Episode 490 - Asking the wrong questions

'...The very human tendency to focus on the thing that we think is the problem but isn't actually the thing that needs our attention.' In writing, as in life and work, we often focus on the question that looks obvious: How do I write this quickly? How do I find the time? How do I tell my story? How do I get feedback? But very often, there's a better question behind the one we're asking. In this Best Bits episode I look at some of the most common wrong-question traps that authors fall into, and explore the deeper, more useful questions behind them that can transform not just the book, but the author too. Hear from: Kevin Anderson on why AI is a terrible answer to the 'how can I write my book quickly' question Chris Lovett on 'finding' [sic] time to write Amy Cantin on writing to make readers feel capable, not impressed Ian Pettigrew on telling your story without making it the point of your book Paolo Gaudiano on starting with what your reader cares about (rather than what you want to tell them) Helen Beedham on testing your argument rather than simply strengthening it Becky Westwood on what to do with feedback once you have it Alison Jones on why, for business book authors, it's not just about the book. Luckily, writing is itself a great way to find better questions...

You can listen to Episode 490 - Asking the wrong questions online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 490 - Asking the wrong questions is an episode from The Extraordinary Business Book Club by Alison Jones.

This episode is 43:52 long.

This episode was published on Apr 27, 2026.

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