I Asked AI Why My Novel Isn't Resonating

Everybody knows that AI likes to blow smoke up our...

And there's a reason for that--it keeps us coming back. So, instead of asking AI to tell me how awesome my novel is, I asked, "What's wrong with my book?" Now, I wasn't about to post the entire manuscript, and I don't have the synopsis or chapter summary it asked for (aren't those two things the same?), so I basically recounted the story. 

Well, it wants me to change a bunch of things (neat!), which I'm obviously not going to do. It probably didn't help that I skipped over some events in my retelling, but I later clarified the reasons why Leah does what she does.

A-ha! it said. "In that case, your blurb is all wrong."

Come on! Know how many times I've revised that blurb, AI?

AI's biggest quibble is that my MC comes across as passive. Well, yea...she does go along to get along, but in my defense, she has absolutely no idea what she's doing, so she trusts the "experts".  Being plunked into a foreign world tends to do that to people.

Plus, I think running away is a pro-active move. I mean, she knows how much trouble it's going to cause, both financially and professionally, but she still does it.

Long story short, I'm now supposed to add a subtitle (not on the cover itself; I'm not changing the cover), but on the KDP setup screen. That's fine; not a problem. Then change my keywords again. 

And the biggest change--incorporate the legal drama and the embezzling manager into the blurb. 

As you know, I'm quirky about long blurbs. I hate 'em. Plus, potential readers aren't about to click "more" so they can read the entire blurb. It should all fit on the main screen.

It's not that AI doesn't have a point. I should differentiate my story from every other music industry drama out there. (Are there a bunch of music industry dramas out there?) So, I'll chew on its suggestions for a bit. I suppose additional stakes aren't necessarily a bad thing.

The part where AI is actually helpful is in setting up ads. I previously promised that I'd try Meta ads one more time and report back here, but my previous ones were such colossal failures, I've been hesitant to waste more money.

AI gave me detailed instructions, including how much money to spend and how long to run an ad before giving up on it. I realize that AI draws from many sources for its advice, which is actually a good thing. I don't want him it just spitballing. In the past, when I was faced with setup screens, both Meta and AMS, I had absolutely no idea what to do. I wonder how other authors manage to figure it out. There are too many fields that only serve to confuse people, and they're labeled nonsensically--some kind of advertising jargon that only Mad Men know. Advertising people suffer from the same affliction as tech guys; they love to throw around terms that only they, the anointed ones, understand. 

But now I know what to do, so maybe I'll feed Meta twenty-five bucks as a test. Zuckerberg can no doubt use the money. 

People ask me, "April, if that's really your name..." (it's not)..."why do you waste so much time looking for reasons why your book failed?"

Well, I've got nothing better to do. I'm just sitting here with no projects, so why not? Plus, one simple question to AI can open up new possibilities. 

I'm a purist regarding AI when it comes to writing, but it's a useful tool for other purposes. I ask AI questions all the time, from how to open a #$%*!* blister pack of Benadryl to how often I need to change my car's fluids. I'm sure AI has a whole dossier on me by now. And I'm okay with that.

So, authors, if you're looking for marketing advice, hit AI up for some tips. They won't all work--trust me--but it's like having one's very own research assistant. And you don't even have to pay it.