How Self-Publishing Authors Can Use AI as a Personal Assistant
Save time, write faster, and grow your side hustle with the best AI tools for writers.
For many self-publishing authors, writing books is a side hustle squeezed between family, work, and daily responsibilities.
The dream of building a publishing business is real, but the challenge lies in balancing creativity with marketing, editing, and productivity. That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) steps in.
Instead of trying to do it all alone, AI can act as your personal assistant—streamlining your workflow, saving you hours of time, and helping you publish more books with less stress.
AI Helps Self-Publishing Authors Write Faster
Writer’s block can kill momentum. AI tools can generate book ideas, create chapter outlines, and draft sections of your manuscript in minutes. For authors balancing a side hustle, this is game-changing. You don’t have to start from scratch—you can let AI create a rough draft, then focus on editing and infusing it with your unique voice.
Use AI for Editing and Proofreading
A polished manuscript is critical for self-publishing success. While professional editors are essential, AI grammar checkers and style assistants can clean up your writing before you send it off. They catch spelling errors, flag weak sentences, and even suggest improvements to clarity and flow. This reduces editing costs and speeds up the publishing process.
AI Research Tools Save Time for Authors
Whether you’re writing nonfiction or fiction, research can be a time sink. AI tools can summarize articles, gather key facts, and even suggest citations. Instead of reading through endless sources, you can get quick insights that keep your book accurate and well-informed. For busy authors, this means more time writing and less time digging.
AI for Book Marketing and Promotion
Publishing the book is just the beginning—marketing makes the difference. AI can write compelling book descriptions, generate keyword-rich blog posts, and create engaging social media content. You can even use AI to test different versions of ad copy before running campaigns. This ensures your book gets noticed without wasting money on trial and error.
AI Keeps Side-Hustle Authors Organized
Time management is one of the hardest parts of being a self-publishing side hustler. AI project management tools can track your progress, remind you of deadlines, and suggest next steps. Imagine an assistant that nudges you to prep your book launch email the moment you finish editing—it keeps you moving forward without feeling overwhelmed.
Best AI Tools for Self-Publishing Authors
If you’re ready to put artificial intelligence to work in your side hustle, here are some of the best AI tools for self-publishing authors to save time and boost results:
ChatGPT (Writing & Brainstorming): Great for drafting, outlining, and generating creative ideas.
Grammarly (Editing & Proofreading): Polishes grammar, tone, and clarity before professional editing.
Sudowrite (Creative Writing Support): Helps fiction authors expand dialogue, scenes, and descriptions.
Claude AI (Research & Summarization): Perfect for nonfiction authors who need concise notes fast.
Canva with AI Tools (Marketing & Design): Generates book covers, ads, and social media graphics.
Notion AI (Organization & Productivity): Tracks projects, deadlines, and automates your workflow.
Book Brush (Book Promotion): Creates 3D mockups, ads, and branded visuals for book launches.
These tools cover every stage of self-publishing—from writing and editing to marketing and promotion. Even if you only adopt one, the time savings add up quickly.
Final Thoughts: AI as the Future of Self-Publishing
Artificial intelligence won’t replace your creativity—it enhances it. By letting AI handle repetitive tasks, you can focus on storytelling, building an audience, and growing your publishing side hustle into a full-time income.
If you’re a self-publishing author, don’t ignore AI. Start with one tool—whether for writing, editing, or marketing—and watch how much faster your publishing journey becomes.
Don’t wait any longer! Write and publish your book this year!
Get started with this free resources: The Self-Publishing Author’s Checklist
Hi! I’m J.R. Heimbigner. I’m a #1 bestseller on Amazon and I have written & published 20 books (bookstore). I’d like to connect with you in one of three ways:
Check out my best article of all time: How to Self-Publish a Bestselling Book (Even If You Have No Audience)
Learn how to write & publish your bestseller before the end of the year with The Minimalist Author Way Guide.
Or start smaller with the 7-Day Mini Book Challenge!
I look forward to connecting with you and can’t wait to read your book!