Vibe coding, no code, low code—whatever you want to call it, the future of building things without laboriously hammering out lines of code is growing up fast. One minute you’re reading about “citizen developers” in corporate handbooks, the next you’re scanning app catalogs of robust, full-featured no-code tools that promise drag-and-drop magic. It’s all a […]| Creativindie
I keep seeing people talking about how their translations are making them a ton of money, and I want in. The challenge is, it’s time-consuming. After a lot of research, Claude 3.7 seems the b…| Creativindie
Something I noticed recently, is just how much of the internet is shit. People talk about “AI slop” specifically, but most online blogs and websites have always been crap, and there’s a reason. Once people start getting traffic, it’s too easy to focus on the money. How do I get MORE traffic; how do I […]| Creativindie
Why You Need a Single “Universal” Link There’s no bigger momentum-killer than forcing potential readers to sift through a dozen different URLs in your tweet, Facebook post, or email. Even the simplest call-to-action—“Buy my book!”—can get tangled when you’re juggling Amazon.com, Amazon UK, Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, plus whatever else is […]| Creativindie
We’re overworked, under-resourced, and running on empty while the world demands more and more. No wonder we need new language for the new emotions and shared experiences we can barely describe. These are feelings people may be experiencing, and feelings are valid—and no amount of logic or dismissive commentary can explain them away. The emotions […]| Creativindie
Attending writing conferences and retreats can significantly enhance your craft, provide valuable industry insights, and expand your professional network. Here’s an extensive list of notable events tailored for authors: 1. Author Nation Conference 2. Novelists, Inc. (NINC) Conference 3. Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference 4. San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival 5. Association […]| Creativindie
My parents changed homes while I was abroad, and this Thanksgiving was the first in the cozy but foreign edifice that cradles our family heritage, such that it is. Despite my best efforts, far too …| Creativindie
Black Friday is the perfect time for authors and writers to snag incredible deals on writing software, tools, courses, and even professional services. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just…| Creativindie
When I first started publishing, social media was still exciting and a lot of authors attempted to grow their platform by spamming or abusing the platforms. This is still mostly true, even though marketing has changed in the past decade… and even more in the past 3 years. But new authors, inevitably, continue to make […]| Creativindie
BRILLIANT! Positively BRILLIANT. Most comprehensive outline I’ve ever seen anywhere. Thank you Derek! A few years ago I made the Plot Dot (now free on Amazon!) – my simple 8-point novel writing template, with the major dramatic twists most stories need to hit. I always wanted a more in-depth book outline and plotting cheatsheet, but […]| Creativindie
Traditionally, if you want strong interesting characters, you might use a worksheet or checklist to flesh out their personality. Down below I’ve added a list of 140 personality traits, but they’re a bit simple. So I’d like to suggest something else. AI writing tools like GPT3 are pretty good at brainstorming ideas with the right […]| Creativindie
In 1953, Roald Dahl wrote a short story about an AI Writing tool called The Great Automatic Grammatizator. It used to be the stuff of impossible fiction, but in AI writing tools are here for real, and they’re probably already better than you expect. Dahl’s story is dystopian, and ends with creative writers signing away […]| Creativindie
I wasn’t planning to jump into this topic, though it’s been on my mind for a year or two at least and I’ve watched other authors get ahead quickly, by offering direct audiobooks on YouTube or other ebook platforms. Basically, hiring a professional narrator through ACX to narrate your book costs an average of $150 […]| Creativindie
The Battle Between Hero and Villain: How Understanding Your Antagonist Can Make or Break Your Story| Creativindie
I’ve been playing around with ChatGPT and AI writing tools for the last 2 years. It’s grown impressively since my early test, and though it can’t quite write a whole book by itself (yet), tools like SudoWrite and NovelCrafter do make it a lot easier, by keeping track of your characters, scene and writing style. […]| Creativindie
I refuse to believe anybody actually reads my blog, so I use it as a space to declare intentions and organize my thoughts. Recently, I asked my audience about whether they’d like some kind of online summer writing camp or workshop and what I should focus on – that gave me some clarity on my […]| Creativindie
I’m just sharing these AI images for fun, because I went down a rabbit hole one night and generated a ton of fancy artwork I thought would look good printed out on large canvases. It’s a proof of concept, to see what can be achieved with AI image generators. But a question I keep seeing […]| Creativindie
I’ve talked a ton about editing over the years but it can be tricky to find all of the specific writing advice I’ve created to help writers improve their manuscript, so I made a quick v…| Creativindie
In my early 20’s, after exploring Europe and South America, I felt drawn to Asia – at that time, English schools paid recruiters to seduce foreigners to small town schools overseas. I&#…| Creativindie
Over the past decade, I’ve made about half a million bucks online. That sounds like a lot, but it works out to around $50,000 a year and half of it goes into sustaining my online platform, so not great income, but I am making a living with my creative projects. However, though I have hit […]| Creativindie