How Authors Can Use ChatGPT: Your Free 24/7 Intern

Imagine having an assistant who works 24/7, never takes a coffee break, and is ready to help you brainstorm, write, or research — all for free. Getting started with ChatGPT is easy: just open your internet browser, type “ChatGPT” into the search bar (just like you would with Google, Bing, or Yahoo), and click the first link. No apps to download, no tech skills needed. Then, simply type your question or request, and ChatGPT will help.
I’m new to ChatGPT myself—still learning the ropes—but it’s already made writing easier and saved me a lot of time.
Here are five easy wins that boost my productivity and creativity — plus a bonus tip that’s been a game-changer. 
1: Your Title and Subtitle — (Yes, You Need a Subtitle) 
You’ve poured years into researching and writing your family’s incredible immigrant journey. Maybe you wanted to honor your great-great-grandfather, Zdeněk, by naming your book after him. That’s a beautiful tribute — but here’s the truth: no one is searching for a book titled Zdeněk.
Your book may be your soul on paper, but readers won’t find it unless your title and subtitle include searchable keywords. Why? Because Amazon and Google don’t read your entire book — they scan your title, subtitle, and description for the exact words or phrases potential readers type in. A subtitle acts as bonus SEO — more keywords equal more exposure.
A few years ago, I was invited to give a TED Talk in Boston, and I was so worried about the title  that I hired a friend in marketing to help me. It cost $150 and took about a week, but we landed on a title that worked: Finding the Funny in the Crummy. Titles and subtitles are not just creative choices—they're strategic. They’re the magnets for eyeballs.
The good news? Now you have a tool that can help you generate strong titles instantly—and it doesn’t cost a thing.

Speak the Language of Search
Your title and subtitle need to match the language your ideal reader uses. Use the exact words your audience types when looking for books like yours.
How Do We Know Which Search Terms People Are Using?

How would someone searching for an American immigration story find your book — on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or anywhere online? To answer that, ChatGPT analyzed top-performing search terms from Amazon, Google, and other platforms related to immigration and historical fiction.
Readers often search using specific, descriptive phrases like:

• “Czechoslovakia immigration story”
  
• “family legacy immigrant memoir”
  
• “historical fiction about immigration”
  
  

These aren’t just guesses — they’re highly searched, real-world keywords. Including relevant phrases like these in your title, subtitle, or book description increases your chances of showing up in search results. More visibility = more readers.
This Data Helps You Choose the Best Title and Subtitle
ChatGPT pulls from data across the web — including popular search terms and phrases. When you ask it for title and subtitle ideas, it suggests options based on the exact words readers are actively searching for.
For instance, you can ask ChatGPT:
“Help me create a book title and subtitle for a historical fiction novel about a family immigrating from Czechoslovakia to America, focusing on legacy and survival.”
Here are some title and subtitle ideas it might generate:

• “Threads of Hope”
  The Journey of a Czechoslovak Family’s Fight for Legacy and Survival in a New World
  
• “Across the Divide”
  A Family’s Struggle and Strength from Czechoslovakia to America
  
• “Legacy in the Wind”
  One Family’s Fight for Survival and Identity Across Two Continents
  
• “Roots Beyond the Borders”
  The Story of a Czechoslovak Family Building a New Life in America
  
  

ChatGPT’s suggestions aren’t random — they include keywords like “Czechoslovakia,” “immigration,” “family legacy,” and “survival,” reflecting actual search behavior.
Try It Yourself!
Open ChatGPT (preferably in another tab, so you can tap back to this article) and type:
“Give me 5 book title and subtitle ideas for a book about [your topic here].”
Swap in whatever you're writing about — memoir, mystery, history — and see what pops up!

2: Create an Outline to Keep You on Track (For Books, Articles, or Even a Speech)
There’s nothing worse than staring at a blank page, unsure where to start. Often, I just need a rough overview—or frankly, any idea—to get the wheels turning (and to keep me from categorizing my vinyl collection, again). ChatGPT can help you build a structure before you even write your first sentence. Whether you’re working on a book, essay, article, or speech, having a solid outline makes the writing process faster, easier, and a lot less overwhelming, because the most critical part of writing is simply to start. 
For example, you can ask ChatGPT:
“Give me an outline for a 1500-word article about starting over after 50. I want it to be warm, encouraging, and humorous.”
My Results:
Introduction: The Beauty (and Terror) of Midlife Reinvention
Why 50 Is the New 30 (Sort Of)
Lessons From Failure, Freedom from Perfection
The Magic of Saying No (And Yes!)
You’re Not Too Old to Try That Thing
Conclusion: Starting Fresh With a Side of Laughs

