Vicky and Joe drink tea and discuss philosophy. Well, kind of. Vicky reveals herself to be a bit of a dick, but is on a self-improvement kick. And Joe's problem with baggy grey sweatpants floats to the surface. In this episode of the 1,000 Authors Show, the intrepid podcasters dive deep into their own brains to figure out why thinking is so hard, how to get better at it, and why it's crucial that we do.
Key Takeaways:
[1:25] It’s been a tough few days at the Dingle. The fun adventures of herding sheep.
[5:35] The Atomic Habits book that Vicky is reading is life changing!
[11:05] We’ve evolved to have these giant brains, but it’s really not efficient.
[13:55] Vicky and Joe weren’t really taught in school how to think critically.
[17:10] By the way, nobody is good at multitasking.
[18:45] How does Vicky define ‘thinking’?
[20:10] Unfortunately, throughout our lives, we are taught not to question things.
[22:05] Why is critical thinking so important?
[27:50] What are some of your cognitive biases? Let Vicky know!
[29:00] Ask basic questions about a topic, even if you think you know it.
[31:20] A lot of horrible things are happening in the UK at the moment. A little bit of empathy would be nice!
[33:45] Don’t just read the headline! Read the story. Also, double check where the research comes from.
[37:25] Get better at thinking.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
Kings of the Wyld, by Nicholas Eames
Iolo's Revenge: Sheep Farming by Happy Accident in Mid-Wales, by Diana Ashworth
Vicky and Joe are almost foiled by technology and then a ghost in the Dingle, before moving swiftly on to today's topic: hard things. (Stop being smutty.) There follows a lurid tale in which Vicky relives a terrifyingly hard moment so vividly her hands turn into some kind of pond creature, and Joe reveals that he actually thought she might die. (Spoiler alert: she didn't.) Why all the talk of hard things? Aha. Well. Because writing a book is hard, and doing hard things is amazing. Listen in and find out why.
Key Takeaways:
[3:00] Vicky is really enjoying Diana Ashworth’s writing. It is delightful, engaging, and funny.
[4:25] Why should you write a book?
[8:35] What types of hard things has Joe had to face recently?
[9:55] Vicky explains what Trad Rock Climbing is. You will probably die.
[14:45] Vicky made it to the top of the mountain and cried.
[16:05] You should write a book because it’s hard and it will make you realize you are completely capable!
[19:00] The important things in life are difficult. Renovating the Dingle is really hard work, but so rewarding.
[23:10] If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!
[25:25] Stay tuned for January! Vicky is hosting a big book launch!
[26:25] Vicky also has a writing retreat planned for you!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
The Obelisk Gate, by N. K. Jemisin
Iolo's Revenge: Sheep Farming by Happy Accident in Mid-Wales, by Diana Ashworth
Joe is wearing a dressing gown! A very snazzy, smoking-jacket-esque dressing gown, but a dressing gown nonetheless. If you only listen to the audio, you're missing out. Hop over to YouTube and have a gander. Mind you, Vicky is dressed like three of the Spice Girls at once, so... anyway, they're both perfectly dressed to discuss The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield – an excellent book for everyone who's ever struggled with procrastination. Listen in and find out what Vicky and Joe's top takeaways from the book are.
Key Takeaways:
[1:20] Joe won gold and silver in the National BJJ competition!
[2:00] Vicky, on the other hand, has scratched her eyeball.
[6:35] Today’s podcast will be a book review of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
[8:35] The book is extremely well organized.
[10:00] In Steven’s book, he actually doesn’t have a table of contents.
[12:20] We each have different types of personalities depending on who you are talking to. We have the work persona, the family persona, and the friend/hobby persona.
[15:55] Planning to do that ‘thing’ is really easy. Sitting down and actually doing it is not!
[17:35] Don’t start tomorrow. Start now!
[19:30] It doesn’t matter if the words you are writing are terrible! The point is you got it down on paper.
[21:50] What kind of person do you want to be today?
[25:25] Last month, Vicky wrote every single day!
