Absolutely delighted to be in conversation with @grammargirl.bsky.social on the topic of AI this week, for her show AI Sidequest. With AI, there is always *so* much to talk about. We cover AI scams, AI note taking, AI website builders, and more.

For writers, voice matters—enormously—for a story's success. But it's an elusive thing to teach someone. What makes it powerful or intriguing or distinct? And if it’s too strong or distinctive, might it not draw attention to itself? @tiffanyyatesmartin.bsky.social advises.

Many 19th-century novels have fallen by the wayside, while Jane Austen continues to draw new readers and admirers every year. Much of her appeal may be understood in the way she built her plots. Dissect the plot of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with Robin Henry.

“I’m just bad at marketing.” But why? It bears examination, says Colleen M. Story.

"Publishers have some great in-house teams, but I tell every author I work with: you are not the only author your publisher is doing publicity for." Publicist Shanetta McDonald discusses what she wishes authors knew about book launches.

What kind of food do your story's characters reach for when in distress? Do they have a culinary weakness or a food allergy that someone might take advantage of? There are different ways storytellers can use food to bring their characters to life, says Karmen H. Špiljak.

Earlier today I got into a Bluesky convo about how publishers & authors will split proceeds in the Anthropic settlement. Thanks to @publisherslunch.bsky.social, I offer this reminder: the Anthropic settlement is for piracy/copyright infringement and not AI training.

If every publisher doesn't do this, I would not be surprised to see come kind of collective action, depending on how many authors are affected.

Ever pop open your manuscript file and feel … nothing? Not dread, not excitement—just a dull emptiness. Author and book coach Anne F. Haag suggests what you might do next.

In honor of the 10-year anniversary of my newsletter, I wrote about what I think has most meaningfully changed in book publishing since 2015. Spoiler alert: I don't think the last 10 years were as transformational as the 10 years before that.

How do anthologies come together? What do you need to know if you're thinking of editing one? Here's advice from folks in the trenches, collected by @lisatimpf.bsky.social.

How do we write family history when memory collides with fact? In this essay, Cecile Popp revisits her grandmother’s life and considers how memoirists navigate the slippery boundary between truth and invention. When does memory become fiction and when does fiction better serve the truth?

When deciding on the setting for your novel, is it better to choose a real place or create a fictional town, city, or even country? Novelist Kirsten Oliphant advises.

It can be useful to envision antagonism as a hierarchy, starting at the top with the main source of story-level antagonism and then stepping down the ladder to scene-level antagonism. Your story may even have a "mastermind" antagonist. Insight from @erinhalden.bsky.social

"Let’s call books with a broader social or political argument activist memoirs. I don’t necessarily mean that these are memoirs about lives in activism—rather that the books [have] a message for the reader that might impact society." —Stephanie Mitchell

"My note about my husband’s surgery went viral. Immediately obvious was the fact it had nothing to do with anything I usually write. As the numbers ticked up—10,000, 11,000—I watched as droves of new followers signed up as well. And wondered what to do." —@lesleykrueger.bsky.social

Here we go again...

** Attention all authors whose books may have been trained on by AI ** Attorneys are collecting contact information from all authors and publishers who may be part of the class action lawsuit.

"What I realized over the course of my debut author journey was that the best marketing hack lay not in my own knowledge of how to write a press release ... but collaborating with others in the writing and publishing world." —@Julie Liddell Whitehead

Recently I asked agent @katemckean.bsky.social a few questions that have been on my mind about agents and the current state of the industry.

For weeks I've been doing research for an article on independent bookstores and coop, but it's been tough to get folks on the record to speak about this. If you're an independent bookstore or traditional publisher willing to talk about coop, I'd love to hear from you: [email protected].

"The more I delved into the geopolitical history surrounding my grandparents’ story, I realized I had enough material to shape plot points, characters, and worlds." —Lindsay Marie Morris

Every time a memoirist is outed for not being honest, people wonder, "Why didn't the publisher fact check?" There are reasons, and I'll discuss them this afternoon with publisher @dougseibold.bsky.social and book critic Ann Kjellberg at @bookpostusa.bsky.social.

Writers are often told (by people like me) that a newsletter is an important tool to build their audience. But what do you put in a newsletter if you don’t have a book out yet? @writerfagan.bsky.social discusses how she surprised herself with ideas & enjoying the task of writing her newsletter.

"I discovered that a genre convention is my audience on steroids, readers who are spending time and treasure, crossing the country ... actively looking for their next binge read, who are looking, in fact, for me." —Nichelle Seely

Learn how one author transformed her misprinted copies into a literary experience in her hometown of Meadville, Pennsylvania—which ultimately landed her on the newspaper's front page, by Jen Craven.

