Guest Post: Real problems, Real Solutions. by Hank Quense

 

Real problems, Real solutions.

by Hank Quense 

Let's be honest. Writing a book isn't the only hard part. After you write it, then you have to publish the thing and, worst of all, get somebody to buy it. Somewhere along that road, every writer hits a pothole. Usually several. Sometimes the whole road caves in.

I know this because I've been in several cave ins since I started writing stories back in the last century (that sounds better than "a long time ago"). I've published plenty of short stories plus a pile of fiction and nonfiction books, all self-published. I've made the mistakes so you don't have to.

That's why I added a new feature to my website: Real Problems, Real Solutions. It's a collection of the problems writers and authors actually wrestle with, along with practical answers. These answers are based on my own experience, not on advice from some guru who's never uploaded a manuscript.

The feature has three sections.

Fiction Problems

This covers the story stuff, from "I have an idea, now what?" to "I'm stuck in the middle" and everything in between.

•       Is your plot flat?

•       Do readers say your characters are dull?

•       Do all your characters sound the same? (Hint: they may be too much alike.)

•       Confused about Point of View?

•       Wondering if you really need a character arc? (You do.)

Each problem gets a straight answer, plus a pointer to more in-depth content.

Self-Publishing Problems

Self-publishing a book, especially your first one, means lots of research. That's where the trouble starts: who can you trust on the web? Some of the information out there is accurate, some is outdated, and some is just plain wrong. Then there are the scam artists and vanity presses waiting to separate you from your money. This section covers:

•       alternatives to self-publishing

•       KDP vs. Draft2Digital vs. IngramSpark

•       whether you need an ISBN

•       what you need before you upload

•       a ten-step process for getting from manuscript to published book

Book Marketing Problems

The amazing thing about book marketing is the huge number of ways to spend — and waste — money. This section tackles :

•       keywords

•       blurbs,

•       book descriptions iew

•       targeting

•       Author Central

It also covers the most important piece of marketing you have: your book's landing page. There's even advice on what to do first when your marketing budget is about the size of a cup of coffee. And if you've wondered why your social media campaigns don't sell books, I explain that too. (Short version: social media sells clicks, not books.)

Don't See Your Problem?

Send me an email and I'll answer it. If you need more hands-on help,  hankquense (at) icloud (dot) com.  I also offer coaching for self-publishing and book marketing. 

So the next time you're staring at a stalled manuscript, a publishing decision that has you baffled, or a marketing plan that's going nowhere, stop by Real Problems, Real Solutions. Odds are your problem used to be my problem, and I've already done the hard work of figuring out the fix.

Check it out here. [(https://hankquenseauthor.org/real-problems--real-solutions)

Early in his writing career, Hank was strongly influenced by two authors: Douglas Adams and his Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. Happily, Hank has never quite recovered from those experiences. Hank writes humorous and satiric sci-fi and fantasy stories. He also writes and lectures about fiction writing, self-publishing, book marketing and author business. He has published 21 books and 50 short stories along with dozens of articles. His two daughters and five grandchildren live in nearby towns in northern New Jersey.

Book Review: Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Writing Assistant by Hank Quense

 

Hank Quense is back with another Beginner's Guide to assist writers. The Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Writing Assistant is a helpful resource for writers who find AI perplexing or for writers unsure how artificial intelligence can enhance their business. In less than 30 pages, Quense breaks down:

• How to use and talk to AI
• How to plan your book with AI
• How to use AI for drafting and revising
• Ways AI can help you decide how to publish your book
• Helpful ways to market your book using AI
• How you can use AI to build your writing business
• The ethics and boundaries of using AI

Quense's Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Writing Assistant touches upon important tips and considerations for writers who use artificial intelligence in their business. Where the author has written a more comprehensive title on a topic, the reader will find helpful links to those additional resources. As an author of more than 20 books and dozens of short stories, Quense has the experience, a conversational and pleasant style, and skills to guide you along your writing journey. Add the Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Writing Assistant to your library today!

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H99N32WK
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Strange Worlds Publishing
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 17, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1.5 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 25 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8996147939

I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions. I have not been compensated in any way. 

