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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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Now displaying: Page 5
Jan 8, 2021

Vicky and Joe wander into 2021 with a change of name, a Christmas report, and some sage advice about where to start your book. Tune in to find out where most authors get stuck, why it happens, and how you can go from struggling to motivated just by changing your starting position. Hurrah!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:30] Vicky is changing her last name, but don’t worry, Joe is still in the picture! 

[5:25] It’s so lovely taking a break and chilling out during the end of the year. 

[7:00] Didn’t get a day off during December? Maybe consider taking one off during January. Vicky feels great after the break!

[7:30] It doesn’t matter where you start (when it comes to writing your book)! 

[10:00] You don’t have to write your book in order. If you’re struck, then skip a chapter (for now). 

[12:00] Every book Vicky has written has ended up somewhere different than when she has started.

[14:15] Should you start on the ‘hardest thing’ on your book? Vicky thinks no. Why make it harder on yourself? 

[17:10] There are no rules. You can start writing your book at any point in its journey. Just start. 

[19:55] Want to write a book, but everything has already been said? 

[20:35] Want to know how to start writing a nonfiction story? Tune in next week! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Big Book Idea Generator

Get Vicky’s latest audio book: That’s What She Said

The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss

Out on the Wire, by Jessica Abel



Dec 18, 2020

It's the last episode of the horror show that has been 2020 and Vicky and Joe are slacking. You know those episodes of Star Trek where they do a flashback thing so they don't have to write an actual episode? This is a bit like that: a roundup of our favourite podcasts. It's our Christmas gift to you: the gift of new shows and stories to enjoy. There's glitter, there's hot chocolate, there's sequins... and our usual 100% professional delivery. Enjoy!

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:30] Yay! It’s Christmas!

[2:10] What’s been going on at the Dingle? 

[6:10] Joe is re-reading the Wheel of Time. Why! 

[9:55] Let’s do some podcast recommendations! 

[16:20] Joe loves the podcast Philosophize This, but you have to start at the beginning to understand all the concepts he’s talking about. 

[19:00] Vicky understands why people might find Professor Brian Cox annoying, but she loves him and likes how he can simplify complex science topics. 

[24:45] One of Vicky’s fav podcasts right now is Guilty Feminist, and it’s very accessible to men! Hilarious show. 

[31:20] The podcast 99% Invisible started off as an architecture podcast. 

[34:15] We’re running out of time! Vicky gives some honorable mentions of podcasts she loves. 

[37:20] Merry Christmas everybody! Vicky and Joe will be back next year! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

 

‎The Secret Lives of Black Women

Hidden Brain

Unlocking Us | Brené Brown

Philosophize This!

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Everything is Alive

The Guilty Feminist

You Are Not So Smart

This American Life

99% Invisible



Dec 11, 2020

After a brief argument about whether or not time travel is possible (it's not), Vicky explains how time travel is, in fact, possible. But not like you think. Not with paradoxes and stepping on ants that turn out to be Hitler, or whatever. In this week's episode, Vicky and Joe talk about the power of story, space archaeology, and why the oldest letter in the world is hilarious.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] Vicky and Joe faced some chicken drama. 

[5:30] Lovely Christmas lights have been put up in the village. 

[6:35] Is time travel actually possible? 

[9:10] What is the oldest piece of writing in the world? It was from over 3,000 years ago! 

[13:10] A little bit of history behind the Bill of Rights, and why people write what they write. 

[15:20] By reading people’s old love letters and examining how they lived, you can get a better idea of not only what they did, but also how they felt. 

[17:50] Did organized religion exist before we started farming? Some people believe it didn’t. 

[20:10] The core of our history showcases that we like to work together and look after each other. 

[21:25] Even if you think no one is interested in your story, people are! 

[23:25] Can Vicky convince Joe to get a puppy? Stay tuned. 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

The Secret Lives of Colour, by Kassia St Clair

Out on the Wire: the Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio, by Jessica Abel



Dec 4, 2020

Well this is pretty freakin' cool: Vicky sits down with Laura F*cking Belgray and talks being funny for money, making your first million aged 50, and the crucial importance of writing EVERY DAMN DAY. Oh, and we got the lowdown on Laura's forthcoming book with the best title we've heard all year: Tough Titties. Hurrah!

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:00] What’s Laura is reading right now? 

[3:10] How did Laura get started in content writing? 

