Interview: Allison Spooner on AI, Indie Publishing & Embracing New Tools as a Writer
Welcome to Brave New Frontier—a podcast where we talk about the rise of the self-made creator and the tools that are changing the way we work. In this episode, host Gabi sits down with indie author Allison Spooner to talk about her journey as a writer and self-publisher, how she overcame creative blocks, and her thoughts on AI and how it can be used responsibly in the creative industry.
Let’s dive in.
Getting Started: Allison’s Origin Story
Gabi: Tell me your origin story. What got you started on this journey to becoming a writer and indie author?
Allison: I love telling this story—I even use it in presentations. I’ve been writing since before I could even hold a pen. I dictated my first story to my mom. It was something like, “Today I hit my brother and now I want to sing Jingle Bells,” and she wrote it down for me!
I always knew I wanted to be a writer. In middle school, I wrote a novel. In high school, I kept writing. Then life happened: I got jobs, dealt with the real world. But I still dreamt of being published—of seeing my book in bookstores.
From Writer’s Block to Writing Again
Allison: At one point, I hit a really bad bout of writer’s block. I couldn’t come up with ideas, and I started to feel really discouraged. And then that started to mess with my identity. If I wasn’t writing, who was I? It was really hard.
I put so much pressure on myself. I told myself if I didn’t have a book or a trilogy, I wasn’t a writer. I came up with an idea, got far enough to think, “Maybe this should be a trilogy,” and that completely derailed me. It was just too much.
Discovering Writing Prompts and Word Limits
Allison: Eventually, I found a few things that helped: a local event called Fiction 440 and some online writing contests like NYC Midnight. Fiction 440 gave you three words and asked you to write a complete story in 440 words. Then you’d read it out loud at the event. It wasn’t a critique group—it was just fun.
NYC Midnight gave you a writing prompt and a tight deadline—you had to turn in flash fiction or short stories over a weekend. That added structure helped. Word limits, prompts, deadlines—it all helped take the pressure off.
Suddenly, I was finishing things. “Okay, now I have this story… and this story… and this one.” And eventually, I realized that even though I didn’t have a novel, I had a whole lot of little stories. That’s when I thought: “I have a book. I really do.”
Enter: Self-Publishing through KDP
Allison: Around that time, self-publishing was becoming easier. KDP had just shifted from Amazon Create to Kindle Direct Publishing. I realized I had stories people might enjoy—even if a traditional publisher wouldn’t want a short story collection. And I had the freedom to publish on my own.
So I collected my stories and published them through KDP. It felt amazing. I kept writing and released a second collection. Eventually, I came up with an idea about Peter Pan’s great-granddaughter—and that became The Lost Girl. That story was bigger than what I could tell in short-form, and it became my first novel.
Indie Publishing: Easier Than People Think
Gabi: How did you learn about indie publishing? Was it hard?
Allison: I think it’s easier than people think. Especially with KDP—whatever your thoughts on Amazon, it’s easy to use. They have all the instructions online, step by step.
But I get it—it’s still overwhelming. Sometimes, you don’t even know what to ask. But the information is there, and so are the communities. Facebook groups, TikTok—there are whole communities out there full of people willing to help. You can ask any question, and someone will have the answer.
My first book was a collection, so I kept everything very simple. Shorter stories, straightforward formatting, a basic cover. That’s something else to remember: you can keep it simple starting out.
On Budget, Growth, and Just Starting
Allison: People can get overwhelmed by all the things they think they have to do—swag, expensive covers, marketing plans. But when you’re starting, you don’t have to do it all at once. Just get the book out there. Keep it budget-friendly. Test things out.
And also, allow yourself to grow. I look at my first book now and see how much I’ve grown, but I’m still proud of it. You have to start somewhere.
What’s Next: Short Stories, Novels, and Audio Projects
Gabi: What are your plans? More novels, short stories, or something else?
Allison: All the things! I just finished recording the audio version of The Things We Cannot Change. It’s a fictionalized version of my own story, so I wanted to narrate it myself—even though I’m not a professional narrator. I added a little disclaimer, like “You’ll hear some imperfections, but this one’s mine.”
I’d also love to return to the Neverland world—even if it’s not a direct sequel. The family connections and themes still speak to me.
And yes, I’ll likely publish another flash fiction collection. I think I already have enough stories for one more!
Let’s Talk AI: Productivity, Not Creativity
Gabi: Now… let’s talk about AI. What’s your take on it?
Allison: Ah yes, the controversial part. I’m working on a suite of AI tools for writers—but with a very clear line: AI should not write for you. It’s not good at writing stories. Not truly.
I use AI as a productivity assistant—not a creative replacement. It can help with marketing tasks, brainstorming, and editing prompts. Not with storytelling.
AI as an Assistant, Not a Creator
Allison: A lot of us use AI for tiny tasks like short social posts or marketing copy. But if you use it for that opening spark, the idea may be AI-generated, but by the time I’m done rewriting and expanding, it becomes fully mine.
One of my tools highlights overused words. Another helps you track historical accuracy. You can have a “conversation” with it—say you’re writing about an 80-year-old woman, it can help you think through what her childhood might have looked like, and how that could affect her today.
It’s an assistant that helps you think like a writer. But it shouldn’t replace your voice.
Embracing New Tools Without Fear
Allison: Some people are afraid to use AI—and I understand that. But the truth is, if you don’t learn how to use it productively, someone else will. And if you’re in a competitive industry like marketing or publishing, they might pass you. Not because the AI is better than you, but because they learned to use the tool and you didn’t.
It’s like switching from a typewriter to a computer. If you stick with the old thing because change is scary, you’ll fall behind.
We need to learn this technology and find a way to make it serve us—so we can spend more time on the creative work that really matters.
Closing Thoughts
Gabi: I love your approach—AI as a way to free up space for real creativity. And these tools you’re working on sound amazing!
Allison: Yes, I’m looking for early users for the tool right now. People who want to try it, give feedback, maybe become affiliates. If you’re interested, follow me on TikTok—I talk about it there all the time.
And one more hard truth: AI won’t replace creatives. But it might replace people who refuse to learn tools that help them work more efficiently. Writers, marketers, and creatives need to embrace tech—not fear it.
Thanks to Allison Spooner for joining this conversation, and thank you for tuning in. If you want to hear more insights from authors blazing their own trail, check out the Brave New Frontier archives—or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.
Stay creative, friends!