Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra charge to you).

My recent newsletter subscriber survey revealed that many authors struggle with the technology required to succeed as a writer today.

For example, I know from that survey and one-on-one conversations that the technology involved with starting an email list and newsletter is a roadblock for many.

I also know from my own experience that you can incorporate technology into your workflow without (a) understanding how it works, (b) setting up the helpful systems yourself, and (c) your head exploding.

6 ways to tackle author technophobia

It’s important to keep those three points in mind because it’s hard to accomplish what you need to without using today’s tech tools and resources.

I realize that tech intimidates those of us who aren’t what marketers call “digital natives.” I don’t want that to stop you, though.

Here are six ways to go over, under, or around those tech roadblocks holding you back.

1. Pay somebody to do it for you.

Designing a website is above my paygrade, so I paid a pro to redesign and update mine at the end of last year. And I’ve worked with a talented, younger-than-me, tech-savvy virtual assistant for years.

That’s because I don’t have the time for or interest in learning how to do everything involved with certain aspects of authorship and running a business.  

So, helping someone else earn a living by doing what they do best lets me focus on what I do best.

Not everybody is able to pay for help on an ongoing basis, though. Even so, it’s often affordable as a one-time “let’s get you up and running” option.

So where do you find someone?

Here are a few ideas:

• Stop by the Geek Squad counter at Best Buy and ask if anyone moonlights.
• Network among friends and family.
• Contact the career services department at a local college or university.
• Contact a technology instructor at a local community college.
• Ask for referrals in online author groups.
• Ask a specific software provider (such as what you’ve decided to use for email marketing) for a list of recommended set-up service providers.

2. Take a course.

I pay for courses on very specific aspects of how to do something, rather than larger, more universal topics. (Think “how to get your book set up on KDP” versus “how to self-publish a book.”)

I use a three-step process to find trainers I can trust to teach me about a technology topic I want to learn about:

1. Sign up for newsletters from people who seem to know a lot about it.
2. Read the newsletters to see if my instincts are correct.
3. If the person knows their stuff and communicates it clearly to non-techies like me, I’ll buy a course that walks me through what I want to learn.

If learning by taking a course appeals to you, online course marketplace Udemy is a great resource (I only buy courses there when they’re on sale).

Don’t overlook in-person courses at community colleges or adult learning centers for help with author technophobia, either. Public libraries and community centers often offer tech classes, as well.

The trick is finding something affordable. But that’s possible, especially when you look beyond the “author-advice” world for them.

3. Purchase “plug and play” software and other tools.

One reason so many of you took advantage of the MockupShots sale was because you could see that it’s so easy to use.

“Easy-to-use” is why AI (artificial intelligence) tools are so popular with authors and others now, too.

Once you learn how to ask questions that generate the results you want, AI technology can work hard for you as a writer’s assistant. (Not sure how to ask the right questions? There are online tutorials and courses for that.)

4. Join online author groups and ask targeted questions about specific author technophobia challenges.

There are lots and lots of author how-to groups on Facebook with smart, experienced members who are happy to share what they’ve learned – within reason.

“Within reason” means asking “Can anyone refer me to an affordable resource for learning how to use Canva?” rather than, “Can anyone show me how to create a social media image on Canva?”

Questions that are too broad yield too few answers. Instead, zero in on a specific aspect of the broader topic that confuses you the most, or that you can’t seem to find information for online.

5. Watch tutorials on YouTube.

I can’t tell you how many times YouTube videos have shown me how to tackle tech problems.

It’s most helpful when you’ve got the tutorial on one screen – your smartphone or tablet, for example – and the problem you’re dealing with on another, such as your computer screen. Then you’re not switching between YouTube on a browser tab and the problem on the program you’re using.

6. Hire a coach.

Sometimes all you need is someone sitting next to you showing you how to do it.

Want help figuring out social media or making the most of your smartphone? Call the guidance office at the local high school for suggestions about who might be open to helping.

You can also find a coach using the resources detailed above in the first tip above, “1. Pay somebody to do it for you.”

If I can do it, so can you!

I know you can conquer your author technophobia and overcome many of your tech obstacles. You just need to believe that as much as I do.

I tackle my tech intimidation the same way I tackled childbirth.

I was terrified of the pain I might experience during labor and delivery.

I got over it by looking at all the mothers around me – in supermarkets, at the mall, in my friend circles. I told myself that if all these women and all the other mothers on the planet could survive childbirth, so could I.

And I did. Twice.

You can overcome author technophobia, too. You just have to want to. And you must believe that you are just as capable as anyone else who is already doing it.

Because you are.

