Creatorwood

Josh O'Neill of Beehive Books shares how they collaborate with visionary artists and authors to create stunning illustrated editions—diving into the creative process, crowdfunding strategies, and the future of art-focused publishing

Join Author Sidekick, the newsletter to help you grow your readership and revenue as an author: https://authorsidekick.com/subscribe

Get Author Decks, a beautifully illustrated card deck of 50 superpowers to help you sell more books: https://authordecks.com/

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Josh's world illustration: https://worldillustrationawards.com/

Beehive Books FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/beehivebook

Beehive website: https://www.beehivebooks.com/

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:02:49 Introduction to Beehive Books

00:06:22 Josh O'Neill's Journey in Publishing

00:13:46 The Quixotic Nature of Beehive Books

00:15:49 Innovative Projects and Community Building

00:22:35 Navigating Change in the Publishing Landscape

00:26:56 Choosing Projects and Creative Inspiration

00:28:57 The Art of Collaboration in Publishing

00:30:58 Illuminated Editions: Reviving Classic Literature

00:32:37 Innovative Projects: The Lab Newspaper

00:35:20 Kickstarter Campaigns: Strategies and Challenges

00:39:44 Surprising Collaborations: The Pinocchio Project

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] if you have any guest/episode recommendations or questions about going Beyond the Book!

’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 EVANS

I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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 😊.

Listen on Apple Podcast Here.

Listen on Spotify Here.

Mal shares the insider’s view of indie publishing from hot book marketing tactics to the challenges and joys of sustaining a long‑running series. Whether you're a new indie author or seasoned pro, her insights on worldbuilding, author mindset, and audience growth are gold.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Join Storyteller Lab: https://www.skool.com/thewritingwives/about

Read Mal's Books: https://www.maloriecooper.com/ Join Author

Sidekick, the newsletter to help you grow your readership and revenue as an author: https://authorsidekick.com/subscribe

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:02:13 Introduction to Malorie Cooper's Journey

00:03:49 The Power of Facebook Ads for Authors

00:07:47 Understanding Facebook Ads: A Beginner's Guide

00:10:38 Best Practices for Facebook Ads in 2025

00:13:06 Analyzing Ad Performance: Key Metrics

00:16:53 Creating Compelling Ads: Marketing Strategies

00:19:15 The Importance of Revealing Twists in Marketing

00:22:55 Aligning Book Packaging with Ad Performance

00:24:42 The Power of Video in Advertising

00:30:49 Words Matter: Crafting Effective Copy

00:39:16 Building a Meta Story for Reader Engagement

00:41:46 Expanding Beyond the Book: Creative Ventures

Thank you so much for listening!

You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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.

Johnny B. Truant is a bestselling author known for genre-bending sci-fi and fantasy, including Fat Vampire (the inspiration for the TV show Reginald the Vampire) and The Beam.

Today, he chats with us about how we can become Artisan Authors and succeed in the new age of indie publishing.

Back the Artisan Author Book on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnnybtruant/the-artisan-author-your-way-out-of-the-self-pub-rat-race

Johnny's website: https://johnnybtruant.com/

Join Author Sidekick, the newsletter to help you grow your readership and revenue as an author: https://authorsidekick.com/subscribe

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:02:53 The Journey of a Storyteller

00:06:48 Understanding Rapid Release vs Rapidly Releasing

00:08:39 The Dichotomy of Industry vs Indie

00:11:24 The Artisan Author Mindset

00:14:52 Finding Your True Fans

00:17:15 The Evolution from Right Publish Repeat to Artisan Author

00:21:27 Connecting with Readers on a Personal Level

00:26:51 Defining Fandom and True Fans

00:29:31 Understanding True Fans and Connection

00:34:32 The Courage to be Yourself

00:39:56 Navigating the True Fan Economy

00:43:50 The Art of Restraint in Storytelling

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS

I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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.

Today's episode is all about dictation with the wonderful guest Sarah Elizabeth Sawyer. Whether you want to write faster, avoid chronic pain, or just write in a way that works better with your life – today we cover the step-by-step playbook to succeed in dictation.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Join the Fictation course and use code FICTATIONAS for 40% off: https://authorsidekick--fictioncourses.thrivecart.com/fictation/

Sarah's website: https://www.fictioncourses.com

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:02:05 The Journey to Dictation

00:04:44 Overcoming Initial Challenges

00:07:44 Tools and Technology for Dictation

00:10:44 Getting Started with Dictation

00:13:20 Building Confidence in Dictation

00:16:52 Editing and Cleanup Process

00:19:46 Voice and Storytelling

00:22:40 Common Roadblocks in Dictation

00:25:44 Creating the Right Environment

00:30:02 Final Tips for Successful Dictation

Thank you so much for listening!

You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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 😊.