[8:25] How did Laura get connected with the entrepreneur Marie Forleo? 

[12:50] Laura shares the best ways to balance your voice, your personality, with your professional brand.

[15:30] Offending someone shouldn’t stop you from creating your best work.

[15:50] How does Laura deal with the trolls? 

[18:45] Laura has always been transparent about how much money she makes on her products. People are really receptive to it. 

[22:25] So many people fudge the numbers and say they make x amount of money on the internet, but have they really? 

[25:15] What was the moment Laura realized she could do this online? 

[27:55] How did Laura get her book deal? 

[35:50] What’s the one thing writers need to know about? 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Chemical Translator

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Talkingshrimp.com

Laura on Instagram

Leave the World Behind: A Novel Book by Rumaan Alam

Marieforleo.com

Get Laura’s Freebies here & here



Nov 27, 2020

Do not email Vicky about pickled eggs. Please. But you can email her about how to grow vegetables. In this episode, we find out how often Joe is wrong (once, today, about pickled eggs) and discover that Vicky is incapable of planning her vegetable garden. And then our intrepid podcasters get to the good stuff: the reason we can't write, can't finish stuff, and struggle to "find the time". This episode will fix it all for you. Enjoy!

 

Key Takeaways:

[5:40] Are there any gardeners out there? Did Vicky kill her cactus? 

[9:25] Vicky really needs a foolproof gardener plan. Also, she wants to grow potatoes. 

[11:00] Remember, people need help and no matter what your skill set is, you can help other people bridge the gap. 

[11:35] Vicky is serious! She needs help with her garden. DM her! 

[12:05] Do you have a hard time sitting down and writing your book? 

[15:00] There are three reasons why you might be procrastinating on your writing. 

[18:15] You don’t have accountability when you’re writing for yourself. 

[18:50] Don’t get to the end of the day regretting that you didn’t get your things done! 

[22:00] Joe threatens Vicky with no food if she is procrastinating or holding off on a personal deadline. Get yourself someone who will do something similar. 

[23:05] Make it a habit so that you feel weird if you don’t do it; like when you don’t brush your teeth. 

[25:40] You can write a book in two months. You can do it if you just put in the practice! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Chemicaltranslator.com

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

 

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret 

The Secret Lives of Colour, by Kassia St Clair

Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me Book by Kate Clanchy

Neuromancer, by William Gibson



Nov 20, 2020

In an incredible twist of irony, Vicky and Joe are talking about how to avoid looking like an amateur, whilst doing a tremendous job of being absolute amateurs on this podcast. Enjoy the uncontrollable fit of giggles while Joe fails to find his forehead with his own hand, and then settle in as our hosts share the most common mistakes first-time authors make with their books. Just because your book is self-published doesn't mean it needs to LOOK self-published. Check this out...

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:25] Vicky dyed her hair and now she has blue ears. 

[6:15] Just because you’re self published doesn’t mean you have to look self-published!

[8:35] Do not do your book cover yourself.

[11:05] Odds numbered pages are always, always on the right hand side. 

[11:45] Let’s talk about inner book navigation.

[15:40] The white spaces and margins are a dead giveaway whether something has been published vs. self-published. 

[20:00] How should you think about text layout? 

[22:05] Hiring certain professionals in this process is money well spent. 

[24:15] Check the little details! Vicky shares what she means. 

[26:10] Interested in barcode readers? Joe knows the answer to it. 

[27:45] Just become a person who writes everyday.

[29:55] How do you finish a chapter? Tune in next week! 



Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

Book checklist

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Chemicaltranslator.com

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Bookshop.org

Vellum.pub

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret 

Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchett

The Secret Lives of Colour, by Kassia St Clair

Neuromancer, by William Gibson

Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me Book by Kate Clanchy



Nov 6, 2020

This week, in a strange turn of events, Joe channels Jeremy Paxman and grills Vicky about her experiences in the recording studio last week. Tune in to find out what Vicky learned about how to record an audiobook - and the latest on what they're reading, what's going on in the Dingle, and why Vicky is covered in bruises (nothing sinister).

 

Key Takeaways:

[5:40] Joe interviews Vicky about her experiences at Audible. 

[8:15] The audible book industry is growing. 

[11:05] How does recording a book work?

[12:30] Vicky thought she’d just come in and read a book. It was nothing like that. 

[14:20] Read your stuff out loud. When Vicky said some stuff, she noticed it was landing differently. 