[26:00] Tune in next week to find out why you should do something difficult!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin
The Next Step in the Dance by Tim Gautreaux
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Margo Aaron is a splendid writer and even more splendid human being, and Vicky managed to persuade her to come and yell on the podcast. Yay! Tune in to find out what working in mental health has to do with marketing, and what's got Margo (and Vicky) enraged, and what they're doing about it. You'll also get a sneak peek into Margo's upcoming book, which is going to be a must-read for business owners and entrepreneurs. Enjoy!
Key Takeaways:
[1:45] Margo started her career in mental health and accidentally fell into marketing.
[5:20] The people Margo wanted most to help were those who were struggling with self-doubt.
[8:15] Margo was overwhelmed with work that she wasn’t passionate about doing, but it paid really well. How did she get out of this vicious cycle?
[10:45] Margo hates hustle culture. Never seeing your family and constantly ‘grinding’ isn’t healthy.
[12:35] Margo is writing a book! What’s it about?
[16:55] When writing a book, it’s important to trust in the process. You can get worn down or overwhelmed if you think too much about the end-game.
[17:20] Will Margo go through a traditional or independent publisher?
[18:55] What is something about Margo that most people don’t know about?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
Joe does a very passable impression of a Klingon and Vicky marvels at the fact they've been married for TEN YEARS without any frying pan incidents. This week, they go off on some impressive tangents while explaining why tangents are brilliant and you should be fascinated by everything. Including eavesdropping, Titivillus, philately, Japanese, and Dungeons & Dragons. Tune in to discover how you can never run out of things to write about again.
Key Takeaways:
[3:00] Joe recently finished The Fifth Season book.
[4:00] Vicky is currently reading Early Riser by Jasper Fforde.
[6:55] Overnight successes do not exist.
[8:35] Why should you be interested in absolutely everything?
[13:50] Read a lot! It will make you more interesting.
[16:20] Start a collection!
[18:45] Have a weird and nerdy hobby!
[21:00] Don’t be afraid to travel alone.
[22:25] Never stop learning something new!
[24:45] Listen to other people’s stories. Talk to people!
[27:35] Vicky loves people watching at airports.
[28:45] Ask yourself hypothetical questions.
[31:35] Let your mind switch off for a couple of days.
[36:35] Vicky’s book is out! Order it on her website or on Amazon!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin
This week, Vicky is having such a bad hair day that she's wearing a bobble hat – but at least there's less spluttering. She and Joe talk about the books they're currently reading, then dive into why writing an outline isn't as miserable as your teachers made it seem, and how to do it in such a way that writing your book becomes a dream. Or, much easier and quicker, at least. Tune in to find out how you could cut your writing time by a third or more.
Key Takeaways:
[2:10] Joe is currently reading The Wheel of Time series.
[4:40] Vicky shares how she loves N. K. Jemisin’s work.
[6:25] Do you get stuck before you get started?
[7:00] To help you through this, Vicky will be breaking down how to write a detailed outline for your book.
[9:40] Vicky wishes teachers would have explained the importance of writing an outline, and showed her this technique to make writing anything down a lot easier.
[9:55] First things first. Write a recap of why you’re writing this book in the first place.
[10:30] By the way: Vicky’s latest book is available for sale!!
[11:00] What is a book compass?
[12:00] Write down your ideal reader avatar.
[12:15] What is the problem you’re trying to solve with this book?
[13:35] By the time you’re done with this exercise you will have a clearer idea of why you’re writing this book.
[14:00] Write a ‘brain dump’ of sorts to catch all of your ideas on paper that may or may not be related to your book.
[16:05] Write a rough outline of your chapter headings or the main topics you want to talk about. Don’t worry, they might change in the future.
[17:55] With each chapter you’ve created, break down the ‘details’ of what will be in each chapter.
[21:20] Create a nice transition point or flow in your book by summarizing the next chapter.
[21:55] Vicky shares some examples of what this outline will look like.
[25:15] You can outline your entire book in less than a day!