Today, we chat with Russell Nohelty, one of the brightest minds in indie publishing. He's been early to so many platforms and succeeded on them, whether it be Kickstarter or Substack, and has built an amazing community of 25,000+ writers who follow Russell for his insights at the intersection of craft and commerce. We'll learn something crucial from him: how to focus your book marketing, prioritize amdist chaos, and actually build an author life you love.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Check out Russell's website: https://www.russellnohelty.com

Join the Author Stack Newsletter (you can join Hapitalist there): https://www.theauthorstack.com/

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODES CHAPTERS:

Understanding the Power Law in Publishing 00:04:42

Setting Goals as a Writer 00:07:26

The Concept of Leverage in Author Careers 00:08:59

Investing in Your Author Career 00:12:06

Finding Exponential Growth Opportunities 00:14:53

The Importance of Marketing in Authorship00:18:39

Building Relationships with Readers 00:20:34

The Value of Varied Product Offerings 00:23:26

The Power of Empathy in Building a Fanbase 00:35:00

The Unscalable Things that Lead to Growth 00:37:48

Navigating Retailers vs Direct Sales 00:39:49

The Happy Compass: Guiding Your Creative Journey 00:43:47

The Birth of Hapitalist: A Response to Author Needs 00:46:33

Lessons for Young Creatives: Building a Signature Series 00:52:23

The Importance of Trust and Relationship Building 00:57:12

Introducing Hapitalist: A Comprehensive Author Resource 01:02:35

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media and software company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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 😊.

Stacy Juba is an author and editor, where she shares expert tips on self-editing, organizing your writing, and honing storytelling skills, helping writers save money and craft polished, compelling books.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Stacy's Shortcuts for Writers: https://www.shortcutsforwriters.com/

Freebie! Non-Verbal Communication for Writers: https://www.shortcutsforwriters.com/nonverbal-communication-resource-for-writers/

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

Organizing the Chaos of Writing 00:03:11

From Journalist to Fiction Editor 00:11:57

The Editing Process Explained 00:16:01

The Role of Beta Readers 00:29:04

Reviving a Series: Strategies for Success 00:33:34

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS I’m the Founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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😊.

Listen on Apple Podcast Here.

Listen on Spotify Here.

First of all, thank you so much for supporting Author Sidekick Plus.

This month’s workshop is all about Story-Market Fit – or how you know when to scale your story business. In the workshop, I cover:

You can watch it at the video linked above!

As always, let me know you have any questions.

And don’t forget…

Together we are boundless,

Michael Evans

The Author Sidekick

Unlock the secrets of storytelling with Jennifer Hilt, author of The Trope Thesaurus. Learn how to use tropes to craft unforgettable characters, plot twists, and bestselling stories.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Read the Trope Thesaurus Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFYR9L4Z

5 Trope Lists to Develop Your Story [Free]: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/tvbb2jpx9x

Jennifer's website: https://www.jenniferhilt.com/

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

Introduction to Tropes and Their Importance 00:01:48

Understanding Goal, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) 00:04:47

Jennifer's Background and Journey to Tropes 00:07:01

Tropes in Visual Storytelling 00:08:49

Becoming a Tropes Observer 00:16:53

Highlighting Tropes in Marketing 00:20:24

The Role of Tropes in Story Structure 00:22:17

Understanding Genre Expectations 00:30:21

Innovative Mashups in Storytelling 00:34:38

Learning from Film: Tropes and Genres 00:37:21

The Power of Tropes in Storytelling 00:39:35

Visual Storytelling and Marketing Techniques 00:43:55

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS

I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing). 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 😊.

Working for MrBeast taught me 5 key lessons about writing, retention, and building a business as an author.

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

Introduction to Mr. Beast's Influence 00:00:00 - 00:00:22

The Importance of Retention in Storytelling 00:00:22 - 00:01:43

A/B Testing for Success 00:01:43 - 00:05:11

Exploring Beyond the Book 00:05:11 - 00:08:37

Introducing Reader Meter 00:08:37 - 00:11:41

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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 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 podcast episode celebrating writers and community, featuring Jared Kaufman’s journey of consistency through daily live streams, sharing insights on writing habits, overcoming obstacles, and the impact of community and technology on modern authorship.

Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.blog.creatorwood.tv/subscribe

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

The Journey Begins: Live Streaming Writing 00:00:00 - 00:02:52

Consistency in Writing: The Key to Success 00:02:52 - 00:03:38

Community and Collaboration: The Power of Connection 00:03:38 - 00:06:48

Overcoming Writer's Block: Strategies for Success 00:06:48 - 00:11:26

The Mindset of a Writer: Embracing Every Part of the Process 00:11:26 - 00:13:47

The Importance of a Story Bible: Organizing Your Ideas 00:13:47 - 00:16:35

Editing and Problem Solving: Enhancing Your Drafts 00:16:35 - 00:19:53

Identifying and Solving Story Problems 00:19:53- 00:28:16

The Importance of Sequencing in Writing 00:28:16- 00:32:04

Building a Writing Community and Consistency 00:32:04 - 00:39:32

Navigating the Changing Landscape of Writing and AI 00:39:32 - 00:54:58

Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] 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 EVANS

I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).

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 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.