Notes in the Margin

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

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: [email protected] to request to get on Yinka's email list

Yinka Ewuola on LinkedIn

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

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

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

This week, Vicky cuts her own fringe. Spoiler alert: it did not go well. Then Vicky and Joe talk a little about the antiracist books they're reading, before going on to explain why you do, in fact, probably know enough to write a book. This episode includes top tips about what you can write about if your confidence is a little low. Listen, then go forth and write!

Key Takeaways:

[0:40] Vicky is unhappy with her hair and Joe's hair.

[5:25] Dingle update!

[7:35] You forget how little people know about your topic of expertise.

[9:30] Vicky is never going to stop learning about how to write and publish books. You always have to keep learning!

[11:50] You don't need to be the most experienced and knowledgeable in your industry to write a book.

[14:45] Get yourself a virtual assistant. It's a life saver!

[15:35] Remember who you're writing for and why.

[16:10] What types of topics can you write about in your area of expertise?

[22:55] The world is changing and it's changing quickly. Your expertise is valuable to help others navigate through it.

[25:10] Vicky reads out podcast reviews! Thank you so much for leaving them!

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

Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler

How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi

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

The Go-Giver, by Bob Burg

Who Moved My Cheese?, by Spencer Johnson

Perfect Puppy Package - Carrie's Canines & Friends Dog Services

The crisis hair reaches breaking point, and Vicky and Joe ponder when this lockdown will ever end. Then they talk about actual important things. And finally, onto writing excuses: why it doesn't matter if it's all already on the internet for free because books are special, peeps!

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] Joe is still reading Wheel of Time.

[3:50] Project Dingle update.

[9:45] Googling things can sometimes overwhelm you.

[11:45] Sometimes the information on the internet is so sporadic that you have to go to multiple different sources to get the full picture.

[13:45] How do you even know if the author of the article actually knows what they're talking about?

[15:10] What's the difference between buying a random book on the internet vs. a random article?

[17:30] Your book is your chance for your audience to get to know you.

[19:15] People read books everywhere!

[21:10] Articles are fleeting whereas books last forever.

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

The Bear and the Nightingale, by Katherine Arden

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

Don't Touch My Hair, by Emma Dabiri

Fantastic eyebrows and where to find them! That should have been the title of this podcast, in which Suzi Gray and I talk about the weirdness of what's going on right now in lockdown and the marketing messages that have been coming out of it. Then we get into the nitty-gritty of what Suzi does (helps bring quietly rebellious business owners out of their shells) and why it's so important to do YOU. Tune in for a lot of yellow and smiling and nodding.

Key Takeaways:

[1:40] Who is Suzi and what does she do?

[3:35] How has Suzi been managing the lockdown?

[9:15] You don't have to be pivoting right now, even if you feel like you have to because 'everyone else is'.

[15:00] The only way you're truly going to build a unique brand is if it's personal and based on you, but it can be terrifying and scary!

[17:45] Suzi shares a bit of her background and why she fell in love with branding.

[22:40] Suzi has an amazing branding program opening up soon! Join the waitlist and be notified when it comes out!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Vicky on Medium

Order Vicky's new book!

90-day Book Course

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Captivationhouse.com/the-captivation-code-waitlist

The saying goes "facts tell stories sell" but facts don't even tell half the time. They go in one ear and out the other. Which is why it's so important that we hear YOUR story – so even if you think "it's all been said before, why would anyone want MY book" listen up sunshine. Tune in to this week's episode so we can bust this writing excuse back to bed where it belongs. Also find out what Vicky and Joe have been up to in lockdown (hint: it involves squirting water up a chicken's bum – to save her life, before you call animal welfare).

Key Takeaways:

[5:00] What have Vicky and Joe been up to in quarantine?

[6:10] Vicky is asking for baking tips!

[9:35] Writing excuses! Don't have enough time?

[13:15] We don't always learn from facts. We learn and remember meaningful things through stories.

[19:30] Would anyone like to do an early morning interpretation dance class with Vicky? Send her an email.

[21:10] You can't change the facts, but your opinions on the facts will always be unique and different.

[22:50] Why would someone buy your book when everything is on the internet for free? Tune in next week's episode!

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

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Novel by Anne Brontë

This Is Your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin

Wearing some extremely snazzy hats, Vicky and Joe discuss the first of the Writing Excuses: I don't have time. In it, they talk about time – how it warps in lockdown, how some of us really do have more than others, and how you can make the most of yours. This podcast contains a bonus rant about selling under false pretences. Oh and also: they share the secret of how long it REALLY takes to write a book.

Key Takeaways:

[3:30] Do you have any bread making tips?

[6:45] Did Vicky and Joe's local village have a black dress for a medium-sized man? The answer is yes.

[12:15] Do you really, really, actually, want to write a book? Why? What's the purpose?

[14:35] Men and women do business very differently, especially when they have a family.

[17:45] How much time do you really need to write a book?

[21:40] Can you write a book over a weekend?

[27:00] Treat your book as if you're working for a client!

[29:30] Make a plan and then see where you can fit your book into that plan!

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

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Novel by Anne Brontë

This Is Your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin