What worked this week and three free tools for easy author websites
A weekly dose of experimentation, tools and tips on how to use them for the modern writer.
Welcome to the Try/Fail Cycle*
Your go-to for storytelling insights. I'll share my progress, experiments, successes, and failures as a writer, making it a creative journey we can share together.
I’ll also highlight new AI tools, prompts or promotion tactics to grow our audiences and businesses. And share a writing exercise for your daily practice.
Join me on this adventure and let's support each other as we build our storytelling empires.
Happy writing!
Zane
PS — *Did you notice the sneaky rebrand, just like on Medium, often your subtitle makes for a better headline.
Weekly Experiment
Last Week: I edited four chapters and managed to schedule three.
So that’s a win: Three times the usual amount is definitely a win!
Chapter 4 needed a POV rewrite so it didn’t make it. 🪦
This Week: I’m aiming for 3 draft chapters by Friday. But I’m falling behind. 🙈
Sleep is crucial, a few late nights meant I missed my writing window on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. 💔
But, Wednesday I outlined 12 chapters. Using a new ChatGPT prompt and the Story Core method to create a quick high-level outline. The process is like talking to a friend and having your outline update as you talk.
Why the change? My editing batch revealed weaknesses in my drafting. Because I used a checklist review structure I can compare across all my reviews.
Now I know I must have clearer character motivations, stronger conflicts and more character growth.
Story Core on a chapter level could help solve this early on, with its focus on Character Wants, Conflict and Struggle. I’ll then expand it to a 12 point outline including: hook, try/fail cycle, plus cliffhanger.
My daily target stays 1000 words, with 3 chapter drafts a week (not likely), and only changing my outlining method this week.
A case of the sniffles, is threatening this week’s success, but let’s see what plodding and snotting along gets me.
This week’s inspired by
(of fame) who won’t see this as he’s hiking in the Himalayas. Of course he is!When I mentioned a buddy of mine wanted to buy his book, but couldn’t, he asked someone to hold his beer. Rolled up his sleeves and built a beautiful mini-site over the weekend.
That got me thinking — we must be able to do the same. 🤔
3 Website Tooltips
Three new tools and how to use them as an empire building storyteller.
Gamma - AI-driven presentable sites
Why does it matter? Gamma is an easy, AI-assisted presentation software that makes it easy to create beautiful presentations. I love it!
You can get creative and use it for
Or even an author website
What makes it special?
You can use AI to transform docs into presentations or websites
Their analytics tell you where your content gets boring e.g. Slide 5/12.
Insider Tip: Use it a lot and you can get invited to their Gambassadors Program. For Early feature access, Unlimited AI credits and a nifty swag hamper.
Carrd - simple one page websites
Why does it matter? Carrd is Simple, free, fully responsive one-page sites for pretty much anything.
What makes it special?
Build up to three sites per account and use all the core features – for free!
The Pro version includes custom domains etc. for $19/year. Yes, per year.
Tons of beautiful templates and a custom builder as well.
Can you get creative?
Their sectioned templates should work for short web novels.
And a book marketing site should be easy.
My friend
even makes amazing plugins for Carrd.
Notion - website within a system
Why does it matter? Notion is many things, project management, note-taking, and one of the first major users of the Claude AI.
It can also be a website.
What makes it special?
Apply Super.so to Notion and you have a website that’s super quick.
I could create a template that you can duplicate in a two clicks.
And/or a library of genre-based colour schemes.
It’s super (😉) customisable which could be a problem for fiddlers.
Connects my writing process to my website publishing directly so there’s much less copying and pasting. 💜
Tell you more?
I'm likely to explore all three, but let me know your favourite.
A World Building Exercise
Daily practice compounds into mastery.
Describe a fantastical city's skyline using vivid sensory details.
Share your answer in the comments for feedback.