3 Questions to Unlock Your Author Success with Michael Evans, The BookFunnel Podcast Ep 30

Summary

In this episode of the Book Funnel podcast, the team and guest Michael Evans discuss essential strategies for indie authors to succeed in storytelling and publishing. Michael shares three key questions that every author should answer to enhance their chances of success, emphasizing the importance of understanding human connection in storytelling. The conversation explores how to capture attention, identify story gaps, and test ideas effectively in the market. Michael encourages authors to find their unique voice and innovate within their genres, while also analyzing market trends to discover unmet reader desires. In this conversation, Michael Evans and his co-hosts explore the evolving landscape of storytelling and publishing. They discuss the importance of creativity, the need for authors to understand their audience, and the value of pre-selling books before they are fully developed. The conversation emphasizes the significance of testing ideas, validating market interest, and the emotional connection readers have with stories. They also touch on innovative marketing strategies, the role of special editions, and the long-term vision for building a sustainable author career.

Takeaways

The three questions for author success focus on awareness, conversion, and retention.
Storytelling is fundamentally about understanding human emotions and connections.
Getting noticed as an author doesn't require being loud; it requires having something valuable to offer.
Identifying story gaps can lead to innovative storytelling opportunities.
Testing story gaps can be done cheaply and quickly to gauge interest.
Your idea's potential is determined by its ceiling; high-potential ideas are worth pursuing.
Authors should focus on their unique storytelling voice and passions.
Market analysis can reveal trends and unmet reader desires.
Engaging with reader communities can provide insights into what stories are needed.
If writing feels like a job, it's essential to find joy in the process.  People pay attention to things worth paying attention to.
Creativity is cheap; it shouldn't cost money.
Special editions need to be truly special to stand out.
You can fill gaps in the market that readers didn't know they wanted.
Embrace creativity and risk in your projects.
Understanding reader emotions is key to selling books.
The early access model allows authors to gauge interest before full development.
Testing and validating story ideas can save time and resources.
Pre-selling books can significantly reduce risk.
Building a long-term career in storytelling requires ongoing experimentation.