Guest Post: Using Artificial Intelligence by Hanke Quense, Author of The Author's AI Toolkit

 

Hank Quense was born and raised in Jersey City NJ. He attended St Peters Prep High School and Newark College of Engineering where he received a BS in Mechanical Engineering.

After college, he went to work for Western Electric engineering telephone equipment into central offices. Later, Western Electric was absorbed into AT&T, and Hank was transferred to a new sales organization as an account rep serving New York Telephone Company. He was later promoted to Sales Manager.

In 1996, he took an early retirement offer to become a fiction writer. His efforts at short story writing led to sales of over 40 short stories. His first two novels were published by a small indie press. This experience was so distasteful, he looked into self-publishing, started his own imprint, Strange Worlds Publishing, and self-published more than 20 books, both fiction and non-fiction. Hank’s short stories and novels are humorous or satiric sci-fi and fantasy. His non-fiction covers fiction writing, self-publishing, book marketing and author business.

Hank’s newest project is to create a website filled with content based on his years of experience in fiction writing, self-publishing and book marketing.

Using Artificial Intelligence

Writing often bogs down in unexciting chores that have to be done.  Editing and revision are two examples.  Then there are the times when the writer is stymied as to what to write next.  Another painful experience is to get stuck in the middle of a scene.  Your hero is in big trouble and you can’t figure a way to drag her out the mess.

I’ve faced all of these issues in the past, but now I use an Artificial Intelligence app to help me speed through the roadblocks.  In short AI allows me to spend more time on creative activities and less on mundane chores.

I use Perplexity.AI as my writing buddy.  The trick with using an AI app is how you write the query that gives the AI app its instructions. If you write a generic query, the AI will respond with a generic reply.  To get a useful response you have to write a detailed query.

That last paragraph may be a bit puzzling to those who aren’t familiar with using AI so I’ll provide a list of AI queries that have been tested (by me) to provide useful output. These queries can be used in a variety of AI apps such as Perplexity, ChatGPT, Notebook LM or even the AI feature built into apps like Craft or Fabric or Notion.

Research and brainstorming queries:

Research query: Show me a list of websites that have information on {topic}

Outline query: Provide an outline for the {book/research paper/website} {insert description}

Brainstorming query: Brainstorm the following  {insert topic} and give me a list of six ideas for an {article/story/project}

Editing and revision queries:

Editing query: Edit the following piece and highlight your changes: {paste text here}

Editing and Show-Don’t-Tell query: Edit the following piece, highlight your changes and point out examples where show-don’t-tell can be used {paste text here}

Rewrite query: Rewrite this {insert text} two different ways: one in a light-hearted tone, one in a pompous tone.  (yes, you can tell the AI what tone to use!)

Stuck Query: My character is {describe situation}. Tell me {number} of ways he {describe solution}

I don’t restrict my AI usage to writing and research.  I also use it for marketing activities.  Here are a few typical queries.  In these cases, I use a storyline or short synopsis as part of the detailed query.  This gives the AI the background information it needs to respond properly.

One important comment about these responses.  I consider them to be first drafts and revise them, sometimes quite extensively.  Still, having a first draft to work on saves a lot of time, effort and creativity.

Marketing queries:

Targeting query: My novel is a {insert genre} story. How can I reach {enter genre} readers rather than the general population

Social media posts: {Insert storyline} write 5 social media posts for {insert social media platform} Use keywords where appropriate.

Blog posts: {insert storyline} write {insert length} blog post. Use keywords where appropriate

Hashtags query: {insert storyline} Generate list of appropriate hashtags

 

These queries are taken from my book, The Author’s AI Toolkit.

 

——————————

Website: hankquenseauthor.com

Book Review: The Author's AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication by Hank Quense

 

If you are looking for a useful resource to help you harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and make it work for you throughout the numerous stages of a writing project, then The Author's AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication by Hank Quense is a must read. 

With decades of publishing experience, Quense takes you through how to effectively use AI during all stages of the process, from the planning stages of a book all the way through to marketing it. Along the way, he shares how to craft your AI queries to obtain better results, provides numerous examples of AI responses, talks about what writers should do when using AI, and more! 

