Creatorwood

Michael explores the booming vertical film industry, highlighted by P&G’s entry into mobile-first entertainment. The CEO of Creatorwood explains how their AI platform allows users to produce and monetize 9:16 shows for a fraction of traditional costs. Key topics include the format's explosive growth, the return of the "soap opera" advertising model, and new tools enabling creators to keep 80% of their revenue. Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Discord: https://discord.gg/tTmWv23C9q Join the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/ Check P&G Verticals: https://m.imdb.com/news/ni65627216/?ref_=nm_nwr_2 EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to P&G's Revolutionary Film Project 00:57 What Are Vertical Films? 01:53 The Popularity and Market of Vertical Films 04:02 Creatorwood: Revolutionizing Vertical Film Production 05:24 Monetizing Vertical Films with Creatorwood 06:32 AI and the Future of Vertical Films 07:45 The Growing Industry Around Vertical Films 09:46 Advertising Opportunities in Vertical Films 12:36 Conclusion and Future Insights ABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast. ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business. The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost. Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally. You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

In this episode, Michael and Ross explore the "reader-first" approach to creativity. Ross shares his journey from photography to fiction, highlighting a bold experiment where he validated his novel through Amazon pre-orders before finishing the manuscript.The conversation dives into what it means to be an experience creator rather than just an author. By leveraging technology and "growth loops," Ross explains how writers can build immersive worlds that transcend the printed page.Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Discord: https://discord.gg/tTmWv23C9q Join the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/ Visit Ross's website here: https://www.rosspruden.com/EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction: Putting Readers First 00:30 A Serendipitous Meeting 02:50 Beyond the Book: Expanding Creativity 03:21 The First Book and Its Lessons 08:19 Pre-Order Testing: A Bold Experiment 14:17 Lessons from Experiments 16:54 Passion and Persistence in Writing 22:47 The Power of Persistence 23:27 Facing the Fear of Failure 26:25 Creating Great Experiences Across Mediums 27:31 The Importance of the Hook 30:56 Exploring Meow Wolf 34:55 Building Growth Loops 37:14 The Concept of Social Objects 40:15 Embracing Your Inner Child 41:56 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globallyYou can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

This episode features a thoughtful conversation with an experienced author reflecting on his journey through the creative process. Speaking calmly and candidly, he shares how structured guidance and step-by-step support helped transform his ideas into a finished work. Set in an intimate, professional atmosphere, the discussion highlights the value of mentorship, clarity, and trust when bringing a book to life. With a warm, reflective tone, this episode offers insight for writers, creators, and lifelong learners who are navigating their own creative paths and looking for confidence in the process.Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Discord: https://discord.gg/tTmWv23C9q Join the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to the Key Metric for Filmmaking Success 02:05 Personal Struggles and Lessons Learned 04:08 The Traditional Filmmaking Model vs. New Approaches 08:42 The Importance of Retention in Storytelling 15:55 Analyzing Retention Graphs for Better Storytelling 20:54 Techniques to Improve Retention in Films 26:36 Optimizing Video Retention 28:26 The Importance of a Strong Hook 29:07 Creating Open Loops 30:05 Simplicity in Storytelling 30:53 Character Clarity 32:32 Measuring and Testing Retention 33:58 Budgeting and Audience Growth 41:23 Monetizing Through Product Placement 44:53 Final Thoughts and Q&A ABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast. ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business. The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost. Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally. You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

In this episode, we reveal the biggest mistake creators make in AI filmmaking and how to avoid it when using Creatorwood’s Move Machine. Learn why character, voice, and world consistency matter, and how one small misstep can lead to major frustration. Plus, hear from creator Joseph Klug as he shares his journey from novel writing to AI filmmaking, along with the lessons he’s learned turning his story into an episodic AI film.Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Discord: https://discord.gg/tTmWv23C9q Join the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/Check Joseph Klug's website: https://www.webcatstudios.com/EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to the Biggest Mistake in AI Filmmaking 00:43 Interview with Joseph Klug: From Novels to AI Films 01:33 Joseph's Journey: From Game Development to Novel Writing 03:16 Discovering Creatorwood and the AI Filmmaking Process 04:03 Challenges and Surprises in AI Filmmaking 07:21 Incorporating Fans and Personal Touches in AI Films 12:36 Future Plans and Final Thoughts 14:45 Conclusion and Upcoming ConversationsABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

