Will It Sell?
The Working Desk: Testing the Emberborn Trilogy for Marketability
You may have heard people speaking about ‘agentic AI.’ Unless you’re into AI and working with these tools, you probably glossed over it, but agentic AI is the next phase of the AI evolution and represents another paradigm shift in how we do things.
The idea behind agentic AI is to think of AI as ‘agents’ or employees. Each agent has a specific task. When you need that task completed, you hand it off to the respective employee. There is also a concept called MCP, which equips agents with the tools they need to perform their tasks.
In developing my skills, I decided to create a virtual publishing house. I asked the AI to research successful publishing houses, compile a bare-bones list of employees, and write job descriptions for those employees. Then I asked the AI to create personas and prompts based on the job descriptions.
I ended up with a virtual publishing house, consisting of:
Editorial staff (Acquisitions Editor, Developmental Editor, and Copy Chief
Marketing personnel (Senior Publicist and Outreach Specialist, KDP/SEO Specialist)
Production personnel (Art Director, Typesetter)
Writing Staff (Ghostwriter)
Like an actual publishing house, there’s a workflow. The Acquisitions Editor reviews pitches and manuscripts, giving a ‘Buy,’ ‘Revise,’ or ‘Pass’ response (with feedback).
Once a pitch gets approved as a ‘Buy,’ the writing workflow begins. This is a scene-by-scene iteration between me, the ghostwriter, and the Developmental Editor. At the end of each chapter and act, it goes to the Acquisition Editor for validation.
The Production personnel develop the artwork, and the Marketing personnel establish the marketing plan.
I decided to test it against the Emberborn (Root of Memory) trilogy we’ve been working on to determine marketability. There’s no point in spending months on a book—even a good one—if nobody will buy it.
Boy, was I in for a surprise.
End of a Trilogy
One of the first things to go was the trilogy concept. The Acquisitions Editor was clear that it didn’t have the depth to go three complete novels. Through various iterations, we’ve knocked it down to a 100,000-word novel with series potential.
The next issue was marketability. I’m writing to an oversaturated market that’s getting tired. The story needs reworked to appeal to readers today, who are looking Romantasy, Cozy Mystery, or Thrillers.
The Editor also pointed out plot holes, problems with the magic system, and cliches that would impact reader acceptance.
I spent most of a day and $5.84 in credits trying to reach a BUY offer, with little luck. Several other books I’m working on got BUY ratings, so I know it’s not impossible, but it’s a struggle with this storyline—primarily because of the competition and the saturation.
I plan to continue with the story for the sake of the series. Hopefully, I can work my way to a ‘BUY’ offer through further edits and refinements. I had a couple of very close outlines to work from.
So our Emberborn story isn’t dead, and the Working Desk continues, but it clearly needs some work.
The Benefit of Planning
Anyone who’s worked on a book knows the struggle of getting a first book published. We’ve all sent dozens (hundreds?) of query letters out and faced numerous rejections.
What if you could do practice query submissions before you write your book, or before sending out the first letter?
That’s the power of AI agents.
Having an idea get shot down is tough, but having a story you’ve worked months or years on get rejected over and over again is brutal. There’s no guarantee that the AI Agent will get your book accepted or published, but early feedback can save a lot of heartache.
If you have many book ideas, the Agent can help you pick which one to focus on.
Other agents can make your writing, plot, and characters solid.
Do you have to follow the agent or write just to sell books? Of course not. You may disagree with the agent. You may not be that concerned with selling books or getting accepted in a query submission. Regardless, the agent can help you focus and see things that you might miss in the story.
Want to try it?
I’ll be posting some of the agent output details in Wednesday’s post to free subscribers, and the Acquisitions Editor and Angry Lit Professor will be available tomorrow to paid subscribers. To sign up, use the link below:
Today’s Books!
Gharra
How do you run from what’s inside of you?
Not all cages have bars.
A spirited young orc girl strays from the safe road and into the path of a ancient evil. The only protection she finds is from a mysterious pair of human warriors. Will Gharra escape the clutches of a demon roaming the hills of her homeland using her own wit, or will the creature who has haunter her people for decades make his home inside her heart?
Whispers of White Sapphire
The Fires of War Ignite to Awaken a Dormant God
A Standalone Epic Fantasy Novel
As the tribes of the U’skar Qi descend upon the Old Myrian Empire, an ancient prophecy will awaken, and the hearts of warriors will be tested in the crucible of conflict.
The Photo Jumper
Ever said, “I wish I could go there,” when looking at a picture?
What if you could?
Allister McClamroch has the inexplicable ability to transport himself into photographs. When his best friend is murdered, Allister uses his photo-jumping talent to avenge him but it’s increasingly difficult to keep his secret and he’s forced to make hard choices. Now with the help of two unlikely friends, Allister must face the killer if he wants justice.
One photo is more important to him than anything else, and he risks his life protecting it, but a chance encounter will change his destiny forever.