The StoryBold Library

for writers

Your knowledge hub for mastering story craft, staying ahead of publishing industry trends, and getting your story into the hands of readers. Each article offers writing strategies and advice you can consume in just a few minutes and apply to your projects to see results.

AI Writing in 2025: Your Complete Guide to Staying Creative, Authentic, & Informed

artificial intelligence for writers book publishing creative writing creativity professional writing Mar 31, 2025

Discover how to navigate AI writing with confidence and integrity. Learn the ethics, best practices, tools, and strategies to establish your own AI-driven writing process while staying true to your creative vision.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENT

Introduction. Navigating the AI writing landscape in 2025
Chapter 1. What is AI writing?
Chapter 2. Ethics of AI writing
Chapter 3. Using AI to write: what you gain and lose
Chapter 4. AI prompt writing: best practices
Chapter 5. AI writing tools
Chapter 6. AI writing events
Chapter 7. AI in book publishing: industry news and trends
Chapter 8. How I use AI to write: my dos and don'ts
Chapter 9. How to establish your own AI writing practice

Introduction. Navigating the AI writing landscape in 2025

By 2025, most of us are using generative AI for a variety of writing tasks or at least experimenting with AI to see what it can do, from automating content or generating pages of material in a matte...

How to Get a Book Published: a Guide to Balancing Authenticity with Strategy

book publishing professional writing Mar 06, 2025

Want to know how to get a book published in 2025? Traditional publishing is competitive, but writers who balance authenticity with strategy have a real chance at success. This guide breaks down the key steps to securing a deal, from understanding market trends to crafting a strong pitch.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Traditional publishing in 2025: opportunities for authentic writers
How to get a book published: 6 steps
Beyond the deal: what authors need to know
Cultivating a success mindset for your publishing journey

Traditional publishing in 2025: opportunities for authentic writers

Securing a traditional publishing deal requires more than just writing a great manuscript—it demands a strategic approach, understanding the industry, and crafting a compelling pitch. While the path is competitive, opportunities abound for writers who embrace both authenticity and strategy. Publishers are always on the lookout for fresh voices and compelling stories. Writing a book that exp...

11 Writing Side Hustles + How to Earn Money with Your Words

professional writing resources for writers Feb 24, 2025

Explore flexible writing side hustles that turn your passion for writing into a profitable pursuit and get my step-by-step guide to getting started.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Why start a writing side hustle in 2025?
11 writing side hustles to explore
How to start your writing side hustle

Why start a writing side hustle in 2025?

Writing side hustles are a fantastic way to earn money while putting pen to paper. Whether you're supplementing your income, gaining valuable experience, or supporting your creative writing dreams, these flexible opportunities let you achieve your goals without the 40-hour-a-week commitment of full-time employment.

If you're a stay-at-home parent seeking a professional outlet with flexible hours, an aspiring entrepreneur eager to turn a side gig into a lucrative business, or a full-time professional planning a career pivot, writing side hustles can fit your needs. Best of all, with the right skills, a steady stream of clients, and a commitment ...

Social Media for Authors: 3 Experts to Help You Find Readers

author platform professional writing Nov 07, 2024

Find the right social media expert to help you connect with readers, build your author brand, and promote your work.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Why authors should leverage social media
3 social media and book marketing experts
Choosing the right social media platform
Additional resources for building your author brand

Why authors should leverage social media

As an author, you can use social media to share your work, ideas, and personality. It’s a way for potential readers to get to know your style before your book is even published and gives you a head start on building an audience that’s excited to read your work.

Building a following and standing out on social media presents several challenges to be aware of. Which social media platform should you choose? How do you master each platform's tools and meet audience expectations? How do you balance time between writing and content creation? What's the best way to stand out and get seen?

The right social media expert c...

3 Author Website Examples to Inspire Your First (or Updated) Website

author platform professional writing Oct 28, 2024

Explore three bestselling author website examples and get inspiration for developing your own site.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Overview
James Clear: clean, book-centric design
Sarah J. Mass: enchanting, immersive design
Mark Manson: bold, life-centric approach
Next steps

Overview

Building an author website is a game-changer and a necessary step in growing your reader base. As I explore in my article, "Launch Your Author Website in 7 Steps," there are many benefits to having a website, even if your first site is simple and lean. Think of a website as a digital hub for your writing career, a dedicated space where you can showcase your work, connect with readers, and introduce them to who you are and what you write.

