Researching for ways to improve my writing, I came across a "Masterclass" on the Narrative Story Arc. In this episode, I share an overview of what the Masterclass goes over with the hopes of inspiring you to apply it to your writing for... ...books ...emails ...social media posts ..."about me" pages even! The human brain is drawn into stories. But sometimes it's hard to know how to 'craft' them. Follow this breakdown written below and shared in audio in this podcast episode. Even though it is for fiction, we can learn a lot from it and apply it to our nonfiction writing as well. Can't wait to hear what stories you cook up! Source for this episode and to learn even more on the topic:  https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-elements-of-a-narrative-arc-and-how-do-you-create-one-in-writing#what-is-the-difference-between-a-narrative-arc-and-a-character-arc   See more on the Narrative Arc Framework to Help You Write Better Stories at: CopyThatPops.com/214   Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book!  TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] 

214: Narrative Arc Framework to Help You Write Better Stories

Let's nerd out where writing, psychology, and business success overlap! 

On this show, we look at how to ethically apply psychological principles of persuasion. 

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Let's look for ways (live!) to improve Eric Piccione's blog: FinancialFreedomAndMe.com!  With special guest Signe Beck (with whom we are doing a live social media content creation consult very soon!). This is the first live stream I've done in a long while to help others with their writing for business online. Hope you enjoy! Head back to the Copy That Pops podcast page for more info on this episode and others!

227: Live Blog Consult: Helpful Advice to Improve Your Writing (with Eric Piccione of Financial Freedom and Me)

Exactly How to Use ChatGPT and 11.ai to Create an Entire Podcast in 10 Minutes Without Speaking a Single Word  Want to create more podcasts fast and with help? Maybe you want to create a show where you don't even have to speak? Maybe you want help writing your podcast scripts? If this is you, listen to this superfast episode that my AI bot "Aurora" recorded for me! STEP 1: Have ChatGPT Generate a Script Background info: The podcast is called Copy That Pops. The host is LaptopLaura. Laura always closes the podcast by saying, "And remember to keep finding ways to write copy that pops!" I want you to act like a professional script writer for podcasters where you write only word-for-word exactly what the host will speak out loud. Please write a short script for teaching someone how to use ChatGPT and 11.ai to: Step 1. write them a short podcast script about using ChatGPT for writing short podcast scripts Step 2. use https://elevenlabs.io, a text to speech and AI voice generator, to read their script for use in the podcast Step 3: download the audio files, add your intro and outro music, and publish to your favorite podcast host (I use Libsyn -- use the code LAURA for first two months free) Please do NOT include speakers' names, the word "Host:" before paragraphs, or any notes about when to play music or sounds like "[Intro Music]". Simply produce in your response a script that could be read word for word. Thank you! STEP 2: Clean Up the Script from ChatGPT Welcome to another episode of Copy That Pops, where we explore the art and science of great writing for business. I'm your host, LaptopLaura (in the voice of an AI assistant I’ll be teaching you how to create for free today too!).  This episode is all about using ChatGPT and 11.ai to craft compelling podcast scripts. Writing and producing has never been easier! Here’s how I created this exact podcast without speaking a single word. Step 1: Writing a Short Podcast Script using ChatGPT ChatGPT is a powerful language model that can help you generate creative and engaging content. Here's a simple guide to using it for your podcast scripts:  Start by heading to chat.openai.com and enter your prompt. For example, you can say, "Generate a short and engaging podcast script about using ChatGPT for content creation." Review the suggestions provided by ChatGPT and select the ones that align with your style and tone. Edit and refine the content as needed to match your unique voice and message.  Step 2: Using Elevenlabs.io to Bring Your Script to Life.  Elevenlabs.io is a fantastic text-to-speech and AI voice generator tool. Here's how to use it:  Visit elevenlabs.io and paste your podcast script into the text box. Choose the voice that suits your style and adjust settings like pitch and speed. You can even create your own version of a voice and give it a name. Let’s name mine Aurora (which my husband laughs at me about and says it sounds like a stripper name - lolz – sorry, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty!) Hit the generate button and listen to the preview.  Make any necessary tweaks to perfect the audio.  Step 3: Downloading and Publishing.  Once your audio is ready, you will then:  Download the generated audio file Add your intro and outro music to give it a polished and branded touch.  Note: If you're starting a new podcast hosted by Libsyn, use the code "LAURA" for your first two months free. --- And there you have it - a seamless process to leverage tech to create and deliver captivating podcast content.  Writing and producing has never been faster or easier! Laura made this whole episode without uttering a single word. Visit the shownotes at CopyThatPops.com/226 for links to all that we mentioned today as well as screenflows showing this episode's creation. I hope these tools make your writing and podcasting journey even more productive, efficient, and enjoyable. Until next time, keep finding ways to write copy that pops! STEP 3: GET AI TO SPEAK YOUR SHOW Go to 11.ai or elevenlabs.io and pick a voice you want to be your narrator.  Visit 11.ai or elevenlabs.io and paste your podcast script into the text box. Choose the voice that suits your podcast style and adjust settings like pitch and speed. You can even create your own version of a voice and give it a name. I named mine Aurora (which my husband laughs at me about and says it sounds like a stripper name lolz – sorry Disney’s Sleeping Beauty) Hit the generate button and listen to the preview.  Make any necessary tweaks to perfect the audio. Download the file to your computer Add your intro and outro music and publish to your podcast host! : ) I use Libsyn (use code “LAURA” to get up to 2 months free, if you are brand new)  Let me know how this works for you! : )  Laura ----- Full shownotes for this episode here: How to Make a Podcast in 5 Minutes Without Writing or Speaking [Use AI]

