10 Non-Slimy Ways Every Indie Author Should Use ChatGPT to Their Advantage

There is a lot of debate going on in the Indie world about the use of ChatGPT. But even if you’re a hesitant skeptic there are ways this A.I. can make your work easier that has nothing to do with allowing it to replace your original writing and thoughts or other things that leave you feeling slimy.

Before we dive into juicy topic, let’s pause for a second to talk about what ChatGPT is in case you are new to this conversation.

What is ChatGPT? (as explained by ChatGPT)

“ChatGPT an AI language model designed to understand and respond to human language. I’m kind of like a virtual assistant that can help you find answers to your questions and provide you with information on a wide range of topics.

In more technical terms, I use a complex technology called "natural language processing" that enables me to understand and generate human-like language. This means that you can ask me just about anything, and I'll do my best to provide you with a helpful and informative response.

So whether you're looking for information on a specific subject, trying to solve a problem, or just want to chat, feel free to ask me anything! I'm here to assist you and provide you with the knowledge and insights you need to succeed.”

To give you a little more insight, the response above would vary based on details and requests provided in the user’s prompt. For instance, you can ask it to provide the information at a certain grade level, in a particular tone, or even in the style of a well know thought leader…and that’s just scratching the surface. This particular explanation was a response to the prompt: Explain ChatGPT in the style of Brene Brown but at an 8th grade level.

The capabilities of this tool are seriously impressive but back to the debate.

Scary Good

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) of all sorts has been cause for concern and debate for years… worries about machines taking our jobs and outsmarting us, and — at the extreme end of things — that it will play out like stories like depicted in the 2004 movie, I, Robot. ChatGPT has escalated this conversation because it’s an incredibly high functioning and rapidly expanding its capabilities.

Here’s my take:

Yes. The technology can be used recklessly and with ill intent; there is light and dark in everything. But for people like us, there are a lot of valuable ways we can use it with integrity, We can collaborate with this tool without giving up our voice… our originality… our creativity… our authenticity.

Sticking our heads in the sand and choosing not to use it won’t stop other people from enjoying its benefits. It’s kinda like a classroom of one hundred students being handed an “easy button” and one student refusing to use it — because they hold a belief that anything worth doing has to be hard.
Shift that scenario to business and books and guess who gets to market most quickly. Without question it’s the ones utilizing the full range of tools available to them.

Regardless of your stance on the A.I. debate, the purpose of this blog is offer more to the conversation… to plant a seed of ways you can utilize ChatGPT as an aid to your work, not as a replacement for it. Look at it like a time creation tool and see how your perspective may change.

Non-Slimy - and Smart - Ways You Can Use ChatGPT As An Indie Author

I’ve been playing around with this tool for a few months and wasn’t fully convinced of it’s value but that recently shifted. After a one hour training session with Chris Winfield of UnderstandingAI.Com it became clear to me that ChatGPT is a huge asset I’ve been underutilizing. Honestly, my mind is a little blown. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of ways that I’ll be able to utilize it — ways that don’t compromise my values.

Here are the first ten powerful uses I’ll offer up as examples:

1. Create a chapter or book summary

2. Find powerful quotes to pull from long articles or books you’ve written

3. Run a prominent word analysis on a piece of your work (think word cloud without the image)

4. Get suggestions for social media content you can create based on a writing sample and/or topics you provide

5. Locate a jumping off point for research references and case study suggestion (think of this like someone pointing you in the right direction.)  

6. Assist with creating book descriptions

7. Gather keyword suggestions for your book’s metadata

8. Outline book comparisons

9. Summarize a body of your work

10. Brainstorm titles for blogs, books, and article

While this list will undoubtedly grow, my hope for now is that this list throws open the doors of possibility, spark ideas and leaves you contemplating ways you can use ChatGPT to enhance your own workflow.

I’ll continue this conversation in the weeks and months ahead with the intention of helping make your writing, launching, and marketing process easier and more efficient, allowing the impact you’ll make in the lives of your future readers happen more quickly.