And I’m tempted to say that the long answer is F no. But you’re probably looking for reasons, or even pros and cons, so here’s the scoop.

AI platforms were trained on stolen books. You are welcome to look online for information about the lawsuit against Anthropic, the creator of Claude, where it was found that they used books on a pirate book site (books that were stolen from authors and placed on that site) to train their AI platform. There have been any number of other news stories out there about similar instances, from digital book pirating to physical books being scanned by machines to feed the engine. Why is this important? As a creator, an artist, an author–whatever you want to call yourself–you don’t want to be part of the problem. It’s absolutely a moral and/or ethical issue to use stolen work to create something that you are going to put your name on.

I’ll go a step further here. It’s not legal to copyright a work under your name that you didn’t write. A robot can’t claim copyright, so you also can’t copyright it for your AI platform, even if you have a cute name for the one you are using. Some will argue that this is the same as working with a ghostwriter, but it’s not. You would have an agreement with a ghostwriter that states that the work is done for hire and that you have sole ownership and copyright claim to the finished work. You can’t have that agreement with an AI platform.

Someone suggested this argument too: AI platforms include in their terms of use that you can do whatever you want with anything they create for you, including making copyrightable material. However, terms of use change constantly, and we usually skim and accept. This is something to watch out for.

So even if you’re willing to overlook the harm to the environment and the complaints of people near data centers that they are loud and are ruining their property value, you have to decide for yourself if it’s worth it to risk 1) lying to the federal government about who created the work and 2) going against your morals (I hope it’s against your morals) to use stolen work to create something you will then claim as your own.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide, but here’s something else you should know: There is a lot of pushback from readers, bookstores, and event organizers. Readers don’t want AI-written books. They want authenticity. You can find any number of forums and conversations online about this. As for bookstores and events, most of those I have applied for/with this year have flat out said that you are not welcome if you use AI in any part of your book creation and marketing. I’m assuming this is because they seek to only support authentic creators. And I greatly appreciate this!

Writing a book isn’t easy. I’ve written 14 at this point, so I know. But here’s the thing: communicating your truth is beautiful and rewarding. And if you need help with that, you can speak with a coach and hire an editor. You can join a writing group. You can trade with a friend. Art should be human made, and that includes fiction and nonfiction. Art is what makes us human. It’s our own expression. And opting out of that isn’t going to serve you well. If you need help with creating your book, let’s talk. I’m always open for a conversation. And I believe that you really can write your book without a robot’s help.

The post Should I Write My Book with AI? appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

The first element of marketability is clarity of concept. A reader should be able to understand your book in one or two sentences. Not the whole plot—just the hook. “A woman returns to her hometown to unravel a family secret.” “A guide to rebuilding confidence after burnout.” Clear concepts travel farther.

Next is emotional resonance. Readers buy books because they want to feel something—comfort, curiosity, tension, recognition, hope. Marketable books promise an emotional experience and deliver it consistently.

Then there’s genre alignment. This doesn’t mean writing formulaically. It means understanding the expectations of your genre and deciding intentionally where you’ll meet them and where you’ll subvert them. When readers know what emotional territory they’re stepping into, they’re more likely to take the leap.

Marketability also depends on positioning—how your book sits among others in its category. I prefer to refer to the books around yours as “peers” rather than “competition.” “If you loved X, you’ll love this” is powerful because it tells readers where your book sits.

Finally, marketable books have authenticity. Readers can feel when a book is trying too hard to be something it’s not. The most compelling stories come from a place of truth—your truth, your voice, your lived experience.

Marketability isn’t about selling out. It’s about making sure your story has the best possible chance to reach the people who need it.

The post What Makes a Book Marketable in Today’s Landscape appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

Start by identifying your creative patterns. When do you think most clearly? When do you feel most imaginative? When are you mentally fried? A workflow that ignores your natural rhythms will always feel like a fight.

Next, break your writing process into phases. Drafting, revising, brainstorming, outlining—each requires a different kind of energy. You don’t have to do all of them in the same type of session. Some writers draft best in the morning but revise best at night. Some brainstorm beautifully on walks but freeze at the keyboard. Honor that.

Then, set containers, not quotas. Instead of “I must write 1,000 words,” try “I’ll write for 30 minutes.” Instead of “I must finish this chapter,” try “I’ll work on the emotional beats today.” Containers reduce pressure and increase momentum. And sometimes, you end up in a rhythm and write more than you planned!