This podcast episode provides a deep dive into the art of AI filmmaking with Creatorwood's creative director, Mia. She discusses her journey and shares expert advice on using the "Movie Machine" tool, which transforms written stories into films. The core topic is the importance of "prompting"—learning to communicate effectively with AI to achieve a specific creative vision. Mia explains that while the machine automates a lot, directing it through precise language is key, especially for making changes to camera angles or character actions. The discussion covers the entire creative process, from the importance of writing a highly descriptive script to properly setting up "director's notes" with character details and setting angles. Mia also shares insights on common mistakes, the costs of AI production, and the mindset needed to succeed in this new field, offering valuable lessons for aspiring AI filmmakers. Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Discord: https://discord.gg/tTmWv23C9q Join the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/ EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to AI Filmmaking 01:31 Understanding Prompting in AI Filmmaking 02:21 The Importance of Prompting Language 04:11 Mia's Filmmaking Journey 07:03 Early Mistakes and Learning Curves 09:25 Effective Communication with AI 13:42 The Cost of AI Filmmaking 17:32 Director's Notes and Their Importance 20:46 Angles and Settings in AI Filmmaking 25:02 Mindset and Adaptation in AI Filmmaking 27:42 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers 28:27 Understanding Shot Composition 29:28 Importance of Consistency in Filmmaking 30:09 Creating a Filmmaking Guidebook 31:07 Ensuring Consistency with the Moving Machine 32:08 Detailed Script Writing for AI Filmmaking 36:06 Using AI to Enhance Scripts 46:03 Future Improvements for the Moving Machine 50:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast. ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business. The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost. Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally. You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

Do you really have a million-dollar movie idea? Today, I'll share how AI is removing Hollywood gatekeepers and empowering creators to test, validate, and market films faster and cheaper than ever. Join the Six-Figure Film Accelerator and learn how to build a viewer growth engine today: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/ Schedule a Free Consultation Call with our VIP Production Team here: https://cal.com/team/creatorwood/consultation Join the Creatorwood Bootcamp: https://blog.creatorwood.tv/bootcamp Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Discord: https://discord.gg/tTmWv23C9q Watch the Viewer Growth Engine Video: https://youtu.be/cWMPHkm8YFw?si=95Hartng88NBoZF1 EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction: The Power of Your Movie Ideas 00:26 The Shift from Gatekeepers to Storytellers 00:56 AI in Filmmaking: A Controversial Yet Powerful Tool 01:39 Creatorwood: Revolutionizing Filmmaking 02:31 The Importance of Passion in Filmmaking 02:59 Challenges in Creating Marketable Films 04:17 My Journey and Insights from the Industry 04:59 Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Successful Film 06:48 Identifying Story Gaps and Viewer Desires 10:40 The Pilot Process: Testing Your Film Concept 14:23 Marketing Your Film: Viewer Growth Engines 15:41 Conclusion: Embracing the Future of AI Filmmaking ABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast. ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business. The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost. Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally. You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

Alexandra shares the inspiration behind her free online book club, a supportive community for writers to hold each other accountable and celebrate the creative process. The club offers a "silent writing" space where members can work on their projects and share their progress. Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe Join the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwood Join the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/ Sign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/ EPISODE CHAPTERS: 00:00 Jumping Right In: Plotting vs. Pantsing 00:51 The Three P's of Writing: Picasso Wing, Pandemonium, and Path Finding 03:26 Personal Writing Journey: From Plotter to Hybrid 07:04 Inspiration from Henrietta Lacks 20:44 Balancing Writing with a Day Job 25:50 Exploring the Power of Pen Names 27:16 High School Writing Struggles 28:11 Overcoming Criticism and Embracing Passion 28:51 The Impact of Mr. Beast's Cancellation 30:24 The Silent Writing Club Experience 33:49 The Joy of Writing and Creativity 36:37 AI in the Writing Process 42:17 Balancing AI and Human Creativity 45:55 The Therapeutic Benefits of Writing 49:17 Joining the Finish the Damn Book Club ABOUT MICHAEL: He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast. ABOUT CREATORWOOD: Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business. The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost. Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally. You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