[28:50] Don’t just start by writing a book. You will get lost and frustrated. Write down your ideas, break it down into chunks, and then go from there!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Vicky has the plague and Joe is left to steer the ship in this week's episode of the 1,000 Authors Show. Between bouts of coughing and spluttering, they explain why many would-be authors struggle to get started – and share the three questions that will get you unstuck. Also, they have an exciting new light which highlights the bags under their eyes. Tune in this week for germs, exploding foreheads, eye-bags, and three useful nuggets of information that'll help you write your book.
Key Takeaways:
[1:25] Vicky is currently sick. It’s such a waste of time!
[3:15] When should you ask for help to write your book?
[5:50] Ask the right questions to help you get over any sort of blocks you might have about your book.
[6:50] Here are three questions that will help put you on the right path.
[7:25] Why do you want to write a book?
[8:50] By the way, Vicky’s book will be officially released on November 19th.
[11:45] What makes you better than your competition?
[13:15] What do you want people to do when they finish reading your book?
[16:15] This podcast is going to be a bit short because Vicky is still sick with the flu.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky and Joe are surrounded by spooks and ghouls in this Hallowe'en edition of the 1000 Authors Show. Listen in, if you dare, to the four lurking horrors that will kill your book... unless you slay them first. There's also silly voices and a cautionary tale about why many high-street shops are failing. It's like they want a disaster...
Key Takeaways:
[2:35] Vicky shares a retail fail story. Some people can’t be helped!
[7:55] What spooky things are lurking in the dark that will destroy your nicely-crafted book?
[13:15] Don’t skimp on the book finishings! It will make your book look and feel cheap if you do.
[18:00] What should you invest in?
[20:15] Get beta readers to read through your book!
[23:15] You need a website for your book!
[25:00] The biggest demon of all is the one that lives inside your head.
[30:15] Pre-order Vicky’s latest book!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Look, your pencils could always be sharper, okay? Your hair could be shinier. Your long-jump could be longer. Vicky and Joe talk about your worst trait, and why it's keeping you paralysed. Vicky also gets over-enthusiastic about Brené Brown, who is a wise owl. If you struggle to get your best stuff out there, listen in to this episode, and listen good.
Key Takeaways:
[1:20] Vicky is in her brand new office!!!
[2:50] Vicky is looking to name her office. Do you have a name suggestion for her?
[5:10] Vicky recently had a crap experience with a provider and wants to share how you can avoid making the same mistakes.
[9:25] Do you suffer from perfectionism?
[13:00] How can perfectionism make you ill?
[19:20] Are you your mistakes or are you just someone who makes mistakes?
[20:00] Don’t praise children for the end product, praise them for the work they did.
[21:40] Perfectionism keeps you outside of the action.
[25:20] Slowly work your way towards being ‘good enough’ instead of ‘perfect enough’.
[28:00] Vicky is almost done writing her book! Preorder it now!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky and Joe sip blackberry gin and explain why writer's block is a big fat myth that's stopping you from writing your book (or doing anything else useful). Before you get all huffy, grab yourself a cuppa and listen in, because when you understand why it's a myth, you'll also understand how to get more shit done. Also, they finally blather on about purple.
Key Takeaways:
[2:45] Let’s talk about the color purple. It’s a color that doesn’t exist!
[7:25] Similar to the color purple, writer’s block is a lie we tell ourselves.
[8:25] Writer’s block implies that it’s happening because of an external cause, but it’s the opposite.
[9:40] Vicky read an interesting article from the New Yorker about writer’s block.
[15:30] Is writer’s block the same as general procrastination?
[17:40] There are fun exercises you can do to get your creative juices flowing, which is much more proactive than sitting around with ‘writer’s block’.
[22:15] How does Vicky find the time to do all of this hobby stuff?!
[23:25] The best way to beat writer’s block is to be interested in as many things as you can.
[25:15] If you’ve ever trained for a marathon, it’s really hard to get out of the front door.
