Meadow Vale Publishing (2026)

13/08/2026

What Mark Wahlberg and Hunter S. Thompson Had in Common

Mark Wahlberg and Hunter S. Thompson reportedly followed two
of the most extreme and completely opposite daily routines
imaginable.

Wahlberg’s famous routine began at 2:30am.

Prayer at 2:45am.

Breakfast at 3:15am.

His first workout at 3:40am.

The rest of his day was carefully divided between meals, meetings,
family time, golf and another workout before going to bed at
7:30pm.

I feel exhausted just reading it!

Hunter S. Thompson’s legendary routine was rather different.

He reportedly woke at 3pm and spent the afternoon and evening
surrounded by ci******es, alcohol, drugs and increasingly chaotic
meals.

Then, at midnight, he finally began writing.

These accounts may have been exaggerated over the years, but
they reveal something important.

It wasn’t their routines that made either man successful.

It was what those routines produced.

Wahlberg didn’t build his career simply because he woke up at
2:30am.

He succeeded because he consistently took action.

Thompson certainly didn’t succeed because of his destructive
lifestyle.

He succeeded despite it because he eventually sat down and wrote.

Many people get this the wrong way round.

They spend weeks:

✅ Designing the perfect routine

✅ Rearranging their workspace

✅ Trying new productivity apps

✅ Creating detailed schedules

✅ Watching videos about motivation

But they never produce the work those routines are supposed to
support.

If you’re trying to build a side hustle or create a second income, your routine doesn’t need to look impressive.

It simply needs to produce something tangible:

An email sent.

A page written.

A product improved.

A potential customer contacted.

An offer made.

One small action that moves you forward.

Because a messy, imperfect routine that produces something is far
more valuable than a perfectly organised routine that produces
nothing.

You don’t need to become Mark Wahlberg.

And you definitely shouldn’t become Hunter S. Thompson.

You just need to find a routine you can repeat—and then do the
work.

Are you more productive early in the morning or late at night?

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11/08/2026

I Analysed 178 Email Subject Lines - Here’s What I Discovered

Recently, I looked back through a year’s worth of my newsletter data to find out which subject lines received the most opens.

I expected to uncover a neat formula involving the right number of words, a clear benefit and perhaps a little urgency.

But that wasn’t what I found.

The best-performing subject lines weren’t necessarily the most useful, important or informative.

They were the ones that created curiosity.

For example:

“Is This Cheating or Genius?”

“The £60 Bottle of Water: Bargain or Rip-Off?”

“Something Was Horribly Wrong This Morning”

These consistently attracted more opens than straightforward subject lines such as:

“How to Make Your AI Content R.I.C.H.”

Why?

Because the first examples leave an unanswered question in your mind and your brain naturally wants to discover the answer.

It led me to one important conclusion:

Your subject line isn’t there to explain what’s inside your email. It’s there to make someone want to open it.

The strongest subject lines are often built around:

✅ A surprising moment
✅ A difficult decision
✅ A conflict
✅ An unexpected result
✅ An unanswered question

So, instead of:

“How to Make Money With Substack”

You might write:

“Why Some Substack Writers Get Paid… and Others Don’t”

The subject is the same—but the second version gives you a reason to keep reading.

If your subject line feels safe, polished and predictable, it may simply blend into a crowded inbox.

If it feels intriguing, unusual or perhaps even slightly risky, you’re probably heading in the right direction.

Because you could write the most useful email in the world…

But none of that matters if nobody opens it!

Which of the subject lines above would you be most likely to open?

FOR More great weekly information join our FREE newsletter. Plus if you join today you’ll get a special gift. Go to

https://frommaybethistodonethat.co.uk/subscription

06/08/2026

Have you ever known exactly what to do… but still done absolutely nothing?

You’re not necessarily lazy, disorganised or too busy.

The real problem could be a lack of self-belief.

Motivation has three essential parts:

✅ Behaviour – the actions you need to take
✅ Benefit – the result you want
✅ Belief – your conviction that those actions can produce the result

Without belief, motivation eventually collapses.

But here’s the important part…

You don’t have to wait until you feel completely confident before starting.

Take one small action today.

Write down your idea. Research one product. Contact one possible customer. Complete one lesson and act on it.

