Strategies Expanded and Translations Discussed in Episode 37 of Brave New Bookshelf with Monica Leonelle, the Writer MBA
In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, authors Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite sat down with Monica Leonelle, a prolific author, innovator, and co-founder of Writer MBA. Focusing on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the publishing sector, Monica shared her wealth of knowledge and forward-thinking strategies.
Listeners can access this enlightening podcast on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and via the RSS feed.
Monica began her independent publishing career in 2009, quickly carving out a niche for herself in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Her preferred subjects include fantasy, romance for fiction and publishing education for non-fiction. From early experiments with dictation to promoting wide distribution before it became trendy, Monica has consistently been at the forefront of the publishing industry.
Together with her partner Russell Nohelty, Monica co-founded Writer MBA, a platform intended to empower authors with practical knowledge about crowdfunding, direct sales, serialization, and now, AI. According to Monica, the aim of Writer MBA has always been to enable writers who wish to make a meaningful impact on the industry.
A significant aspect of Monica's work is her commitment to fostering open conversations about cutting-edge technologies. During the latest Writer MBA conference, she facilitated discussions on various topics, including AI-generated covers, real-time novella creation, and the use of AI tools like Plotdrive. These conversations were intended to encourage exploration without encouraging fear or stigma.
One session demonstrated the full AI-assisted writing process, revealing the significant potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) in supporting creative work without diminishing the human touch.
Initially hesitant about AI, Monica began experimenting with private communities, discovering that many authors were already quietly using AI tools. Her turning point came when she joined the Future Fiction Academy and was advised to focus on finding one area in her process where she was struggling and using AI to alleviate that struggle.
Monica began using AI for outlining and transcription and gradually expanded its use into areas like drafting and editing. For non-fiction work, she now relies on ChatGPT as an essential tool in her workflow, particularly for transforming raw transcripts into polished drafts. This evolving use of AI is indicative of its potential to amplify an author's voice rather than replace it.
Another intriguing insight from the discussion revolved around Monica's personal use of AI as a spiritual companion. She has trained ChatGPT using her own six spirituality books, allowing it to serve as a kind of personalized spiritual coach. This approach not only aids in the processing of complex ideas but also opens up the possibility of author-specific chatbots that can provide real-time advice based on an author's entire body of work.
Translations represent the next major frontier in publishing, according to Monica. By facilitating international distribution and adopting AI-powered translation tools, authors can now reach a global audience more effectively than ever before.
"Translations are going to be a gateway drug," added Steph Pajonas during the episode. "Once authors see what AI can do here, they'll be curious to try it elsewhere too."
For authors looking to capitalize on the potential of AI, Brave New Bookshelf's publishing assistant offers an AI-powered tool designed to support them throughout their self-publishing journey, from manuscript to marketplace.
Monica's engagement with AI is a powerful reminder that with curiosity, creativity, and the right tools, authors can not only keep pace with a changing industry but lead it. For more insights from this episode, visit the Brave New Bookshelf podcast website.
- Monica Leonelle, in the podcast episode of Brave New Bookshelf, discussed the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the publishing sector, focusing especially on its growing use in authoring, editing, and translation.
- Alongside her partner Russell Nohelty, Monica co-founded Writer MBA, a platform dedicated to empowering authors with practical knowledge about AI - a tool that she now considers crucial for her non-fiction work, notably in polishing dusty transcripts into polished drafts.
- Recognizing AI's potential to amplify an author's voice rather than replace it, Monica has also adopted AI as a spiritual companion, training it on her spiritual books to serve as a personalized spiritual coach - a unique approach that opens up the possibility of author-specific chatbots that offer real-time advice based on an author's entire body of work.
