They Blocked His Book—And Didn’t Tell Him Why: AI, New Digital Rules, And Indie Authors

It started with a congratulations email.

Dr. Keyimani Alford, author of Self-Publishing from Scratch: A Practical Guide for Authors with Insights for Black Voices, received six notices from Draft2Digital confirming that his eBook was published and live across major platforms. Less than 48 hours later, a final message arrived — his title had been blocked. No warning. No clear reason. Just a label: “PLR / non-unique.”

In follow-up emails, the reason shifted: first, the topic (“self-publishing”) was oversaturated; later, the content was described as potentially reused or recycled. Yet, as Dr. Alford documented in detail, his work was 100% original — built from lived experience and written specifically for Black and underrepresented authors seeking equitable access to publishing.

This isn’t just one author’s story. It signals a major shift in digital publishing policy.

The new crackdown: “Oversaturated” books

Draft2Digital, one of the largest global aggregators for indie authors, recently expanded its Content Guidelines to address the growing flood of repetitive or AI-generated material. Among the new clauses:

“We will not accept content that is excessively reused, recycled, or repeated within or across multiple books... including content generated or assisted using automated means or systems.”— Draft2Digital Content Guidelines (Oct 2025)

The company also introduced a quiet new filter: “Oversaturated Subject Content.”This category allows distributors and retail partners to block entire topics that have become “over-used” — even when the author’s work is original.

Affected subjects include:

• Generic self-help or affirmation books

• How-to guides on trending niches (crypto, dropshipping, AI prompts)

• Repetitive journals, planners, or motivational manuals

• And now — as Dr. Alford’s case shows — “self-publishing guides.”

In other words: even high-quality, human-written work can be stopped if the topic itself is deemed too crowded.

Why this is happening

AI has reshaped the publishing landscape. Thousands of “authors” — some openly, others quietly — now use language models to mass-produce books. YouTube is full of tutorials promising “100 books a month” with “AI book automation.” The result? Distributors face an avalanche of repetitive content, metadata spam, and buyer complaints.

Platforms like Draft2Digital, Amazon KDP, and Smashwords have responded with new rules:

• AI content must be heavily edited and disclosed.

• Nonfiction authors must demonstrate subject-matter expertise.

• Repeated or low-value topics can be blocked at the system level.

From a business standpoint, these rules protect readers. But for real authors — especially those writing from lived experience — the automation backlash now risks silencing the very human voices that AI cannot replicate.

The human cost: Dr. Alford’s experience

Dr. Alford’s book, Self-Publishing from Scratch, was built to fill a cultural gap: there were no current guides that spoke directly to Black and minority authors about the publishing process. His chapters combine research, professional expertise, and first-person experience — not AI-generated filler.

Yet an automated filter flagged his title as “oversaturated.” When he asked for a manual review, Draft2Digital replied that the book had already been reviewed “multiple times” and would not be reconsidered. He wasn’t accused of plagiarism. He was simply shut out of distribution.

The irony? The book’s entire mission is to teach marginalized writers how to overcome systemic blocks in publishing — and it was blocked by automation itself.

What this means for every self-publishing author

If you publish through Draft2Digital, KDP, or IngramSpark, this is the new reality:

1. Topic matters as much as originality.

Even if your content is unique, a “crowded” topic can trigger a rejection. Research your category saturation before writing. Choose sub-niches or underserved angles.

2. Human voice is now a credential.

Distributors are asking for proof of subject-matter expertise — bios, credentials, or lived experience. Include it in your author description and preface.

3. AI use must be disclosed and deeply revised.

If you use AI, treat it like a research assistant, not a ghostwriter. Draft2Digital explicitly bans “automated” or “unrevised” AI manuscripts.

4. Build platform resilience.

Always publish to multiple outlets. If one aggregator blocks your title, you can still go direct to Apple Books, Kobo, or Google Play (as Dr. Alford did successfully via KDP).

5. Protect your professional reputation.

If you receive a “PLR” or “non-unique” label, request written evidence — specific duplicated passages or URLs — and document your correspondence.

A turning point for ethical publishing

This moment draws a clear line between content production and authorship. It reminds us that speed is not voice and volume is not value.AI can amplify creativity — but it cannot substitute the weight of lived experience.

For self-publishers, this is both a warning and an invitation: to slow down, specialize, and write from truth.

Platforms may be tightening their rules, but genuine storytelling still breaks through every algorithm.

Moving forward — our Monday reports

Starting next week, Keywords Unlocked Publishers will release a Monday Publishing Report: a short industry-check covering new policies, platform shifts, and ethical AI practices for authors.

Next week’s focus: Amazon’s evolving stance on AI-generated content and metadata integrity.

Stay tuned — and keep writing with integrity.

H.L. Turner Lead Researcher | Keywords Unlocked Publishers

“Clarity over hype. Voice over velocity.”