A sustainable workflow also includes rest. Creative burnout doesn’t come from writing too much—it comes from writing without recovery. Build in days where you refill the well: reading, walking, noticing the world, giving your brain a break.

Finally, create a feedback loop. Every few weeks, ask yourself:

• What’s working?
• What’s not?
• What needs adjusting?

Your workflow should evolve with you. Life changes. Energy changes. Projects change. A sustainable system adapts.

Writing isn’t about forcing productivity. It’s about creating conditions where your creativity can thrive.

The post How to Build a Sustainable Writing Workflow appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

Here’s the simplest way to think about AEO: It helps AI understand who you are, what you write, and who your work is for.

AI tools don’t “guess.” They look for clear signals. When those signals are missing or muddled, your book becomes harder to recommend, harder to categorize, and harder for readers to find.

So what does AEO mean for authors?

First, clarity. Your online presence—website, book descriptions, author bio—should clearly communicate your genre, themes, tone, and audience. If you write cozy mysteries with a dash of romance, say that. If your nonfiction blends memoir with personal development, say that. Vagueness is the enemy of discoverability.

Second, consistency. AI tools look for patterns. If your website says you write “transformational nonfiction,” your Amazon page says “business leadership,” and your social media says “creative storytelling,” the system doesn’t know where to place you. Consistent language helps AI connect the dots.

Third, structure. AI reads headings, subheadings, FAQs, and clear page organization more easily than long, unbroken paragraphs. The simplest thing you can do for AI to understand your work is giving your content a shape that’s easy to interpret.

Finally, authenticity. AEO isn’t about stuffing keywords or chasing trends. It’s about articulating your work in a way that reflects your voice and your values. When you do that well, AI can do its job: connecting your stories with the readers who will love them.

AEO isn’t the future—it’s the present. And the good news is, it’s not complicated. It’s just intentional communication.

The post What Authors Need to Know About AEO appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

An emotional arc isn’t about making your character feel more feelings. It’s about guiding them through a meaningful shift. They start the story believing one thing about themselves or the world, and by the end, they believe something different. That shift is what gives the story resonance.

Start by identifying your character’s core wound or limiting belief. This is the emotional lens through which they see the world. Maybe they believe they’re unlovable, or that vulnerability is dangerous, or that success only comes through self‑sacrifice. Whatever it is, this belief shapes their choices long before page one.

Next, define the truth they need to learn. This isn’t a moral; it’s a deeper understanding that allows them to grow. The emotional arc is the bridge between the wound and the truth.

Once you know those two points, you can map the emotional beats:

• Beginning: Your character operates fully inside their limiting belief. Their choices reflect it. Their voice reflects it. Their relationships reflect it.
• Inciting Incident: Something disrupts their emotional status quo. It doesn’t change them yet, but it cracks the door.
• Rising Action: Each plot event should challenge the belief. Not in a heavy‑handed way—just enough friction to make the character uncomfortable.
• Midpoint: A moment of clarity or confrontation. They glimpse the truth but aren’t ready to accept it.
• Dark Night of the Soul: The belief feels more powerful than ever. This is where emotional stakes peak.
• Climax: They must choose: cling to the old belief or step into the new truth.
• Resolution: We see the emotional shift in action—subtle, grounded, earned.

The emotional arc is what makes a story stick with a reader. It’s what makes you say, “I felt that.” And when you structure it intentionally, your plot stops feeling like a series of events and starts feeling like a transformation.

The post How to Structure Your Novel’s Emotional Arc appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

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It’s more than just putting the book online and going about your business. There are certain things that a nonfiction author (or really any author) needs to do to make sure that people are finding their books.

A book is intended to be a piece of the puzzle for your business, not some side thing that you do to check a box and never use again. Think of it like your website or a podcast. It drives people to your work, so you need to drive people to the book first.

Check out this month’s video to learn more!

The post How to Be a Successful Nonfiction Author appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

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Just when you think you’ve got it all together, that you’re going to get that book out into the world, you can’t figure out what to say next. And it can come from a variety of places, which can make it even harder to cure.

But if you want to keep on writing and stop being stalled, these are some of my favorite tips for helping my authors get past writer’s block.

The post 3 Tips to Help with Writer’s Block appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.

Sure, we all want that magic moment when the words pour from our fingertips, gracing the page with our brilliance, but you have to wait for that. Plan first, party later.

This is the method that I use to write my own books. Yes, they are fiction, but the principles apply to nonfiction, so I teach them to my authors as well.

The post The Process I Use to Write Books appeared first on Aurora Corialis Publishing.