Take this challenge: If you feel like a lack of tech know-how is holding you back, select one of these six tactics to try today. Which one will it be? Tell us in a comment!

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra charge to you).

You’ve probably heard lots of chatter about artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools recently. ChatGPT from OpenAI is getting the most attention, and not all of it is good.

Users have documented problems that include capacity issues (you can’t always use it when you need to) and inaccurate information. Inaccuracy isn’t unique to this resource, though – it’s something to watch out for with all AI tools.

People are also concerned about bias picked up from information fed into the system and copyright issues.

QuickWrite and copyright

As a writer, I worry about copyright violations, too. So, before I started using and recommending QuickWrite, an AI tool created specifically for authors, I asked C.J. McDaniel, the tool’s creator, about copyright and plagiarism issues.

Here’s what he told me:

“First, the content being generated is original, and the algorithms & AI do not copy information. They generate responses to your queries. Our AI engine has been trained on billions of words of content to give it its wealth of context and knowledge and to train it in how humans communicate. So the information you receive back will be original to you; even if someone else gave it the exact same information, they would still get different results.

“But taking that a step further, some of the things you can do to make sure that someone else doesn’t have the same content are the things that I believe we authors already naturally do. This includes things like making sure we give it original commands and then do edits or add expertise, knowledge, or creativity to further flesh out what is given.

“QuickWrite comes up super clean on all the plagiarism checkers we have tested and anything we have seen is always common phrases that authors would use anyway. On our plagiarism checks, we haven’t seen anything come even close to that 25% duplicate content that Google uses as its standard for duplicate content.”

My QuickWrite review starts with firsthand experience

With my copyright question out of the way, I first used QuickWrite to help me write a blog post on how to use YouTube for book marketing. Here’s the process I followed:

1. I asked it to generate book marketing blog post topics.
2. After making a selection, I asked it to outline the article.
3. I then asked it to write each section of the outline, one section at a time (because that’s how the tool works).
4. As I worked, I copied and pasted each section into the text editing box until I had an AI-generated draft.

It would have taken me several hours to write that draft. QuickWrite produced it in about 15 minutes.

I spent time removing repetitious content, editing the text so it was more my style and less generic, and adding my stories and anecdotes.

But wow – this was a timesaver! That’s just one reason I wanted to write this QuickWrite review for you.

QuickWrite is a writer’s assistant

Think of QuickWrite as a writer’s assistant, not as a writer that replaces you. You wouldn’t use it to write a book (um, right?). But you can use it to brainstorm titles and character names, write book descriptions, and even write the email announcing your book.

via GIPHY

Artificial intelligence tools give you a starting point, not a finished product.

Completing an AI-developed project involves fact-checking nonfiction details, too. My bio is a good example of that. My QuickWrite-generated bio wasn’t accurate and neither was ChatGPT’s.

The lesson here? Write your own bio! (And do some fact-checking.)

QuickWrite was created for authors

The genius of QuickWrite is that C.J. McDaniel (the whiz behind MockupShots) created it specifically for authors. You won’t be tempted to waste time asking the software to solve math problems, write code, or find recipes.

And to make it as easy as possible to use, there are separate “task” sections for fiction and nonfiction and another for marketing-type writing.

You get access to all of it, making it especially useful to authors who write both fiction and nonfiction.

What can it do for you?

Save hours and hours of time with your creative process by using QuickWrite to:

• Develop well-rounded characters with backstories
• Master world-building that complements your storyline in seconds
• Get original scenarios that provide multiple options so you can create better stories
• Reduce research time with access to a vast pool of data and ideas for key elements and items for your book
• Craft a compelling email with the click of a button
• Create a nonfiction book title
• Write sales copy for your book with ease
• Create social media content for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn articles
• Generate genre-specific blog content you can use to get traffic to your website or blog
• Create images
• Translate text (but I haven’t tested this)

Watch our videos to see how it works

After using this for the first time late last year, I created a short demo video to show authors what it can do, and how easy it is to use. (Note that it’s not a QuickWrite review — it’s a how-to demonstration.)

There are demo videos on the product sales pages, too. They’re more in-depth than mine, so be sure to watch them. You can get to the fiction demo here and the nonfiction video here.

Speaking of videos, I’ve been able to figure out how to do most tasks, but when I’ve been stumped, I’ve turned to the training videos in my QuickWrite account. That instant help makes a difference

Authors love QuickWrite

I love this tool – but don’t take my word for it.

I’ve received several testimonials from authors who purchased it on my recommendation. One told me:

“One particularly good aspect I found is generating character names. It saves trawling phone directories or googling to find suitable names for characters, and it appears to do it for any country. As I get used to it, I’m sure I’ll find a lot more to assist me. Thanks for introducing me to this software.”

