A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT

Is AI really the reason your books aren’t selling?

Writers have plenty of legitimate reasons to be concerned about artificial intelligence, AI-generated books, changing algorithms, publishing platforms, and an increasingly crowded marketplace. But blaming AI for a struggling writing career won’t help you build a better one.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, J. Kevin Tumlinson talks about why writers should stop thinking in terms of competition and start building something far more valuable: a direct relationship with their readers.

Instead of depending entirely on Amazon, advertising platforms, algorithms, or whatever marketing tactic happens to be working this month, writers can build their own ecosystem through mailing lists, direct sales, strong reader relationships, and a platform they control.

AI may be an obstacle. But the obstacle can become the way forward.

If you’re an author, indie publisher, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to build a sustainable career around your work, this episode is about focusing your energy on the things you can actually control.

00:00 Welcome to the Wordslinger 10-Shot
00:41 Is AI responsible for writers struggling?
01:29 Writers aren’t really competing with each other
02:31 Marketing is much bigger than advertising
03:22 Why marketing strategies stop working
03:51 Stop blaming AI for your lack of success
04:35 Quality, craft, and finding the marketing that fits you
05:43 Build your own reader ecosystem
06:44 Protect yourself from platform dependence
07:27 Build your mailing list and direct reader relationships
08:07 The obstacle is the way: turning AI into an advantage
09:16 Final thoughts and the challenge for writers

Join Kevin’s mailing list and get a free book:
https://kevintumlinson.com/joinme

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

If you’re serious about writing better books, finding readers, navigating publishing, and building a sustainable creative career, subscribe to Wordslinger. This channel is dedicated to practical, experience-driven guidance for writers at every stage of the writing and publishing journey.

Subscribe, leave a comment, and tell me: Has AI changed the way you approach your writing or publishing career? And what are you doing to build a relationship with readers that you control?

FIND KEVIN:

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books and more at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.