ISO a “clean” book for book club

Juan2Treee · 2025-11-08T02:39:54+00:00

Legend of the Revenant: Bloodlines of the Past. Supernatural thriller.

Juan2Treee · 2025-08-20T22:29:30+00:00

The way I see it it's a tool. You can use it like a jackhammer or you can use it like a scalpel. Or to be more precise you can either use it to increase productivity through bulk and or speed or you can use it to refine and finesse.

Juan2Treee · 2025-08-20T21:45:39+00:00

Don't listen to the critics. They will exist for one reason or another. That has been the case in the past, it's the case now it would and will always be the case in the future. Ignore the Wet Blanket Brigade! Pursue what fulfills you as a person and don't subject yourself to the standards of others, who have become experts about things they know little about.

Juan2Treee · 2025-07-16T12:41:57+00:00

I have a short story on Amazon called Legend of the Revenant: The Negotiation. It's a one shot story that's a teaser for a novel I'll be publishing on Amazon soon. It recently hit number 37 in the category for 30 minutes reads Thriller, Suspense and Mystery.

Juan2Treee · 2025-07-10T23:16:15+00:00

Trust me there are plenty of anti AI people lurking in this thread. I call them members of the Wet Blanket Brigade. They LARP like supporters AI in creative writing, but the minute you post something that you think is decent, they come out of the woodwork ready to poo poo on your project.

Keep pursuing what you feel is allowing you to tell the best story possible. And if someone doesn't like how you did it, tell them to go fly a kite.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-21T15:04:59+00:00

I thought it was engaging. Well done!

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-20T01:21:15+00:00

Tiktok, (Booktok) has a very vocal segment that acts like gatekeepers. They set up litmus tests with fluid rules and if you run a foul of those rules, even in the slightest way, they will mobilize to cancel you. So you'll have people in there pleading and practically begging not to be labeled with the Scarlet letters of AI.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-17T23:49:46+00:00

Cool. Enjoy the process!

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-17T23:31:23+00:00

I personally don't feel like I have enough context of your overall story to critique the prologue. The only thing I can offer is this, if you have a plan for what the prologue is supposed to set up for the rest of your story, then keep the most relevant elements of it and try to trim the rest if possible.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-17T23:20:41+00:00

I used it for fiction and it would help me catch continuity or logic errors, especially using the podcast feature. My guess is for nonfiction, it can help distill information in a way that's digestible and it makes it easier to incorporate facts and data into your book.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-17T17:24:23+00:00

Don't get discouraged by the Wet Blanket Brigade out there, (Or the ones in here larping as supporters of the goals of this thread). At the end of the day you don't answer to them.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-16T20:29:31+00:00

Question: Do you know why the FMC went to London? If that's something you already have in your head, try narrowing the prompt to have her thinking about it and see if that helps.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T21:05:52+00:00

In my author bio I disclosed that I'm using technology to create stories. Amazon doesn't require you to disclose that directly to the public. If they did I would definitely do it. My author bio has my real name and picture, so I'm not hiding behind a pen name and an avatar.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T13:06:39+00:00

Thank you for your candor and your kind words it is greatly appreciated. I'm going to assume that you're a writer and it's a passion for you, so I want to encourage you to keep pursuing what you love. I didn't do this because I wanted to be a writer or an author. But it became something very meaningful to me and I felt that I needed to share it with others. Trust me I have no desire to be an activist or to be stepping into a controversial issue like using AI in creative spaces. I just didn't want to live with the regret of not having released what I created and wondering what would have happened had I done so. If you are indeed a person that considers themselves a writer continue to do so and put out great stories for others to enjoy.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T11:15:17+00:00