“Who, among your characters, are real? Did you have to disguise them?” “Have people recognized themselves in your book? If so, how did they react?” Books might be marketed as fiction, but it’s the truth and possibility thereof that intrigues people. Insight from novelist @pennyhaw.bsky.social

One of the hazards of writing children's books is the temptation to craft stories that have a message or to impose a “moral” as the core of the story. Susan Fletcher advises on how to consider your story's theme, not just the message.

Book promotion is what most writers think of when their book is ready to launch. Author promotion is about building an audience that’s interested in your perspective, not just your latest release. Insight from Orlando Ortega-Medina.

Since villains usually consider themselves heroes, they can also go through the same stages heroes do, with some important variations. @debbieburke.bsky.social explains.

"It drives me crazy to see authors work their butts off to make great books, then get skittish about pricing those books as if they were actually valuable." Indie author Johnny B. Truant, who's spent 15+ years writing and publishing books, says it's possible to succeed without KU and rapid releases.

Writers often focus on outcomes well outside their control, ranging from landing an agent to winning a literary prize or writing a bestseller. @amylbernstein.bsky.social looks at how to avoid a cycle of disappointment and failure by focusing on perseverance of effort instead.

When I meet writers who feel stalled out, frustrated, or unsure of what’s next, I often recommend they commune with other writers, compare notes & identify blind spots. A writing conference is a wonderful vehicle for that. Here’s an in-depth look at writing conferences from Margaret Speck Ogawa.

Most of the time, I find myself warning authors against awards and prizes because of entry fees. Those fees add up fast and usually outpace what you can expect to earn from increased sales (and that's only if you win!). Still, awards carry meaning and purpose beyond sales.

In describing her first article that went viral, @rebeccamorrison.bsky.social says the writing was "average at best." But she told her story in a way that was easily understood and felt.

1,000x yes. “This is a microcosm of the problem of working in the mainstream, now. You’re not fiery enough for either side, and some people try to destroy your career for covering an issue at all. Is it any wonder so many writers and podcasters succumb to audience capture?” —@helenlewis

In the Cincinnati area? I'm offering a free, in-person workshop on getting published (any and all paths) at the Cincinnati Public Library downtown on Saturday, July 26. Be sure to register—limited space!

A writer may know what they want to happen in the premise (plot entry point), or who their protagonist is (character entry point), or the setting (situation entry point). @heathergarbo.bsky.social examines the potential story weaknesses based on your entry point.

This is a fantastic inventory for anyone who's felt deflated (or worse) after a workshop critique, by @alissabutterworth.bsky.social.

"You can’t control whether or not an agent signs you, or a publisher offers you a contract, or a reader buys your book, or your book wins an award. In this business, one of the only things you can control is the writing itself." —@evalangston.bsky.social

In horror, silence often speaks the loudest. What is festering just beneath the surface? Insight from Lindy Ryan.

Book cover, title, and subtitle. All of these contribute to a sale and if one of them is off, the sale might not happen. Often overlooked in this equation is the subtitle. Penny Sansevieri advises.

Much of the advice about conveying the inner life of your characters means taking readers deeply inside their thoughts—e.g., eliminate filter words, use their voice. That’s helpful if you’re writing in first-person or deep third. But what if you’re not? @tiffanyyatesmartin.bsky.social advises.

There have been two significant court rulings on AI & copyright this week, related to whether AI companies can train on books without permission/licensing from the rights holders. Here’s a handy comparison chart of the two rulings. Source: chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/2025/06/26/1...

There have been two significant court rulings on AI & copyright use this week, related to whether AI companies can train on books without permission/licensing from the rights holders. Here’s a handy comparison chart of the two rulings. Source: chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/2025/06/26/1...

Sometimes, agents/editors request materials—enthusiastically—but never respond again. Do writers deserve to hear "no" in such cases? Jacqueline Salmon discusses.

You don't need followers, or a high-volume posting strategy, to meaningfully boost your work's visibility on Pinterest. I find that it's often the forgotten social media network—although as author Melissa Bourbon points out, it's not in fact social media.

A misbelief about love is a person's incorrect understanding about themselves and love that blocks their ability to have a successful romantic relationship. This powers romance plots, says Trisha Jenn Loehr.

For the first time, I'll be delivering the closing keynote at the annual Pacific Northwest Writers Association conference—plus teaching a workshop on how to earn a living as a writer. 🤓 Learn more: www.pnwa.org/event/confer...

Viewing writing endeavors as a way to bring more sacredness into your life might help you claim the space and time for it — just one lesson learned from Aikido, from writer and coach Barbra Rodriguez.