10,000+ people will make a living from AI films by 2030. This is the playbook on how to go from zero to $100k+ AI film business in 10 (not so simple but comprehensive) steps.Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribeJoin the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwoodJoin the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/Sign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/Watch a film by Creatorwood - The Trials of Freddy Goodchild: https://youtu.be/T5YGk9OweckTake the Movie Machine Masterclass Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0ua6wekasnaSuRSOODjLWZanfIixHirSStory Gap Article: https://shop.creatorwood.tv/blogs/top-articles/%E2%9A%A0%EF%B8%8F-attention-%E2%9A%A0%EF%B8%8F-mind-the-gapEPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: The Path to Six-Figure AI Filmmaking00:44 Step 1: Finding a Winning Story Idea06:07 Step 2: Sharing Your Story Idea09:16 Step 3: Deciding to Move Forward12:49 Step 4: Planning Your Pilot18:11 Step 5: Creating the Storyboard23:08 Step 6: Generating the Film24:05 Step 7: Editing and Refining25:31 Step 8: Sharing Your Pilot26:27 Step 9: Evaluating and Improving28:22 Step 10: Scaling Up and Monetizing29:25 Conclusion: The Future of AI FilmmakingABOUT MICHAEL:He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD:Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

A deep dive into how authors can use AI to enhance storytelling, streamline publishing, and expand their books into new formats while keeping humans creatively in control.RESOURCES FROM PODCAST:Brave New Bookshelf Podcast: https://bravenewbookshelf.com/https://futurefictionacademy.com/Future Fiction Academy Free Course: https://futurefictionacademy.com/freeAI Writing for Authors Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aiwritingforauthors/Join the Creatorwood platform to turn your stories into movies and shows today: https://creatorwood.tv/Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribeJoin the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwoodSign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to AI in Publishing00:23 Human in the Loop: The Role of Authors03:30 The Evolution of AI Tools in Publishing04:49 The Impact of Thinking Models06:26 Building Future Fiction Press09:42 Personal Journey with AI20:25 The Power of AI in Storytelling23:41 Lack of Support for Creative Pursuits24:17 Being Transparent About AI Usage28:10 Mindset Shifts for Writing with AI29:13 Addressing Pain Points with AI32:55 Troubleshooting and Directing AI36:50 Speed and Efficiency in AI-Assisted Writing41:21 Leveraging AI for Broader Creative Opportunities43:49 Getting Started with AI in Writing46:33 Conclusion and ResourcesABOUT MICHAEL:He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD:Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

In this episode, I sit down with translator and publisher Maxwell Zachs to unpack how authors can use AI plus human review to translate their books into languages like German, French, Spanish, Italian, Catalan, and more—at a fraction of traditional costs. We talk about what AI is great at, where it totally falls down, how his team at Word Count uses “translation review” to fix it, and why this new hybrid model is opening up foreign markets (and real jobs) instead of killing them. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your stories on virtual shelves around the world—but thought translation was too expensive or risky—this conversation will change how you think about going global.Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribeJoin the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwoodJoin the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/Sign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to AI Book Translation00:30 Meet Maxwell Zachs: Special Guest Introduction01:59 The Journey of Book Translation05:14 The Scribe Shadow Platform09:03 Challenges and Successes in AI Translation10:28 Collaboration with Scribe Shadow19:02 The Process of Translation Review21:30 AI's Impact on Localization Jobs24:20 Ethical Use of AI in Translation27:30 Challenges in AI Translation32:49 Cost and Efficiency of AI Translation35:56 Future of AI in Translation38:55 Opportunities for Authors in Foreign Markets41:05 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsABOUT MICHAEL:He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD:Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

