The Truth About Self-Publishing with AI

What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why Humans Still Matter
You want to write a book. Maybe you’ve even started. But between AI tools, ethical concerns, and all the moving parts of self-publishing – it’s a lot. And the overwhelm is real.
Yes, AI is evolving fast. It can help you brainstorm, clean up grammar, and even generate cover mockups.
But here’s the truth: it can’t replace a human.
I’ve worked in publishing for decades – across traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing paths. I’ve seen it all. And no matter how slick the tech gets, the magic still happens in human conversation: when someone listens, understands your voice, and helps shape your message in a way that actually connects.
AI is a powerful tool, especially for small business authors. But it hasn’t lived any experiences. It doesn’t have your voice, your values, or your heart. It doesn’t have any anecdotes.
Let’s break it down – what AI can do, where it falls short, and what really moves the needle in self-publishing.
Why AI Alone Isn’t Enough for Self-Publishing Success
Most people think self-publishing is simple: write the book, upload it to Amazon, done.
In reality? There are layers. Each one brings decisions that can stop even confident writers in their tracks.
Human insight, voice, and emotional depth are still essential.
Where Authors Get Stuck – And Why AI Can’t Solve It Alone
🖋️ Writing the Book – Clean Copy Isn’t Enough
AI can help organise your thoughts or draft rough content. But it can’t inject meaning or emotional weight. That takes you – your stories, your insights, your lived experience. Many authors end up with clean copy that reads fine but feels empty. A book worth reading still needs you on the page.
✍️ Editing – Why Structure and Story Still Need a Human Touch
Grammar tools like ChatGPT or Grammarly can tidy up language – but they don’t know what to keep, what to cut, or how to structure a message that lands emotionally. That’s where a human editor earns their keep.
🎨 Cover Design – More Than Just Pretty Pictures
AI can spit out images. But it doesn’t know your genre, your audience’s expectations, or how to create emotional pull before someone even reads the blurb. A strong cover is strategic, not just pretty.
📄 Internal Design & Typesetting – Looks Matter
DIY layouts often fall short. Fonts, margins, spacing, and headers all shape the reading experience. A professional typesetter ensures your book doesn’t just read well – it feels professional, which is especially critical for business non-fiction.
📁 Print & Digital File Prep
Each format has different requirements. What works in print won’t translate to an eBook. Get it wrong, and you waste time and money. Get it right from the start, and you avoid stress later.
📊 Keywords, Categories & Pricing
Discoverability isn’t luck – it’s strategy. AI can pull data, but it takes a human to interpret trends and apply them to your specific goals. You want your book where your audience is already looking.
Real Stories of Authors Using AI the Right Way (and the Wrong Way)
📖 Sue’s Story: From Complexity to Clarity
Sue, one of our authors, is an expert in the medical field. Brilliant – but translating her deep knowledge into something everyday readers could understand? That was a struggle.
Using ChatGPT, she reworked dense content into clear, engaging language. It helped her move past overthinking and get a solid draft down in eight weeks – a process that would’ve taken months without that support.
But here’s the key: AI didn’t replace her expertise. It amplified it. And now, she’s working with a human editor to refine that draft so her unique voice still shines through.
📖 The Manuscript That Missed the Mark
Another author came to us with a finished manuscript, written mostly with AI. On the surface, it looked good – clean chapters, logical structure, tidy writing.
But something was off.
There was no heart. No personal thread tying it together. It felt like a series of blog posts, not a book. There was no “why now?”, no emotional arc, no lasting impact.
We gave honest feedback: it wasn’t memorable. And without that emotional hook, it wouldn’t connect.
That author went back to the draft, brought in their own stories, their client experiences, the questions they hear every day. And the result? A book that feels real. A book that’s truly theirs.
AI Is a Tool – Not a Strategy
AI can speed up repetitive tasks, offer suggestions, and help you get unstuck.
But it doesn’t know your “why”. It can’t see your audience. It doesn’t understand your business goals or what drives you to write in the first place.
You still need to lead the process –with clarity, support, and strategy.
That’s where we come in.
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
At Dettori Publishing, we’ve helped hundreds of authors turn their stories into published books they’re proud of – without the stress.
No overwhelm.
No fluff.
Just honest guidance, ethical support, and a clear plan from draft to bookshelf.
If you’re wrestling with AI tools, stuck in decision overload, or worried about losing your voice – we’re here to help.
👩💻 Join our free author community: https://wisdome.site/sales/65375f1e4dbb80de0704dd5c
📚 Or book a no-pressure chat about your book.
A Note on the Images
The first image (that’s me, hair flying, caught mid-frustration)? It’s 100% real. Taken by a professional photographer, it perfectly reflects the chaos so many of us feel when we’re trying to “figure it all out” on our own.
The second image (the one with the woman at her desk, head in hands)? That’s the AI-generated one—and it gets it just right. It captures what’s happening inside many authors’ minds: too many decisions, too many tools, not enough clarity.
These two visuals tell the same story from different angles:
- What self-publishing can feel like without support
- Why it doesn’t have to stay that way
You’re not alone in this. And you don’t have to stay stuck in the swirl.