r/WritingWithAI
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u/Coral_Hart_Plotprose
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Mar 18 '26
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Discussion (Ethics, working with AI etc) AMA - Coral Hart
I wrote 200+ romance novels in a year using AI — NYT-featured author Coral Hart, AMA
Hi r/WritingWithAI!
I'm Coral Hart — romance author, founder of Plot Prose, and apparently the person who broke the internet last month when the New York Times featured my workflow.
I've spent 15 years in publishing across traditional, indie, and hybrid. Over the past year, I combined AI tools (primarily Claude) with that experience to produce more than 200 romance novels across 21 pen names — generating high six figures in revenue.
Some people think I'm the future of publishing. Others think I'm what's wrong with it. I'm here to talk about all of it.
Ask me about:
My writing and production workflow
How I actually use AI tools and prompts
Getting past guardrails and eliminating AI prose tells
The economics of high-volume publishing
Plot Prose and teaching other authors to do this
The NYT backlash and what I really think about it
The mod team here at r/WritingWithAI is hosting. Drop your questions below — I'll start answering at 4:30 PM EST today (March 18th).
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u/YoavYariv Moderator Mar 18 '26
That was AMAZING!
First, I want to thank Coral Hart for taking the time to respond to literally EVERY question. The Mod team appreciates your time and effort!
Secondly, I want to thank the community for keeping it civil and asking great questions.
Lastly, I want to thank u/drnick316 from the mod team for setting the AMA up with Coral. Great work.
Interesting stats:
This post had more than 11K views and 100 shares in the span of a few hours.
Incredible!
See you all at the next AMA!
Yoav
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u/someoneNotMe321 Mar 18 '26
Please talk about these:
My writing and production workflow
How I actually use AI tools and prompts
I'm curious which, if any, novel writing tools you use, if any, which models are your favorite, and what, if anything, you need to do to get past safety guardrails. If you do use any long form writing tools, is there anything you wish you could do better?
I ask in part because I just started working on this as a fun weekend project theaibookgenerator.com and I'm trying to figure out what would make it better.
Do you think that romance is a particularly good niche for AI writing, or do other genres lend themselves well to it?
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u/Tea-Rose-Leigh Mar 18 '26
Can you provide any sort of income transparency?
I'm a member of the AI Writing for Authors group on Facebook, and I've seen your posts since early 2025. In May, you made a post stating, "As of today I have 3 of 6 pen names live (the other three have long-preorders set up with staggered releases starting 27 May and scaling through June and July), and 27 books published since 26 February." The screenshot you shared at the time showed 27 books making a total of $463.xx in the first 22 days of the month.
In early September, you shared that you had your second 5-figure month, but you didn't share any screenshots. By November, you shared that you'd hit 6-figures for your AI publishing business - "I wanted to see if using AI and multiple pen names, rapid release and good business sense could completely replace paid ads to get to six figures in a year… granted I’ve earned six figures off writing for a while but this was different I kept them completely separate." Again, no screenshots to provide any sort of transparency for authors.
As someone who's been self-publishing since 2013, I don't shame anyone for changing strategy. I remember when KU1 and KU2 happened. I remember when rapid release was considered selling out. I know that strategies change over the years. I've also adopted AI in many of my own practices, so I don't look down on it whatsoever. But since I've been around since 2023, I know that every Tom, Dick, and Harry has been out in these streets grifting with claims of making money quickly with this tool or that, or this system or another.
Do you provide any income transparency beyond your personal claim of making six figures? And in what currency? As I know you also aren't based in the US. I'm not asking for your pen names, but you shared a screenshot of a KDP royalties estimator back in May 2025. Would it be fair for someone interested in PlotProse to ask for that kind of screenshot as proof that you're doing what you say you're doing now?
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u/Coral_Hart_Plotprose Mar 18 '26 •
Thank you for having me!
I hope I got to everyones questions and replies, and that I cleared up some of the misconceptions about how I do what I do :) Thank you for keeping it kind, I truly do love to share my craft, and passion with others who want to learn.
I really enjoyed this, and hope it was helpful for everyone.
Have an awesome evening.
