Episode 19

Mick Silva

Evaluating Your Book Idea

As a long time editor and writing coach, Mick knows how to spot a good idea, and he knows how to help clarify your idea into a book project worth working on. Mick joins me to share his questions for evaluation.
As a long time editor and writing coach, Mick knows how to spot a good idea, and he knows how to help clarify your idea into a book project worth working on. Mick joins me to share his questions for evaluation.
00:00 57:59

Show Notes:19. Mick Silva — Evaluating Your Book Idea

As a long time editor and writing coach, Mick knows how to spot a good idea, and he knows how to help clarify your idea into a book project worth working on. Mick joins me to share his questions of evaluation.

Mick’s Vision Questions:

  1. 1. What is the 30-word summary of the one thing your book is about—the unique, compelling appeal? (Why would anyone read it over other books?)
  2. 2. What is the specific demographic and psychographic of the book’s audience? (35-to-50-year-old working mom with degree who wants solutions for balancing discipline and love in parenting.)
  3. 3. What is your reader’s felt need, i.e. the big problem? Also define the size of the need.
  4. 4. How will your book meet your readers’ felt need? What is your solution to their problem? Be specific. (Where are they mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and where will they be afterward?)
  5. 5. What support helps prove your market exists? (stats, research, trends, reports, etc.)
  6. 6. Survey the competition and compare the content of the significant competition in print. Find at least 3 similar titles and how yours is different.
  7. 7. Outline your writing experience and annual sales of your previously published works.
  8. 8. Summarize your education, experience and career background.
  9. 9. Explain your qualifications to write on this topic and your platform (speaking, ministry, affiliations, churches, groups, endorsers, friends/influencers in the industry, etc.). Provide endorsements and/or a foreword, and share how you will promote.
  10. 10. In 100 words, share why you wrote this book. What does it mean to you personally?
  • Fall after school sunset cruise.
  • My cousin Ben coming through with some amazing drone shots.
  • It's been more than a year and a half since The 5 Masculine Instincts came out. I'm continually grateful for people who continue to purchase and share the book. It's still ranking in the Christian Men and Church Leadership categories. 

This fall, I'm speaking at several men's events and always walk away from them feeling encouraged and optimistic about Christian men. There are far more godly men faithfully serving than the headlines care to share. 

There is still plenty of challenges facing men today, but I'm believing that the call of Christ is becoming clearer and I want to keep playing a small humble part in it however I can.
  • Link in Bio

This week our family launched a new podcast called Let's Talk Bible. As I'm preaching through the Gospel of Luke, we're having discussions about each passage, its background, and its meaning. It's been a lot of fun. They are smart, articulate, and clever. Many of the segments were their ideas. 

We wanted to make a podcast that families could listen to together and all learn. I think we underestimate what kids are capable of, and so we've not dumbed anything down. I want to aim high when it comes to teaching my kids scripture. 

Hope your family enjoys it. Maybe share it with a family you know too.
  • For the past couple of years, I’ve been working on a book about Jesus’s words of offense. There is a famous piece of graffiti from Rome that is believed to be the oldest depiction of Jesus’s crucifixion. It was scratched into a plaster wall, and meant to mock Christians. It depicts a Christian lifting his hand to worship a man with the head of a donkey being crucified. It is Christ. It’s a strange thing to hang on your wall but it’s a reminder to me that this message of hope is still for many a message of foolishness and offense. Why if Christ’s first disciples were mocked like this do we expect cultural approval and influence. We must write and speak what is true, even when it is not received. God help us do that.
  • More Dead Sea scrolls. 1955 publication with photo prints from Hebrew University. Sukenik was the first person realize what the Dead Sea scrolls were.
  • One of the pieces of advice I give to people wanting to read more, is find something you like, and read everything about it. I love finding an author, I like and reading everything they’ve written. My current obsession is all things discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a remarkable story which I knew only a little bit about. I love tracking down used books; most of these are first hand, accounts of discovering or purchasing or translating the scrolls. I’m sure you’ll see me wring about it sometime soon.
Fall after school sunset cruise.
Fall after school sunset cruise.
Fall after school sunset cruise.
Fall after school sunset cruise.
Fall after school sunset cruise.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/8
My cousin Ben coming through with some amazing drone shots.
My cousin Ben coming through with some amazing drone shots.
My cousin Ben coming through with some amazing drone shots.
My cousin Ben coming through with some amazing drone shots.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/8
It's been more than a year and a half since The 5 Masculine Instincts came out. I'm continually grateful for people who continue to purchase and share the book. It's still ranking in the Christian Men and Church Leadership categories. 

This fall, I'm speaking at several men's events and always walk away from them feeling encouraged and optimistic about Christian men. There are far more godly men faithfully serving than the headlines care to share. 

There is still plenty of challenges facing men today, but I'm believing that the call of Christ is becoming clearer and I want to keep playing a small humble part in it however I can.
It's been more than a year and a half since The 5 Masculine Instincts came out. I'm continually grateful for people who continue to purchase and share the book. It's still ranking in the Christian Men and Church Leadership categories. 