Every small success gives you evidence that you’re capable of moving forward, and that evidence gradually builds genuine self-belief.

You don’t need to complete the whole journey today.

You just need to take the next step.

That’s how:

“Maybe I could do this…”

Becomes:

“I’m doing it.”

What small action could you take today to move closer to your goal?

Discover more practical ideas and encouragement here:
https://letsimproveyourlife.com/

04/08/2026

Which side hustle is really right for you?

There are countless ways to make an extra income—from digital products and freelance services to e-commerce, newsletters and online courses.

But an idea that works brilliantly for one person may be completely wrong for someone else.

Before choosing a side hustle, ask:

✅ Can an ordinary person genuinely make money from it?
✅ Is it affordable and accessible?
✅ Is the potential reward worth the effort?
✅ Can it grow into something bigger?
✅ Are real people already succeeding with it?
✅ Will it still be viable in a few years?
✅ Is it ethical and legal?

That’s what my newsletter, From Maybe This to Done This, is all about—helping you cut through the confusion, find an opportunity that suits your life and finally move from:

“Maybe I could try this…”

To:

“I’ve chosen it—and I’m doing it.”

Which side-hustle idea would you like me to investigate next?

Find more ideas and practical advice here:

https://letsimproveyourlife.com/

30/07/2026

AI Can Help You Write Faster… But There’s a Catch

We’ve reached an AI turning point…

For years, some people have regarded using AI to write content as lazy or even cheating.

But attitudes are beginning to change.

A recent Wall Street Journal report profiled Fortune journalist Nick Lichtenberg, who uses AI to help process information and produce articles more efficiently.

AI-assisted articles accounted for almost 20% of Fortune’s website traffic during the second half of 2025 and most were written by him.

But there’s an important lesson here…

Successful AI content isn’t produced by entering a quick instruction and publishing whatever comes back.

It still needs human ideas, experience, judgement and personality.

Otherwise, it becomes forgettable “AI slop”.

If you want AI to help you attract readers and grow a credible business, make sure your content is R.I.C.H.:

✅ Relevant – Does it address your reader’s real problems, interests or ambitions?

✅ Interesting – Does it include a story, surprising fact or fresh angle that captures attention?

✅ Credible – Have you supported your claims with genuine evidence and real-life experience?

✅ Helpful – Will your reader leave with a useful tip, practical action or valuable new insight?

AI can help you research, organise and communicate your ideas more quickly.

But it’s your experiences, opinions and understanding of your audience that make the result worth reading.

Use AI as a tool—not as a substitute for being human.
For more practical ideas to help you improve your life and start creating new opportunities, visit:
👉

28/07/2026

I Have a Confession to Make…

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been putting together a brand-new course.

When I first came up with the idea, I was genuinely excited.

I could picture exactly how it would help people…

A practical, step-by-step course that would take someone from
having a vague idea about making a second income to actually getting something up and running.

No complicated jargon.

No unnecessary theory.

And no assumption that you’re already a technical genius.

Just clear instructions, practical examples and manageable actions
that ordinary people can follow in their spare time.

It all sounded fantastic in my head.

Then I sat down and started writing out everything I needed to do.

The lessons…

The videos…

The worksheets…

The checklists…

The examples…

The design…

The sales page…

The emails…

And all the little technical jobs needed to put everything together
and deliver it properly.

As the list grew longer, my excitement began to disappear.

In its place came a slightly uncomfortable thought:

“What on earth have I taken on?”

Suddenly, the course didn’t feel like an exciting new project. It felt
enormous.

I was no longer picturing the finished course and the people it
could help.

Instead, I was staring at a mountain of work and wondering how I
was ever going to get through it all.

And yes, believe it or not, this still happens to me.

Even after years of writing, creating products and running an online
business, I can still feel overwhelmed when I begin something new.

Experience doesn’t make those feelings disappear completely.

Even the most seasoned athlete can feel nervous before a
championship race.

And even highly trained astronauts experience fear before a launch.

Scott Kelly, who spent almost a year aboard the International Space
Station, has described the moments before take-off as terrifying.

Now, I’m not suggesting that creating my new course is quite the same as being strapped to a rocket containing thousands of
gallons of explosive fuel…

Although there were a few moments when it felt surprisingly close!