In this episode of Beyond the Book, I sit down with legendary marketing thinker and author Mark Schaefer to talk about how AI is literally rewiring our customers—and what that means for you as a storyteller, creator, or author. We dive into his books Audacious, Belonging to the Brand, and How AI Changes Your Customers, exploring AI companions, trust transfer, personal branding, and how to build communities that become true advocates for your work. If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out, stay human, and actually thrive in an AI-first world, this conversation will light your brain on fire in the best way.Read the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribeJoin the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwoodJoin the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/Sign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest01:08 Mark Schafer's Journey and Books01:47 The Impact of AI on Humanity04:40 Positive and Negative Aspects of AI08:32 Being Audacious in Marketing15:35 AI in Storytelling and Marketing18:53 AI Companions and Human Relationships21:58 Trust Transfer and AI Recommendations22:33 Navigating AI as Authors22:54 Building a Personal Brand23:45 Embracing AI and Content Creation26:23 The Importance of Community33:56 The Essence of Humanity in Marketing38:21 Future Projects and Final ThoughtsABOUT MICHAEL:He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD:Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

Join us as Troy Lambert dives into his new Kickstarter, blending short fiction, monthly book subscriptions, and even AI-generated movies. We talk storytelling, crowdfunding, and how creators can adapt in a rapidly changing publishing world.Book Blasts: Short, Thrilling Fiction for People on the Go: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/troylambert/book-blasts-short-thrilling-fiction-for-people-on-the-goTrue Pulp: A Noir Anthology: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/troylambert/true-pulp-a-noir-anthologyRead the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribeJoin the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwoodJoin the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/Sign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:16 Kickstarter and AI Movie Discussion01:42 Book Blast and Subscription Details06:10 Troy's Storytelling Journey07:45 Changes in the Publishing Industry10:24 Crowdfunding and AI Films12:48 Challenges and Successes in Publishing16:14 Choosing the Right Partners18:38 Challenges in Book Production19:26 Maintaining Passion for Writing22:28 Exploring Different Genres24:18 Impact of AI on Storytelling27:00 Evolution of Marketing Strategies30:09 Future of AI in Film34:55 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsABOUT MICHAEL:He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD:Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

In this episode of the Creatorwood Podcast, Maggie Beeler returns to share how her trope-inspired cocktail book, Trope Tales, evolved into a full-blown drink mix brand. We dive into how she found manufacturers, validated her idea, launched a successful Kickstarter, and became (very likely) the first indie author to launch a CPG brand from her IP. If you’ve ever wondered how to take your stories beyond the book into physical products readers can buy again and again, this conversation will light a fire under you.Tropetails: Genre-Inspired Instant Drink Mixes for Bookworms:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/311439282/tropetails-instant-cheers-drink-mixes?ref=creator_tabRead the Creatorwood book, all about building a movie business with AI, for free: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribeJoin the Creatorwood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creatorwoodJoin the beta of the Creatorwood platform: https://make.creatorwood.tv/Sign-up for the waitlist for the Six-Figure Film Accelerator: https://learn.creatorwood.tv/EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:37 The Origin of Trope Tales00:47 Beyond the Book Podcast Evolution03:10 Maggie's Unique CPG Brand03:45 Kickstarter Success and Challenges04:10 Developing the Product08:38 Finding the Right Manufacturer13:48 Choosing Flavors and Launch Strategy15:44 Understanding Product Rights and Ownership16:31 Evaluating Business Risks and Value18:47 Navigating Manufacturing and Sampling20:56 Marketing Strategies and Retail Opportunities23:56 Future Plans and Expanding Product Lines26:31 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs29:11 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsABOUT MICHAEL:He has published 12 sci-fi novels, helped authors make $1 million+/year in memberships, and even worked on the Strategy Team for MrBeast.ABOUT CREATORWOOD:Creatorwood is the home for storytellers to turn their writing into films, discover new viewers, and run a film business.The Movie Machine by Creatorwood integrates with the top AI video, image, audio, and storytelling models to help transform your writing into immersive worlds, incredible characters, and gripping films with significantly less time and cost.Creatorwood also makes it easy to make money from your films inside our Streaming Platform. Specifically, Creatorwood allows you to upload your episodes, set them as free or paid (any price you’d like). Creators keep 80% of the revenue they earn on Creatorwood, and we pay out to creators in 130+ countries and accept payments from viewers globally.You can join Creatorwood here: https://creatorwood.tv/