226: How to Use ChatGPT and 11.ai to Create an Entire Podcast Without Speaking or Writing a Word

Listen free to my first children's book, now live on Amazon for Kindle, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook: CopyThatPops.com/duckbuddies I had so much fun with this project and learned a lot about the fiction book writing world and kids' book genre. It's a departure from 95% of the content on this show so far, but something more and more of my clients have been asking for help with. To learn more about children's book writing, publishing, and marketing check out the following past episodes:  1. CopyThatPops.com/156  Marketing Your Books to Parents AND Kids with Podcasts, Live Events, and Collaborations from Childrens’ Book Author and Podcaster Angela Ferrari  2. CopyThatPops.com/223 Unlocking the Secrets of Children’s Book Creation: Expert Tips on Writing, Illustrating, Publishing, and Marketing Kids’ Books  3. CopyThatPops.com/224 Writing Kids Books Inspired by NFT Art and Building Brands with Raj Khater (Plus: Duck Buddies Book 1 is Live!)  --  Hope you enjoy! To see the great illustrations, grab a copy of the book in Kindle or print! If you enjoy it, I'd so appreciate a rating/review on Amazon.   xo Laura  PS: Head back to the shownotes page for more writing resources and info about the Duck Buddies children's book.

225: Free Kids Audiobook -- Duck Buddies: The Secret Clubhouse by LaptopLaura

Learn about the exciting world of NFTs and their potential for creative projects, including writing children's books, building brands, and growing business with Laura, the creator of the Duck Buddies book series, and Raj Khater, a former VP at the Royal Bank of Canada, entrepreneur, and prolific NFT collector. Laura wrote Duck Buddies: The Secret Clubhouse with gorgeous illustrations based off of artwork from well-know Ethereum blockchain projects including SupDucks and Bored Ape Yacht Club. Links to more: • Episode 223 with April Cox for more on how to write, illustrate, publish, and marketing a kids book: https://CopyThatPops.com/223 • Copyrigthing Your Copywriting with Jason Tucker, the Pirate Hunter: https://CopyThatPops.com/113 • Duck Buddies World: https://duckbuddiesworld.com • Duck Buddies: The Secret Clubhouse (Book 1 in a soon-to-be series): https://copythatpops.com/duckbuddies • Full shownotes: 224: Writing Kids Books Inspired by NFT Art, Web3, the Blockchain, and Impish Humor with Raj Khater (Plus: Duck Buddies Book 1 is Live!)  

224: Writing Kids Books Inspired by NFT Art and Building Brands with Raj Khater (Plus: Duck Buddies Book 1 is Live!)