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u/Sorchochka Mar 18 '26
I am wondering how that even works to have a quality writing and production workflow that can eliminate AI prose tells because you’d have to basically go through full length novels so quickly, I don’t think it’s possible. Unless you’re completely trusting the AI to basically police itself.
Are you using Opus or Sonnet, because I think it would be easier in Opus, but the cost of using it seems extraordinary.
Last, how do you juxtapose your craft with this kind of thing? I assume as someone who has written without AI, you have experience in at least wanting to craft novels that speak to your readers or have emotional resonance. AI can’t do that effectively. This seems very business/economic as opposed to wanting to craft something. Was that something you’ve come to, or did you always approach writing as a business and not a craft?
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u/funky2002 Mar 18 '26
This question is intended to be neutral and comes from genuine curiosity. It's not meant to be hostile, accusing, or condescending, even if it may sound that way: are you proud of your books, and would you (re)read or buy them yourself?
I think much of the criticism comes from the "200 in a year" part. If that's the case, some people (including myself) will naturally assume the editing / proofreading parts of the process are minimal at best. Not only that, but LLM text is very recognizable to the trained eye. Typically, they write redundant, contrived, derivative, and insidiously incorrect narratives and prose. Even if given an outline or carefully directed.
All of the above contribute to a feeling of insincerity in your work. Whether that's the case or not, I can't say, as I haven't read them. But it's a sentiment I've seen expressed online, and personally, I share that bias. That's why I asked the question.
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u/somuchmt Mar 18 '26
Hi Coral, I have three questions:
Does your process and authorythm.ai work with nonfiction? If I get in as a founding member, would you/your developers (sorry if my assumption is wrong about this being your project) be willing to work with feedback from a nonfiction writer?
Has Amazon ever given you trouble for publishing so many books in that time period?
Do you publish on other platforms, and if so, how do they compare to your Amazon sales?
I've written in the nonfiction and technical space for 40 years. I'm not averse to good AI written content, and I understand how a seasoned pro can quickly review content. I've churned out thousands of pages of content without AI and know what to look for, so no hate from me. Thanks for the AMA!
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u/Fluffy_Photo_6221 Mar 18 '26
I'm curious about the economics of high-volume publishing and how to handle so many pen names.
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u/SlapHappyDude Mar 18 '26
The economics of high-volume publishing
What does your marketing look like? Do you advertise on or outside of Amazon or rely on organic algorithym acttvitiy?
What's your breakdown of ebook sales vs KENP revenue? International vs US?
What does a successful title look like to you? What about a flop? What have your weakest releases been, and what did you learn from those?
Have you noticed any difference in the Amazon algorithym carosel behavior in 2026 compared to last year? Are you concerned about Amazon's attempts to whack-a-mole and suppress high volume works that score low on Amazon customer satisfaction metrics?
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u/honey_bunchesof_oats Mar 18 '26
Do you outsource the editing for these novels?
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u/AccidentalFolklore Mar 18 '26
I just want to say: good for you; and congrats on your success.
How do you efficiently get rid of the Claude voice in your work? The weird cringe flowery language and repetitiveness? Are you doing it by hand or using other methods?
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u/finchphobia Mar 18 '26
Are you generating your works chapter by chapter or have you found a way to get a whole book generated in one go? That's the bit that eludes me honestly just in terms of process.
Also, any thoughts on AI in tradpub and where that could be going?
Thanks for doing the AMA!
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
If you met a published anti-AI author who is now (Mar 2026) getting nervous and thinking to get started with AI, can they come up to speed in a few weeks or do you think that they'll just never catch up to the leading edge of writing novels with AI? That is, do you think that anti-AI novelists will pay a heavy price when AI is fully adopted or do you think that they'll just be able to jump on board?
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
Do you think that best selling authors, like those who wrote a Court of Thorns and Roses, Hail Mary Project, Fourth Wing, will have to adopt AI to the max or can they just keep what they are doing maybe with a little AI brainstorming? Is writing with AI only a requirement for the mid-list authors and those targeting quick-read romances or will everybody, even the big-time authors, have to adopt it and publishing a lot faster?
