A core concept in business: your product needs to solve a problem.
That idea is easy to apply to nonfiction books… Those often offer clear solutions to clear problems.
But lately, I’ve been thinking… does this also apply to fiction authors?
I’ve decided: Yes, it does.
Fiction solves problems like:
- Boredom or burnout (readers want something that lights them up again)
- Stress and anxiety (they need an escape)
- Feeling disconnected or lonely (they’re looking for connection, even with fictional characters)
- Feeling unrepresented (they want to see themselves in the story)
So when you think about getting your book into someone’s hands… you’re not “just” entertaining them—you’re solving a problem.
You’re giving them something they need.
Does that shift how you think about your marketing or the way you position your book?
Have you thought about this before? What problems do your books solve?
