Brave New Bookshelf Episode 60 – Beyond the Prompt: Exploring Agentic AI in Authorship with Steph Pajonas & Danica Favorite

AI in publishing is no longer just about prompts and rewrites. In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite explore the next phase of AI-assisted authorship: agentic tools, context-aware workflows, and how writers can use AI as a true creative partner rather than a shortcut.

The conversation looks at how AI is shifting from a reactive assistant into an active collaborator, capable of research, organization, and intelligent editorial support, while still leaving creative decisions firmly in human hands.

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Empowerment Over Replacement

Steph Pajonas is the CTO of Future Fiction Academy and Future Fiction Press. She works closely with authors to help them integrate AI into their writing and publishing workflows in practical, ethical, and sustainable ways.

Danica Favorite is the Community Manager at PublishDrive, where she supports authors across every stage of the publishing journey, from AI-assisted covers and metadata to manuscript preparation and global distribution.

Together, Steph and Danica bring both technical depth and real-world publishing experience to the discussion, offering a grounded view of where AI fits into modern authorship.

The Rise of Agentic AI Tools

Steph and Danica discuss how AI tools are becoming increasingly agentic, meaning they can take initiative and complete multi-step tasks with minimal guidance.

Danica shares her experience with Notion AI, which can now generate entire writing hubs complete with pages, structure, and workflows from a single prompt. Steph expands on this by explaining how these tools can reference uploaded documents, making precise, context-aware edits rather than broad rewrites.

The focus is moving away from rewriting text and toward making targeted improvements that preserve an author’s voice, tone, and intent.

Vibe Coding and Context-Driven Writing

The conversation introduces the idea of “vibe coding,” a concept borrowed from software development where creators describe what they want to achieve rather than outlining every step.

Steph explains how this approach is now being applied to writing tools, allowing authors to ask AI to research topics, analyze markets, or create outlines using general direction instead of rigid instructions.

She highlights Google’s Antigravity, an IDE originally built for coding that is now being used for writing. By uploading existing chapters or series files, authors can ask the AI to generate new content while maintaining narrative consistency and contextual awareness.

Danica shares a practical example of using Antigravity to research and plot an octopus romance novel. The tool quickly gathered market data and identified popular tropes, while the final creative direction remained driven by the author’s taste and judgment.

Favorite AI Tools and Workflows

Steph and Danica share the tools they rely on most for AI-assisted writing and publishing:

• Antigravity for agentic workflows, research, and file-aware writing
• Notion AI for brainstorming, organization, and context-based editing
• Gemini for general conversation and ideation
• Typing Mind for focused business and work-related tasks

Their advice is to understand each tool’s strengths and use them intentionally, rather than searching for a single all-purpose solution.

Progress Over Perfection

Both Steph and Danica reflect on personal challenges that temporarily pulled them away from creative work, including grief and major life changes. They discuss how those experiences reshaped their relationship with productivity and long-term goals.

They encourage authors to prioritize progress over perfection, work with their natural energy rhythms, and allow themselves breaks when needed. AI tools continue to improve rapidly, and there is no disadvantage to starting when it feels sustainable.

Resources for AI-Focused Authors

Steph recommends The Creative Penn Podcast as a long-standing resource for authors exploring AI and publishing. She also points listeners toward Future Fiction Academy, including its educational programs and the AI Writing for Authors Facebook group.

Steph and Danica discuss the broader shift from what was once described as a flood of low-quality AI content toward a rising standard of excellence, driven by authors who are learning how to use these tools thoughtfully.

Debunking the “Easy Button” Myth

The episode challenges the idea that AI provides an instant path to publishing success. Steph and Danica emphasize that strong stories still require craft, taste, and revision.

While some tools streamline workflows, those tools exist because of intentional design and deep understanding of the creative process. Authors are encouraged to be skeptical of platforms promising effortless results without requiring critical thinking or skill.

Key Takeaways

• AI writing tools are becoming agentic and context-aware
• Vibe coding principles are shaping modern writing workflows
• Tools like Antigravity and Notion AI enable deeper research, organization, and editing
• Progress matters more than perfection
• Learning AI tools is essential for staying competitive in publishing

Resources Mentioned

• Antigravity by Google
• Notion AI
• Gemini by Google
• Typing Mind
• The Creative Penn
• Future Fiction Academy
• YourFirstDraft.ai