[15:45] Vicky does not recommend reading a 60,000 word audio book in two days. It was really hard to do. 

[18:00] Vicky shares some of her audio recording tips. 

[20:20] How do you speak or say your words clearly without getting tired? 

[23:40] The more important the point is, the quieter you need to get. 

[27:35] The takeaway? You really need to practice! 

[29:35] Listened to every single episode? Let Vicky know! 

[29:50] Vicky has a new book out. It’s on Amazon! Link below. 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Banish the Blank Page of Doom-Fast: Why Writer's Block is a Myth, and Other Stories by Vicky Fraser

Projectdingle.co.uk

Chemicaltranslator.com

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret 

Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchett

The Secret Lives of Colour, by Kassia St Clair

Read Books All Day and Get Paid For It, by Jennie Nash

Neuromancer, by William Gibson



Oct 30, 2020

Vicky and Joe go all-out for Halloween this year, with an episode that has absolutely nothing to do with spookiness at all. Although you do get to hear the word xenotransplant, which sounds pretty Frankensteiny. Speaking of cutting things up and improving them, that's what this episode is all about: how to copy edit your own manuscript. This week's nattering is packed with tips to help you take your draft from good to splendid. Happy editing!

 

Key Takeaways:

[6:00] Vicky and Joe have new windows! 

[8:05] What is the difference between copyediting and proofreading? 

[12:00] Search for words you tend to use a lot and see if you can rewrite it in a different way. 

[12:30] Get rid of your exclamation marks!!!!!!!

[13:30] Make an effort to use simpler words. 

[17:30] Get rid of needless words. 

[21:15] Ditch words like ‘very’, and other boring words. 

[23:30] Leverage your metrics more effectively by being specific. 

[27:20] Tip you might want to try: Read your book backwards. Vicky doesn’t have the patience to do this, though. 

[30:35] Vicky and Joe read your reviews! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Don't Touch My Hair, by Emma Dabiri

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret 

Read Books All Day and Get Paid For It, by Jennie Nash

Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, by Kate Clanchy



Oct 16, 2020

Vicky, Joe, and Vicky's giant jumper are back to talk about wonderful books, waterproof houses, and how the hell you edit your book. Yep: the last thing you want to do immediately after writing 50,000+ words is read the damn thing... so how do you start editing? Vicky has the answers and you'll like her approach. It involves not reading your book word-by-word (yet). Tune in - and get in touch if you have any questions!

 

Key Takeaways:

[4:50] The dingle finally has walls! 

[8:10] There are four stages to editing. 

[9:25] Before you read everything line by line you want to take a big picture perspective and see if the whole book works first. 

[11:35] Take a look at the chapter order. Does it work? Is the purpose of the book being fulfilled by the end of it? 

[13:55] Print out your first draft. It’s important to feel it and see it physically. 

[18:20] Once you’ve done the big picture overview, the next step is to include beta readers! 

[20:00] Make sure you communicate with your beta readers on what you’re looking for. 



Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Listen to Episode 172 & 173 about beta readers

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret 

The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett

Don't Touch My Hair, by Emma Dabiri

Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, by Kate Clanchy

Read Books All Day and Get Paid For It, by Jennie Nash



Oct 9, 2020

Join Vicky and Joe as they talk books, writing, and the patriarchy - and Vicky bemoans the fact that lipstick doesn't in fact have magical powers. After that, you'll get the lowdown on why "just be your authentic self" is total crap advice, and we're sorry for the number of times we say "authentic" in this episode. But to make up for it, what you get is a little masterclass in how to become a better writer and genuinely find your unique voice. Cool, huh?

 

Key Takeaways:

[6:15] Unfortunately, women are valued for their beauty and their child rearing abilities.

[7:25] Joe has had an exciting work trip to Poland! 

[10:15] Why should you be your authentic self? 

[15:45] How can you figure out how to be your ‘authentic’ self? 

[16:50] Start by reading really great stuff. 

[18:55] Take notes when you see something you like! 

[19:20] Create a list of writers you currently admire and try to rewrite (in your own words) some of their work.  

[20:30] Good writing is often very subjective. 

[21:55] Are you writing / sounding like someone else? The good news is you can fix that! 

