Eric Maynard on AI, Author Branding & Creative Versatility

Join Paul Delos Santos as he speaks with author and creative Eric Maynard, whose versatile background informed his approach to writing and leveraging technology. Discover his insightful journey into streamlining the creative process with AI and building a strong online author presenceEpisode Notes:Eric shares how his natural inclination for creativity, from restaurant design to website building, led him to writing, often inspired by observations of small-town life.He discusses his writing journey, noting that his first book took "an ungodly amount of time" but subsequent books were quicker, thanks to developing consistent habits and leveraging tools.Eric highlights the role of AI tools like Grammarly in streamlining the editing process, particularly for grammar, allowing him to focus more on storytelling.He provides a nuanced view on AI in writing: seeing it as a powerful tool for research, ideation (e.g., image generation for fantasy worlds), and mundane tasks like summaries or outlines, but emphasizing that AI should not replace human creativity in fiction.A unique parallel is drawn between the intentional design of a restaurant kitchen (understanding flow, functionality, and purpose) and the structured creation of a book.Eric stresses the vital importance of an author's online presence, recommending a dedicated website (like WordPress) for control, direct sales, and audience connection, especially as social media platforms evolve.He advises authors to intentionally build their brand by aligning their content with their writing persona, acknowledging that one's brand can evolve over a career.Eric also discusses his other ventures, including a podcast for dads ("Call with Dads") and a learning community for homeschoolers ("HomeSor").