A book gets clients to come to you pre-positioned to buy. As the author, you get instant expert status and can command higher prices.
You no longer copy and paste the template chapter by chapter. You set up an AI Project in ChatGPT or Claude that holds your instructions, the template, and all your client proof, then work through the book one chapter at a time.
Don't overthink it. Most people never read past the first chapter. A strong title, a great cover, a sharp opening, and real proof from your clients do the heavy lifting.
Gather your source files
The quality of your book is decided here. Put these in one folder.
No proof, no book
If you have fewer than three real client stories, stop here and go get them. Without proof, the AI writes a polished, generic book that sounds like everyone else's.
Set up your AI Project
One Project holds your instructions and files for every chat.
The template alone is about 40,000 words. In a single chat, the AI loses track of your instructions and files as the conversation grows. A Project keeps everything attached, so you start a fresh chat for each chapter without re-uploading anything.
ChatGPT
Sidebar, then Projects, then New Project. Add your files, open Project settings, and paste the instructions below.
Claude
Projects, then Create Project. Paste the instructions into Project Instructions and upload your files to Project Knowledge.
You are my book strategist, ghostwriter, and editor. I run a digital marketing agency and I'm publishing a book for my niche to position myself as the authority and generate qualified leads. The book is a lead-generation asset first, a book second: every chapter should make a business owner in my niche think "these people get my business, I should talk to them." The project files include our book template. Use its structure and core frameworks as the foundation, but rewrite it so it reads like it was written from scratch for my niche, in my voice, with my clients, and with marketing that's current as of today. ABOUT ME AND MY AGENCY Agency name: [ ] My name / title: [ ] Niche (be specific, e.g. "residential roofing contractors," not "home services"): [ ] Typical client (size, revenue, locations, geography): [ ] Core services: [ ] Signature offer or process (if named): [ ] What makes us different: [ ] Years in business / clients served / notable numbers: [ ] Book call to action (e.g. "Book a free marketing audit at [URL]"): [ ] ABOUT MY IDEAL READER Biggest marketing frustrations: [ ] Mistakes I see them make over and over: [ ] What they've been burned by: [ ] Industry terms, seasonality, or quirks that matter: [ ] SOURCE FILES - Book template: the structure and frameworks to adapt. - Case studies and testimonial transcripts: my proof. Use real stories, names (only if the file shows the client approved it), and numbers from these files. - Voice sample: match my vocabulary, rhythm, and phrases. Write in first person as me. WRITING STANDARDS - Practical, plain language, short paragraphs. Written for a busy business owner, not a marketer. No fluff, no hype words. - Every tactic must reflect current best practice. Before writing a chapter, check what has changed recently in that channel. Make sure the book reflects the current reality of AI-powered search (Google AI Overviews / AI Mode, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and how businesses get recommended by AI assistants), Google Business Profile and local ranking, Local Services Ads where relevant to my niche, reviews and reputation, short-form video, paid social, call tracking and attribution, AI chat/voice for lead response, and speed-to-lead. Cut anything outdated from the template. - Chapter format: open with a short, specific story from my niche (from my case studies when possible), then teach the framework with niche-specific examples, then a "Real Results" section with one of my case studies, then 3 to 5 action steps the reader can take this week. RULES - NEVER invent case studies, client names, results, quotes, or statistics. If you need proof I haven't provided, insert [NEED: description] and keep going. - Any industry statistic must be real and current; name the source so I can verify it. - Don't mention the template or that AI was used. - Tell me directly when my positioning, offer, proof, or CTA looks weak. - Work in the phases I request. Wait for my approval before moving on.
Proof, title, outline
Start a new chat inside the Project for each phase.
Phase 0: Build your Proof Bank
Go through every case study and testimonial transcript in the project files. Extract every usable client story into a Proof Bank with this format for each: - Client type / location - Situation before working with us - What we did - Results (with numbers) and timeframe - Best verbatim quote (under 40 words) - Missing info I should get Rank them from strongest to weakest. Don't invent or round up any numbers.
Save the output as a file (for example, "Proof Bank.docx") and upload it to the Project. Every chapter draws from it.
Phase 1: Intake check
Review the project instructions and all files. Ask me everything you need to write an excellent book for my niche: gaps in my positioning, reader insight, proof, or story. Ask all questions in one numbered batch. Don't start writing.
Add your answers to the Project instructions so every future chat has them.