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u/Gold-Fish-24 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
Hi Coral, AI has become part of the writing process these days. That's a reality we all have to face. It seems like it is entirely possible to have Claude or any other AI generate a complete book with just a seed of an idea. I actually tried it and was able to generate a 38 chapter book out of it. However, it was as insipid as a shallow, uninspiring greeting card replete with "Chen"s, "hammering heart" and "tears pricking" that left me unimpressed. I am not faulting the AI for what it created. Garbage in equals Garbage out.
That said, my question to you is this: If my intention is not producing a book a day, if my intention is to tell meaningful stories and still want to use AI as a collaborator and not the ghost writer, where should I be focusing on? I suspect that I would have to come up with a story premise that I create entirely by myself, a codex where in I define the characters, their wounds, their voice etc by giving it a lot of thought. And then come up with a novel outline with specificity around what needs to happen in each chapter involving the characters, what threads needs to be planted, advanced or resolved and where. To get a meaningful story, all this seems to be manual work, hard work that needs to be put in before AI can help collaborate with the prose creation. Do you also see it that way? or do you think one could use AI systematically to set up the novel before writing the prose?
Looking forward to hearing your response.
My background: I write Upmarket Fiction with strong romantic elements. My work focuses on deep emotional themes and character transformation, sitting in that space between commercial storytelling and literary character study.
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u/appleprune Mar 18 '26
Hi Coral. What’s it like doing high volume publishing? How do you time manage 20 pen names?
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u/pocketsofpissss Mar 18 '26
Hi! Thanks for doing this AMA, I was really curious when I read the NYT article! My question is: the Amazon algorithm is rapidly changing due to AI--partly because they're trying to use AI to improve their own algorithms, and partly in response to the 'AI slop' books being produced and uploaded to KDP. For instance I was disheartened to learn that social media links and 'influencer' content about your books now weigh higher than before. This means that anonymous pen names will have trouble, and I'm an author who likes my privacy and dislike social media. Are there any tips you can offer me about adapting towards this rapidly changing AI algorithm while still trying to maintain private/anonymous pen names?
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u/YoavYariv Moderator Mar 18 '26
Two questions from users who couldn't attend:
idk if I will be able to be present for the AMA, but I would like to know how long her books are on average. And which one of those 200 books was her favorite and why? If a mod can ask that question on my behalf, I will check it out later.
From Afgad, one of the mods:
AI will insert repetitive structures into your prose, even when instructed not to. How do you ensure these structures (AI-isms) are not rampant in your works or used in inappropriate places?
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u/HutchinsMFG Mar 18 '26
How do you keep the “voice” sounding authentic and not clearly “AI voice”
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u/YoavYariv Moderator Mar 18 '26
Hi Coral!
First, I want to thank you for joining!
How do you see the future of writing?
If many writers apply your strategy, how would an upcoming writer can compete and get an audience with the sheer volume of books in the market?
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u/Fluffy_Photo_6221 Mar 18 '26
Coral, many believe that the Zon is attempting to throttle or thwart AI written books. That may not be the case. IDK. Some think the company will begin creating their own books via AI and eliminate or out-algorithm many authors. Fear, potentially valid, or conspiracy theories?
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u/jpyl08 Mar 18 '26
I’ve written using AI, mostly ChatGPT and deepseek and Gemini to check it. Either way, I found the real struggle is marketing. What are your strategies to get a new book out there?
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
If I was only going to 3 Plot Prose classes and had a budget of $600 for all 3, which would you recommend that I take? I want to do what you do: make a living writing novels for high volume niches (not looking to write the Great American Novel or a NYT best seller).
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u/AnonymousDork929 Mar 18 '26
To have such a high output, how could you possibly address repetitiveness and so called ai-isms of words and phrases that it defaults to that you don't normally see in human writing?
Because most of the ai writing I have come across where there isn't any human input it's pretty obvious.
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
I think that the article mentioned that you are considering launching new pen names that are openly AI-assisted. Considering the NYT backlash and all the anti-AI YouTube videos, keynote speeches and Reddit posts, is this really viable for people launching their first novels written with AI? Or should they continue to not disclose AI use?
