We’ve just been in a hot air balloon and be warned, we rave about it for quite a lot of minutes before we get into this week’s episode—an enthusiastic chat about grammar. Does it matter? Is it elitist? Should we throw the whole lot in the bin? And what does it all mean for marginalized writers? Tune in and find out what it’s like being in a hot air balloon, what Joe thinks about class and grammar and cutlery, and why Vicky thinks the publishing industry desperately needs more people who don’t look like her.
Key Takeaways:
[1:00] Vicky and Joe woke up really early today and jumped into a hot air balloon!
[04:15] Joe gave up reading The Pillow Book. He found it culturally difficult to connect with it.
[05:25] Joe moved on to reading Boyhood, Childhood, Youth and Vicky asks him if he is enjoying this one.
[06:55] Georgia Pritchett is such a sparse writer and Vicky just gushes about her!
[07:50] Is grammar elitist? Vicky talks about the article she read by Leone Ross.
[11:30] As long as the meaning comes across, the grammar really doesn’t matter. Vicky expounds on this further.
[15:05] People in the marketing industry say you should write like you speak but Vicky disagrees.
[16:35] Grammar rules are there for clarity but the main point is to be understood by the person you are writing to and for.
[18:05] Part of the snobbishness of grammar is the rejection of the unfamiliar and unwillingness to change.
[19:00] Vicky talks about the podcast, The Allusionist, where they interviewed somebody from Iceland and how their language has changed.
[20:50] The world is changing and for a language to survive, it has to change with it.
[21:20] What’s the point of this episode? Vicky shares the dreams of her future publishing business.
[23:45] Whatever language we’re using to write, we need to be skilled in it and that’s not being elitist.
[26:05] Vicky shares how Leone Ross summed up her article and why she really likes it.
[27:30] Broaden your horizons and accept that there are voices different from your own. Let it go and rather focus on honing your skills in writing.
[29:00] Vicky is looking for two people to work with for her next six month creative book coaching program!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
Email Vicky about 1:1 coaching at: vicky@moxiebooks.co.uk
The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon
Boyhood, Childhood, Youth by Leo Tolstoy
The Great Hunt: Book Two of ‘The Wheel of Time’ by Robert Jordan
My Mess is A Bit Of A Life by Georgia Pritchett
Is Grammar Elitist? By Leone Ross - Mslexia Magazine
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Today’s episode is brought to you from an idyllic sun-soaked, palm-fringed shore and also a grey drizzly field—join Vicky as she talks to writer, educator, and anti-racism activist Sharon Hurley-Hall about her upcoming book. Vicky and Sharon talk storytelling and how it has the power to change the world; the empathy gap; and the sorry state of traditional publishing (and what needs to change apart from everything). Tune in and find out why storytelling is the answer to everything (and get a bunch of amazing book recommendations to broaden your reading horizons).
Key Takeaways:
[02:50] A little bit about Sharon and the list of things she does.
[03:50] What prompted Sharon to write about diversity and anti-racism?
[05:25] Sharon talks about her book, I’m Tired of Racism and why she titled it that.
[07:35] Writing a book vs writing essays. Sharon shares her book writing process.
[8:50] She talks about the different themes suggested to her by professional editors to draw out the commonality in the different stories she could tell.
[10:50] How was it like working with an editor?
[12:35] Telling stories can help people feel empathy. Sharon expounds on this further.
[14:30] The difficulty with white people in regards to the empathy gap is the white supremacy system.
[16:20] Sharon believes in the power of the collective and explains why she thinks that.
[17:15] Sharon is still working on the nitty gritty of her book and is excited to see when she can announce the pre-order!
[19:00] Why did Sharon decide to independently publish? She shares what her journey has been like.
[23:00] Vicky loves indie publishing. She asks Sharon what should change in the traditional publishing industry.
[24:30] Traditional publishing needs to recognize the other ways of publishing that are valid. Sharon shares that numbers don’t define success.
[27:20] Sharon talks about the Hollywood model being applied in traditional publishing and how indie publishing disrupts that.
[28:10] Writers should not wait for traditional publishing to decide they are worthy of being published.
[29:00] Sharon shares one of her pet-peeves around anti-racism writing.
[32:00] Sharon can’t find a go-to author because she has a lot of them. She shares her top list of books instead.
[34:20] Sharon also shares what she is reading right now!
[34:40] Vicky also asks Sharon what’s one of her favorite books, films and places.
[36:20] Sharon shares what she’s most thankful for and it’s about her podcast.
[37:00] Sharon has a lot to be proud of and she shares what they are.
[37:45] What is on Sharon’s bedside table?
[40:05] Vicky shares what’s up for next week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
That's What She Said: Tales of Business Success from Women Just like You by Vicky Fraser & Audiobook
Join Vicky's Weird and Wonderful Writing Society
Banish the Blank Page of Doom Fast
Grab Vicky’s Book Template Bundle
Come Join Vicky’s Writing Challenge
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
Email Vicky about 1:1 coaching at: vicky@moxiebooks.co.uk
I’m Tired of Racism by Sharon Hurley Hall
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The Wake Up by Michelle MiJung Kim
The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones
The Lincoln Rhymes Series by Jefferey Deaver
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
This week Vicky and Joe talk about extremely expensive poo and then move onto the writer’s most important tool of all. Tune in to find out what it is—and discover why one of Vicky’s habits is eavesdropping on strangers, what Joe’s bedtime reading routine is, and why memory is a treacherous beast.
