Instead of asking ChatGPT, I went to an authors panel. Here's what I learned...

To these panelists, writing is a calling, catharsis, hobby, or outlet. ✍️ They are poets, novelists, romance writers, travel loggers, and children's book writers with >3 books published in their portfolio! As promised, here is everything I learned from them…

1.) Publishing: “You Get What You Pay For”

• Traditional publishing is near impossible these days. You’ll spend ages waiting on email correspondences from an agent/team who doesn’t/don’t actually care about how much you make. All that matters is how much you’re paying them 😬

• Self-publishing has its pros and cons! By doing everything by yourself, you retain the all freedom as well as allllll the responsibility. It takes a jack of all trades to be your own writer, editor, cover artist, publisher, and marketer.🃏

• Indie/independent publishing is the perfect balance of creative liberty and collaboration. 🤝

2.) Marketing: “Writers Connecting With Readers”

• Social media is a must. Some authors have found it beneficial to focus on one platform (ie. YouTube, Instagram) and go all in. 📱

• Be consistent and make sure everything leads back to purchasing your book. Make it a one-step process to find the link so you don’t lose readers along the way. 🔗

• The ultimate goal should be book sales and online reviews, not likes and follows. 👍

3.) Pricing: “Placing A Price on Art”

• Look into other books related to your genre to gauge what price you should set. High costs tend to sell less, low costs tend to sell more. How much you earn depends on your audience. Are they few but loyal? Or many but general? 💰

• In the case of Amazon KDP (kindle direct publishing), Kindle versions are the cheapest because it costs Amazon virtually nothing to produce. Printed books using color can be pricey. 🎨

• Paperbacks are IN! Hardcovers are like Vinyls, collectibles for readers to display on coffee tables or for authors to use as a “show book” during panels. 📚

4.) AI: “The Elephant in the Room”

• Each writer has their own unique opinion on AI. Some use Co Pilot as an assistant for research so AI can do the boring stuff while we do the exciting stuff (writing). Their mentality is “AI is here to stay, might as well embrace it.” 🤖 

• Some are heavily against any use of AI! They’ve experienced first-hand how AI can mimic their writing style but drain the work of humanity and authenticity. “It’s scary good, but it lacks writer’s voice” using it for research is one thing, letting AI replace you is another. 🫣

• No matter which side you’re on, it is important to fact-check your work! Humans can make mistakes and so can AI. For non-fiction writers, portraying the truth can be crucial to the story. 🗂️

5.) Journey: “Trust the Process”

• In a digital world of convenience, it can be tempting to feel like you’re falling behind. The truth is: good work takes time. 😓

• Comparison is the thief of joy. Every writer has their own speed, especially depending on their genre. Fiction novels can take 3-5 years to world build. Nonfiction can take 3-6 months. ⏳

• Consider getting your own domain and copyright registration. It’s the best way to distinguish yourself from others and protect your intellectual property considering the threat of AI content generators. ⚖️

An author is anyone with a story to tell, no matter how far along you are on your journey. Remember: it’s never too late to chase your dreams. I hope this advice was helpful, happy writing!