The Author's AI Tool Kit shows writers how remarkable a tool AI is when used correctly and ethically. Quense packs tons of information into this book. Writers should consider this a vital tool for their writing toolbox. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DV4M13BH
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Strange Worlds Publishing (March 1, 2025)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
• Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 101 pages

I received a digital copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I  have not been compensated for in any way.  

Book Review: Creating Your First Novel by Hank Quense

 

If you're thinking of starting your first novel, then you need to pick up a copy of Creating Your First Novel by Hank Quense. 

This comprehensive guide brings you through the entire process of how to approach your first novel: planning, writing, creating your author business, publishing, and marketing. Each section is broken down into specific topics so you can take things a step at a time. The e-book version has helpful links to resources and links that allow you to click back to the main Table of Contents or to a particular lesson or topic within a section. 

In order to properly review Creating Your First Novel, I followed Quense's lesson plans a step at a time as if I were attempting my first novel. What a great approach he has. After writing more than 30 books, Quense has a wealth of knowledge to share, and he doesn't hold back anything. In his no-nonsense, congenial way, he talks about what works, why it works, and mistakes he has stumbled over along the way. Having followed his process, it's possible he might have converted this total panster. 

Having spent years promoting books online, I appreciate Quense's strategic approach to marketing. This isn't a throw it at the wall and see if it sticks aspect of your writing business, so you need to do your best to meet your readers where they are. Quense also has a book dedicated solely to marketing if you want more information on that topic. You can find it here.

Whether you're embarking upon writing your first novel or just looking for a sound writing process, you will want to read Creating Your First Novel by Hank Quense. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJ7ZPYCZ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Strange Worlds Publishing (October 15, 2023)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 15, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 6106 KB
• Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
• Available for pre-order now!

I received a free digital copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Infographic Guide to Creating Stories by Hank Quense

Visual learners such as myself will be thrilled to know the process of writing a book has been broken down into a series of infographics that cover the nuts and bolts of how to create a story. 

Infographic Guide to Creating Stories by Hank Quense helps you get started by talking about a story's components, then moves on to setting, character building, plotting, and designing a scene. You'll learn about storytelling, voice, and putting all the pieces together. Quense also provides extras at the end you'll find helpful.

This is a unique and engaging way to help would-be writers get off the ground. Infographic Guide to Creating Stories is loaded with tons of information. Because of the infographics, it is easy to find exactly what you're looking for. The author was wise to make these infographics colorful, so they catch the eye.

Even though I am an experienced writer, I found new methods and resources within this book's pages that I look forward to using in the future. 

If you desire to write, but aren't sure how to go about it, Infographic Guide to Creating Stories by Hank Quense is a fabulous resource to help you understand the process of writing and propel you forward.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09PP6NYDZ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Strange Worlds Publishing (January 5, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 119 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985309713
• Purchase here!

I received a free digital copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

How to Create a Trailer for your Book by Hank Quense, Author of How to Self-Publish and Market at Book

If you use a Mac computer, you have all the software you need to create a trailer.  How to use that software is described below.  If you have a PC, you can follow the details but you’ll have to figure out what software to use.  A web search will reveal lists of programs available.

On your Mac, you’ll use iMovie and Keynote to develop the trailer.  iMovie is a powerful software program that can be used to make a trailer and other video productions.  Keynote is a presentation program similar to Powerpoint.

To get started you need to create a series of slides describing your book project.  I’ll use a novel in my example.  Besides the body of the slide (what will show on the screen) use the Presenters Notes to write the script you will record later on.  Try to keep the trailer length less than two minutes.

Here is a workable set of Keynote slides you can use to build a simple trailer:

    ◆      Slide 1: Show the book cover image in the body and paste your book blurb in the Presenters Notes.

    ◆      Slide 2: Create several bullet items about your protagonist.  Write about the character’s motivation in the notes

    ◆      Slide 3: Create several bullet items about the antagonist.  Write about the character’s motivation in the notes

    ◆      Slide 4: List the main plot events: Write about how the two characters engage in conflict.

