Pros Talking Prose

The AI conversation has reached a point where authors are accusing authors, readers are accusing writers, and trust is beginning to erode throughout the publishing industry.
In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we step away from the usual "AI is good" versus "AI is bad" debate and tackle something much bigger: What happens when suspicion replaces evidence?
Whether you're excited about AI, completely opposed to it, or still trying to figure out where you stand, this conversation isn't about telling you what to believe. It's about preserving professionalism, encouraging transparency, and asking whether our community is fighting the wrong battle.
We discuss:
• Why the current AI "witch hunt" is dividing authors
• Confirmation bias and why everyone suddenly seems guilty
• Where AI belongs (and where it doesn't)
• Why transparency matters more than outrage
• The difference between using tools and outsourcing creativity
• The real challenges facing authors that deserve our attention
Publishing has always been built on trust. If we lose that, we've lost something much bigger than an argument over technology.
We'd genuinely love to hear your perspective in the comments—but please remember what we ask throughout the episode: disagree respectfully. Productive conversations move the industry forward. Personal attacks do not.
Resources Mentioned
Join our FREE Author Business Harbor Community:
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about
Learn more about Print to Pro:
https://PrintToPro.com

#WritingCommunity #WritingLife #Authors #IndieAuthors #SelfPublishing #BookTube #Publishing #WritingAdvice #AuthorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeWriting #PrintToPro

Everyone says publishing needs fewer gatekeepers… until they have to sort through thousands of low-quality books.

We know this episode may ruffle a few feathers.

As lifelong advocates for independent authors, we believe writers should retain their rights, their royalties, and control over their careers. But that doesn't mean every barrier in publishing is a bad thing.
In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, we're tackling one of the most controversial questions in publishing today:

Has removing every gatekeeper actually made publishing better?

We discuss why editorial standards still matter, how readers are losing trust in books, the impact AI-generated content is having on discoverability, why professional publishing isn't about keeping people out—it's about protecting readers—and how indie authors can meet (or exceed) traditional publishing standards without giving up creative control.

If you've ever wondered why some books rise above the noise while others disappear, this conversation is for you.

We know some people will disagree with our perspective—and that's okay. We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts. After watching the episode, tell us:

Should anyone be able to publish a book, or does publishing still need standards?

Let's have the conversation.

Mentioned in this episode

Macmillan CEO interview on the future of publishing:
The Future of Publishing – Macmillan CEO Interview by David Perell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcSbQU0g8hw&t=4098s

AI Sentiment Survey for Authors
printtopro.com/author-a-i-sentiment-survey/

Fjeldheim Writers Retreat
https://fjeldheimwritersretreat.com/

Join our free Print to Pro Author Business Harbor community:
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about

 

Subscribe:  If you're serious about building a sustainable author career—not just publishing a book, subscribe for weekly conversations about writing, publishing, marketing, and the business of being an author.
New episodes every week.

#SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #WritingCommunity #Publishing #BookMarketing #AuthorBusiness #WritingTips #BookPublishing #Authors #ArtificialIntelligence #WritingLife #PrintToPro

How much is caution costing your author career?

Most writers don't think fear is influencing their decisions. They think they're being practical. Responsible. Patient. Careful, but sometimes playing it safe comes with a hidden cost.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske explore how fear affects the decisions authors make every day, like finishing manuscripts and investing in professional help to attending conferences, publishing books, and building a long-term writing career. You'll learn why writers freeze, how fear disguises itself as logic, and how to recognize the difference between making a smart decision and making a fearful one.

The greatest risk to your writing career may be standing still.

Whether you're struggling with publishing decisions, perfectionism, fear of criticism, fear of AI, analysis paralysis, or simply taking the next step, this episode will help you evaluate what playing it safe is really costing you.

• Why writers freeze and stop making progress
• Fear vs. reasonable caution
• Analysis paralysis in publishing
• The psychology behind author decision-making
• Fear of finishing your manuscript
• Fear of investing in your author business
• Publishing scams and fear-based marketing tactics
• AI anxiety and industry uncertainty
• How to evaluate risk without panic
• Why successful authors keep moving forward despite uncertainty

 

#AuthorBusiness #WritingCommunity #SelfPublishing #AmWriting #IndieAuthor #BookMarketing #WritingTips #PublishingIndustry #AuthorLife #CreativeEntrepreneur #WritingCareer #ProsTalkingProse

Most authors don't have a writing problem—they have a deadline problem.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey joins us from the California coast while Troy holds down the fort in Idaho to talk about one of the biggest sources of stress, burnout, and frustration in an author's career: unrealistic deadlines.