You can continue to refine it. For example, I requested that the list be  “funnier” and these are the results:
Introduction: The Beauty (and Terror) of Midlife Reinvention — aka, “Who even am I now?”
Why 50 Is the New 30 (Sort Of) — Spoiler: the hangovers last longer, but the wisdom’s worth it.
Lessons From Failure, Freedom From Perfection — Embracing the glorious mess of being human.
The Magic of Saying No (And Yes!) — Because sometimes saying no is the best yes.
You’re Not Too Old to Try That Thing — Even if “that thing” is finally learning TikTok.
Conclusion: Starting Fresh With a Side of Laughs — Because if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
You can continue to change the tone. I requested that the list be “more formal and academic.”  Results:
The absence of peace within the individual often arises from a confluence of unresolved internal conflicts and persistent cognitive disquietude.

An inquiry into the factors that disrupt inner tranquility reveals a complex interplay between existential concerns and subconscious anxieties.

What fundamentally undermines one’s peace of mind is frequently rooted in the enduring tension between conscious reflection and unresolved psychological dissonance.

The persistent disturbance of mental equilibrium may be attributed to latent conflicts and the ongoing struggle for cognitive coherence.

Understanding the sources of persistent unrest necessitates a rigorous examination of the interplay between conscious awareness and underlying emotional turbulence.
Try It!
Type into ChatGPT:
“Create an outline for a [type of writing: blog, article, book] about [your topic or theme]. Make it [tone: warm, funny, inspiring, etc.].”
See what kind of structure it suggests — and tweak from there.


3: Research So Easy, You’ll Think It’s Magic 
Did you know that most authors spend roughly 20% of their writing time researching? That’s a lot of hours rummaging through web results.
Saving time on research is one of the most appreciated features of ChatGPT. Instead of scrolling endlessly or reading multiple books, ChatGPT can deliver concise, relevant facts in seconds.
Here are some examples of searches you might try: “Give me a line from a Sylvia Plath poem about heartbreak.”
Response:
“I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again. — from Mad Girl’s Love Song”
Search:
“Where is General Patton buried?”
Response:
General George S. Patton’s buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Luxembourg.
Search:
“What were average wages for a laborer in NYC in 1920?”
Response:
In 1920, the average daily wage for a laborer in New York City ranged between $2 and $3, depending on the type of work and skill level.
ChatGPT can also help you find obscure historical details, translate phrases, or suggest metaphors — all in seconds.
Try It Yourself!
Type into ChatGPT:
“Give me 3 interesting facts about [your research topic].”

Why scroll through pages of Google or Yahoo search results when ChatGPT cuts the noise and delivers a straight answer? It’s like having a librarian who’s also your assistant.”


4: Bring Characters to Life — Find the Right Voice and Historical Perspective 
We, as writers, bring different voices and views to life. But do you ever get stuck? What if your story is set in the 1700s, and your character, a peasant, has come face to face with the king? What would their response be based on that era?
You could spend hours reading historic novels or encyclopedias — or you can ask ChatGPT to offer a historic perspective in seconds. This saves time and helps keep your story authentic.
For example, you can ask ChatGPT:
 “What might a 1700s European peasant say if they met a king?”
Response:
“A humble greeting, Your Majesty! May your crops be bountiful and your ale ever flowing. If I may be so bold, could a poor soul like me request a crust of bread or a warm hearth this harsh winter?”
You can ask for a specificc tone.
Search: “Write a dialogue between a 1700s peasant and a king, with a humorous tone.”
Response:
King: “Good day, serf! What news from the village?”
Peasant: “Your Highness, the cows are well fed, the crops look fine, and the taxes are as light as a feather—at least that’s what I tell my wife!”
King: “Taxes light as a feather, you say? I like that phrase. Perhaps I should use it at court!”
Peasant: “Aye, sire. It’s all about optimistic accounting.”

Try It Yourself!
Type into ChatGPT:
“Write a short dialogue in the voice of a [character type] from [time period] reacting to [event].”
Explore different tones — serious, funny, sarcastic — and see what fits your story.
Use ChatGPT to Generate a List of Social Media Prompts About Your Book.
“Give me 3 social media post ideas to promote my book about [your topic].”