[22:10] Thank you for leaving a review of the podcast!!!!!!!!!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories, by Etgar Keret 

The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett

Don't Touch My Hair, by Emma Dabiri



Oct 2, 2020

Nerdfest! Women in science! Writers! This week, Vicky is joined by biochemist Lisa Mullan, who turns DNA into little characters and writes stories to help children learn. Science and storytelling - two of our favourite things. Tune in to find out how Lisa uses storytelling to educate... and why it's crucial no matter what industry you're in.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:15] A little bit about Lisa and what she does for...science! 

[3:05] How did Lisa go from PhD to teaching children? 

[9:25] Where is the future of science headed? 

[10:15] What are Dinky Amigos? 

[15:10] Lisa tries to think like a child when she writes her books and repeats complex concepts in different ways to help them understand. 

[17:15] Why is storytelling so important in education? 

[23:40] Why are school textbooks so dry? Adults learn through storytelling as well. 

[28:10] Lisa discusses why she decided to write a new book about COVID. 

[29:40] Education in a traditional institution is suffering. 

[32:30] YouTube is an amazing resource for learning. There is even a song that teaches you the 100 digits of pi!

[38:05] Lisa’s tip for storytelling: Make it age appropriate and weave the education and information in. 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Lisa Mullan, Dinky AmigosD

Sep 25, 2020

Vicky and Joe are a bit bewildered by the early recording session, but rally magnificently to talk about their holiday, in which Vicky rediscovered the importance of breathing. In this episode, our intrepid hosts invite you to think about life, the universe, and everything - and what you really, really want. Plus a little side-trip on the nature of time. Enjoy!

 

Key Takeaways:

[4:50] Sometimes we just don’t take the time to breathe.

[8:40] We should reframe our definition of time. 

[10:20] No matter what happens in our daily lives, the natural rhythms of life will still keep going.

[11:25] It’s so easy to get caught up in life, but we do need downtime to figure out what we really want. 

[13:55] Don’t sleepwalk through life. 

[18:00] Listened to every episode? Email Vicky! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Stranger in a Strange Land Novel by Robert A. Heinlein

Jingo Novel by Terry Pratchett

Don't Touch My Hair Book, by Emma Dabiri



Sep 18, 2020

Vicky sits down with author Camila Arguello and asks her all sorts of pointy questions about courage, shitty first drafts, and writing her book. Tune in to find out how this supercool business woman came up with her idea – and why it's important to do what YOU want, not conform to everyone else's expectations. There's also a brief discussion about Brooklyn 99, because it wouldn't be a 1,000 Authors Show episode without a random ramble.

 

Key Takeaways:

[0:50] A little bit about Camila and what she does. 

[5:35] Camila hears two sides of the story: That now is the perfect time to work more, and at the same time, that you should be resting and take it easy. Who should you listen to? 

[8:00] You don’t have to justify every decision you make to other people. 

[9:10] What do you want for YOU? 

[12:45] Why did Camila decide it was time to write a book? 

[15:35] Camila used to write men’s dating profiles and thought this would be an excellent book opportunity. 

[18:35] It was very hard for Camila to not use the backspace key when she was in ‘writing mode’.

[20:35] You can get a lot done when your brain is not overthinking things. 

[22:55] What was the editing process like for Camila? 

[27:30] How is Camila selling her book? 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Camila Arguello

Swipeable: Avoid The 8 Mistakes Men Make On Dating Apps & Discover What Women Actually Want, by Camila Arguello

Camila Arguello on Instagram



Sep 11, 2020

Vicky and Joe lament Vicky's fashion choices for this episode: there's more than a hint of low-rent Axl Rose going on. Then they talk about dystopian futures and media manipulation. And finally - at last - they move onto how to tell your story. Because we all struggle to write about ourselves, right? In this episode, you'll get some interesting stats and some top tips about how to use your About page to your advantage.

 

Key Takeaways:

[4:45] Vicky has been reading Parable of the Talents and she had to put it down because what’s happening in the book is eerily similar to what’s happening in the world today! 

[7:55] When you watch the news, think about how it is being presented to you. 

[8:15] How do you write about yourself? 

[11:55] Why is it so hard to write about ourselves?

[15:30] Think about why people are visiting your About page.

[20:35] Does anybody really care about your company mission? 

[24:30] You don’t need to have a rags-to-riches story to succeed in business.

