Brave New Bookshelf Episode 49: The Art and Science of Writing with AI with Coral Hart from Plot Prose

This week on Brave New Bookshelf, we sat down with Coral Hart, an author who has spent the past 15 years exploring nearly every corner of the publishing world. Known for her holistic, hands-on approach to authorship, Coral has embraced both traditional and indie publishing, built careers under multiple pen names, and guided countless new writers through the process. Now, she’s sharing how AI is transforming the way authors can write, publish, and grow sustainable careers.

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Who Is Coral Hart?

Coral Hart (a pen name she stumbled into by accident) has worn many hats—author, editor, cover designer, and mentor. Her background spans traditional, indie, and hybrid publishing, giving her a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed as an author today.

What sets Coral apart is her holistic view of authorship: she teaches not just the craft of writing, but also marketing, brand-building, and the importance of maintaining author well-being.

Her mindset? Technology is here to stay—so why not learn to use it? When AI tools started gaining traction, Coral challenged herself to earn six figures in a year with AI-assisted pen names—without spending a dime on ads.

Why Coral Embraced AI

Coral didn’t shy away from the disruption AI was causing. Instead, she leaned in, spending three months experimenting with different tools to increase her output while maintaining quality.

The results?

• Multiple five-figure months

• A growing list of AI-assisted pen names

• A streamlined workflow that frees her up to focus on storytelling and strategy

Her story proves that AI doesn’t replace creativity—it amplifies it.

Writing Fast (and Well) with AI

Coral’s process combines structure with speed:

1. Minimalist Outlines – She creates simple but effective frameworks.

2. AI Drafting – Tools like Claude handle the first pass of the manuscript.

3. Editing Tools – ProWritingAid and Marlowe help polish drafts.

4. Final Touches – Coral steps in to refine voice, style, and depth.

With this system, she’s able to outline a series and draft several books in a single week. The key, she says, is to treat AI as a collaborative partner, not a replacement.

From Pen Names to Publishing Strategy

Beyond her own career, Coral runs the Launch Pad program, helping authors move from writing to publishing with confidence. The program covers:

• Building a market-ready brand

• Developing rapid-release schedules

• Using pre-orders strategically

• Expanding into translations and audio for additional revenue

Her message is clear: publishing success is about strategy as much as it is about creativity.

Coral’s Favorite Tools

• Claude – Drafting and writing

• ChatGPT – Creative brainstorming

• ProWritingAid – Line editing and polishing

• Marlowe – Developmental editing

• AuthorScale – Marketing content creation (great for TikToks)

• Ideogram – Cover design and creative inspiration

Key Lessons from Coral Hart

• AI is an asset, not a threat. Use it to enhance creativity and efficiency.

• Action beats perfection. Publish, learn, refine, repeat.

• Think like a business. Build a recognizable brand and meet reader demand.

• Find your tribe. Community is a powerful force for growth.

• Never stop learning. The publishing world evolves—authors must evolve too.