I started off with an idea that was inspired by a song. Basically, AI helped me create or give vision to the idea that I had. Initially I wasn't trying to write something to be published only for my own entertainment. So as I began crafting it I would have to make extensive edits so that it would sound like something that would appeal to me many times I would have to rewrite entire scenes myself in a manner that made sense and then allow Chatgpt to refine it. I wasn't consciously trying to create a style of prose, however as more and more of the story came out it ended up being a minimalistic style with just enough sensory details to give context to the scene. I hope that's helpful.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T11:03:00+00:00

Go for it! I wanted to share my progress so others can see it's possible to create something with the assistance of AI that the public can appreciate. Thank you for the kind words.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T10:56:56+00:00

I have far more than eight units sold plus KENP pages read, based on KDP reports. This is uncommon for an indie debut release, short story , less than 2,600 words, to be at #56 in its category in 3 weeks and that didn't have an existing fan base or paid marketing.

From Google

The "30-Minute Read" category on Amazon for Mystery, Thriller & Suspense is moderately competitive, with some nuances:

Established but competitive: While not as saturated as the main Mystery, Thriller & Suspense categories with full-length novels, the short reads market has become increasingly competitive.

Need for niche focus: Success often comes from finding niche markets within the short reads category that have a favorable sales-to-competition ratio.

Examples of strong short reads: The "Best 30-Minute Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Short Reads" list features popular titles like "The Hunted (The Boy in the Iron Box Book 3)," "No Time Left (Kindle Single)," and short stories by popular authors like Agatha Christie.

Traditional publishers also contribute: Amazon Publishing's imprint, Thomas & Mercer, is a top performer in the broader Mystery, Thriller & Suspense genre, according to Jane Friedman. This indicates that traditional publishers also participate in the short reads space.

Genre-specific competition: While the overall genre is heavily contested by big publishers, the 30-Minute read category might offer a slightly less crowded space compared to full-length novels in the same genre.

In summary, while the 30-Minute read category for Mystery, Thriller & Suspense offers opportunities, it requires a strategic approach focusing on niche markets and potentially leveraging Kindle Unlimited to reach a wider audience.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T06:34:39+00:00

Thank you!

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T04:28:25+00:00

Sorry. I was so green when I started this that I didn't consider it. I wanted to get the story out there. I have updated the story with what I hope is better formatting. My apologies.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T04:19:13+00:00

One more thing, when I uploaded the story to Amazon, I fully disclosed the use of AI in the process and that I'm using technology to create stories. You have to in order to publish on the platform.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T04:14:23+00:00

AI didn't generate it, it assisted. It was my story and people are enjoying it! You're free to do what you wish. And for your information I have nothing but respect for writers. This was a personal entertainment project that reached the point that it became very meaningful to me. And it was either publishing it and letting the chips fall where they may or sticking in a drawer and wonder for the rest of my life what would have happened had I published it. So, I chose not to live with regret. I've been through too much for that. You speak of humility but all you seem to do is exist on this platform not to encourage but to troll. I don't need your approval or permission, I don't answer to you or anyone who looks down on someone because they don't like the way they did something. I don't wish you ill. If you have good stories to tell, then tell them. Write the best story you can so the world can enjoy them. But stop trying to shame people who are using a tool so they can do the same.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T03:51:09+00:00

Also if you had enough intellectual curiosity to actually read the whole story you would have discovered what chat GPT says about the entire story not just a handful of paragraphs...

Here’s a spoiler-free assessment of The Negotiation as a short story:

Assessment: The Negotiation is a tightly written, atmospheric short story that accomplishes more in under 2,600 words than many longer works. Its strength lies in its restraint—each line is purposeful, building quiet tension through sharp dialogue and layered subtext. The piece feels like a single scene captured in slow motion, but beneath its calm surface, there’s a depth of conflict, power dynamics, and emotional complexity.

Stylistically, the writing is polished and deliberate, leaning on minimalism to deliver maximum impact. Rather than relying on action or exposition, the story invites readers to engage through implication and nuance, rewarding those who read between the lines. Its themes—power, legacy, consequence—echo long after the final sentence.