But the point is that feeling nervous or overwhelmed doesn’t mean
you’re incapable.

It usually means you’re attempting something that matters to you.

The Big Mountain Problem

You may have experienced something similar yourself.

Perhaps you decided to create a product, start a side business or
learn a new skill.
At first, you felt excited.

You bought the course…

Downloaded the guide…

Registered the domain name…

Or filled a notebook with ideas.

But then the true scale of the project began to sink in.

You realised how many individual jobs were involved.

You felt as though you were standing at the foot of a huge
mountain with no equipment, no map and absolutely no idea how
you were going to reach the top.

Your poor brain attempted to process everything at once…

Every task…

Every possible risk…

Every skill you might need…

Every technical problem you could encounter…

And every single thing that could potentially go wrong.

That’s when the excitement often turns into overwhelm.

You find yourself staring at a blank screen and thinking:

“What was I THINKING?”

For many people, this is the moment when the project stalls.

They procrastinate for weeks, keeping themselves busy with jobs
that don’t really matter.

They change the logo seventeen times…

Watch more training videos…

Download more tools…

Research another business idea…

Or suddenly decide that the kitchen cupboards urgently need
reorganising.

Eventually, some people walk away completely.

“It’s not for me.”

“I don’t have the right skills.”

“I haven’t got enough time.”

And then, just as they’re about to settle down and focus…

“OOH! LOOK! A SHINY NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!”

And the whole cycle begins again.

So how do you get past the overwhelm and actually move forward?

Here are a few things that have helped me with my new course.

The Brain Dump

Before doing anything else, spend 15 to 20 minutes writing down
everything that’s swirling around in your head.

Write down all the jobs you think need completing…

The tools you might require…

The questions you need answering…

The things you don’t understand…

And every worry, doubt or concern you have about the project.

Don’t try to organise it at this stage.

Don’t worry whether it sounds sensible.

Just get everything out of your head and onto a large piece of
paper, a whiteboard or a blank document.

Think of it as tipping the entire contents of your brain onto the
page.

I did this with my new course.

I wrote down everything I thought needed to be created, checked,
recorded, designed, uploaded, connected and tested.

The list wasn’t exactly short!

But strangely, seeing it written down made me feel better.

When everything remains inside your head, the individual tasks
buzz around like angry bees.

They all seem urgent…

They all compete for your attention…

And they all appear to be part of one enormous, impossible
problem.

Once they’re on the page, however, you can begin dealing with
them individually.

If you still feel concerned, go through the list and write a possible
solution next to each worry.

For example:

“I’m not sure how to design the worksheets.”

Possible solution: Use a simple Canva template.

“I’m worried I won’t have time to finish everything.”

Possible solution: Block out two mornings each week to work solely
on the course.

“I don’t know how to explain this particular subject clearly.”

Possible solution: Research some examples and ask AI to help me
create a simple lesson structure.

“I’m unsure how to set up the technical side.”

Possible solution: Find a tutorial or ask someone with experience.

It doesn’t need to be the perfect answer.

Your solution might simply be:

“Look this up.”

“Ask an expert.”

“Watch a tutorial.”

Or:

“Find someone who can do it for me.”

The purpose is to show your brain that there is a possible way
forward.

Give the Project a Clear Destination

A surprising amount of overwhelm comes from not having a clearly
defined destination.

After all, it’s difficult to plan a route if you don’t know exactly where
you’re going.

“Create a new course” sounds like a goal.

But it’s actually quite vague.

What will the course contain?

Who is it designed to help?

What should someone be able to do after completing it?

And what does “finished” actually look like?

For my own project, I needed to move beyond the fuzzy idea of
simply creating a course.

I needed a more specific destination.

Something along the lines of:

“Create a practical, beginner-friendly course that gives ordinary
people a clear route towards launching a flexible second-income
project, with straightforward lessons, useful templates and
manageable weekly actions.”

That immediately gave me something more concrete to work
towards.

Once you can picture the destination, you can begin plotting the
route.

Break It Down into Small, Achievable Goals

Imagine being told:

“Write a 70,000-word novel.”

Unless you’re an experienced author, that probably sounds

terrifying.
But imagine being told:

“Write 200 words today.”

That feels far more manageable.