Phase 2: Title and outline
1. Give me 7 title and subtitle options specific to my niche. Each should promise a clear outcome (more calls, more jobs, more patients, etc.). Recommend one and explain why. 2. Give me a chapter-by-chapter outline adapted from the template for my niche. Cut or merge anything outdated or irrelevant, and add chapters where current tactics demand it. 3. For each chapter, name the Proof Bank story that fits best.
Proven title starting points:
- The Complete Guide to Digital Marketing for [Niche]
- How to WIN with Digital Marketing for [Niche]
- The [Niche] Owner's Guide to Digital Marketing
- The Ultimate [Niche] Marketing Plan
Write the chapters
One chat per chapter. Give feedback before moving on.
Phase 3: Each chapter
Write Chapter [#]: [Title] from the approved outline. Follow the chapter format and rules in the project instructions. Use [Proof Bank story] for the opening and/or Real Results section.
Where to spend your effort
The Introduction, Chapter 1, and the closing chapter are the pages people actually read. Push back on the AI until those are great.
Phase 4: Close and launch assets
1. Write the closing chapter: recap the plan and make a direct, natural case for working with us, ending with my call to action. 2. Write: short and long author bio, back-cover copy, Amazon book description (hook + bullet points), 7 Amazon keywords, 2 Amazon category suggestions, and a one-page "Book a Call" page for the back of the book.
Human edit
Your name is on the cover. Make it sound like you.
Robert Greenshield
Josh's ghostwriter, referred by Frank Kern
Design and build the interior
Design the look visually, then build the print-ready file.
6A: Design the look in Claude Design
No tech skills needed. Open Claude Design, attach your first chapter plus your logo and brand colors, and paste:
Design the interior style for my business book, "[Book Title]," printed at 6" x 9". Use the attached chapter as sample content. Show me two different design directions, each with: - Title page - Chapter opener page - A two-page body spread with a pull quote from a client - A "Real Results" case study box - An "Action Steps" box - About the Author page and a call-to-action page with a QR code placeholder Professional, clean, easy to read in print, and consistent with my brand colors. Body text should look like a real published book, not a website.
Pick a direction, refine it on the canvas until you love it, and export the sample pages as a PDF. That PDF is your style guide.
6B: Build the full book file
Option 1: Claude Code
Use Claude Design's "Handoff to Claude Code," or open Claude Code in a folder with your manuscript and style guide PDF. Paste the prompt below.
Option 2: Hire it out
Send your manuscript and style guide PDF to Najdan Mancic (details below). A finished style guide makes the job faster and gets you exactly the look you picked.
Turn my final manuscript ([filename]) into a professionally typeset book for Amazon KDP, using [style guide PDF / the handed-off design] as the style guide for fonts, colors, chapter openers, pull quotes, and boxes. Paperback interior (PDF): - 6" x 9" trim, no bleed, margins per KDP's current guidelines for the final page count (gutter increases with page count) - Fonts embedded - Front matter: title page, copyright page (© [year] [name], all rights reserved), table of contents with page numbers, optional dedication - Each chapter starts on a right-hand page - Running headers (book title on left pages, chapter title on right), page numbers, none on chapter openers or blank pages - Client quotes as pull quotes; "Real Results" and "Action Steps" in their styled boxes - Back matter: About the Author, and a call-to-action page with a QR code linking to [URL] - Render every page to images and visually check it. Fix widows, orphans, awkward breaks, and overflows. Kindle: a reflowable EPUB with a linked table of contents. When done, tell me the final page count so my cover designer can size the spine.
Najdan Mancic
Iskon Book Design, print and eBook formatting
About $1,500
Cover design
Your title and cover are the most important marketing in the book.
Use 99designs book cover design (about $499) to get a range of professional concepts to choose from.
Order matters
Spine width depends on page count. Finish the interior in Step 6 before you order the full wrap.
Publish on Amazon KDP
Kindle and paperback, then 100 author copies.
Two KDP settings to get right
Publishing rights: select "I own the copyright." Your rewritten book, with your voice and your case studies, is your original work. Do not select public domain. It limits royalty options and KDP Select eligibility, and Amazon blocks public-domain books that are too similar to others. This replaces our old instruction.
AI content question: answer honestly. KDP separates AI-generated content (must be disclosed) from AI-assisted content (you wrote or substantially edited it and AI helped; no disclosure required). Your own stories, case studies, and heavy personal editing are what make it yours.