[29:55] By the way, pre-order Vicky’s book!!! It will be released in the beginning of November!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Preorder Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe talk about the twitching madness of insomnia, and how it's kind of like when you're suffering from chronic Blank Page Of Doomness. This episode contains the 7 – no, 8 – no, wait, NINE – questions you can ask your best customers to help you overcome the Blank Page Of Doom. Plus you'll get some splendid testimonials and maybe make some new friends.
Key Takeaways:
[1:55] Let’s talk about strategies that will beat your writer’s block!
[5:25] Don’t try to force it. Sometimes you just need a little more research to beat that blank page.
[8:50] Talk to your clients! They are an excellent way to generate inspiration and topics.
[9:45] Vicky has 7 crucial questions you can ask your audience.
[12:05] What you think is people’s main objection might not actually be the case. It’s important to ask them!
[13:05] What specific service or feature did your client like the most about working with you?
[13:55] Ask your client the top three benefits they received when working with you!
[17:50] Give your client the option to add anything else that you might not have thought of or asked them yet.
[18:30] Most people don’t feel comfortable asking for unsolicited advice, but when you ask for it specifically, people will open up!
[21:25] The very act of talking to your customers shows them that you value them.
[24:00] Know anybody who’d like this podcast? Please let them know about it!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Preorder Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe get excited about jam, and briefly consider starting a jam podcast. Then they pull themselves together and remember there's work to do. Tune in to find out why they're killing the podcast, what happens next, and how to make sure you keep passion alive in your business.
Key Takeaways:
[1:35] Quick Dingle update!!
[3:40] Vicky and Joe are not actually killing the podcast just yet.
[6:40] Vicky feels it’s time for a change because after 150+ episodes, she wants to introduce new topics and themes that won’t always be marketing related.
[8:35] The new podcast will be more for authors, but that still doesn’t mean it won’t be relevant for those who aren’t writing a book.
[9:50] By the way, Vicky’s new book is available to pre-order!!
[13:25] Do you know of anyone who is interested in writing a book?
[17:00] If you’re not achieving/ enjoying your goals, ask yourself why and maybe it makes sense to focus on something else.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Preorder Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
In this episode, Vicky contemplates wrestling TinySheeps and makes jam. Both of which are in fact linked to this week's topic, which is how to beat the Blank Page Of Doom. Tune in for modernist poetry created on the fly, three fun writing exercises to get you moving if you're stuck – and a random safari into the world of plumbing. Keep listening right to the end for a secret outtake if you'd like to hear Joe completely mangle the English language.
Key Takeaways:
[1:60] Vicky doesn’t believe in writer’s block.
[3:15] Quick Project Dingle update!
[5:55] How can you beat writer’s block?
[7:55] THe plotline and the story are two very different things.
[9:35] When you look at a simple blank page, you end up being paralyzed.
[10:15] How can you just start writing? Vicky has three exercises.
[15:00] Get yourself a timer and begin to write down Vicky’s recommended three words.
[17:00] Don’t fix your typos while you write!
[17:45] Vicky loves saving stories so that she can later use them in her daily newsletter.
[19:45] Your blank page of doom is never going to disappear for good. Even Vicky gets stuck.
[21:25] Next week, Vicky dives into why writer’s block isn’t a thing!
[22:30] Vicky’s new book is out on preorder!!!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Preorder Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe fail to create a xylophone out of glasses and milk bottles, but subject you to the cacophony anyway. Then they dive into this week's podcast topic: Vicky's 10 Commandments of Writing A Book. There's also a cautionary tale about wearing your glasses in bed, and a bit of a rant about the patriarchy.
Key Takeaways:
[2:50] Vicky won her trapeze competition!!!
[5:35] The Business for Superheros Show will be changing soon!
[8:50] Commandment number 1 - If you write, you are a writer.
[11:30] Commandment number 2 - Do not edit as you write.
[14:35] Commandment number 3 - Create an outline.
[16:20] Commandment number 4 - Protect your writing time fiercely.