Key Takeaways:
[0:50] Vicky wants to do something different and not have a welcome preamble!
[01:30] Now that Joe has given up on Umberto Eco, what is he reading?
[02:40] Vicky defends Umberto from Joe and encourages him to read his essays on coffee pots.
[04:00] All books are worthy but Joe wants to be satisfied with his six and a half minutes of reading time.
[04:40] The Wheel Of Time Book 2 is annoying Vicky. Does she need to keep reading?
[05:20] Vicky realizes that Georgia Pritchett is British! She’s loving her book as it’s very funny and morbid.
[7:10] Update on The Dingle: compost heaps and waste sewage treatment systems.
[11:10] What is a writer’s most important tool?
[12:15] Vicky has many notebooks and she shares what each of them are.
[13:20] Notebooks, sticky notes, and highlighter pens are all part of Vicky’s complex system.
[14:15] What are the things you need to capture as a writer?
[17:20] After stories and anecdotes that can also go in your notebook, Joe reads out “the list of transgressions by your husband” and Vicky explains.
[18:50] Why do we write all these ideas down?
[19:55] Record the context of your ideas as well. Vicky expounds further.
[21:40] These notes will be delightful when you read them in the years to come.
[22:55] Vicky shares her top tip explaining why she has a tiny notebook by her bed.
[24:30] Vicky also records stuff that hurts and explains why she wants to remember that stuff.
[26:05] Vicky tells a story through applying what she learned from the book, The Art Of Noticing.
[27:00] Joe summarizes the key takeaways for today’s topic and Vicky shares her recommendation for notebooks.
[28:40] Vicky asks you to join Team Moxie, her wonderful writing group, and what it’s all about.
[30:35] It’s gonna be Vicky’s ten year business anniversary! What is she going to do on that day?
[32:00] A little teaser for next week’s episode.
Mentioned in This Episode:
That's What She Said: Tales of Business Success from Women Just like You by Vicky Fraser & Audiobook
Join Vicky's Weird and Wonderful Writing Society
Banish the Blank Page of Doom Fast
Grab Vicky’s Book Template Bundle
Come Join Vicky’s Writing Challenge
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
Email Vicky about 1:1 coaching at: vicky@moxiebooks.co.uk
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, translated by Ivan Morris
The Great Hunt: Book Two of ‘The Wheel of Time’, by Robert Jordan
Imposter syndrome: is it a bug, or a feature? Vicky and Joe talk self-doubt, evolution, and go on a side-quest about what kind of tail they’d have if they could switch those tail genes back on. They also confirm, once again, that Joe is in fact a robot, albeit a very lovely and handsome one. Tune in and find out how you can use your self-doubt as a tool to do the things that matter to you, rather than letting it shit in your milk.
Key Takeaways:
[0:55] The cats are gonna be a part of this week’s podcast! They’re looking for a fight!
[01:30] Vicky talks about renaming the podcast. What would it be this time?
[02:20] Vic ky shares about her last Write Night and sends thank you’s to everyone!
[02:50] Joe says he’s not smart enough to read Umberto Eco. Why is that?
[04:40] Spoiler alert: Vicky shares the ending of The Wheel of Time Book 1!
[06:10] Vicky’s anxiety has its own entity which draws her to Georgia Pritchett’s book.
[7:30] Vicky and Joe talk about their poopocalypse.
[10:05] What are the two choices you have if you have imposter syndrome?
[11:00] Vicky defines what imposter syndrome is. She shares her own experience with it.
[13:50] Seventy percent of the population feels like a fraud. Joe also shares his own experience.
[15:15] Maybe it’s not a syndrome at all but a feature of being human. Vicky expounds further.
[18:30] Imposter syndrome must serve a useful function. What would that be?
[21:46] Vicky asks herself, “What if my imposter syndrome is right?”. She shares what her thought process would then be like.
[24:20] Vicky talks about her internal filters when she shares about something that she really cares about.
[26:15] When your self-doubt is kicking in, don’t fight it. Vicky shares a little reminder.
[27:20] We care about what people think about us.
[28:10] Vicky shares the questions she asks herself when she is self-doubting.
[28:35] Joe summarizes the key takeaways.
[29:20] Here’s what’s coming up next week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
That's What She Said: Tales of Business Success from Women Just like You by Vicky Fraser & Audiobook
Join Vicky's Weird and Wonderful Writing Society
Banish the Blank Page of Doom Fast
Grab Vicky’s Book Template Bundle
Come Join Vicky’s Writing Challenge
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast
Email Vicky about 1:1 coaching at: vicky@moxiebooks.co.uk
How To Travel With A Salmon & Other Essays, by Umberto Eco
The Great Hunt: Book Two of ‘The Wheel of Time’, by Robert Jordan
My Mess is A Bit Of A Life, by Georgia Pritchett