From drafting and editing to cover design, formatting, publishing, and launch planning, we break down what realistic publishing timelines actually look like and why so many authors accidentally create "writer emergencies" that never needed to exist in the first place.

When you're preparing your first book or managing a growing backlist, understanding how deadlines affect every member of your publishing team can save you time, money, and a whole lot of unnecessary stress.
Most importantly, we discuss why publishing isn't a race and why slowing down may actually help you create a better book.

In this episode:
• How to set realistic writing deadlines
• The difference between soft deadlines and hard deadlines
• Why preorders can create pressure you don't need
• What editors, designers, and formatters wish authors understood
• Common timeline mistakes that delay publication
• Why there are no publishing emergencies
• How to avoid author burnout during the publishing process
• Why celebrating milestones matters more than you think

If you've ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or pressured to publish faster, this conversation is for you.

RESOURCES & LINKS
Author AI Sentiment Survey
printtopro.com/Author-a-i-sentiment-survey/

Print to Pro Power Sessions
https://learning.printtopro.com/p2p-power-session-june-session/

Craft Lab with the Plot Dude
https://learning.printtopro.com/plotter-wanderer-hybrid-mosaic-sculptor/

Join the Author Business Harbor Community
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
03:09 Writing Deadlines: The Good, The Bad, and The Self-Imposed
11:32 Why Authors Underestimate the Editing Timeline
22:10 Cover Design, Formatting & Publishing Reality
26:10 AI Covers, Artists, and Reader Expectations
32:23 Building a Publishing Timeline That Actually Works
35:12 Uploading, Distribution & Launch Day Myths
41:56 The Proof Copy Stage Most Authors Rush
49:24 Why Perfection Doesn't Exist in Publishing
53:20 Last-Minute Changes and Deadline Disasters
56:13 Celebrating Milestones Instead of Racing Through Them
01:01:24 Why Publishing Isn't a Race
01:07:20 Post-Launch Edits and Managing Expectations
01:12:35 Life Happens: Adjusting Deadlines Without Guilt
01:15:19 Final Thoughts on the Author Journey

#WritingCommunity #Authors #SelfPublishing #WritingLife #AuthorBusiness #PublishingTips #AmWriting #BookPublishing #IndieAuthor #AuthorLife

Are you measuring author success by the wrong standard?
Too many writers compare themselves to bestselling authors, viral success stories, and household names. But what if that's exactly what's making you miserable?

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske tackle the uncomfortable truth about author success, the publishing industry's "power law," and why so many writers burn themselves out chasing goals they can't control.

We discuss why building a sustainable author career matters more than chasing fame, how to stop comparing yourself to the biggest names in publishing, and what successful authors actually spend their time doing. If you've ever felt behind, frustrated, overwhelmed, or like everyone else is succeeding faster than you, this conversation is for you.

Success doesn't have to mean becoming Stephen King.

Sometimes success means building a loyal readership, creating books you're proud of, and designing an author career that actually fits your life.

In this episode:
• Why most authors are measuring success incorrectly
• The publishing industry's "power law" explained
• Why comparison is killing your motivation
• The difference between fame and a sustainable writing career
• How to build your own author micro-community
• What productive authors focus on (and what they ignore)
• Why burnout is more dangerous than failure
• The three assets every author should be building
• Why writing a great book is necessary—but not enough
• How to define success on your own terms

Resources Mentioned:
Author AI Sentiment Survey
Quietly Into the Night by Vincent Zandri
Alibi Syndicate Press
Plot Dude's Guide to Story
P2P Author Business Harbor Community

If you enjoy honest conversations about writing, publishing, author business, and building a long-term career, make sure to subscribe and join us each week.

#WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #WritingTips #PublishingIndustry #AuthorBusiness #WritingCareer #BookMarketing #AmWriting #AuthorsHelpingAuthors #CreativeEntrepreneur #WritingPodcast #BookTube #AuthorSuccess

Is your book really for everyone?

One of the biggest mistakes authors make is trying to write, market, and sell their books to everyone. In reality, the most successful authors understand that books succeed when they connect deeply with the right readers, not all readers.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert discuss why trying to appeal to everyone can actually hurt your book marketing, weaken your author brand, and make it harder to build a loyal readership.