In this intro episode, Michael shares the vision for the podcast, his background, and the true power of going beyond the book to turn your stories into an empire 👑.Join Author Sidekick, the newsletter to help you grow your readership and revenue as an author: https://authorsidekick.com/subscribe0:03:17  From Sci-fi Books to Beyond the Book: Michael's Story0:08:22 The Four Topics We Will Cover in Beyond the Book0:11:36 The "Mini-Disney" I'm Creating for AuthorsThank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to hello@authorsidekick.com if you have any guest/episode recommendations or questions about going Beyond the Book!I’d also super appreciate it if you rated Beyond the Book wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps us grow and get bigger & better guests to share their insights with you in going Beyond the Book 💙.I’m on a mission to bring Power to Storytellers. Here’s my story 👇ABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANSI’m the creator of Reader Meter (the reader intelligence platform for authors), Beyond the Book (the place that helps you turn your story into an empire), and Author Sidekick (the newsletter that helps authors grow their readership and revenue).In high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends). I then attended college at Harvard, where I road-tripped the country filming YouTube videos during COVID (school was online🫣), live-streamed myself playing scavenger hunt with my roommate for ~1,000 hours, and eventually co-founded a software company that was named Publishing’s Start-up of the Year in 2023 by Jane Friedman. After graduation, I worked on the data & analytics team at MrBeast and am now back in publishing, dedicating my life to bringing power to authors. I’m really grateful to be living my dream, and am hopeful I can help you get one (or a few!) steps closer to doing the same for yourself 😊.ABOUT BEYOND THE BOOK:Beyond the Book exists to help authors expand their revenue and readership beyond books. We are rewriting the rules of publishing by helping authors build “mini-Disneys” from their stories through physical products, community experiences, games, other media formats, and more.

Tropetails is a cocktail recipe book for readers. It's made $10k+ and has hundreds of customers. In this episode, Michael helps Maggie go beyond the books to create a scalable business with cocktail mixes for readers that could turn the IP of Tropetails into millions.Check out Maggie's Tropetails book here: https://tropetails.com/EPISODE CHAPTERS:0:00:59 Intro to Maggie Beeler0:03:16 How Maggie Found an Illustrator0:04:21 How Maggie Launched Tropetails to $10k+0:08:18 Maggie's Dream and What's Holding Her Back0:11:16 The Economics of the Tropetails Book0:14:19 How Can Maggie Go Beyond the Book?0:18:41 How Maggie is Working with Manufacturers for Drink Mixes0:23:55 How to Test Your Product Before a Launch0:27:08 What Makes a Good Drink Mix?0:33:55 How Maggie Will Launch Her Drink Mix0:38:35 How Maggie is Going to Scale Her Brand0:48:16 How Does Maggie Know When to Go All in On Tropetails?0:49:37 How Maggie is Fulfilling Her ProductThank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to hello@authorsidekick.com if you have any guest/episode recommendations or questions about going Beyond the Book!I’d also super appreciate it if you rated Beyond the Book wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps us grow and get bigger & better guests to share their insights with you in going Beyond the Book 💙.I’m on a mission to bring Power to Storytellers. Here’s my story 👇ABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANSI’m the creator of Reader Meter (the reader intelligence platform for authors), Beyond the Book (the place that helps you turn your story into an empire), and Author Sidekick (the newsletter that helps authors grow their readership and revenue).In high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends). I then attended college at Harvard, where I road-tripped the country filming YouTube videos during COVID (school was online🫣), live-streamed myself playing scavenger hunt with my roommate for ~1,000 hours, and eventually co-founded a software company that was named Publishing’s Start-up of the Year in 2023 by Jane Friedman. After graduation, I worked on the data & analytics team at MrBeast and am now back in publishing, dedicating my life to bringing power to authors. I’m really grateful to be living my dream, and am hopeful I can help you get one (or a few!) steps closer to doing the same for yourself 😊.ABOUT BEYOND THE BOOK:Beyond the Book exists to help authors expand their revenue and readership beyond books. We are rewriting the rules of publishing by helping authors build “mini-Disneys” from their stories through physical products, community experiences, games, other media formats, and more.

