AI Tools for Self-Publishing
AI tools assist with writing, editing, design, and formatting at various stages of the self-publishing workflow. This guide covers the tools available, their practical applications, and where professional services produce better results for print-ready books.
Writing and Brainstorming
Large language models (ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini) assist with:
- Brainstorming plot ideas, character names, and setting descriptions
- Outlining chapters or structuring nonfiction content
- Drafting rough copy for revision in your own voice
- Summarizing research material
- Writing back cover copy and book descriptions
AI-generated text tends toward generic phrasing. These tools work as brainstorming and drafting aids, not as substitutes for original writing.
Disclosure: Some book awards, review outlets, and retail platforms have policies regarding AI-generated content. Check the requirements for your genre and distribution channels.
Editing and Proofreading
AI editing tools catch surface-level errors that authors miss after multiple reads of their own manuscript:
- Grammarly checks grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style. The premium version offers tone detection and clarity suggestions.
- ProWritingAid provides reports on readability, sentence structure, pacing, dialogue tags, and repeated words. Popular among fiction writers for genre-specific analysis.
- AutoCrit analyzes fiction manuscripts for pacing, dialogue, word choice, and other elements against benchmarks from published novels.
These tools flag typos, comma splices, passive voice, and formatting inconsistencies. They do not replace professional editors for developmental editing (structure, pacing, character arcs) or substantive line editing (voice, style, nuance). Use AI editing tools during self-editing rounds before sending your manuscript to a professional editor.
For editing cost estimates, see Cost to Self-Publish a Book.
Cover Design
Visual AI tools (Midjourney, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, Canva AI) generate images from text prompts. Practical applications for authors:
- Generating concept images and mood boards to share with a designer
- Creating placeholder covers for advance reader copies
- Exploring color palettes and compositions
For the final print cover, professional design produces more reliable results. Print covers require specific technical specifications: correct trim dimensions, 0.125-inch bleed, spine width calculated from page count and paper stock, CMYK color mode, and 300 DPI resolution. A designer experienced in print production handles these specifications and understands genre conventions for typography, composition, and retail presentation. See the file preparation guide for print cover specifications.
Copyright: The legal status of AI-generated images varies by jurisdiction and continues to evolve. Questions about copyright ownership, commercial licensing, and training data remain unsettled. Research the terms of service for any AI tool you use for commercial cover imagery.
Origin Books offers cover design starting at $89. See Design Services for tier details.
Formatting Tools
Book formatting tools use automation and templates to produce print-ready files:
- Atticus produces print-ready PDFs and eBook files with customizable templates for fonts, spacing, chapter headings, and drop caps.
- Vellum (Mac only) produces print and eBook files with a range of formatting options.
- Reedsy Book Editor is a free online tool for formatting manuscripts into eBook and basic print-ready files.
These tools handle standard text-based book layouts. For layouts involving photographs, illustrations, tables, charts, or custom design elements, professional interior design produces more accurate results. See the file preparation guide for print-ready file specifications.
Origin Books offers interior design starting at $399. See Design Services for tier details.
When to Use AI vs. Professional Services
| Task | AI Tools | Professional Services |
|---|---|---|
| Brainstorming and outlining | Appropriate | Not needed |
| First-draft writing | Appropriate as aid | Not needed |
| Grammar and spelling checks | Appropriate | Not needed at this stage |
| Developmental editing | Not sufficient | Recommended |
| Line and copy editing | Supplementary | Recommended |
| Cover concept exploration | Appropriate | Not needed at this stage |
| Final print cover design | Not recommended | Recommended |
| Text-only interior formatting | Appropriate (Atticus, Vellum) | Optional |
| Complex interior layout | Not sufficient | Recommended |
For a full breakdown of self-publishing costs across all production stages, see Cost to Self-Publish a Book. For the step-by-step publishing process, see How to Print a Book: Getting Started.
Last updated: January 2026