We explore audience targeting for authors, reader expectations, genre positioning, reader trust, author platforms, and why building a micro community of dedicated fans is more powerful than chasing a massive audience.

Whether you're self-published, traditionally published, or somewhere in between, understanding who your book is truly for can dramatically improve your marketing strategy and long-term author career.

In This Episode:
• Why "my book is for everyone" is a dangerous mindset
• How reader expectations affect book sales and reviews
• The difference between a mass audience and a micro community
• Building superfans instead of chasing followers
• Why genre positioning matters
• How authors accidentally betray reader trust
• Creating an author platform readers actually want to join
• The role of authenticity in building a sustainable author business

AI Sentiment Survey: https://printtopro.com/author-a-i-sentiment-survey/
P2P Author Business Harbor: Join our community for free
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about

 

Resources Mentioned:
• Story Genius by Lisa Cron

If you found this discussion helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with another author who may be trying to market their book to everyone.

#WritingCommunity #BookMarketing #AuthorPlatform #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #WritingTips #PublishingIndustry #AuthorBusiness #BookPromotion #ReaderEngagement #WritingLife #Authors #BookMarketingStrategy #AuthorBrand #ProsTalkingProse

Most authors think book titles are just creative decisions. They’re not.

Your title is metadata. Your title is marketing. Your title is the FIRST signal readers get about your book, and if it’s confusing, generic, impossible to pronounce, or sounds like every other title in your genre… readers are already moving on.

In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and Stacey Smekofske break down why so many authors struggle with titling their books, how trends like “shadow/thorn/ash” naming conventions are flooding the market, and what actually makes a title memorable, searchable, clickable, and marketable.

We also talk about:
• Why readers judge books almost instantly
• The biggest title mistakes authors make
• Why “clever” often fails
• Genre expectations and title psychology
• Searchability and discoverability on Amazon
• Why your title is part of your metadata strategy
• The problem with trendy fantasy naming conventions
• Why some titles actively hurt sales
• How to test your title BEFORE launch
• What authors should know about AI-generated titles and covers
• Why readability matters more than authors think

Also, we discuss updates surrounding the Anthropic AI lawsuit, Amazon reporting/review delays, and our upcoming AI sentiment survey for authors and readers.

If you’re struggling to title your novel, nonfiction book, memoir, thriller, fantasy, romance, or cozy mystery… this episode is for you.

👇 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED

Join the FREE P2P Author Business Harbor community on Skool
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor

Print to Pro: www.printtopro.com

The Plot Abides: www.theplotabides.com

AI Publishing Sentiment Survey

 

If this episode helped you, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with another author. Every share genuinely helps us reach more writers trying to navigate publishing professionally.

#WritingCommunity #BookMarketing #SelfPublishing #AmWriting #AuthorTube #WritingAdvice #IndieAuthor #BookTitles #PublishingTips #Authors #WritersLife #CreativeWriting #BookMarketingTips #ThrillerBooks #AuthorBusiness #Anthropicnews #AIwriting 

Some authors became so focused on “being professional” that they forgot how to actually enjoy writing.
In this episode of Pros Talking Prose, Stacey Smekofske and Troy Lambert tackle burnout, doomscrolling, industry panic, AI fearmongering, and the emotional exhaustion many authors are quietly carrying right now.
We talk honestly about:
• treating your author career like a hobby (in a healthy way)
• why disruption in publishing never lasts forever
• protecting your creativity during difficult seasons
• how to stop tying your self-worth to book sales
• why long-term authors survive by “keeping showing up”
• maintaining joy while still taking your business seriously
If you’re struggling with motivation, discouraged by slow growth, overwhelmed by social media, or simply trying to reconnect with WHY you started writing in the first place, this conversation is for you.
Professional doesn’t have to mean miserable.
RESOURCES 
Print to Pro Classes & Webinars:
https://printtopro.com
Fjeldheim Writers Retreat:
FjeldheimWritersRetreat.com
Bonus Episode with Becca Syme & Roland Denzel:
https://youtu.be/CgmV7Dk9Gvc
Becca Syme / Better Faster Academy:
https://betterfasteracademy.com
Join the FREE P2P Author Business Harbor Community on Skool:
https://www.skool.com/p2p-author-business-harbor/about

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorLife #SelfPublishing #WritingTips #IndieAuthor #BookWriting #Publishing #WritersOfYouTube #CreativeBurnout #AuthorBusiness #WritersLife #WritingMotivation #ProsTalkingProse