[30:05] Write with your ideal customer in mind. Write your bio in a way that people will feel relieved you understand them.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Starship Troopers, by Robert A. Heinlein

Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Talents, by Octavia E. Butler

Don't Touch My Hair Book, by Emma Dabiri

Scribbr



Sep 4, 2020

n this week's episode, Vicky finds herself wildly unprepared to answer Joe's questions and crashes around Google trying to figure out where the phrase "purple prose" originated. After they get that out of the way, there's some genuinely useful information about how to write beautiful descriptions without getting in the way of the story.

 

Key Takeaways:

[5:30] Vicky now has a trapeze in her garden! 

[6:20] What is purple prose? 

[7:25] How do you write descriptions without being boring and pretentious? 

[11:15] We usually pay attention to the writing and not the narrative. The writing should be invisible. 

[15:45] What are some common problems when people try to write descriptively? 

[21:10] How would a director film this scene that you’re writing about? 

[22:25] Most of the time you don’t see characters brushing their teeth or washing their faces. 

[25:00] Read everything Terry Pratchett ever wrote. He’s a master describer. 

[28:10] Our brains don’t deal too well with abstract wording. 

[32:45] Vicky and Joe read your podcast reviews! Thanks for leaving them! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Starship Troopers, by Robert A. Heinlein

Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

False Value, by Ben Aaronovitch

I Will Teach You to Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi

Don't Touch My Hair Book by Emma Dabiri

Scribbr

Books by Terry Pratchett



Aug 28, 2020

Vicky sits down with systems expert Ashlee Berghoff and finds out what the real experts do to get more shit done. They chat about all sorts, including how to get more organised and stop flailing around like a drunken octopus - and talk about which thing to do first. Because isn't that often the biggest problem?

 

Key Takeaways:

[3:30] How did Ashley get into helping entrepreneurs get organized? 

[4:45] Ashley has been so stressed and so overwhelmed that she would dream of getting hit by a car so she could be organized. 

[8:20] It’s perfectly normal to have ups and downs when it comes to your productivity. 

[8:55] Instead of feeling guilty, find a rhythm that you can sustain. 

[13:25] When you commit to the work that you want to do, realize that it will mean you have to say no to some other things. 

[15:45] How has Ashley been managing her time while writing a book? 

[17:20] What is Ashley’s book going to be about? 

[19:50] What are some of the best ways to delegate tasks? 

[24:05] Get clear on what you want to share, learn how to lead, and start small! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

A Squared Online

White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi



Aug 21, 2020

In shock news, Joe is reading a different book this week! Vicky has a fight with her TinySheep and loses. And the ring light makes another (possibly ill-advised) appearance. This week, your intrepid hosts get their nerd on and talk about how to research efficiently, effectively, and without disappearing down an internet wormhole of fascinating but ultimately useless information. Tune in to find out how to cut your research (and writing) time dramatically without doing a half-arsed job of it.

 

Key Takeaways:

[4:05] Vicky and Joe have a bad sheep. 

[7:20] How do you avoid going down a research blackhole? 

[7:55] Get your big idea down on paper first. 

[9:55] Make a note to yourself on things you need to research further. 

[11:25] Use your books before you use Google.

[14:15] Joe offers Google tips and tricks to help you find what you want! 

[17:45] Use your browser in offline mode! 

[18:15] Give yourself a time limit for your research. 

[21:05] Please leave a review - Vicky and Joe would love to read it out loud on the show! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan

Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

False Value, by Ben Aaronovitch

I Will Teach You to Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi



Aug 14, 2020

Vicky and Joe storm into this episode powered by Sacred Rage at the injustices of the world. Then they veer off sharply into the world of monster vegetables, and swerve back to writing a book—this time talking about what to do if you’re worried people will make fun of your book. Tune in for some splendid advice.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] It is currently hotter than the surface of the sun. Vicky and Joe are dying! 

[2:15] Joe is still reading….The Wheel of Time! 

[8:50] Vicky and Joe are tackling their garden. They’ve grown too much food! 

[10:45] What happens if someone makes fun of the book you’ve written? 

[11:20] There are only two people in your circle that matter: Potential customers & Your customers. 

[15:15] Write a list of people whose opinions matter to you. 

[19:30] Ask the right people for feedback. 

[19:55] Remember to ask your beta readers the right questions! 

[23:15] Use the advice you receive to be better. Don’t take it personally. 

[24:15] Focus on what you can control. 

