Notes in the Margin

Vicky and Joe fail to create a xylophone out of glasses and milk bottles, but subject you to the cacophony anyway. Then they dive into this week's podcast topic: Vicky's 10 Commandments of Writing A Book. There's also a cautionary tale about wearing your glasses in bed, and a bit of a rant about the patriarchy.

Key Takeaways:

[2:50] Vicky won her trapeze competition!!!

[5:35] The Business for Superheros Show will be changing soon!

[8:50] Commandment number 1 - If you write, you are a writer.

[11:30] Commandment number 2 - Do not edit as you write.

[14:35] Commandment number 3 - Create an outline.

[16:20] Commandment number 4 - Protect your writing time fiercely.

[18:45] Commandment number 5 - Embrace the first draft.

[20:25] Commandment number 6 - Do not wait for inspiration to strike.

21:40] Commandment number 7 - Understand who you're writing for.

[22:25] Commandment number 8 - Give yourself permission to be unapologetically yourself.

[25:20] Commandment number 9 - Pay attention to the details.

[27:25] Commandment number 10 - Take criticism with grace and gratitude.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Preorder Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Project Dingle

Vicky is delighted because Joe has been away for a week, and is now home! Joe is fresh back from a business trip to Thailand and boy does he have a tale to tell you! A tale of being randomly massaged at a urinal in a giant bar. Tune in to hear how that turned out... and also to discover whether or not you can, or should, be funny when you're writing your book. We answer that question for you and sum up the whole thing with four simple words: you do you, boo.

Key Takeaways:

[1:45] Something very weird happened to Joe when he was in Thailand.

[6:00] Vicky has built a new website! It's so shiny!

[7:15] How can you be a funny writer?

[9:35] Remember, humor is very subjective.

[12:00] Likeable people go far in life. They make people feel good!

[14:05] When writing a book, don't worry about trying to impress people.

[15:55] If you want to be funny, you've got to practice and you've got to learn it. It's not a natural skill.

[21:50] Remember to be yourself instead of trying to mimic someone else's talent.

[23:05] Thank you Natasha Lewis for sending Vicky your published book!

[23:55] Vicky plans to read Natasha's dog training book to hopefully train her sheep how to do agility tricks.

[25:25] Vicky also got a second book in the mail from Carol, who is a doggie doctor! Thank you Carol.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Project Dingle

Vicky and Joe are tired, so you're in for a bit of a ramble this week. But you do get some bonus purring from Noodle, so there is that. In this week's episode, Vicky explains why she's at peak stress over her trapeze competition, and then segues awkwardly into what that has to do with you and your business. There is a valuable lesson in here, honest.

Key Takeaways:

[1:45] Dingle update!

[7:00] Vicky and Joe were amazed by the accessible scooters in Portugal.

[10:30] Vicky has been a bit stressed lately with nailing down this trapeze move.

[12:25] This trapeze move, however, is not vital to Vicky's success in the overall routine.

[13:05] If you're not 100% sure of a move, don't put it into the routine.

[13:45] The same applies to your business. If you rely on one big client, your business is going to be shaky.

[15:35] Vicky shares an example of someone who based their entire income off of Instagram.

[18:30] There is nothing wrong with having one specialty that you're known for, just make sure you're diverse in your marketing.

[19:45] Next week Vicky and Joe discuss how to write with humor!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Project Dingle

Vicky and Misty round up six amazingly diverse business owners and drag them to Portugal for the Fourth International Breaking Bread Mastermind. Join us for a round-table and discover what we've been up to all weekend, and the exciting stuff everyone's up to next.

Key Takeaways:

[:44] Joe has been replaced by Misty and six fellow business owners on this episode!

[1:25] First client feature is Teresa!

[3:10] Second feature is Ray!

[6:05] Next up is Carol. What did she learn this weekend?

[8:50] Fourth feature is Bruce!

[12:40] Fifth client feature is friend and podcast guest, Kim Krause Schwalm.

[16:50] And the final feature is Shela!

[19:40] Misty shares some thoughts about what she learned this weekend.

[22:00] Some final thoughts from Vicky.

[23:10] Special guest appearance from the husbands in short shorts.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

Kim Krause Schwalm

Vicky explains why she was crying about breakfast while Joe looks bewildered. Then there's an awkward segue into what's going on at The Dingle, and an even awkwarder segue into how Vicky took herself from overwhelmed and sobbing into her muesli to the most organised zen person in Herefordshire. Tune in and find out what's changed, and how she's organising her life and business (and get a sneak preview of her exciting future plans).

Key Takeaways:

[2:05] Vicky and Joe are off to the Breaking Bread Mastermind soon!

[2:45] Dingle update!

[4:25] Joe didn't die!

[6:25] There's been a lot of renovation frustrations and roadblocks with The Dingle.

[9:35] Vicky broke down when she realized she was under unrealistic time pressures she was never going to complete.

[10:15] 12 week goals are way too long for Vicky.

[12:20] Joe lives in his emails and the disorder frightens Vicky.

[13:10] What's the difference between a bullet journal and a regular journal?

[16:20] Vicky feels so much more organized with the bullet journal!

[18:00] Vicky shares how she structures the bullet journal.

[21:55] Break your goals into mini goals.

[23:30] What did Vicky do before she discovered the self-journal?

[26:30] Vicky now feels more in control of Project Dingle.

[29:20] Despite everything going on right now, Vicky mowed the lawn and feels this is a big accomplishment!

[30:55] Remember to celebrate the tiny wins as well as the big wins!

