Brave New Bookshelf Episode 33: The Rise of AI in Publishing With Jason Hamilton

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite chat with Jason Hamilton, widely known as The Nerdy Novelist. As a self-published author, YouTuber, and educator, Jason has fully embraced the potential of AI in creative writing. His innovative approach has positioned him as a leading voice in this rapidly evolving space.

Jason shared his inspiring journey, from burnout to building a thriving YouTube channel with over 56,000 subscribers and a successful membership program for authors. His story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of leveraging technology in the publishing world.

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From Burnout to Breakthrough

Jason’s self-publishing journey began in 2017, during which he wrote and released 10–12 books within two years. However, this intense pace led to severe burnout. It wasn’t until 2023, with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and MidJourney, that he rediscovered his passion for writing.

In March 2023, Jason recognized a gap in the market: a lack of resources for authors looking to incorporate AI into their creative process. With just a basic webcam, headset microphone, and free software, he launched a YouTube channel dedicated to demystifying AI’s role in fiction writing. His first video, focusing on ChatGPT’s storytelling capabilities, was shared in the AI Writing for Authors Facebook group, where it received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Fast forward to today: Jason runs one of the largest YouTube channels dedicated to AI for creative writing and leads Story Hacker Gold Membership, a program that helps authors master both AI tools and storytelling craft.

The Evolution of Writing With AI

Jason walked us through his experiences with AI tools. Initially, platforms like Jasper were more suited for web content than fiction writing due to their tendency to generate unreliable information. However, with the advent of ChatGPT-3.5 and later GPT-4, everything changed.

Jason highlighted how:

• Early AI models were useful for brainstorming but required significant editing.
• GPT-4 revolutionized fiction writing with its improved prose generation capabilities.
• Sudowrite’s Muse Model (currently in beta) has become his preferred drafting tool due to its nuanced understanding of pacing, scene structure, and character consistency.

His workflow involves manually outlining his stories (a process he enjoys) and using AI tools to generate prose based on these structured outlines.

The 40 Chapter Plot Module: A Game-Changer for Writers

One of Jason’s most impactful contributions is his 40 Chapter Plot Module, a structured template designed to guide writers through every step of their storytelling journey. Inspired by Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and Story Engineering by Larry Brooks, this framework breaks down story structure into digestible, actionable parts.

While it offers flexibility for merging or expanding scenes, it serves as an excellent foundation for new authors struggling with plot development. Several past podcast guests have praised this resource as instrumental in overcoming writer’s block. In fact, Jason has published a book on this plot module, which has become his best-selling title to date!

Mastering Storytelling With AI

A key theme in our discussion was that AI is a tool, not a replacement for creativity. Jason emphasized that a strong grasp of storytelling fundamentals—such as plot structure, pacing, and character development—is still essential.

Here’s how he integrates AI into his workflow:

• When facing writer’s block, he feeds his plot module template into AI, providing context from previous chapters.
• He uses AI as a brainstorming partner, asking questions like “What should happen next?” rather than expecting a fully polished scene.
• His approach is to let AI assist in areas where he struggles while focusing on the aspects of writing he enjoys, such as world-building and outlining.

AI-Powered Research: A Game-Changer for Authors

Another exciting area Jason explored was the role of deep research tools like Perplexity.ai and Google Gemini Deep Research. These platforms allow authors to conduct thorough, efficient research while citing reliable sources.

For example:

• While researching ancient Egypt for one of his fantasy novels, Jason used Perplexity’s deep research feature to gather historical insights about daily life in 35th-century BC Egypt.
• Unlike traditional search engines, which require sifting through multiple links, these tools provide synthesized, comprehensive summaries while linking back to original sources.
• This ensures accuracy and saves time, an invaluable asset for writers working under deadlines.

Jason’s Favorite AI Tools for Writers

If you’re an author looking to integrate AI into your writing process, here are some of Jason’s top recommendations:

• Sudowrite’s Muse Model – Excellent for drafting fiction due to its nuanced understanding of storytelling.
• Novelcrafter – Ideal for managing expansive fictional universes or tabletop RPG world-building alongside novel-writing.
• Perplexity.ai & Google Gemini Deep Research – Essential for conducting in-depth research with reliable citations.
• Story Hackers Gold Membership – A program designed to help authors refine their craft, publish their books, and master marketing strategies under Jason’s guidance.

Key Takeaways

Here are the key takeaways from Jason’s journey:

• Identify gaps in your workflow where AI can enhance productivity.
• Utilize structured templates like Jason’s 40 Chapter Plot Module to streamline storytelling.
• Remember: AI is a tool, not a substitute for storytelling expertise—learn the craft!
• Explore deep research tools like Perplexity.ai and Google Gemini for accurate, efficient fact-finding.
• Be patient. Success in publishing often feels slow at first but builds over time.

For more insights from this episode, visit the podcast website. And check out Jason Hamilton’s The Nerdy Novelist website and YouTube channel.