[26:15] Please leave Vicky and Joe a review on iTunes! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan

Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, by Caroline Criado-Perez

Aug 7, 2020

Join Vicky as she interviews BAFTA-award winning screenwriter and publisher Helen Blakeman of Heroic Books! Yes – an honest-to-murgatroyd actual BAFTA winner on the show, which is super-exciting. If you've been wondering how the traditional publishing industry works and if trad publishing is something you could consider, this is the episode for you. I delve deep into Helen's brain and get her to spill the beans about the Heroic Books process, how she works with authors, and why she set up her publishing company. And we nerd out a little about sci-fi and fantasy because that's how we roll.

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:15] Who is Helen and what is Heroic Books about? 

[6:10] How did Helen get started with Heroic Books?

[8:50] Often when an author submits a manuscript, they’re not ready to market the book. 

[11:00] Helen prides herself on giving her writers feedback. 

[13:45] How does Helen work with authors?

[19:30] Want to get your book started? Reach out to Helen.

[20:00] Helen wants her writers to cross over to TV and games. 

[26:25] One piece of advice for aspiring authors? Read! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Heroic Books



Jul 31, 2020

Sounds like a supergroup, right? AND IT IS! Meet Anaïs Bock and her Bullshit Monsters. If you have ever experienced any resistance to doing anything (and we all have) you need this episode. Anaïs introduces us to a bunch of the monsters that keep us stuck and make us sad – and shows us how to take a well-known idea and give it a twist that'll actually make a difference.

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:30] Anaïs became self-employed in her early 20s and had some limiting beliefs about what an expert was supposed to look like.

[3:30] What was Anaïs’s thesis about?

[5:30] Anaïs shares an example of a couple bullshit monsters we have looming around in the back of our head.

[9:15] Do you notice yourself editing as you write? That’s Stern Blade trying to hold you back! 

[11:55] Anaïs shares why she created a deck of cards for people to use. 

[14:05] How does Anaïs use this in her business? 

[16:35] Some of the bullshit monsters you face will require you to push through the resistance and others will require you to be gentle with yourself. 

[19:35] How does Anaïs discover and create her bullshit monsters? 

[20:55] Anaïs is currently crowdfunding her very first bullshit monster cards. 

[21:45] Why did Anaïs decide to crowdfund her project? 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Bullshitmonsters.com

Letsworkmagic.com



Jul 24, 2020

Vicky and Joe talk eyebrows, courgettes, and the perils of publishing. This week, your hosts demolish the myth that traditional publishing is the only way to become a published author. Sneak peek: it's not! Hurrah! Tune in to hear all about the benefits and pitfalls of trad publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing – and the differences between them.

 

Key Takeaways:

[6:40] Vicky and Joe played D&D with some friends! 

[8:00] Do you feel like you’ll never get published? 

[10:20] Traditional publishing might not be for everybody. 

[17:25] If you find a hybrid publisher, be really careful. 

[20:20] Want to self-publish? This is what you need to know. 

[24:05] Struggling with print layout? Vicky can help you! 

[25:00] Being a ‘published author’ is pure vanity for Vicky. 

[25:30] Need help? Join Vicky’s power hour! 

  

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Join Vicky’s Power Hour

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan

Only Forward, by Michael Marshall Smith

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, by Caroline Criado-Perez

Me and White Supremacy, by Layla Saad



Jul 17, 2020

It has taken far too long to get Yinka on the podcast, but this week she's here – and she and Vicky dive right into the meat of what's going on with women in business. They talk lightening the load, embracing what makes us absolute QUEENS, boobs, success, imposter syndrome, impact not action, and how the world is just better when women are successful. Tune in for a whole 44 minutes of wisdom and hopes and dreams and IMPACT.

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:00] Who is Yinka and what does she do?

[4:25] While many entrepreneurs like to paint a picture that they’ve achieved this success all by themselves, they fail to mention their team and their life partners helping them through the details. 

[6:25] Women business owners have to make very strong choices between business decisions and taking care of their children.

[7:55] There is no business on the planet that's worth getting sick over.

[10:35] It can take people decades to be an overnight success!

[13:25] It’s important to discover how our brains work and use that knowledge to work more effectively. 

[15:45] Yinka wants women to go back to a time where they could be themselves and not worry about their bodies or what society thinks of them. 

[23:15] If someone doesn’t like your message and what you have to say, the worst they can do is unsubscribe! 

[28:35] Why do we think talking to ourselves in a harsh way is a productive and effective way to communicate?