And remember: your site can grow as your writing career grows. As you build skills, complete projects, and build your audience, you can add content to your site that leads site visitors on an engaging journey through your work.

In this article, let’s take...

Launch Your Author Website in 7 Steps: a Quick Start Guide

author platform professional writing Oct 18, 2024

A quick start guide to launching your author website, sharing your work, and attracting loyal readers.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS

Benefits of an author website
How to build an author website: 7 steps
What’s next? Building your author brand beyond the website

Benefits of an author website

Imagine having a space online that’s all yours—a place where readers, publishers, and literary agents can find you and your work with just a few clicks. Your author website helps you stand out and establish your brand. It’s your personal platform where you control the story, share updates, showcase your writing, and amplify your voice in the world of books.

Whether you’re sharing sample chapters, posting blog articles, or simply letting readers know more about your journey as a writer, your website offers endless opportunities to connect.

Here's the best part:

Building your first author website can be a smooth and exciting process, even if you don't have any technical experience in

8 Advanced Strategies for Developing Your Writing Style

craft creative writing professional writing writing style Oct 09, 2024

Practice eight advanced strategies for developing a stand-out writing style readers crave.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Overview
8 advanced writing style strategies
Final writing style thoughts

Overview

Writing style is something you develop over the whole of your writing journey. With every new sentence, page, story, or book project, you discover more about your unique gifts as a writer and the components of your stand-out style.

Of course, there are several quick fixes that can improve your style right now. My article, "How to Improve Your Writing Style," offers 6 easy tips for getting fast results. Here, you can practice on a short writing sample and set a new a new standard for your writing.

Keep in mind: true refinement comes from consistent practice and dedication. As you continue writing, your style will naturally evolve, becoming clearer, more authentic, and uniquely your own.

In this writing style guide, I offer more advanced strategies that buil

...

How to Improve Your Writing Style: 6 Easy Tips to See Fast Results

craft creative writing novel writing professional writing writing style Oct 06, 2024

Discover easy steps you can take to transform your writing in minutes.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Writing style overview
6 easy writing style tips
Final writing style considerations

Writing style overview

What is writing style? Writing style refers to the unique way you express yourself in words. It includes sentence structure, tone, and word choice, as well as how these elements relate to the overall message and meaning of a piece of writing.

No matter your genre—fiction, blogging, content marketing, or creative nonfiction—improving your writing style makes your work more engaging. It helps you communicate ideas with your readers more effectively.

Below, you'll find 6 quick tips you can apply to a short writing sample to see instant results.

6 easy writing tips

Grab a short sample of your writing, something that matters to you, in any genre. Then, use these tips to refine the sample quickly and see improvements right away. This is your chance to make a meaningful d...

How Much Do Writers Make? + How to Earn More

professional writing resources for writers starting out as a writer Sep 10, 2024

Explore your earning potential as a writer, break the myth of the underpaid writer, and discover what you can do to earn more doing what you love.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

Job outlook for writers in 2025
Writer salary averages based on job title
Writer salary averages based on experience
Top paying US cities for writers
Top paying companies for writers
Key learnings from salary data
How to earn more as a writer

Job outlook for writers in 2025

When starting or advancing your career in professional writing, knowing your earning potential is an important step in charting your path. While the old stereotype of the "penniless writer" persists, the reality is far more promising—there are plenty of lucrative and fulfilling opportunities for turning your writing passion into a career.

My advice: Don't be swayed by hearsay or well-meaning advice suggesting that writing doesn’t pay. Instead, rely on solid, real-world data to guide your decisions about the kind of writing...

How to Become a Professional Writer: 7 Steps to Launch Your Career

professional writing starting out as a writer Jul 18, 2024

Launch your writing career with these 7 steps and get answers to the top questions aspiring writers are asking about their career prospects.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

Contents:

How to become a professional writer: 7 steps
Additional strategies for launching your writing career
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How to become a professional writer: 7 steps

Professional writing is a diverse and competitive field, with many opportunities to make a living doing what you love. There are many paths you could take. Some people start in another career and then transition into writing, while others train for a writing career from the start and then upgrade their skills, job titles, and income over time.

For more background on what it means to write professionally, including essential skills, industry trends, and career paths, read my article, "Your 2025 Quick Guide to Professional Writing."

Let's explore the main steps for launching a writing career that introduces you to exciting ...

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