How to Write 34 Books in a Year: Alison McBain on Prolific Writing & Fiction Ghostwriting

Join us for a coffee break with award-winning author, editor, and ghostwriter Alison McBain in this episode of Women Writing. Alison discusses her groundbreaking "Author Versus AI" project, where she completed 34 first-draft books in just 34 weeks without using any AI.

In this interview, you will learn:
-The Reality of Ghostwriting: How Alison has penned over two dozen books for clients and celebrity authors.
-Fiction vs. Non-Fiction: The unique challenges of "deep editing" and finding an author's authentic voice.
-Writing Community: Why local libraries and writer's guilds are your best friends for finding mentorship and critique groups.
-Authentic Marketing: Strategies for building an online presence that feels like a human connection rather than a sales pitch.
-Whether you are looking for writing productivity tips or trying to navigate the changing landscape of the publishing industry, Alison's journey offers a roadmap for staying creative and human-centric. Don't forget to subscribe to Women Writing on Substack for more inspiration.

Alison McBain’s human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her work has been nominated for both Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize, and she was recently shortlisted for the Alpine Fellowship in 2025. When not writing for herself, she’s a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called “Author Versus AI,” where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada. Website: https://www.alisonmcbain.com/

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