Yet if you wrote 200 words every day, you would have more than
70,000 words within a year.

The final result is exactly the same.

Only the way you approach it has changed.

This is how I’m now approaching my course.

Rather than telling myself:

“I need to create this entire course,”

I’ve broken it down into smaller jobs, such as:

Decide on the course outcome.

Finalise the module titles.

Outline the first lesson.

Write one worksheet.

Record one video.

Create one checklist.

Upload and test one module.

Each job moves the project forward without requiring me to tackle
everything at once.

You can do the same with almost any project.

Don’t sit down on Monday morning with the task:

“Start my new business.”

That’s far too big.

Instead, give yourself one clear action:

“Write down ten possible business ideas.”

“Research three competitors.”

“Create a simple description of my ideal customer.”

“Open a business email account.”

“Email one potential supplier.”

“Spend an hour learning the basics of Canva.”

Then put that task in your calendar.

Research into what psychologists call an “implementation
intention” suggests that we’re more likely to follow through when
we decide in advance what we’ll do, when we’ll do it and where it
will happen.

In other words:

“I’ll work on my course” is vague.

“I’ll outline lesson one at my desk between 7am and 8am on
Tuesday” is far more likely to happen.

Each completed task gives you a small win.

Those small wins create momentum.

And momentum builds confidence.

Now Eat the Frog!

When you feel overwhelmed, it’s very easy to hide inside
comfortable, low-priority tasks.

You might spend hours choosing colours, adjusting fonts or
organising folders…

While carefully avoiding the one task that genuinely needs to be
completed.

I call these important jobs “blockers”.

A blocker is something that must be done before the rest of the
project can move forward.

Perhaps you need to make a decision…

Learn a particular tool…

Record your first video…

Contact someone…

Or finally tackle a technical job you’ve been dreading.

Blockers are often difficult, boring, uncomfortable or unfamiliar.

That’s precisely why we avoid them.

But until you deal with them, the entire project remains stuck.

There’s a quote commonly attributed to Mark Twain:

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the
morning.”

In other words, identify the task you’re most tempted to avoid and
tackle it before you do anything else.

For me, that meant sitting down and finalising the complete
structure of the course.

Until I knew exactly what belonged in each section, I couldn’t
confidently move forward with the lessons, resources or recordings.

I had been tempted to start with some of the more enjoyable jobs.

But the course structure was the blocker.

Once I tackled it, everything else became much clearer.

So ask yourself:

“What is the one job I’m avoiding that would make everything else
easier?”

That is probably your frog.

And unfortunately, it isn’t going to eat itself!

Embrace the Nerves

Finally, remember that fear is a perfectly natural response to doing
something new.

It doesn’t mean you’re incapable.

It doesn’t mean you’ve chosen the wrong project.

And it certainly doesn’t mean you should give up.

It may simply mean that you’re stepping beyond what is familiar
and comfortable.

That’s where progress happens.

The important thing is not to wait until the nerves disappear before
taking action.

Take one small action while you’re still nervous.

Once you begin moving, the project usually becomes much less
intimidating.

Your Challenge

Is there a project you’ve been putting off because it feels too big?

Perhaps you want to start a small business…

Create a digital product…

Build a website…

Learn a new skill…

Or finally act on an idea that’s been sitting in the back of your mind
for months.

If so, your challenge is to complete a 20-minute brain dump.

Set a timer.

Write down every task, question, concern and worry associated with
the project.

Then circle the first small job you could realistically complete.

Don’t worry about reaching the summit today.

Just take the first step.

As for my new course…

The nerves haven’t disappeared completely.

But the mountain is now divided into a series of much smaller,
manageable climbs.

I’ve got my plan.

I’ve started ticking off the tasks.

And the course is moving forward.

I’ll tell you more about it very soon.

GO TO https://letsimproveyourlife.com/ for more exciting updates
and news

Steve

23/07/2026

The Dangerous Side of AI Nobody Is Talking About

Artificial intelligence has made creating an information product dramatically easier.

Today, you can use AI to help research a subject, organise your ideas, write a first draft and even produce the design.

Within a few hours, you could have an ebook, guide, newsletter or digital course ready to publish, without printing, storing or delivering a single physical product.

This means almost anyone can now create a home-based publishing business.