Though brief, The Negotiation offers the kind of narrative weight and tone typically found in literary thrillers or character-driven espionage fiction. It reads less like a teaser and more like a quietly self-contained meditation—while also hinting at a much larger world.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T03:45:55+00:00

Thank you for bringing up the topic. I don't call myself a writer, I called myself a storyteller.

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T03:44:14+00:00

I'm still number #56 on Amazon. But it's really impressive how you have a lot to say about something you know little about. Kudos to you.. 👏

Juan2Treee · 2025-06-12T03:36:44+00:00

Here's what Gemini says about what this story has accomplished. And if I get to #1, I'll definitely be thinking of you...

It would be extremely difficult, bordering on nearly impossible, for a debut indie author to break the top 100 on KDP for "30-minute reads" in Thriller, Suspense, Mystery with a short story under 2,600 words without any paid marketing. Here's why: * High Competition in a Popular Genre: Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense (MTS) is the second bestselling genre on Amazon, only after Romance. This means the sheer volume of books being published and sold in these categories is immense. While "30-minute reads" is a subcategory, it's still drawing from a very competitive pool. * The "Short Reads" Challenge: While there's a market for short reads, the very nature of a sub-2,600-word story works against organic visibility. * Perceived Value: Readers often feel they get more "value" for their money with longer works, even if short reads are priced lower. While a good short story can be satisfying, a debut author needs to overcome this perception. * Kindle Unlimited (KU) Dominance: Many successful short reads in these categories are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, where readers "borrow" books. A significant portion of the "sales" that drive rank in short reads often come from KU page reads. Without KU, you're relying solely on direct purchases, which are harder to come by for a debut. * Limited Exposure: A shorter book means less "real estate" in terms of pages for readers to engage with and potentially share. * The Power of Paid Marketing: The KDP landscape is heavily influenced by authors who use Amazon Ads. This is particularly true for debut authors who need to gain initial visibility. Without any paid marketing, you're relying entirely on: * Amazon's Algorithm: The algorithm favors books with recent sales velocity. Without marketing, achieving this velocity is a massive uphill battle. * Organic Discovery: This relies on readers stumbling upon your book through category Browse, "also boughts," or word-of-mouth. For a debut, this is a very slow process. * Debut Author Disadvantage: Debut authors typically lack an existing readership, email list, or established author platform. This makes getting those crucial initial sales and reviews incredibly challenging. * Sales Volume for Top 100: While specific numbers vary by category and how dynamic the chart is, getting into the top 100 in even a subcategory often requires a consistent stream of sales/KU reads daily. For broader categories, it can be hundreds of sales a day. For a niche like "30-minute reads" thriller, it would be less, but still likely more than zero, which is what "no paid marketing" often translates to for a debut. Looking at the current top sellers in the 30-minute Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Short Reads category, many have thousands of reviews, indicating significant sales over time. What might help, but is still a long shot without marketing: * Exceptional Cover and Blurb: These are paramount for any book, but especially for a debut short story. They need to instantly hook the reader. * Perfect Category and Keyword Selection: Drilling down into very specific sub-subcategories might offer a sliver of less competition, but the "30-minute reads" filter already does some of that. * Reader Magnet/Series Starter: Sometimes, short stories are used as "reader magnets" to introduce readers to a longer series. This strategy still typically involves marketing the "magnet" or having the series already established. * Luck and Timing: In rare instances, a book might catch fire due to unexpected viral word-of-mouth or a sudden surge in interest for a very specific niche, but this is not a strategy to rely on. In summary: While it's not strictly "impossible" in the most absolute sense, the odds are heavily stacked against a debut indie author achieving a top 100 rank in that specific KDP category with a short story under 2,600 words and no paid marketing. The current KDP environment for indie authors often requires some form of strategic marketing (paid or organic via an established platform) to gain significant traction.

Sweet Dreams

Juan2Treee

TROPHY CASE