5: Social Media & Promotion —  You Don’t Want To But You Have To 
​Getting your work into readers’ hands means promoting it, even if marketing feels like a whole other job. ChatGPT can lighten the load by helping you capture the right tone, generate fresh social media posts, and even suggest ideas for eye-catching graphics to support your book’s launch.
For example, you might search in ChatGPT:
“Give me 3 social media post ideas to promote my book about embracing failure.”
Results:

• Some people collect stamps. I collect awkward moments. Grab the book.
• Read my book so you can say, 'At least I didn’t do THAT.'
• Perfection is a myth. My life? A beautiful mess — with footnotes.

Want something warmer? Search ChatGPT: “Give me 3 warm and encouraging social media posts to promote my book about embracing failure.”
Results:

• This book is your permission slip to laugh at life’s messiest moments.
• You’re not a failure. You’re just in chapter 3 of a great comeback story.
• For anyone who’s stumbled, fumbled, and kept going: this one’s for you.

Try It Yourself!
Search ChatGPT:
“Give me 3 social media post ideas to promote my book about [your topic or theme].”
See what creative posts it suggests, then tweak them to match your voice.
Additional Marketing Searches You Should Try:

• “Give me 10 blog ideas for first-time novelists using humor.”
• “Create a 30-day marketing plan for promoting a new memoir.”
• “Suggest a weekly social media posting schedule for an author.”
• “List 5 podcasts that interview authors about [your genre].”
• “Write a professional email template to pitch my book to book bloggers.”
• “Suggest cover graphic ideas to promote a book about resilience.”

Bonus: Build Your 30-Day Marketing Plan — Slow and Steady Sells the BookMarketing your book is a marathon, not a sprint. Creating a simple, consistent schedule helps you stay visible without becoming overwhelmed.Ask ChatGPT to help you plan a month of marketing activities tailored to your book and style.
For example, you can ask ChatGPT:
“I need a list of ideas of how to promote my bird watching book on social media,”
Results:
Bird Watching Book: Weekly Social Media Plan

• Monday: Share a reader review (#ReviewMonday)
• Tuesday: Post a birding tip or book quote (#TipTuesday)
• Wednesday: Tag influencers or birding groups (#ShoutoutWednesday)
• Thursday: Promote your book club or share behind-the-scenes (#BookClubThursday)
• Friday: Feature a bird species from the book (#FeatureFriday)
  Saturday: Engage followers with questions or challenges (#SocialSaturday)
• Sunday: Share nature photos or mindfulness reflections (#NatureSunday)

Another search: “Who on social media should I reach out to about my bird watching book?”
Results:
Outdoor & Nature Influencers (YouTube/Instagram)

• @BirdNoteOfficial (Instagram & YouTube)
• @BirdWatchingHQ (YouTube)
• @BirdLifeInternational (Instagram)
• @TheBirdersLibrary (Instagram)

Try It Yourself!Search ChatGPT:
“Create a book marketing plan for a [type of book] about [your topic], including social media strategies, outreach tactics, and promotional ideas for both the initial launch and ongoing weekly engagement.”
Wrap-Up
Thanks for reading! I used ChatGPT to help write this article — starting with an outline, then asking it to punch up the section titles, make things funnier, or just get to the point faster. I  use it in my own life for everything from book research to writing thank-you notes to finding recipes. It’s become an invaluable tool, and I hope you’ll give it a try — even if you’re a little hesitant about “AI.” Just type “ChatGPT” into Google, Yahoo, or whatever search engine you use, and you’re off.
I think it’s the best invention since electricity.
If you enjoyed this article, check out my bestselling humor books The Book of Failures and We’re All a Mess, It’s OK — written for anyone who’s ever tripped over their own life and lived to tell about it. You can find them on my Amazon Author Page.
Let’s connect!
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
Catch my show on In The Burbs Facebook, and YouTube.
Or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Thanks for reading — and if nothing else, I hope this saved you from paying your neighbor $150 to name your next project. You're welcome. 😉


25 Ways to Supercharge Your Writing and Marketing with ChatGPT
outlining your idea | creating a beat sheet | beating writer’s block | drafting rough drafts | research planning | historical research | perfecting tone | polishing prose | weaving dialogue | developing plot twists | creating story graphs | refining vocabulary | planning a book launch | drafting media outreach emails | crafting query letters |  designing social media content | building newsletter campaigns | creating press releases | organizing virtual events | boosting online presence | coordinating interviews | engaging with readers | managing promotional giveaways | scheduling posts | optimizing author bios

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