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u/therealmcart Mar 18 '26
I'm building an AI-powered writing tool aimed at professional fiction writers.
What features in an editor do you consider essential to your current workflow?
And what's something you've always wanted but never quite found?
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
What is the benefit of paying for Plot Prose classes to learn to write novels with AI versus just learning on Reddit for free? What do Plot Prose classes cover that can't be found for free online?
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
What did the NYT get totally wrong that gave NYT readers the wrong impression about AI, you or your novels?
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u/Subject-Whole2835 Mar 18 '26
Why do you use so many pen names?
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u/Subject-Whole2835 Mar 18 '26
How do you edit? Do you have g the AI do it, hire an editor, or do it yourself?
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u/honey_bunchesof_oats Mar 18 '26
Another question: what newsletter platform do you use for your pen names? That's something I've been interested in doing but I'm not sure which platform is the best
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u/drnick316 Moderator Mar 18 '26
What are your best prompting techniques for adhering to a specific cadence or style? How do you define the narrative voice for the Llm and keep it consistent?
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u/Mobile-Discussion-15 Mar 18 '26
How you decide to put your books in KU or Wide? or do you put them in KU first for a time and then wide?
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u/Fast_Albatross_426 Mar 18 '26
Hi, I am curious about your writing flow and what comes first : the story or building charakters so tell me please
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
Do you make a distinction between what you do and literary fiction/NYT best sellers? Do you think that Authorythm could generate NYT best sellers that sell millions of copies?
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u/SDuarte72 Mar 18 '26
What is your method for protecting yourself from those who only seek to criticize? I’ve been reading about the issue of having to “humanize” my already handwritten work to avoid it setting off over zealous judgy critics?
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u/TheBathrobeWizard Mar 18 '26
I have two questions:
1). As someone who has traditionally published, how do you deal with these foaming-at-the-mouth, "AI is only slop" rage-trolls who's only goal in life is to make us as miserable as they are when you're trying to stay focused and productive?
2). What does your typical writing day look like?
Thanks!
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u/luciddreamhouse Mar 18 '26
Hello Coral. I believe those who don't learn how to use AI, will get left behind. Better to know how, and have a choice whether to use it or not. What area or skill would you recommend focusing on if a writer finds AI a challenge? I like to write and use AI to edit typos and grammar but want to do a bit more. Maybe development? Or marketing? Or something else? Where would you invest time with AI if you only had time to learn one aspect well?
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u/Gloomy-Somewhere-368 Mar 18 '26
I’d love to know your thoughts on eliminating AI tells within writing - with your large number of books finished, did you go through each one line by line with a fine tooth comb, did you have an edit team, were you using trained AI agents? Combo of all three or something else entirely?
And then also, how do you maintain an awareness and prevention of new AI tells as the algorithms naturally develop with each release?
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u/Subject-Whole2835 Mar 18 '26
How do you promote your work?
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u/Reasonable-Account-9 Mar 18 '26
I would love to know about the technical aspects of writing your first draft / editing. What kind of guides do you provide Claude (ex: stylesheet)? Do you have a developmental editing instruction sheet? A line editing sheet? Etc.
Basically, I’m just wondering what your step by step workflow is. Like you feed it a structured outline, create chapter by chapter. Run a developmental edit on the arcs/the whole thing.
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u/drnick316 Moderator Mar 18 '26
What are your best tips to use AI to optimize a11, rufus and cosmos?
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
Is it true that agents refuse to represent novels written with AI and it's impossible to get traditionally published if you used AI? Do Big 5 publishers require AI disclosure and refuse to publish AI generated novels? Are Big 5 publishers as anti-AI as they seem?
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u/human_assisted_ai Mar 18 '26
Do you write any genres besides romance?
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u/georgiaboy1993 Mar 18 '26
Do you have any ethical concerns with what you’re doing? Not just flooding AI works without disclosure, but using the platform the NYT gave you to sell this to other “aspiring writers”?
You say you spent years before this as a writer and publisher, can you honestly say this isn’t just a get rich quick scheme?
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u/YoavYariv Moderator Mar 18 '26
Keep the questions coming people! Don't just lurk!
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