[18:45] Commandment number 5 - Embrace the first draft.
[20:25] Commandment number 6 - Do not wait for inspiration to strike.
21:40] Commandment number 7 - Understand who you’re writing for.
[22:25] Commandment number 8 - Give yourself permission to be unapologetically yourself.
[25:20] Commandment number 9 - Pay attention to the details.
[27:25] Commandment number 10 - Take criticism with grace and gratitude.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Preorder Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky is delighted because Joe has been away for a week, and is now home! Joe is fresh back from a business trip to Thailand and boy does he have a tale to tell you! A tale of being randomly massaged at a urinal in a giant bar. Tune in to hear how that turned out... and also to discover whether or not you can, or should, be funny when you're writing your book. We answer that question for you and sum up the whole thing with four simple words: you do you, boo.
Key Takeaways:
[1:45] Something very weird happened to Joe when he was in Thailand.
[6:00] Vicky has built a new website! It’s so shiny!
[7:15] How can you be a funny writer?
[9:35] Remember, humor is very subjective.
[12:00] Likeable people go far in life. They make people feel good!
[14:05] When writing a book, don’t worry about trying to impress people.
[15:55] If you want to be funny, you’ve got to practice and you’ve got to learn it. It’s not a natural skill.
[21:50] Remember to be yourself instead of trying to mimic someone else’s talent.
[23:05] Thank you Natasha Lewis for sending Vicky your published book!
[23:55] Vicky plans to read Natasha’s dog training book to hopefully train her sheep how to do agility tricks.
[25:25] Vicky also got a second book in the mail from Carol, who is a doggie doctor! Thank you Carol.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe are tired, so you're in for a bit of a ramble this week. But you do get some bonus purring from Noodle, so there is that. In this week's episode, Vicky explains why she's at peak stress over her trapeze competition, and then segues awkwardly into what that has to do with you and your business. There is a valuable lesson in here, honest.
Key Takeaways:
[1:45] Dingle update!
[7:00] Vicky and Joe were amazed by the accessible scooters in Portugal.
[10:30] Vicky has been a bit stressed lately with nailing down this trapeze move.
[12:25] This trapeze move, however, is not vital to Vicky’s success in the overall routine.
[13:05] If you’re not 100% sure of a move, don’t put it into the routine.
[13:45] The same applies to your business. If you rely on one big client, your business is going to be shaky.
[15:35] Vicky shares an example of someone who based their entire income off of Instagram.
[18:30] There is nothing wrong with having one specialty that you’re known for, just make sure you’re diverse in your marketing.
[19:45] Next week Vicky and Joe discuss how to write with humor!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Misty round up six amazingly diverse business owners and drag them to Portugal for the Fourth International Breaking Bread Mastermind. Join us for a round-table and discover what we've been up to all weekend, and the exciting stuff everyone's up to next.
Key Takeaways:
[:44] Joe has been replaced by Misty and six fellow business owners on this episode!
[1:25] First client feature is Teresa!
[3:10] Second feature is Ray!
[6:05] Next up is Carol. What did she learn this weekend?
[8:50] Fourth feature is Bruce!
[12:40] Fifth client feature is friend and podcast guest, Kim Krause Schwalm.
[16:50] And the final feature is Shela!
[19:40] Misty shares some thoughts about what she learned this weekend.
[22:00] Some final thoughts from Vicky.
[23:10] Special guest appearance from the husbands in short shorts.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky explains why she was crying about breakfast while Joe looks bewildered. Then there's an awkward segue into what's going on at The Dingle, and an even awkwarder segue into how Vicky took herself from overwhelmed and sobbing into her muesli to the most organised zen person in Herefordshire. Tune in and find out what's changed, and how she's organising her life and business (and get a sneak preview of her exciting future plans).
Key Takeaways:
[2:05] Vicky and Joe are off to the Breaking Bread Mastermind soon!
[2:45] Dingle update!
[4:25] Joe didn’t die!
[6:25] There’s been a lot of renovation frustrations and roadblocks with The Dingle.