And here’s another:

“Just wanted to THANK YOU for this QuickWrite info….. I’m stunned at how fabulous it is… actually makes me giggle out loud at how fast AI can come with plots, descriptions, etc. that would have taken me hours. Maybe days. Or even NEVER have thought of! Brilliant.”

No waiting

I especially appreciate that I have unlimited access to the tool – there are no restrictions. I’ve had to wait to use ChatGPT a few times and while that’s not the biggest problem in my life, it makes a big difference for me to have my tools available when I need them.

And, while you can’t try it before buying, you get a 30-day, money-back guarantee. That means you risk nothing when you purchase and try it.

Get special pricing

To use most AI tools like this, you have to buy “credits” to generate content. With my QuickWrite affiliate link, though, you can get lifetime, unlimited access for a one-time fee of $197 until June 16.

On that date, the price with my affiliate link increases to $297, which is still a better deal than what you’ll pay without my link.

Anyone without an affililate link pays either $49.99/month or $497 for lifetime access.

Not for purists

Obviously, I’m an enthusiastic user. And my QuickWrite review is an honest one. It’s a good fit for me, but whether you can benefit from its power depends in part on how you like to create and write.

One author told me that she is a purist who would be uncomfortable using a tool like this as part of her creative process. Others appreciate its ability to do certain writerly tasks frees them up to be even more creative with their writing.

I’m old-school with certain things, too, but I’m also a fan of anything affordable that does a good job of saving me time. This is one of them.

Ask me questions about my QuickWrite review!

What have I missed in this QuickWrite review? If I haven’t answered all of your questions, please ask them here or in an email.  If I can’t answer them, I’ll turn to someone who can.

Which AI tools have you tried? Do you like them? Please tell us in a comment.

Book promotion quote graphics – also known as “image quotes” and “quote cards” – are social media images that excerpt praise about your book from:

• Book blurbs (testimonials and endorsements)
• Reader reviews (with permission)
• The book’s contents

You create these graphics to show that your book is respected by influencers and readers, or to give a small, intriguing sample of the book’s content.

Easy to create and share, they let you use other people’s words to say, “People like my book, so you will, too.” (Which is way classier than using your own words.)

What do book promotion quote graphics look like?

You can use a number of different approaches or treatments, but simple works best. Here are a couple of examples from major publishers for books you might recognize. (Click on the image to see the examples in a larger format.)

You’ll see that only one of these three includes the title. I pulled each from their book’s Amazon sales page, so in that situation, there’s no question about the book title.

I prefer to create them so that they stand alone anywhere, even without an explanatory post accompanying the image. To do that, you’ll want to include the title in the image.

A note about permissions

As you think about how you might duplicate what the big publishers are doing in those examples, keep in mind that Amazon requires authors to get permission from the reader to excerpt reader reviews on that platform. This is because the reviewer owns the review copyright.

To be safe, apply that permission policy to reader reviews from any other retail site or platform, too, including Goodreads.

By definition, you’re allowed to use anything from pre-publication testimonials and literary/trade/media reviews in quote cards and other book promotion materials.

How do you create them?

My favorite tool for creating social media images like these is Canva. I used it to create these promotional quote graphics for the Build Book Buzz Reader Book Review Forms. (Click on the image  to see the examples in a larger format.)

Online tools that are similar to Canva include:

• Stencil
• Snappa
• Quozio

I gave the MockupShots image generator a try, too. MockupShots incorporates your book cover into hundreds of backgrounds, so with that tool, your book cover will always be in the image.

I’m not sure how I feel about including the book cover, though. What do you think of this one I created for my e-book with MockupShots?

Design tips

As you use any of these tools, work to keep it simple. Less is more (which is why I’m on the fence about the image that includes my book cover).

Be consistent with your quote images by using the same or similar templates for all book promotion quote graphics. For example, if you’re creating three for your newest book, all three should look similar for branding reasons.

Speaking of branding, be certain to incorporate book cover imagery and/or colors into your quote card.

To make sure your image has your cover colors, use the free Eye Dropper tool for color matching. Get instructions and a demo video in my article, “How to use Eye Dropper for consistent author branding colors.”

Using book promotion quote graphics

There are a number of ways you can use and share your quote cards. Here are just a few; I’m sure you can think of more.

• Share on social media with appropriate text and a purchase link in the accompanying post.
• Add to your author website.
• Distribute to your launch team to share with their networks

Don’t miss this easy opportunity to make the most of endorsements, reviews, and pithy gems from your book. You might even have fun with it!

What are other uses for book promotion quote graphics? How have you used them for your book?