Here’s your very quick Sunday update (I promise, most Sundays there will be no emails, but this was a very busy week).First, you can watch an exclusive video for Sidekick Plus members above all about the Investor v.s. Day Trading Approach to Publishing.Next, you can RSVP here where you will get text reminders and the virtual link to February’s live Author Sidekick Plus workshop. It takes place on February 28th from 5 pm ET to 6:30 pm ET on Google Meet.The workshop will be recorded! So if you can’t make it live, there are no worries!The workshop is all about a very special project I have been cooking up behind the scenes with a great author friend. It’s called 10 Bonus Marketing Superpowers that will ONLY be available inside this workshop to Sidekick Plus members.But wait… what are marketing superpowers?It’s key concepts, strategies, and tactics that can supercharge your readership and revenue as an author.These will all be made available as part of Author Sidekick Decks. They contain:* 50 Marketing Superpowers for Authors (and 10 bonus ones available in February’s webinar just for Sidekick Plus members)* Written by Me (Michael Evans)* 50 Storytelling Superpowers for Authors* Written by David Viergutz (creator of Scaremail)* 50 Productivity Superpowers for Authors* Co-authors by me and David ViergutzHere’s an example of one of the cards (there will be 150 of these in total + 10 bonus ones just for Author Sidekick plus members!).*The illustration below is NOT FINAL (we are hiring an awesome illustrator to help us… this is just an early mock-up).And the best part about all of this… the digital version of Author Sidekick Decks will be made available for free to every author in the world.We want every author to have a sidekick by their side to teach them core fundamentals and advanced strategies to succeed in publishing, completely for free.It makes learning fun, bite-sized, and super impactful!We also will be making physical versions of the Author Sidekick Decks available for purchase. They will contain everything in the digital version along with a beautiful set of cards and a card holder to sit by your deck.All 3 physical Author Decks will be available in a bundle for $99. Insane value when you compare it to courses, webinars, and other author education produced that won’t be covering the breadth and depth we do in the 150 superpowers we share with you.And remember, the digital version will be *completely free* to every author.I’ll send everyone here on Sidekick Plus an early digital version of the 50 Marketing Superpowers ahead of our workshop on the 10 BONUS Marketing Superpowers. We’d love any feedback so we can edit the cards digital before we do a print run (cards are significantly harder to change after a print run 😅).Alright… that’s it for this one.I have an in-depth newsletter coming out tomorrow on the top 5 Newsletter Platforms for Authors in 2025.In the meantime, don’t forget…Together we are boundless,Michael EvansThe Author Sidekick