Have a children’s book in you? Ever read a kid’s book and thought, “I could do better than this!”? Then this episode is one you should listen to 3x! In this podcast, Laura interviews April Cox to reveal tips and advice for self-publishing a children’s book. Step by step children’s book creation! Laura and April cover a range of topics, including the importance of having a clear concept, storyboard, and outline before starting to write, finding the right editor and illustrator, the benefits of joining a writing group, marketing strategies, and the role of graphic design and layout in producing a high-quality book. Throughout the conversation, you will hear practical advice and personal anecdotes and experiences  in self-publishing to help with your goals of becoming a children’s book author. A Few Children’s Book Creation Highlights: A Few Children’s Book Creation Highlights:  April Cox was inspired to write her first children’s book when she had grandkids and spent time reading stories with them.  Soon, they made up stories of their own. April’s passion for the project was driven by a desire to leave behind some values and virtues as a legacy for her future generations to read. April’s first children’s book creation, written for kids 4-8, was about her little labradoodle puppy and his journey to self-confidence   Fiction books can lead to serendipitous events or opportunities that can touch, inspire or make a difference in someone’s life (her book resonated with a mother whose son is autistic and has a hard time with fine motor skills!) Writing your children’s book is very doable, but make sure you are aware of what different ages of kids you are writing for  Laura wrote her first children’s book (called Duck Buddies) using a Google Sheet to keep track of the syllables on each line to ensure the rhyming was correct Write using the tool that makes you the most comfortable Aprile Cox created a self-publishing program that includes checklists, budget spreadsheets, and templates Pen names can be useful for authors who write in multiple genres, to keep their names and audiences separate.  Using a pen name is a personal preference and some authors prefer to keep their personal information out of the public eye Authors can promote their work on social media, but it can be tricky when trying to promote a pen name     Editing a kid’s book is important to turn a good story into a great story, especially if it has rhyming  Bobby Hinman (fairybooklady@gmail.com) is recommended as a great editor for children’s books who specializes in rhyming   Illustrating a children’s book is a very important part of the creation process  Provide notes to the illustrator from the beginning to end of the book Before selecting an illustrator, send sample requests to three different illustrators Paying $50 for a full-color image is common It’s important to assess the illustrator’s communication style and ability to take direction Investing in quality illustrations for a 32-page children’s book can cost around $3,000, with $1,000 being the minimum for high-quality work Make sure to have a clear agreement in place with any illustrator you hire to avoid future misunderstandings or issues. There are resources available for authors to learn how to create illustrations themselves, but April recommends having a trusted coach or mentor provide honest feedback and help improve the quality of the work A client of Laura’s wrote a chapter book with black and white illustrations for each chapter to keep the cost of children’s book creation low   Marketing is an important piece of the children’s book creation puzzle  Getting the community involved in the illustration selection process can be a great marketing opportunity Building an email list and social media following is important for children’s book authors (social media platforms can change their algorithms or even ban authors, whereas an email list is under their control) Including a free bonus or read in exchange for an email address is a good way for authors to build their mailing list, which is their number one asset Teachers guides, children’s activity books, and coloring and activity books are great bonus items that can entice readers to join an author’s mailing list   Publishing your children’s book should start with Amazon  It is important to have the appropriate keywords and categories for your book on Amazon, including some less competitive categories to increase visibility High-quality covers, book blurbs, and descriptions are important for selling books, regardless of how much money is spent on them.   Paid ads can help getting more sales and audience members for your kids’ book  Amazon ads are preferred for most books, but there are some books that are better suited for Facebook or TikTok ads depending on the audience It’s important to go where the audience is, for example, if a book is perfect for crochet lovers, ads on Pinterest would be better than Amazon ads. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for advertising, and it’s a matter of trial and error to see what works. Amazon brand ads are really good and perform well. Video ads perform well, but you need an advantage account or a vendor account to run them. It’s important to monitor and dial in your ads each week, stop keywords that are spending money but not converting and foster ones that are working well. Searching through Amazon search terms will help to learn what is working and what needs to expand. It can take two to three months to dial in ads and get them clicking.   Publishing on IngramSpark is recommended as a second step since Amazon ads can also drive sales for hardcover children’s books.  Want More? Full shownotes for this episode and the video version of Laura and April's conversation about Children's Book Creation.

223: Unlocking the Secrets of Children's Book Creation: Expert Tips on Writing, Illustrating, Publishing, and Marketing Kids' Books with April Cox of Self Pub Made Simple

214: Narrative Arc Framework to Help You Write Better Stories

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