How Writers Can Make Best Use Of ChatGPT

 

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a chat box launched by Open AI in November of 2022. It came to my attention pretty much at the same time from two sources: a LinkedIn gentleman that I follow (S. Vincent Shin) and the founder of a course that I was taking related to writing (Ty Cohen).

It is known for its detailed, articulate responses, but also has a significant drawback - it has uneven factual accuracy. I just started using it and found it easy and fun to use. I asked for a title for this specific blog and was given a very nice one that I adapted for use. It also provided me with an outline for this blog, which I did decide to use. (I can ramble on a bit on my own!)

I plan to continue using the program to give shape and focus to whatever I am writing. It will not write the article/story/book for you, but it will give you a solid outline that takes your own thoughts/ideas and brings them to life. This would be very helpful if you were in a place in your writing where you were either stuck or simply lost.

The bot mimics human conversation, which makes it easy to follow. It also has the ability to sort out what is factual and what is not factual about the questions it is being asked.

As the responses from the bot are known not to be 100% accurate, I would advise using it as a starting point and doing your due diligence to verify the information you are being given.

ChatGPT is free to users. I understand that there is also a paid version, which gives users priority during times of heavy usage, as well as access to new features. The app is not currently available for use on iPhone or IOS.

(c) February 2023 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the author.

Self-Editing For Fiction Writers - How to edit yourself into print

I don't mind editing my own work, but what I am finding is that I miss things. I know that when I am reading a poorly edited book, whether fiction or non-fiction, it loses credence. I write mainly fiction - cozy mysteries, to be precise. I want my readers to enjoy my books and look forward to my next book. I don't want them to be so turned off by poor editing that I slip into never-never land in their eyes.  

I just picked up the second edition of Renni Browne and Dave King's "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers - How to edit yourself into print." Topics covered include characterization and exposition, POV (point of view), dialogue mechanics, sophistication, and voice.

Their first words of advice are to put your manuscript down for a while before you edit it. In this way, you are looking at it with fresh eyes. I have ignored this advice from time to time and generally found myself in a terrible mess and tearing my hair out.  

From presenting examples of the best way to present a paragraph, using scenes to tell your story, to doing the writing exercises presented in this book - these are all wonderful ways to interact with what the authors are teaching.

It is important to establish our characters, and the authors do a good job of showing the best ways to do this. I like their use of checklists in each chapter - they make the editing/tightening-up process much easier.

Write your story - then go back in and make it better!

I find this book to be a good resource for editing. I know I will do a much better job editing my books if I heed what they say. The bottom line of editing is that it is in this process that we, as authors, are able to polish our work so that it stands out and continues to attract readers.

(c) January 2023 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without the written consent of the author. 

 

Amazon Shorts

What exactly are Amazon shorts? They are short Kindle (e-book) reads, defined by page length: 15 minutes (1-11 pages), 30 minutes (12-21 pages), 45 minutes (22-32 pages), 90 minutes (44-64 pages), one hour (33-43 pages), and two hours, or more (65-100 pages). They cover all genres, which makes me happy. 

I have a game plan - I am going to submit Kindle shorts in non-fiction categories - self-help, Tarot, self-care, conscious thinking - topics that I want to write about (and get paid for) while at the same time creating a residual income. I am aiming for the 22-32 and 44-64 page lengths. At the minimum, I can do one a week and see where they go.

If you want to join me, you might want to check out this site: short reads and short stories. Advance warning - this is a promotion for a paid-for program that addresses genres, themes, markets, and price levels. It is relatively inexpensive, so I did purchase it. I have not used it yet so I am not recommending it - I am just putting it out there as an option.

What we are offering our readers are stories that they can read in one setting. If they like one story, the chances are they will go on to buy more. I am still going to write a series of full-length books, but I would like to use the shorts as another stream of income. 

 

Here is a link to an article on Medium entitled How To Make Money Writing Short Books On Amazon

Here is a link to a YouTube video on Kindle Shorts - How To Short Books On Amazon

(c) Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without the written permission of the author.

 

Into The New Year With Ty Cohen

 

Ty Cohen - this is a name that you want to remember. If you want to make a consistent passive income from your writing - seek out Ty Cohen. If you want to know how to get the best results on Amazon - search out Ty Cohen. If you want to know how to promote your books on Amazon - search out Ty Cohen.

