

• Canva’s “Magic Write”

• Smart suggestions in Google Docs

• Grammarly’s tone rewrites

• Microsoft’s Copilot

• Amazon’s internal systems that power book listings and ad targeting

Even if you never directly use an AI tool, its influence will still affect how you write, publish, and promote your work. The good news? AI can’t replicate your voice, your lived experience, or your point of view. What it can do is help you move faster, save time, and offload the tasks that slow you down.

That’s where the opportunity lies; not in handing your work over to a machine, but in choosing where a machine might make things easier.

Coming Up Next:

Will AI Replace Authors? (Spoiler: Nope.)
Next time, we’ll break down what AI can’t do - and how to protect the one thing it can never replicate: your voice. Because let’s be honest... until it makes dinner, folds laundry, and files your taxes... you’re still the boss.

Not sure what’s standing between you and the readers you want to reach?
Let’s take 30 minutes to look at where you are, where you want to go, and what might be getting in the way. If I can help close the gap, I’ll share how - whether that’s coaching, consulting, or done-for-you support.
Book your free UnStuck appointment here.

Lynn brings her more than 30-years experience in small business marketing, publishing, and multiple best-selling author campaigns to her Substack newsletter. She helps authors build and grow their platforms to reach their unique marketing goals through private coaching, non-fiction consulting, and done-for-you marketing programs. And all this, through her computer, in her little lake house in rural Pennsylvania which she shares with her husband, son, and two fluffy companions, Kaiju and Bella.