In this episode, I share what 99% of authors get wrong about publishing: that the game is about selling more books. Instead, it's about something much more fundamental. And with that understanding, opens up a whole new world to make money and reach new readers... hence... 10 Weird Ways Authors Make Millions 😊.EPISODE CHAPTERS:0:00:57 #1: Card Games for Readers0:02:40 #2: Story Letters0:05:01 #3: Education and Consulting0:07:31 #4: Content Tilt0:10:46 #5: Under-Utilized Attention Markets0:14:51 #6: Merch & Swag for a Broader Market0:17:39 #7: Creating Content + Products for Readers0:20:17 #8: The Community Play0:22:22 #9: Indie Films0:25:28 #10: URL to IRL with In-Person ExperiencesEPISODE RESOURCES:Skye Warren's Card Game: https://shop.skyewarren.com/products/romance-vs-the-world-gameHolly Black's Card Game: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hollyblack/enemies-and-lovers-the-crown-of-elfhameFlower Letters: https://theflowerletters.com/ScareMail: https://davidviergutz.com/collections/scaremailExample of Visual Book Summaries: https://substack.com/home/post/p-153868661The Anatomy of Genre by John Truby: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374539221/theanatomyofgenres/Listen to the Last Podcast Episode with Maggie Beeler: https://authorsidekick.com/p/turning-her-book-into-a-multi-millionAleron Kong LitRPG Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGGroup/Jonathan Yanez's Kickstarter to fund his Short Sci-fi Film: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wolf-pack/forsaken-mercenary-a-sci-fi-thriller-short-film/rewardsLizzie Bennet Diaries on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pemberleydigital/the-lizzie-bennet-diaries-dvdand-moreABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANSIn high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends). I then attended college at Harvard, where I road-tripped the country filming YouTube videos during COVID (school was online🫣), live-streamed myself playing scavenger hunt with my roommate for ~1,000 hours, and eventually co-founded a software company that was named Publishing’s Start-up of the Year in 2023 by Jane Friedman. After graduation, I worked on the data & analytics team at MrBeast and am now back in publishing, dedicating my life to bringing power to authors. I’m really grateful to be living my dream, and am hopeful I can help you get one (or a few!) steps closer to doing the same for yourself 😊.

Story Letters are an emerging story format where readers receive a story told through letters in the mail. Authors are making tens of millions of dollars a year from story letters across genres ranging from romance, to horror, to children's books. Today, we chat with David Viergutz, the creator of ScareMail, a story letter business that makes millions of dollars per year.Learn about ScareMail: https://scaremail.com/EPISODE CHAPTERS:0:02:11 Why David Started ScareMail0:05:25  How David Launched ScareMail and His Tips for Mailing0:10:57  Live Group Coaching on Beyond the Book Begin0:17:27  How David Decides if He Should Pursue Something New0:27:49  How to Build a Merch Store That Sells0:32:59  When to give away books for free to grow your email list0:34:58  Hyperlinking Inside Your eBooks0:39:53  How to Go Beyond the Book with Author Collaborations0:46:23  Can Reddit Ads work for your book?0:49:23  How to Reposition a Book if It's Not Selling0:57:48  How Going Beyond the Book Makes You Stand OutABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANSIn high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends). I then attended college at Harvard, where I road-tripped the country filming YouTube videos during COVID (school was online), live-streamed myself playing scavenger hunt with my roommate for ~1,000 hours, and eventually co-founded a software company that was named Publishing’s Start-up of the Year in 2023 by Jane Friedman.After graduation, I worked on the data & analytics team at MrBeast and am now back in publishing, dedicating my life to bringing power to authors. I’m really grateful to be living my dream, and am hopeful I can help you get one (or a few!) steps closer to doing the same for yourself.