But there is a major problem…

The barriers to entry have come tumbling down.

And the floodgates have opened.

The internet is becoming overwhelmed with low-quality, AI-
generated material produced by people who appear to care more
about making a quick sale than helping the person who buys it.

It has been given a rather unflattering name:

AI Slop.

Much of it is bland, repetitive and instantly forgettable.

But in certain subjects, it can be far more serious than that.

It can be dangerous.

When AI Slop Becomes Dangerous

In 2025, the AI-detection company Originality.ai examined 558
books published in Amazon’s herbal-remedies category.

It concluded that 82% were likely to have been written using AI.

That does not prove that every book was entirely AI-generated.
Detection tools can make mistakes and should never be treated as
infallible.

Nevertheless, the scale of the findings was alarming, particularly
because these books were offering health-related information.

Liverpool medical herbalist Sue Sprung warned that a vast amount
of unreliable herbal research already exists and that AI may be
unable to distinguish useful evidence from worthless material.

That is the heart of the problem.

An AI system can produce a confident, convincing answer without
genuinely understanding whether the advice is accurate, safe or
appropriate for the person reading it.
That may be irritating if the subject is decluttering your wardrobe.

It is much more worrying if the subject is herbal medicine, mental
health or identifying poisonous mushrooms.

Imagine an AI-generated book recommending a dangerous plant,
an unsafe dosage or a remedy that interacts with someone’s
medication.

The words may look polished.

The cover may look professional.

The author may appear knowledgeable.

But none of that guarantees that the information is safe.

A Book That Should Never Have Been Published

In 2025, Richard Wordsworth went online to find out more after
being diagnosed with adult ADHD.

Amazon recommended a book about the condition.

However, when he began reading it, he discovered obvious
historical inaccuracies and some deeply troubling advice.

Among other things, the book suggested that a person’s friends
and family might never forgive the emotional damage caused by
their ADHD.

It also included a frightening claim about the likelihood of dying
early.

Imagine receiving that message shortly after being diagnosed.

Someone looking for reassurance, understanding and practical
support could instead be left feeling ashamed, frightened or
hopeless.

This wasn’t a poorly written article about an inconsequential
subject.

It was unverified mental-health advice being sold to potentially
vulnerable people.

That is where careless use of AI crosses an important line.

The Publisher Must Take Responsibility

The purpose of a good information product is to save the reader
time and uncertainty.

They buy it because they expect the creator to have:

Researched the subject

Compared different sources

Removed inaccurate or irrelevant information

Organised the useful material

Presented it clearly

Considered whether the advice works in real life

In other words, they are paying you to sift through the rubbish on
their behalf.

AI can help enormously with that work.

But it cannot accept responsibility for the finished product.

You must do that.

So, if you’re thinking about creating an ebook, newsletter, course or
membership using AI, I want to show you two things:

How to avoid publishing inaccurate, misleading or potentially
dangerous information.

How to make your content stand out from the growing tide of
generic AI material.

It starts with one important rule.

Think Like a Publisher

You don’t necessarily need to be the world’s leading expert to
create a useful information product.

You don’t need to be a professional writer.

And you don’t always need formal qualifications.

You can create value by researching, gathering, organising and
clearly presenting useful information to a particular audience.

But the moment you publish that information, you become
responsible for it.

You are the publisher.
Your name, or your business name, is attached to the product.

The buck stops with you.

That means making a reasonable effort to ensure:

The facts are accurate

The sources are credible

The advice is safe

Important limitations are explained

The recommendations can be applied in the real world

Professional input is obtained where necessary

Responsibility is not only an ethical issue.

It also makes good business sense.

If you want to build a profitable, long-term business, you need
people to trust you.

You want customers to feel that your product was worth buying.

You want them to leave positive reviews, recommend you to other
people and buy from you again.

That won’t happen if your products feel like unedited answers
copied directly from ChatGPT.

AI Is a Tool - Not the Publisher

None of this means you shouldn’t use AI.

Quite the opposite.

AI can be an outstanding assistant.

It can help you:

Explore a subject

Generate ideas

Develop an outline

Summarise complex material

Identify gaps in your draft

Improve the structure

Rewrite awkward sentences

Create checklists and examples

Suggest questions your reader may have

But it should assist your judgment, not replace it.