[9:35] Vicky broke down when she realized she was under unrealistic time pressures she was never going to complete.
[10:15] 12 week goals are way too long for Vicky.
[12:20] Joe lives in his emails and the disorder frightens Vicky.
[13:10] What’s the difference between a bullet journal and a regular journal?
[16:20] Vicky feels so much more organized with the bullet journal!
[18:00] Vicky shares how she structures the bullet journal.
[21:55] Break your goals into mini goals.
[23:30] What did Vicky do before she discovered the self-journal?
[26:30] Vicky now feels more in control of Project Dingle.
[29:20] Despite everything going on right now, Vicky mowed the lawn and feels this is a big accomplishment!
[30:55] Remember to celebrate the tiny wins as well as the big wins!
[32:45] Vicky will be launching her new book this August!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Join Vicky and Joe in their garden for a spot of heavy breathing. Eh? Get your mind out of the gutter – in this week's episode, our Superheroes are joined by their TinySheep, who contribute by panting into the microphone and chewing the cables. You'll also hear clucking and flapping from our poultry guests. And, of course, we answer your questions. Three of them, to be precise. To find out how to cope with the fear of judgement, what writing a book can do if your services rely on your time, and whether it's worth trying to get traditionally published, listen in.
Key Takeaways:
[1:45] Vicky answers your questions as TinySheep distract her!
[2:45] Should you write a book if you’re self-employed and don’t have a physical product?
[4:10] What’s the point of writing a book when you have limited time?
[7:20] Do you feel like you will be judged by your book when it’s published?
[7:40] Joe just got bitten by a chicken.
[9:35] People will judge you. Some people will love you, some people will hate you. So what?
[14:50] You can’t please everybody. Not everyone is going to like you! It’s okay!
[17:15] Is there any point in trying to get traditionally published?
[21:00] What do you want your book to do for you?
[25:30] More TinySheep distractions! See you next week!
[26:15] Wanna go to portugal? Contact Vicky! Breaking Bread Mastermind is happening soon!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Joe gets kicked in the face. Vicky forgets to write an entire section of her new book. In this episode, between squeaks of pain and wondering which band released a silent album, Vicky and Joe get around to answering your questions. Tune in to find out how to write an interesting about page, what goes on the back cover of your book, and how you can write a book even if you're in a "boring" industry.
Key Takeaways:
[1:10] Both Vicky and Joe are struggling with the whole ‘chewing food’ thing.
[4:25] Vicky and Joe answer your burning questions!
[4:55] How do you properly write an author bio?
[11:20] How do you write an interesting back cover blurb?
[16:45] Vicky shares how she wrote her back cover blurb.
[19:25] Vicky offers tips on how you can write a good back cover blurb.
[21:10] Make your back cover blurb easy for the eyes to scan through.
[23:00] Why should a mortgage broker even write their own book?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe stumble through another episode of the Business For Superheroes Show, lightly lubricated by gin. Pull up a chair, open your ears, and you'll hear all about how they shaved their TinySheep, why they sometimes want to just sell up and buy a warm, watertight house, and what to do when you just want to go to bed and give up. Yep: this episode is all about how to keep going when it all seems too bloody difficult. Tune in, because there's a bonus cautionary tale about fizzy blue wine.
Key Takeaways:
[1:55] What fun things did Vicky and Joe get up to last weekend?
[3:45] YouTube makes shearing sheep look so simple!
[6:10] It was hard work! Joe and Vicky could have given up, but they didn’t.
[9:25] Whether you’re trying to shear sheep or write a book, you will feel some kind of pain or fear that you won’t make it, but don’t give up!
[10:30] The great wall of pain will take you by surprise, but it won’t knock you out!
[13:00] Vicky has made an active effort to avoid distractions by taking social media off her phone.
[19:25] Vicky shares another example of the great wall of pain.
[22:15] It’s okay to give yourself some headspace when you’ve run into a wall!
[27:40] Do you need an extra push to finish your book? Feel free to reach out to Vicky!
