Nonfiction books tend to be complex projects, including planning, research, writing, editing, and marketing. Every complex project needs a project manager. Who’s in that role for your book? I’ve seen and participated in book projects that were publisher-led, editor-led, author-led, and ghostwriter-led. All can work. But if you don’t decide who’s the project leader, you’re…
Every author client I’ve had in the last two years is reading that blog title and thinking, “He’s talking about me, isn’t he?” No, my friends, this isn’t about you, at least not individually. It’s about all of you. Writing a book is a labor of love. So of course it’s emotional. Authors care deeply…
If you’re an author, your publisher is your partner, at least in theory. But publishers have a tendency to assert control over any rights associated with your book, including clauses that give them control over “any and all digital formats” that may arise. Given the potential value of AI-related rights, this is unacceptable. At this…
Newsletter 151. Why we love to give advice, and how to do it fairly. Plus, authenticity through typos, AI publishing contract clauses, three people to follow, three books to read, and one LinkedIn Live about the publishing journey. Solving other people’s problems Yesterday, my wife asked my advice regarding a business challenge she’s having. She’s…
I received this email: I wanted to share [name redacted], an AI writing partner for books. For the business authors you coach, this could be an interesting tool to add to their writing workflow . . . Building [name redacted], I focused on making AI assistance actually useful for book-length projects. It wasn’t the first time I…
What does AI really “know?” Skepticism and truth The principles for searching out truth have not changed because of AI: AI plain-English prompts and AI-generated responses are easy to consume. Don’t swallow them whole.
I give out a lot of free advice. Somebody thinks they might want to write a book. Or their boss does. So they contact me and we discuss how the book business works, and how it might work for them. What’s your objective? Who is your audience? What is your idea? How does ghostwriting work?…
What’s the best way to promote a nonfiction book? It seems like every expert I talk to has a different take on this. I asked ChatGPT. The list it came up with is, frankly, a reasonably good survey of everything you, as an author, might consider, including 100 different tactics. Platform & audience building Content…
Newsletter 150. Why my list of trusted partners is so small. Plus, an ethically developed AI tool, Tulsi Gabbard’s password, three people to follow, three books to read, and one super-duper AI coach. My exclusive, closed partner network I recently got an unsolicited email. This is what it said: We know that high-caliber ghostwriters like…