Think of AI as an enthusiastic junior researcher.

It can work remarkably quickly and occasionally produce brilliant
ideas.

But it can also misunderstand the task, overlook important context,
repeat outdated information or confidently invent something that
isn’t true.

You wouldn’t allow a junior researcher to publish a book without
checking their work.

You shouldn’t allow AI to do it either.

Treat Every Claim as Unverified

When reviewing an AI-generated draft, begin with this assumption:

Every factual claim is unverified until I can confirm it.

Pay particular attention to:

Statistics

Named studies

Books and research papers

Medical dosages

Measurements

Historical dates

Legal requirements

Financial rules

Quotes attributed to real people

Claims about named companies or individuals

AI systems can fabricate sources, confuse similar studies or provide
links that don’t support the claim being made.

The information may sound completely convincing.

That is precisely why it needs checking.

How to Check Your AI Research

Start by searching for the original evidence behind any important
claim.

Whenever possible, look for primary sources such as:

Government departments

Universities

Peer-reviewed research

Official statistics

Professional bodies

Regulators

Recognised medical organisations

The original company or organisation involved

Credible secondary sources can also be useful for quotes,
background information and reported events.

These might include Reuters, the BBC, the Financial Times, The
Guardian or a well-established specialist publication.

But do not assume that something is true simply because AI
provides a source.

Open the link.

Read the relevant section.

Check that the source actually supports the claim.

A real link attached to an inaccurate statement does not make the
statement accurate.

A Useful AI Fact-Checking Prompt

You can ask an AI tool to help identify claims that require checking.

Try this:

Review the article below and list every factual claim that needs
verification. For each claim, suggest the most appropriate primary
source and provide a link where possible. Clearly state when you
cannot verify something. Do not invent sources, quotations or links.

This can help you create a fact-checking list.

But remember: AI should help you identify what to check. It should
not be the final judge of whether its own work is accurate.

You could also use:

What are the most common misconceptions about this subject?
Does my draft repeat any myths, oversimplifications or potentially
misleading advice?

And for a more detailed review:

Review the following draft and assess:

Which claims require supporting evidence.

Which statements may be inaccurate, exaggerated or misleading.

Whether the advice is safe and reasonable.

Whether any important risks or limitations have been omitted.

Whether the marketing language could create unrealistic
expectations.

Explain your concerns clearly and recommend what I should verify
using authoritative sources.

Again, treat the result as a second opinion—not proof.

What If Your Sources Disagree?

Conflicting evidence does not necessarily mean you have reached a
dead end.

This is where you start adding genuine value.

Compare the sources and ask:

Which source is closest to the original evidence?

Which organisation has the strongest expertise?

Is the methodology clearly explained?

Is one source more recent?

Are both sources discussing the same group of people or
circumstances?

Is one source presenting an opinion as though it were a fact?

Are the sources genuinely contradicting each other—or referring to
different situations?

If reputable experts disagree, be honest about it.

You could write:

Research in this area is mixed, and experts have reached different
conclusions.

That is far more responsible than selecting whichever claim makes
your product sound most exciting.

It also helps your readers make an informed decision.

Where appropriate, include a list of your main sources at the end of
the article or product.

This demonstrates that you have carried out genuine research and
gives readers the opportunity to investigate further.

Subjects That Require Extra Care

Some subjects carry far greater risks than others.

These include:

Health, medicine and herbal remedies

Mental health, psychology and therapy

Legal advice

Financial advice

Supplements, dosages and drug interactions

Advice concerning children

Advice for elderly or vulnerable adults

Exercise programmes for people with health conditions

Anything involving significant physical or emotional risk

In these areas, unchecked AI-generated information can cause
genuine harm.

If you don’t have the necessary expertise, you may be better
avoiding the subject entirely.

If you do include this type of information, consult authoritative
sources and consider having the content reviewed by a suitably
qualified professional.

You should also use an appropriate disclaimer explaining the limits
of the material.

However, a disclaimer is not a magic shield.

Writing “This is not professional advice” does not excuse inaccurate,
reckless or dangerous content.

The underlying information must still be researched and presented
responsibly.

How to Stop Your Content Sounding Like AI

Accuracy is only half the challenge.

Your product also needs to be worth reading.