This fall, I'm speaking at several men's events and always walk away from them feeling encouraged and optimistic about Christian men. There are far more godly men faithfully serving than the headlines care to share. 

There is still plenty of challenges facing men today, but I'm believing that the call of Christ is becoming clearer and I want to keep playing a small humble part in it however I can.
It's been more than a year and a half since The 5 Masculine Instincts came out. I'm continually grateful for people who continue to purchase and share the book. It's still ranking in the Christian Men and Church Leadership categories. This fall, I'm speaking at several men's events and always walk away from them feeling encouraged and optimistic about Christian men. There are far more godly men faithfully serving than the headlines care to share. There is still plenty of challenges facing men today, but I'm believing that the call of Christ is becoming clearer and I want to keep playing a small humble part in it however I can.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/8
Link in Bio

This week our family launched a new podcast called Let's Talk Bible. As I'm preaching through the Gospel of Luke, we're having discussions about each passage, its background, and its meaning. It's been a lot of fun. They are smart, articulate, and clever. Many of the segments were their ideas. 

We wanted to make a podcast that families could listen to together and all learn. I think we underestimate what kids are capable of, and so we've not dumbed anything down. I want to aim high when it comes to teaching my kids scripture. 

Hope your family enjoys it. Maybe share it with a family you know too.
Link in Bio This week our family launched a new podcast called Let's Talk Bible. As I'm preaching through the Gospel of Luke, we're having discussions about each passage, its background, and its meaning. It's been a lot of fun. They are smart, articulate, and clever. Many of the segments were their ideas. We wanted to make a podcast that families could listen to together and all learn. I think we underestimate what kids are capable of, and so we've not dumbed anything down. I want to aim high when it comes to teaching my kids scripture. Hope your family enjoys it. Maybe share it with a family you know too.
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/8
For the past couple of years, I’ve been working on a book about Jesus’s words of offense. There is a famous piece of graffiti from Rome that is believed to be the oldest depiction of Jesus’s crucifixion. It was scratched into a plaster wall, and meant to mock Christians. It depicts a Christian lifting his hand to worship a man with the head of a donkey being crucified. It is Christ. It’s a strange thing to hang on your wall but it’s a reminder to me that this message of hope is still for many a message of foolishness and offense. Why if Christ’s first disciples were mocked like this do we expect cultural approval and influence. We must write and speak what is true, even when it is not received. God help us do that.
For the past couple of years, I’ve been working on a book about Jesus’s words of offense. There is a famous piece of graffiti from Rome that is believed to be the oldest depiction of Jesus’s crucifixion. It was scratched into a plaster wall, and meant to mock Christians. It depicts a Christian lifting his hand to worship a man with the head of a donkey being crucified. It is Christ. It’s a strange thing to hang on your wall but it’s a reminder to me that this message of hope is still for many a message of foolishness and offense. Why if Christ’s first disciples were mocked like this do we expect cultural approval and influence. We must write and speak what is true, even when it is not received. God help us do that.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
6/8
More Dead Sea scrolls. 1955 publication with photo prints from Hebrew University. Sukenik was the first person realize what the Dead Sea scrolls were.
More Dead Sea scrolls. 1955 publication with photo prints from Hebrew University. Sukenik was the first person realize what the Dead Sea scrolls were.
More Dead Sea scrolls. 1955 publication with photo prints from Hebrew University. Sukenik was the first person realize what the Dead Sea scrolls were.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
7/8
One of the pieces of advice I give to people wanting to read more, is find something you like, and read everything about it. I love finding an author, I like and reading everything they’ve written. My current obsession is all things discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a remarkable story which I knew only a little bit about. I love tracking down used books; most of these are first hand, accounts of discovering or purchasing or translating the scrolls. I’m sure you’ll see me wring about it sometime soon.
One of the pieces of advice I give to people wanting to read more, is find something you like, and read everything about it. I love finding an author, I like and reading everything they’ve written. My current obsession is all things discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a remarkable story which I knew only a little bit about. I love tracking down used books; most of these are first hand, accounts of discovering or purchasing or translating the scrolls. I’m sure you’ll see me wring about it sometime soon.
One of the pieces of advice I give to people wanting to read more, is find something you like, and read everything about it. I love finding an author, I like and reading everything they’ve written. My current obsession is all things discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a remarkable story which I knew only a little bit about. I love tracking down used books; most of these are first hand, accounts of discovering or purchasing or translating the scrolls. I’m sure you’ll see me wring about it sometime soon.
One of the pieces of advice I give to people wanting to read more, is find something you like, and read everything about it. I love finding an author, I like and reading everything they’ve written. My current obsession is all things discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a remarkable story which I knew only a little bit about. I love tracking down used books; most of these are first hand, accounts of discovering or purchasing or translating the scrolls. I’m sure you’ll see me wring about it sometime soon.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/8

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