Today I share 10 marketing superpowers that when unleashed have the power to supercharge your book sales.Follow Author Marketing Superpowers Deck on Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/authorsidekick/author-marketing-superpowers-deckRead the Author Marketing Playbook for free: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iOymUlZ4ydk9DPTVr00FRSkzeLj2FVcigsWECK-v_sk/edit?usp=sharingJoin us at the BIG Pencil Party to learn more about the superpowers and maybe win a MASSIVE pencil: https://lu.ma/n8nuyj9rJoin the Beyond the Book Membership, where we step-by-step help you turn your stories into an empire: https://beyondthebookacademy.com/EPISODE CHAPTERS:0:00:55 The 3 Stages of Marketing Your Book0:07:20 The Launch of Author Decks0:09:01 Your Story Suit0:13:18 One-Time Marketing Events0:16:43 Double-Dips0:18:04 Social Listening0:19:01 Book Liquidator0:22:39 Reciprocity0:24:20 Content Cannon0:25:41 Readernapping0:27:48 Social Hacking0:29:50 Other People’s ResourcesEPISODE RESOURCES:Netflix's wild marketing strategy for Squid Game S2: https://about.netflix.com/en/news/squid-game-season-2-top-10-worldwide-fan-activations-and-experiences-recapWatch How David Viergutz Makes $2.4 Million/Year from Story Letters: https://youtu.be/Z6H8uuFAlYQThank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to hello@authorsidekick.com if you have any guest/episode recommendations or questions about going Beyond the Book! I’d also super appreciate it if you rated Beyond the Book wherever you listen to podcasts.It helps us grow and get bigger & better guests to share their insights with you in going Beyond the Book 💙.I’m on a mission to bring Power to Storytellers. Here’s my story 👇ABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANSI’m the creator of Reader Meter (the reader intelligence platform for authors), Beyond the Book (the place that helps you turn your story into an empire), and Author Sidekick (the newsletter that helps authors grow their readership and revenue). In high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends).I then attended college at Harvard, where I road-tripped the country filming YouTube videos during COVID (school was online🫣), live-streamed myself playing scavenger hunt with my roommate for ~1,000 hours, and eventually co-founded a software company that was named Publishing’s Start-up of the Year in 2023 by Jane Friedman. After graduation, I worked on the data & analytics team at MrBeast and am now back in publishing, dedicating my life to bringing power to authors.I’m really grateful to be living my dream, and am hopeful I can help you get one (or a few!) steps closer to doing the same for yourself 😊.

Before we dive into the replay of the first-ever Author Sidekick Plus Workshop… a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU for all the support today.Yes — that absolutely whacky email you received earlier was a parody… all to raise money for charity 😄And because of you, it worked.We’ve already raised hundreds of dollars for:Room to Read (my charity of choice)Wounded WarriorsGolisano Children’s HospitalAll from a fun little joke that started between me, David Viergutz, and Christopher Hopper… and somehow became a fundraiser involving calendars, leggings, and the whole OnlyAuthorz madness.Honestly? That’s a win in my book.👇 Grab your whacky calendar if you missed it Get Your Whacky Calendar🎥 Your First Author Sidekick Plus Workshop ReplayOn Friday, we hosted our very first Author Sidekick Plus Workshop — and it was a blast. We covered 10 BONUS Author Marketing Superpowers designed to grow your readership, sell more books, and expand your IP.Because so many of you asked… I’m extending the 20% off lifetime discount for Author Sidekick Plus until TOMORROW at midnight.If you upgrade to Author Sidekick Plus, you get:Full archive of all essaysA new recorded workshop every monthA special bonus from me every 90 daysPLUS instant access to the 10 Bonus Superpowers workshop + notes👉 Upgrade to Author Sidekick Plus (20% off ends tomorrow)💥 Here’s What We Covered in the WorkshopA rapid-fire tour through the 10 Superpowers:🔥 Meme Marketing Use memes to reach new readers + spark sharing.🩺 The Book Doctor Five diagnostic questions to fix a book that isn’t selling.🔀 Storyshifter Pivot your story to reach a new audience or trend.🎁 The Holiday Spirit Three strategies to turn holidays into book-selling moments.💳 MPO (Multiple Payment Options) Boost conversions by giving readers more ways to buy.🚀 Content Hacking Study viral content and ethically “steal like a creator.”💼 Author Debt What to invest in now to set up long-term success.✨ Epic Reader Magnets Fresh, outside-the-box ideas that convert like crazy.👑 Story Ambassadors Build a street team on steroids.🌊 Wave Maker Turn your brand into a movement readers want to follow.We covered a lot in 90 minutes. And now you can watch the whole thing anytime.📺 Watch the Workshop ReplayClick here to watch the full recordingThank you again for being part of Author Sidekick Plus. This first month has been incredible, and I’m already excited for everything ahead.🗓️ Next Author Sidekick Plus Workshop Friday, March 28th 5:00–6:30 PM ETMore details coming soon.In the meantime, don’t forget…Together we are boundless,Michael Evans The Author Sidekick