[30:20] Breaking Bread is happening! There are still two spots left!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport
Vicky interviews her extraordinarily talented and angelically patient book cover designer, Julia Brown. They talk unnecessary jargon, the virtues of speaking your client's language, and what makes a compelling book cover. Listen in and you'll also discover why you need to jump off a cliff (metaphorically speaking) and how to get to grips with the business side of doing what you love.
Key Takeaways:
[1:00] Julia describes some of the artwork behind her (sorry podcast listeners!).
[5:40] What makes Julia different from other designers?
[8:30] Why did Julia start her own business?
[11:00] Learning about the business side of things was definitely a learning curve for Julia!
[13:45] Why did Julia join Vicky’s Superheroes group?
[18:20] Vicky loves Julia’s work and her amazing book cover designs.
[19:50] What has Julia’s biggest win been over the last year?
[22:40] How does Julia handle failures or challenges?
[26:55] Vicky highly encourages you to join a group of people who will help you through your business journey.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe talk about how to avoid looking like an amateur while Joe's phone goes off amateurishly in the background. Cue a verbal safari about Alanis Morissette and whether that's ironic. This episode of The Business For Superheroes Show is all about the rookie mistakes writers and business owners can unwittingly commit that make them look like amateurs – and how to avoid them. You hear all about book covers, titles, the difference between typeface and font, layout... and much more.
Key Takeaways:
[2:40] How can you look like a professional in everything that you do?
[5:10] There is no excuse why your cover photo is poorly designed or crafted.
[7:40] If the first impression your readers get is that you’re an amateur, they’ll go elsewhere.
[8:45] How much work do you put into your book? Do that work justice by having a nice cover!
[13:10] How do you avoid looking like an amateur?
[16:10] Vicky shares tips on what you need to be aware of when it comes to typeface / font .
[20:40] Having too many typefaces gives people headaches!
[27:05] What should you look for in a printing press?
[31:00] Breaking Bread mastermind is happening soon! There are still three spaces left.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky gets grilled by language expert, author, and Posh Punk Julian Northbrook. He dragged her into his world and made her answer loads of questions about why you might want to write a book, how to come up with ideas, and what The Matrix is really all about. Want to know how stories work? Listen up.
Key Takeaways:
[1:25] Who is Vicky?
[4:20] Everybody has an interesting story.
[9:20] How can you get people interested in your story?
[10:40] Is your life mundane and boring?
[13:05] Do you feel like you don’t ‘know enough’ to become an expert?
[19:35] Vicky offers her advice on charisma.
[25:50] How does Vicky discover interesting things about people?
[29:45] Why does Vicky like socks in the wind?
[31:45] How did Vicky accidentally acquire three sheep?
[34:45] It’s okay to be wrong. Just don’t be boring.
[38:55] What does it take to become a world class photographer?
[40:15] Vicky shares what her new book is all about!
[43:00] Can anybody write a book?
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days
Vicky and Joe talk teeth and cosmic universal alignment rays in the latest episode of The Business For Superheroes Show. There's a brief argument about grammar and lots of questions. Questions you'll find helpful if you're writing a book and trying to make it better. You'll also find them helpful if you're making anything new and want it to be good. Tune in to find out what questions Vicky asked her beta readers, and why they're important.
Key Takeaways:
[2:05 Vicky is still going through mouth torture from her braces.
[4:35] It gets better!
[8:30] How do you extract helpful feedback from your readers?
[10:55] Vicky lists the 18 questions she asked her readers.
[16:00] Where did the book get boring?
[17:30] What was missing from the book?
[20:55] Get someone to proofread your questions to your beta readers, because Vicky didn’t. Lesson learned.
[21:40] Get your beta readers to inform you when your stuff is repeating in the book.
[25:25] For both fiction and non-fiction writers, send people somewhere else, like to a newsletter!
[29:50] Are the chapters in the right order?
[32:10] The Breaking Bread Mastermind in Portugal is happening soon!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book
Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days