Content produced entirely by AI often lacks personality, experience
and genuine insight.

The warning signs can include:

Repetitive sentence structures

Predictable phrases

Generic claims without real examples

Unnecessarily long lists

Advice without practical steps

Excessive summaries and conclusions

A polished but oddly empty tone

Information the reader could find with a quick search

One familiar AI construction is:

“It’s not about X. It’s about Y.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with that sentence.

But when it appears repeatedly, along with dozens of other familiar
AI phrases, the writing starts to feel manufactured.

The most important problem is not that the content “sounds like
AI”.

It is that it offers nothing distinctive.

Add What AI Cannot Provide

Your personal input is what transforms a generic draft into
something useful and original.

Consider adding:

Stories from your own life

Lessons from your experiences

Mistakes you have made

Results you have achieved

Your personal opinion

Examples you discovered yourself

Relevant customer questions

Case studies

Practical observations

Humour

References to books, films or interests you genuinely enjoy

Details relating to your age, work, family or location

Your values and worldview

The advice you believe matters most

For example, thousands of people could ask AI to create an article
about starting an online business.

But only you can explain:

What confused you when you started

Which mistake cost you time or money

What finally made the subject click

Which shortcuts worked

Which shortcuts caused problems

What you would do differently today

That is your advantage.

AI can imitate a human voice.

It cannot live your life for you.

What If You’re Not a Confident Writer?

You don’t need to write beautifully.

Write your story or opinion in straightforward language and then
ask AI to improve the clarity.

For example:

Correct the grammar and improve the flow of the passage below.
Preserve my meaning, personality and informal British tone. Do not
add clichés, exaggerated claims or generic motivational language.
Do not remove personal details or rewrite it in a corporate style.

Always read the revised version carefully.

AI has a habit of polishing away the very quirks that make your
writing sound like you.

If a sentence doesn’t feel like something you would say, change it.

Be Careful With AI-Detection Tools

You may decide to check your finished product using a service such
as Originality.ai.

These tools can help flag passages that appear formulaic or heavily
AI-generated. Some also offer plagiarism and fact-checking
features.

But no AI detector is perfect.

Human writing can be incorrectly identified as AI-generated, while
edited AI content can sometimes pass as human.

So don’t treat an AI-detection score as a certificate of quality.

A low AI score does not prove that your content is accurate,
original, helpful or safe.

The most important tests are still:

Have you verified the facts?

Have you added genuine insight?

Is the advice responsible?

Does the content help the reader?

Are you comfortable putting your name on it?

Your Pre-Publication Checklist

Before publishing any non-fiction content, ask yourself:

✔ Can every important factual claim be traced to a credible source?

✔ Have I opened and checked the sources myself?

✔ Is the advice safe and practical in the real world?

✔ Have I explained important limitations or areas of uncertainty?

✔ Have I included at least one genuine human example, story or
observation?

✔ Does my own voice appear throughout the content?

✔ Have I removed generic, repetitive or padded material?

✔ Would I be comfortable with a knowledgeable professional
checking it?

✔ Have I used an appropriate disclaimer where professional advice
may be required?

✔ Would I feel happy recommending this product to someone I
care about?

That final question may be the most important of all.

The Golden Opportunity

The internet is filling up with cheaply produced AI material.

At first, that may look like bad news for anyone hoping to create
and sell information products.

But I believe it creates an opportunity.

As the amount of generic, unreliable content increases, trustworthy
human-led content becomes more valuable.

People will still pay for information that:

Saves them time

Solves a real problem

Is clearly explained

Has been properly checked

Includes genuine experience

Comes from someone they trust

The winners will not necessarily be the people who use AI to
publish the largest number of products in the shortest time.

They will be the people who use AI intelligently, while adding the
research, judgment, responsibility and personality that the
technology cannot provide by itself.

AI can help you create the product.

But you must remain its editor, publisher and responsible human
being.

The buck still stops with you.

There is much more I could share about creating responsible, high-
quality information products.

So I would be interested to know:

What are you most interested in publishing—ebooks, newsletters,
digital courses or membership content?

And what would you most like help with: research, writing, fact-
checking or the publishing process?

For more free advice go to https://letsimproveyourlife.com/

Meadow Vale Publishing

13/08/2026

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