[32:45] Vicky will be launching her new book this August!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

Project Dingle

Join Vicky and Joe in their garden for a spot of heavy breathing. Eh? Get your mind out of the gutter – in this week's episode, our Superheroes are joined by their TinySheep, who contribute by panting into the microphone and chewing the cables. You'll also hear clucking and flapping from our poultry guests. And, of course, we answer your questions. Three of them, to be precise. To find out how to cope with the fear of judgement, what writing a book can do if your services rely on your time, and whether it's worth trying to get traditionally published, listen in.

Key Takeaways:

[1:45] Vicky answers your questions as TinySheep distract her!

[2:45] Should you write a book if you're self-employed and don't have a physical product?

[4:10] What's the point of writing a book when you have limited time?

[7:20] Do you feel like you will be judged by your book when it's published?

[7:40] Joe just got bitten by a chicken.

[9:35] People will judge you. Some people will love you, some people will hate you. So what?

[14:50] You can't please everybody. Not everyone is going to like you! It's okay!

[17:15] Is there any point in trying to get traditionally published?

[21:00] What do you want your book to do for you?

[25:30] More TinySheep distractions! See you next week!

[26:15] Wanna go to portugal? Contact Vicky! Breaking Bread Mastermind is happening soon!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

Joe gets kicked in the face. Vicky forgets to write an entire section of her new book. In this episode, between squeaks of pain and wondering which band released a silent album, Vicky and Joe get around to answering your questions. Tune in to find out how to write an interesting about page, what goes on the back cover of your book, and how you can write a book even if you're in a "boring" industry.

Key Takeaways:

[1:10] Both Vicky and Joe are struggling with the whole 'chewing food' thing.

[4:25] Vicky and Joe answer your burning questions!

[4:55] How do you properly write an author bio?

[11:20] How do you write an interesting back cover blurb?

[16:45] Vicky shares how she wrote her back cover blurb.

[19:25] Vicky offers tips on how you can write a good back cover blurb.

[21:10] Make your back cover blurb easy for the eyes to scan through.

[23:00] Why should a mortgage broker even write their own book?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

Vicky and Joe stumble through another episode of the Business For Superheroes Show, lightly lubricated by gin. Pull up a chair, open your ears, and you'll hear all about how they shaved their TinySheep, why they sometimes want to just sell up and buy a warm, watertight house, and what to do when you just want to go to bed and give up. Yep: this episode is all about how to keep going when it all seems too bloody difficult. Tune in, because there's a bonus cautionary tale about fizzy blue wine.

Key Takeaways:

[1:55] What fun things did Vicky and Joe get up to last weekend?

[3:45] YouTube makes shearing sheep look so simple!

[6:10] It was hard work! Joe and Vicky could have given up, but they didn't.

[9:25] Whether you're trying to shear sheep or write a book, you will feel some kind of pain or fear that you won't make it, but don't give up!

[10:30] The great wall of pain will take you by surprise, but it won't knock you out!

[13:00] Vicky has made an active effort to avoid distractions by taking social media off her phone.

[19:25] Vicky shares another example of the great wall of pain.

[22:15] It's okay to give yourself some headspace when you've run into a wall!

[27:40] Do you need an extra push to finish your book? Feel free to reach out to Vicky!

[30:20] Breaking Bread is happening! There are still two spots left!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport

Youdidwhat.co.uk

Vicky interviews her extraordinarily talented and angelically patient book cover designer, Julia Brown. They talk unnecessary jargon, the virtues of speaking your client's language, and what makes a compelling book cover. Listen in and you'll also discover why you need to jump off a cliff (metaphorically speaking) and how to get to grips with the business side of doing what you love.

Key Takeaways:

[1:00] Julia describes some of the artwork behind her (sorry podcast listeners!).

[5:40] What makes Julia different from other designers?

[8:30] Why did Julia start her own business?

[11:00] Learning about the business side of things was definitely a learning curve for Julia!

[13:45] Why did Julia join Vicky's Superheroes group?

[18:20] Vicky loves Julia's work and her amazing book cover designs.

[19:50] What has Julia's biggest win been over the last year?

[22:40] How does Julia handle failures or challenges?

[26:55] Vicky highly encourages you to join a group of people who will help you through your business journey.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Breaking Bread Mastermind

Julia Brown, Brown Owl Design

Julia Brown on LinkedIn

Vicky and Joe talk about how to avoid looking like an amateur while Joe's phone goes off amateurishly in the background. Cue a verbal safari about Alanis Morissette and whether that's ironic. This episode of The Business For Superheroes Show is all about the rookie mistakes writers and business owners can unwittingly commit that make them look like amateurs – and how to avoid them. You hear all about book covers, titles, the difference between typeface and font, layout... and much more.

Key Takeaways:

[2:40] How can you look like a professional in everything that you do?

[5:10] There is no excuse why your cover photo is poorly designed or crafted.

[7:40] If the first impression your readers get is that you're an amateur, they'll go elsewhere.

[8:45] How much work do you put into your book? Do that work justice by having a nice cover!

[13:10] How do you avoid looking like an amateur?

[16:10] Vicky shares tips on what you need to be aware of when it comes to typeface / font .

[20:40] Having too many typefaces gives people headaches!

[27:05] What should you look for in a printing press?

[31:00] Breaking Bread mastermind is happening soon! There are still three spaces left.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Vicky Fraser

Vicky's Podcast

Vicky's Blog

Vicky on Medium

Join the Superheroes

Vicky's Business For Superheroes Book

The Inner Circle

Borrow My Brain

Vicky's Book Club

Vicky's new book! Write & Publish Your Book in 90 Days

Email Vicky

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, and Overcast

Dafont.com

Breaking Bread Mastermind