    ◆      Slide 5: List book buyer sites.  The trailer can’t have active links and you don’t have any right now

    ◆      Slide 6: Book cover image.  Write a call to action. (Buy now!  Don’t miss this thrilling whatever! Etc.)

Once you complete the Keynote presentation, export the slides as images.  This will produce a folder with a png (or jpg) file for each slide.

Open iMovie and start a new movie.  Now drag the slide images into the middle of the iMovie screen.  Next, drag each image into the bottom part of the iMovie screen.  Each image you drag down there will be set to show for 4 seconds.  That’s the default value.

For the next step, you’ll record an audio track to go with each image.  Highlight the first slide (It should be the book image).  The image will also show up in the small viewer on the upper right.  Click on the microphone.  You’ll get a countdown clock.  Record the message.  Put some enthusiasm into it.  Your audio track will appear under the image on the bottom.  You’ll notice the audio is much wider than the image.  Drag the right side of the image to increase the time the image shows on screen.  Make it the same length as the audio clip.

If you put the cursor over the first image/audio clip and press the space bar, iMovie will play the video.  Press the space bar again to stop the playback.

Now record all the other audio scripts and adjust the images to match the audio. 

In the viewing screen (upper right) you’ll notice the current slide is partially grayed out.  iMovie, by default, tries to make the video look sexy by moving the slide viewing area around.  To change this and make the slides static, click on the ‘fit’ button.  Do this for each slide. 

Play the video several times (use the space bar) and make adjustments as necessary.

When you’re satisfied with the video, click on ‘file’ (in the toolbar) and ‘share’.  Select ‘file’ and pick a place to stash the movie on your computer.  iMovie will work for a few seconds (or minutes, depending on how long the video is), and the final trailer in mp4 format will be ready for use.

Click on the video and Quicktime Player (another Mac only program) will open and show the trailer.

Once you have the trailer ready to go, you can upload it to YouTube, embed into your website, and post it online.   If you upload it to YouTube, click on the ’share’ button and grab the link to the video.  Paste the link everywhere so others will find the trailer.

Once the book is published and you have your ‘buy links’, go back to YouTube and put the links into a comment text box.

~ ~ ~

This article was taken from my material in my new book, How to Self-publish and Market a Book.

Here is the book blurb:

Are you considering self-publishing your first book?  Naturally, you have questions and concerns.  This book has your answers.  It integrates both the publishing and the marketing to provide you with a complete project plan to market your book while you publish it.

The book is available at:

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2Zbrx54

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2Y2rewE

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/949789

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ltLzbU

And other online book sellers

Hank Quense writes humorous and satiric sci-fi and fantasy stories. He also writes and lectures about fiction writing and self-publishing. He has published 19 books and 50 short stories along with dozens of articles. He often lectures on fiction writing and publishing and has a series of guides covering the basics on each subject. He and his wife Pat usually vacation in another galaxy or parallel universe. They also time travel occasionally when Hank is searching for new story ideas.

Links? You want links? Here you go:

Hank’s website: http://hankquense.org/wp

 Hank's Facebook fiction page:

https://www.facebook.com/StrangeWorldsOnline?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hanque99

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanque/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hankquense/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3002079.Hank_Quense

Book Spotlight: Creating Stories by Hank Quense

My recently published Creating Stories has everything I’ve leaned about writing stories over the last twenty years.  Below is an extract on setting.

Learn more at Amazon.

BOOK EXCERPT

Setting can do much more than describe the backdrop for the story.  It should convey and define the time period and customs of the characters.  It can set up the reader's expectations about the type of story he is about to read.  It can start the reader's image-building process.

Consider your characters acting out the story on a stage.  Behind the characters, instead of the scenery typical with plays, there is nothing but white panels.  The people who paid money to see the play would be dismayed by the lack of scenery, so too your readers will not like it if your story doesn't have the appropriate setting to back up the characters.