[32:35] Although constructive criticism is important and has its place, it is more powerful on your mental state when you use positive words! 

[35:05] Yinka thinks and speaks for impact. She doesn’t just ‘say’ stuff. Everything you do should have intent and purpose.

[39:05] Every single person on this planet is allocated the same 24 hours in a day. 

[41:35] Like what Yinka has to say? Don’t worry! She will be back in a future podcast episode! 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Email: yinka@callasuccess.com to request to get on Yinka's email list

Yinka Ewuola on LinkedIn



Jul 10, 2020

Your brain is like a rock. You just need to push it downhill. Want to know what we're on about? Tune into the latest episode of The 1,000 Authors Show with Vicky and Joe, and discover the big myth about motivation, Vicky's problem with flies, and how you can get more writing done than you ever thought possible...

 

Key Takeaways:

[6:55] Joe, the little amazing chef. 

[8:45] How do you stay motivated? 

[9:35] Motivation can not come from external factors. 

[11:00] Are you genuinely tired or are you just being lazy? 

[14:00] There’s so much magic to getting started. Vicky and Joe cleaned their entire kitchen and it was so easy to do...one they started it! 

[17:05] Remember why you started. If you don’t remember or you don’t care, stop doing it. 

[20:10] You got to ‘eat the bag of hair’ first. 

[22:40] You can sign up to Vicky’s power hour writing sessions! 

  

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan

Only Forward Novel by Michael Marshall Smith

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez

Me and White Supremacy Book by Layla Saad

How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi

Talkingshrimp.com

The Moxie Writer Power Hour - LIVE Writing Sessions with Vicky Fraser



Jul 3, 2020

Join Vicky, Joe, and Beetrice the Bee for the latest episode in the Writing Excuses series. Learn about the power of focus, and why you shouldn't pay too much attention to your competitors – all from Vicky's resident bee. Our hosts talk copying, innovating, and the best thing to do with your competitors. Enjoy!

 

Key Takeaways:

[4:50] Vicky and Joe share their quarantine chronicles.

[6:55] Procrastinating? Tell yourself you’re going to do something for 5 minutes. There’s lots of power in just starting something. 

[8:40] A common worry among authors or professionals is that if they write a book, their competitors are going to steal their secrets! 

[11:55] No one does it quite like you. They might know your process or framework, but they don’t have your thought process and style. 

[12:35] Let your competitors do what they do. Concentrate on your own future instead! 

[15:15] If someone actually steals your IP, get your lawyers involved. Other than that, don’t worry about it! 

[17:50] Books are not designed to have the latest cutting-edge ideas. So, are your theoretical competitors really going to steal and benefit off of your ideas? 

[21:40] If your competitors are trying to copy you, they are not going to do that great of a job.

[23:15] Keep your eyes on the prize and let your competitors do whatever they’re going to do. Don’t let them stop you from writing a book. 

[23:40] Vicky reads out an iTunes review! 

[25:50] Vicky has a writing prompt session for you! It’s live! Link in the resources! 

  

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan

Under the Skin Novel by Michel Faber

Only Forward Novel by Michael Marshall Smith

How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth

Self Publishing Show Episode 232: Why You Should be Telling Stories in Non-Fiction – with Vicky Fraser

The Moxie Writer Power Hour - LIVE Writing Sessions with Vicky Fraser



Jun 26, 2020

Monty Python, marketing idiocy, and the general state of the world: join Vicky as she chats to Ryan Wallman, aka Dr_Draper on Twitter, as he puts the world to rights. Vicky has been wanting to snaffle Ryan for years for an interview, so you'll have to excuse the initial fangirling. But he is the funniest marketer on Twitter, so there's a legit reason...

 

Key Takeaways:

[1:15] Who is Ryan and what does he do?  

[4:00] How did Ryan learn about marketing? 

[5:40] Why did Ryan decide it was time to write a book? 

[10:30] Ryan intentionally wrote his book to not be serious! 

[12:25] When it comes to marketing, who should you be paying attention to? 

[14:30] Uncertain about your business? Ryan has some advice for you! 

[17:50] What was Ryan’s process? 

[20:35] Why did Ryan pick Monty Python as his inspiration? 

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky’s new book!

90-day Book Course

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Connect with Ryan on Twitter

Delusions of Brandeur by Ryan Wallman

Commonsense Direct and Digital Marketing Book by Drayton Bird

Marketing Week Mini MBA



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