Writing Smarter, Not Harder: Exploring "The Author’s AI Toolkit: From Concept to Publication" by Hank Quense

In the ever-evolving world of writing and publishing, few topics stir the pot like artificial intelligence. Is it a helpful tool? A creativity killer? Or something in between? Hank Quense jumps into this timely debate with his latest nonfiction release, The Author’s AI Toolkit: From Concept to Publication, offering a thoughtful and practical exploration of how AI can serve—not replace—the modern author.

At just 83 pages, this reference guide from Strange Worlds Publishing packs insights on how AI tools can be integrated into each stage of the writing journey, from brainstorming and drafting to publishing and marketing. While the book has Writing Smarter, Not Harder: Exploring The Author’s AI Toolkit by Hank Quense, it raises important points that writers of all levels should consider. On top of my review, Hank Quense was also kind enough to answer some questions about how he did his research and why he wrote the book.

Thank you to the author for the eBook and my honest review. This blog tour is sponsored by iRead Book Tours and features a book giveaway! Scroll down to learn more.

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Interview with Hank Quense, the author of "The Author's AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication"

Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

At one time I was a sales manager with an office in Manhattan. I've always been good at writing and had decided I'd try my hand at fiction writing in my next career. When the corporation offered a lucrative early retirement package, I took the money and ran

Where did you get the idea for THE AUTHOR'S AI TOOLKIT?

I had spent some time investigating AI and how to use it. One day, I asked it "How to develop a character?" The response was cliched, nothing I couldn't get from a book on writing. So, I asked the AI a more detailed query: "What makes Ted Lasso a great character?" The response stunned me because it was so detailed and so full of excellent advice. That was the point where I decided to write a book on using AI so other writes and authors could take advantage of AI tools

How long did it take you to write and edit THE AUTHOR'S AI TOOLKIT?

From the point described about, it took six months to complete the book and get it published

Why did you choose to write in prose?

Because I don't understand poetry. Writing this AI book in hexameters (whatever they are) would have been rather daunting.

What were the challenges you faced in writing your book? How did you overcome it?

One of the quirks with AI is this: a generic query will give you a response but ti won’t be very useful.  In addition, a detailed query may be mis-interpreted by the AI and respond in an unexpected manner.  Since my book aimed at providing useful queries, I often had to revise a query several times before I get a response that would be helpful to other writers.  I should add that this was because  my queries were at fault not the AI

So are you Self-Published, Hybrid Published or Traditionally Published? Why did you choose this route of publication?

My first two books were out out by a small indie press.  I found the process so distasteful, that I learned how to self-publish books and have done so ever since then.

What tips, tricks, or secrets can you give a person about the type of publishing (self, hybrid, traditional) you did?

The trick with self-publishing is to produce a quality book package to ho ld the content.  A quality book package is the equivalent of what a publisher would produce.

If you're self-published, how did you find your editor?

Oddly enough, my editor found me.  She’s the mother of a short story write I know and a retired high school English teacher.  She offered to edit my books and aI took here up on the offer.

*How do you market your book? Did you have a marketing plan? If so, what is it?

After many years and many wasted dollars, I concluded that for authors to use social media marketing is a mistake.  Almost all authors know nothing about SEO or targeting, two essentials to successful marketing.  So now I turn it over to professionals.  It’s expensive but so is social media marketing when you don’t know what you are doing.

 I have several picture book writers who follow my blog and are looking for inspiration and publication. What advice or inspiration could you give these writers?

This may seem generic, but: Believe in your book and never give up.

Thank you, Hank, for the interview and inspiration. Be sure to read my review of the book below and enter the giveaway!

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My Review of "The Author's AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication"

One of the strongest aspects of Quense’s book is his balanced take on the ongoing debate surrounding AI in the creative space. He doesn’t shy away from the controversies but instead addresses them head-on. Should writers use AI to help generate ideas? What about editing or marketing copy? Is it ethical to co-write with a chatbot?

What makes this book unique is that Quense even allows AI to have a voice in the conversation—literally. He uses AI-generated answers to pose counterpoints, offering a glimpse into both sides of the argument. This clever touch not only highlights the strengths of AI but also its limitations and biases.

For writers like me, who are constantly bombarded with hot takes on both extremes, this measured approach was refreshing. It’s not about preaching a right or wrong way, but rather empowering writers to make informed decisions based on their personal process and publishing goals.

🧰 What You’ll Find Inside

Quense breaks down how AI tools can be used in:

• Brainstorming plot ideas and characters

• Writing drafts and refining structure

• Editing and grammar suggestions

• Marketing, including social media content

• Navigating publishing platforms

  
  

The book promises to be a one-stop shop for writers curious about integrating AI into their workflow—and to a degree, it delivers. There are practical suggestions scattered throughout, and the tone is friendly and accessible, making it suitable for both tech novices and seasoned digital-savvy authors.

However, the guide could have gone deeper in certain areas. I found myself wanting more concrete examples—like what phrases or prompt techniques yield the best results, or a side-by-side comparison of AI-drafted vs. human-edited paragraphs. While the conceptual framework is strong, some writers may crave more hands-on walkthroughs to truly grasp how to implement these tools effectively.

📚 Room for Improvement

My main criticism lies in the formatting and structure. The chapters weren’t clearly defined, and the layout felt disjointed at times. This could very well be an issue with the ARC I received (Advance Reader Copy), and I’m hopeful that the final version will be polished for clarity and flow. Still, first impressions matter—and a confusing layout may turn off readers before they reach the valuable content.

Also, while the book touches on many facets of AI-assisted writing, it only scratches the surface in some areas. For instance, I was especially curious about best practices—what not to do when using AI in creative work—but found only brief mentions.

✨ Final Thoughts

Despite its imperfections, The Author’s AI Toolkit is a timely and useful resource that brings a much-needed voice of reason to the AI-writing debate. It doesn’t offer all the answers—but maybe that’s the point. It encourages us to ask better questions and experiment with new tools as part of an evolving creative process.

If you’re a writer curious about using AI—but overwhelmed by the noise—this guide is a solid starting point. It may not be the definitive manual on the subject, but it plants the seeds for deeper exploration and offers reassurance that, yes, you can embrace technology without sacrificing your voice.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

A thoughtful, compact guide that champions AI as a creative ally, though it could use more structure and hands-on examples. Worth a read if you’re curious about tech-meets-creativity.

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