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How I am writing one novel using 100% AI

And another using only a tiny bit of AI.

Author

Teddy Smith
June 13, 2025

Hey there!

This week I’ve been writing a romance novel – but not for publishing (yet). I’m using it as a reader magnet to grow my email list on BookFunnel for My Romance Reads. And I did it in 2 days using 100% AI. Now I wouldn’t usually do this, but it is for a free reader magnet experiment, so I thought I would give it a go.

Plus:
🎙 A new episode on the biggest mistake authors make when launching
🎙 Another on how Daniel Hurst wrote 75+ books and escaped the 9–5
✍️ My take on Sudowrite and writing a novel with AI

Let’s dive in.

📣 But First: Want More Book Sales?

The Future of Book Marketing Summit (June 19–21) is free to attend and packed with strategies to help you grow your audience, visibility, and yes—actual book sales. It is more specifically aimed at non fiction writers, but the speaker list is incredible. Julie Borad, Dale Roberts, Dave Chesson and loads more. A lot of the content is around marketing, especially with AI, and if you are stuck on marketing or Ads aren’t working for you, then you should attend. Also the videos are recorded so you can watch them after!

📬 Personal Update: My Sudowrite Experiment

So I’ve been writing this reader magnet—a short novel to give away on BookFunnel in exchange for email signups. And I decided to test out Sudowrite.

Verdict? Surprisingly easy. It’s not going to win a Booker Prize on its own, but as a way to get a solid first draft? Definitely worth a go.

Here’s how I combined it with ChatGPT:

  1. Brainstorm the idea with ChatGPT – “What’s a fun premise for a steamy small-town romance?”

  2. Brain dump all the scenes and ideas I had into Sudowrite’s canvas.

  3. Develop the characters with backstories, motivations, and conflicts.

  4. Build the world – setting details, locations, side characters.

  5. Outline the plot, then let Sudowrite help write messy scenes.

  6. Edit later with a human brain. (Critical step. Very critical.)

It won’t replace my creativity, but it made the early drafting stage a lot smoother. And I’m now one step closer to a juicy new reader magnet.

The book is called The Secrets of Blackthorn, and it is a romance novel set in Yorkshire with 2 main characters. One is a witch and one is a scientist, and together they are trying to solve a magical mystery, whilst falling in love. It was really fun to write!

I did it nearly entirely with AI, as it is for a reader magnet. But I will use Sudowrite when I write the novel I am planning next. If you would like to see a video of how exactly I used Sudowrite, respond to this email and if I get enough takers I will do a special YouTube live for you.

Of course I will share with you exactly how the promotion of the reader magnet goes, I will give stats for bookclicker and bookfunnel next week.

🎙 This Week on The Publishing Performance Show

Julie Broad: The Fatal Mistake That Kills 90% of Book Launches
Listen on Apple Podcasts »

Julie Broad from Book Launchers joined me to chat about book marketing—and dropped this bombshell:

“Most authors wait until the book is finished to start marketing. That’s too late.”

Marketing starts the moment you decide to write the book.
We also talked about the upcoming Future of Book Marketing Summit, launching June 19–21.

🎙 Daniel Hurst: From Office Worker to 75+ Books

This has been one of my most successful podcasts in the first week, so it is a great episode to listen to. Especially if you want to learn how to write a book really fast. Daniel Hurst doesn’t know how many books he’s written… because he’s lost count. Somewhere in the mid-70s.

We talked about:

  • How he went from the 9–5 grind to full-time author

  • How fast he writes (it’s wild)

  • Translation deals, marketing, and building a loyal audience

It’s the kind of chat that makes you want to open a fresh Google Doc immediately. Or maybe even open a Sudowrite account.

Teddy’s Book Club - Free Book of the Week 📚

This gripping historical thriller drops you right into the heart of ancient Jerusalem—a city on the brink of collapse, torn apart by politics, religion, and war.

The Last Disciple follows the journey of a man wrestling with his faith and caught in the chaos of the first century. As tensions rise and rebellion brews, he’s forced to make impossible choices that could change the course of history.

If you love fast-paced stories with rich historical detail and characters who feel real, this one’s for you.

A quick ask from me, if you haven’t already, please follow the podcast and also subscribe to my Youtube channel. It really helps the reach massively!

Until next week,
Teddy
@teddyagsmith on all the socials