As with the plot and other story development elements, the setting must dovetail with the overall story design.  As an example, a Medieval setting won't work if the bad guy uses an automatic pistol (unless the bad guy is also a time traveler).  Thus the setting places limits on what the author can do and can't do, so it's best if the author has the setting developed before the work gets too far along.

The setting used in your story has to be accurate.  Don't try to set a story in Manhattan's Central Park if you haven't been there.  Likewise, the French Quarter in New Orleans is unique and shouldn't be used by anyone who hasn't walked the narrow streets.

Here is an example of what can happen.  I've lived and worked all my life around New York City.  The Hudson River is over a mile wide here and the East River is nearly a half-mile wide.  If you haven't been to Dublin, you may assume the Liffey River, which runs through that city, would be of similar size.  It isn't.  The Liffey is rather small compared to the rivers around Manhattan.  Making the Liffey a wide river will destroy your credibility with those readers who have seen the Liffey. 

On the other hand, if you develop an imaginary location, you can make the city's river as wide as you want.  Similarly, if you use a backdrop of a historical period in the distant past, none of your readers will have been there, but you'll still have to do research to get the setting accurate. You can't use St. Paul's Cathedral with its great dome in London right after William the Conquerer became king of England.  St Paul's wasn't built yet.

The setting of the story should be conveyed early to the reader, the earlier the better.  Ideally, the opening paragraph in a short story or the first few pages in a longer work should give an indication of the type of story the reader is about to encounter.  Is it a mystery set in Victorian London?  Is it a story of survival set in war-torn Iraq?  Are those vicious aliens on their way to Earth?  The reader expects and has a right to know this stuff as early as possible.  Don't disappoint the reader.  She may put the book down and never open it again.

An effect of establishing the setting is the placing of limitations on the author and the characters.  For the author, a space ship means he shouldn't have the characters using swords and landline phones since these artifacts are from bygone eras.

Your characters are also limited.  A character in the Old West can't have knowledge of computers or smart phones, unless he's a time-traveler.

If you write a story that uses weapons from a different era or knowledge not available at that time, you’d better have a good reason why it makes sense.  You don't have to convince yourself, you have to convince the reader.

~ ~ ~

Praise for Creating Stories by Hank Quense

Mary Blowers: author and blogger
Hank Quense has penned a masterpiece in Creating Stories.
~ ~ ~
Joylene Butler: Author of Matowak Women Who Cries:
This book is a true treasure and needs to be in the library of every writer worldwide.
~ ~ ~
Mark Cain, best-selling satirist, author of the CIRCLES IN HELL series
Developing a method for writing a successful story -- a system that can be understood and utilized by another writer -- is an intimidating challenge, yet Hank Quense has managed it. There are other ways to approach story writing, but none likely are better or more understandable than Quense's methodology. Creating Stories is highly recommended as a how-to guide for the novice writer and as a reminder of best practices for the experienced author.
~ ~ ~
Mark Henderson: British author of Cruel and Unusual Punnishments
Hank doesn't purport to tell reader how to produce creative ideas, but offers guidance on how to turn those ideas into readable fiction.
I recommend Creating Stories unreservedly to fiction writers everywhere.
~ ~ ~
Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite: 5 stars
For the wannabe writer who doesn't know where to start, this is the book for you.
A good story must be told with care and this requires consideration and planning on the part of the author. The whole point of writing a story is to capture the attention of readers. Hank helps novice and experienced writers perfect their writing and tell a good story.

Hank Quense writes humorous and satiric scifi and fantasy stories. He also writes about fiction writing and self-publishing. He has published 18 books and 50 short stories along with a few dozen articles. He often lectures on fiction writing and publishing and has a series of guides covering the basics on each subject. He is currently working on a series of two humorous novels that take place in the Camelot era.

He and his wife, Pat, usually vacation in another galaxy or parallel universe. They also time travel occasionally when Hank is searching for new story ideas.

Social media links:

Hank's blog: http://hanquense.com/wp
Strange Worlds website: http://strangeworldspublishing.com/wp
Follow him on twitter: http://twitter.com/hanque99
Facebook fan pages: https://www.facebook.com/StrangeWorldsOnline