Notes in the Margin

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.

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Lisa Mullan, Dinky AmigosD

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!

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Stranger in a Strange Land Novel by Robert A. Heinlein

Jingo Novel by Terry Pratchett

Don't Touch My Hair Book, by Emma Dabiri

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?

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Camila Arguello

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

Camila Arguello on Instagram

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:

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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

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!

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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

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:

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A Squared Online

White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi

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:

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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

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:

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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

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!

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Heroic Books

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:

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90-day Book Course

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Bullshitmonsters.com

Letsworkmagic.com