A few months ago Ty Cohen's Kindle Cash Flow program found its way into my radar. I ended up purchasing the program as well as his program on advertising on Amazon. These are obviously paid-for programs, but I felt the investment was well worth it, because it was an investment in myself and my future.

Ty Cohen is a very well-spoken individual who addresses his programs to both authors and non-authors. (Yes, he does show step-by-step how to get a freelance writer to write your books for you. This is basically aimed at the Kindle Shorts program.)

I am going to start with the Amazon advertising program, then move on to the Kindle Cash Flow program. I will let you all know how this works for me. And that is the operative phrase - "how it works for me", because how a program works is dependent on an individual's understanding of the program and how to implement it.

You can visit Ty Cohen's site and see what programs he has to offer: Ty Cohen.

You can see his You Tube videos here: Ty Cohen.

Wishing you all a stellar 2023!

(c) January 2023 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without the written consent of the author.

Into the New Year

 We are very close to the New Year. Here are some of the things that will help us, as writers, get off to a good start:

• Set goals for 2023 for both writing and for reading. When we read, we relax, but we also gather new ideas for what we might want to include in our own work.
• Be okay if your writing does not read well (to you). Once the words are down on paper, they can be revised.
• Block out time for both writing and revising. One of my favorite webinars from 2022 was one that Laurie King presented on Facebook about revising our work.
• This is a perennial problem for me - using social media and promoting my own work.
• Take classes - whatever classes appeal to you. There are many that are offered as digital classes on the Internet.

Here are some of the places where I look for classes on writing and writing-related content:

• Master Class
  
• Infostack
  
• Jane Friedman
  
• Gotham Writers
  

Wishing you all a stellar writing year in 2023!

(c) December 2022 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without the written consent of the author.

Writing For Amazon, Rewriting Our Books, And More

 

November was quite an interesting month for me. On Facebook I signed up for The Art Of The Rewrite with one of my favorite authors, Laurie King. It is being hosted by Mystery Writers of America - Northern California (MWA NorCal). It will be held online as a Facebook event at 1 pm PST on Saturday, December 10th.

I also came across Ty Cohen and his three-day online event Kindle Cash Flow. It is all about how to make the best use of placing your e-book on Amazon and how to promote your e-book on Amazon. I am terrible at promoting, so I signed up for the course. I am really looking forward to it.

Something else Ty Cohen addressed was Amazon Short Reads (Amazon Kindle Shorts). This interested me, too, because as an author I can get several of these short books/pamphlets out there, promote them, and have a continuing income coming in. They are listed by reading time - 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and two hours or more.

I also came across writing classes offered by publishing professional Jane Friedman (Jane Friedman). Ms. Friedman offers classes over Zoom, as well as hosting classes from other people. 

It is amazing the resources that are out there!

(c) December 2022 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without the written permission of the author.

Food For Thought

 

How we approach something will have a great deal to do with how successfully we use it. I am currently looking to create multiple streams of income from my writing. I have already decided to use Amazon as my "portal". It is easy to upload written material (whether book-length or pamphlets), and Amazon has a huge audience. 

There are many programs out there that talk about different systems for making money selling books on Amazon. I recently came across one that sounded good to me, so I signed up for a multiple-day live event that will take place this coming January. That seemed a bit far ahead, but it sounded good, and the price was right, and it is something that I am looking forward to.

The downside is that I have been getting over half a dozen e-mails daily since then with videos and upsells. For the first couple of days, I was overwhelmed. Then I told myself that all I needed to do was watch what I wanted to (some of the videos were free training) and not watch the rest.

I am happy with this decision. I don't want a live phone call from an associate, although for many people, this will work well. I don't want to be pushed into anything. This is the important thing - take from any program/opportunity what you want, what works for you. If you have questions, ask. Be open to what these programs/opportunities have to offer. Check out their credibility on the Internet. Read past the sales pitch - recognize BS when you see it.

By combing through the information in the program I have signed up for, I know that I can create a solid foundation for continuing sales for many years to come. No building of a new website, no e-mail lists, just good digital content to offer and an effective way to advertise it.

Do not be afraid to take only what you want from any opportunity. Be who you are. Live a balanced life.

Wishing you all much success with your writing!

(c) November 2022 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without the written consent of the author.