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Notes in the Margin

This is a podcast about one woman's mission to help entrepreneurs and business owners write and self-publish better business books. Each week, we tackle your writing excuses (because they're our excuses too) – and help you beat the Blank Page Of Doom so you can write a book that makes a real difference. Also contains adulting fails, the adventures of the TinySheeps, and a bundle of fantastic interviews with people far smarter than us. Find us at moxiebooks.co.uk.
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Notes in the Margin
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Now displaying: May, 2019
May 31, 2019

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 Fraser

Vicky’s Podcast

Vicky’s Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky’s Book Club

Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Doing English.com

May 24, 2019

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 Fraser

Vicky’s Podcast

Vicky’s Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky’s Book Club

Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

May 17, 2019

Vicky lisps her way through this week's podcast. No, she's not drunk – yet… If you want to know why she's suddenly developed a speech impediment, tune in. You'll hear Joe's top tip about fitting skirting boards, and why that's relevant to your business. And, of course, you'll discover if you actually do need beta testers for your book, new product, or new service – and how to get the best out of them.

 

Key Takeaways:

[:50] Vicky has braces!!!

[5:00] Vicky gives a quick trapeze update! 

[8:25] Vicky did not get beta readers on her first book, and her book would have been much better if she did. 

[10:20] You don’t always need to pay your beta readers.

[12:40] How do you find your beta testers?

[18:20] Vicky doesn’t expect everyone she asks to become a beta reader.

[19:25] Who should you include in your beta list?

[24:15] When Vicky sent out the beta version of her book, she sent it out in a wirebound format so that people could easily make corrections. 

[24:45] Send a thank you letter to your beta readers! 

[27:30] Next week, Vicky will dive into the questions she asked her beta readers! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky’s Podcast

Vicky’s Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky’s Book Club

Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

May 10, 2019

Joe goes on a verbal safari and refuses to let go of the concept of the shit sandwich. In fact, he creates an artisanal club shit sandwich. Vicky fails to rein him in, and the whole podcast goes downhill from there. Buried in the artisanal bread safari, though, is some gold-dust that'll help you deal better with criticism and feedback, and create better books, art, products, and services.

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:30] Quick Dingle update! 

[5:30] Vicky has sent a limited edition copy of her new book to some of her inner circle members to get feedback on it. 

[7:25] What would you do if 50% of your readers hated your book?

[8:50] How do you deal with criticism with grace?

[11:05] Vicky asks for feedback often and early into her book-writing process.

[16:00] If the criticism hurts, it’s okay to spend five minutes crying over it. 

[19:00] Remember, most of your critics really want you to succeed.

[21:35] When asking for feedback, make it clear that that the person is not forced to do it. Give them an out. 

[25:45] We are far more likely to internalize negative feedback than positive feedback. 

[28:45] Breaking Bread Mastermind is happening in Portugal and Joe will be wearing some very short shorts. 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky’s Podcast

Vicky’s Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky’s Book Club

Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

Project Dingle 

May 3, 2019

Kenda Macdonald has just published her first book and is fizzing with excitement – so Vicky tied her to a chair and made her talk about it. This episode contains angst, truthy stories, a heroic victory, a fantastic idea for selling more copies of your book (or product or thing)... and sad parsnips. If you're thinking of writing a book but you don't yet believe you can listen to this.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] What is Kenda’s new book, Hack the Buyer Brain, all about?

[2:05] What did Kenda struggle with the most about writing this book?

[4:00] Kenda suffered from imposter syndrome while writing this book and it took a lot to get over that.

[6:25] Who is Kenda and what does she do?

[9:00] Kenda had a mental breakdown on the last chapter of her book!

[11:15] What helped Kenda get unstuck?

[14:25] How many pre-sale copies has Kenda sold so far?

[15:45] Kenda describes how she uses the ‘golden ticket’ to promote her book. 

[18:30] Kenda shares why she’s using the UpViral tool to help promote her book.

[21:40] People have really taken well to the branding of the book and Kenda wants them to get excited about the swag that comes with the book! 

[22:15] Thinking of writing a book? Vicky hopes Kenda’s story inspires you to take action! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky’s Podcast

Vicky’s Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky’s Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky’s Book Club

Vicky’s new book!
Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Automation Ninjas

Kenda Macdonald on LinkedIn

UpViral

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