Module 02 — Book Research and Metadata

Category: Foundations | Duration: ~60 min | Prerequisites: Module 01

Learning Objective

By the end of this module, you will be able to extract and organize book metadata into a reliable one-page creative brief containing at least three distinct promotional angles, distinguish verified facts from reasonable creative interpretations from unknown information, and produce a clear gap list when source information is incomplete.

1. Principle: Start With the Book, Not the Effects

Every successful book-promotion video begins with one thing: an accurate, verified creative brief derived from the actual book. The brief is your contract with reality — every script, storyboard, and visual decision must trace back to it.

The Three Truth Zones

Never invent plot details, awards, bestseller status, reader reviews, endorsements, author credentials, sales figures, or promotional deadlines.

The Metadata Extraction Checklist

Every book brief must include:

1. Exact title and subtitle — down to capitalization and punctuation
2. Author name and approved author description
3. Genre and subgenre — what does the reader expect?
4. Official cover image — the approved file, in proportion
5. Publisher synopsis — the official description, not your summary
6. Main premise — one sentence: what is this story about?
7. Central conflict — what makes it a story rather than a summary?
8. Intended audience — who reads this genre?
9. Key themes — what ideas does the book explore?
10. Emotional stakes — what does the reader feel?
11. Distinctive selling points — what makes this book unique?
12. Approved quotations — exact text, with source
13. Price, promotions, dates — only when verified current
14. Approved destination links and CTA
15. Restrictions — spoilers, claims, character depictions, brand usage

Gap Management Protocol

When information is incomplete:

1. Stop. Do not fill gaps with invented material.
2. List every missing fact in a gap log.
3. Flag the gap to the operator through the campaign brief.
4. Do not produce assets that depend on unverified facts.
5. Wait for approval before proceeding.

2. Visual Demonstration

Professional Example — Creative Brief for "Avoid Construction Disputes"

Book: Avoid Construction Disputes: Ten Principles to Prevent the $80 Billion Problem Author: Samuel Kweku Bentil Genre: Business / Construction Management

One-Page Creative Brief

Three Promotional Angles

1. $80 Billion Problem — Start with the staggering number, make it personal
2. The Foreman's Card — Four simple rules; foreman-level wisdom vs. executive arguments
3. Myth-Busting — "Disputes are inevitable" is a lie; "the schedule is the contractor's problem" is wrong

Weak Example — Vague Brief

Book: Some construction book
Author: Someone
Genre: Business
Hook: Construction is expensive
Audience: People who build things

Why it fails: No specific numbers, no central conflict, no audience identity, no DSP, no angle. The production would be generic and ineffective.

3. Step-by-Step Workflow

Extract the Brief

1. Open the source materials — metadata file, publisher synopsis, author bio, cover
2. Fill the Creative Brief Template — one fact per line, no speculation
3. Verify each claim against the Source Check Template
4. Mark the truth zone for each entry: Verified / Creative interpretation / Unknown
5. List gaps — anything unknown goes in the gap log
6. Derive three angles from the verified facts and themes

Angle Development Process

For each angle, ask:

1. Who is the specific reader identity? (e.g., "construction project manager who has seen disputes blow up budgets")
2. What is the emotional hook? (e.g., "recognition that small failures compound into big losses")
3. What genre signal? (e.g., "no-nonsense, practical, authority figure speaking")
4. What source fact supports it? (cite the line)
5. What CTA does it naturally lead to? (e.g., "download the foreman's card")

Quality Gate

Before proceeding to scriptwriting, your creative brief must pass this check:

• [ ] Every factual claim traces to an approved source
• [ ] No invented plot details, awards, or statistics
• [ ] At least three distinct angles are developed
• [ ] Each angle names a specific reader identity
• [ ] Each angle cites a source-material support
• [ ] A gap list exists for any missing facts

4. Common Mistakes and Corrections

5. Hands-On Exercise

Convert a Raw Metadata Record Into a Creative Brief

Using the book assets/books/untold-stories-of-a-paramedic.md, complete the Creative Brief Template to produce a one-page brief containing:

1. Premise (1 sentence)
2. Central conflict (1 sentence)
3. Target audience (specific reader identity)
4. Key themes (3–5 bullets)
5. Emotional stakes (1–2 sentences)
6. Distinctive selling points (3 bullets)
7. Restrictions (3–5 bullets)
8. Three distinct promotional angles — each with: reader identity, emotional hook, source support, genre signal, CTA

Source Materials Provided

The full metadata file is in course/assets/books/untold-stories-of-a-paramedic.md. It contains verified facts you can use freely.

Facts Marked as Missing

This record includes a "Missing Facts" section. Do not invent these. List them in your gap log.

6. Assessment

Scored assessment (40 points total):

Pass threshold: 34/40

Submission Requirement: Submit the completed Creative Brief Template (from templates/creative-brief-template.md). Every factual claim must be traceable to the source metadata file or explicitly marked for approval.

Downloadable Resources

• Creative Brief Template
• Source Check Template