In this episode we speak with writer and co-founder of Kickstarter, Yancey Stricker, about his origins as a writer, tools he’s used to overcome creative anxiety, why it's important to share your ideas early and how he wrote his book: This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World. He explains why the Bento model - rethinking short-term interest - can create a better future for us all. *SHOWNOTES[02:25] Yancey’s early writing career as a music journalist[05:29] Leaving his writing career and launching Kickstarter with friends[09:09] Writing at Kickstarter and the importance of writing when communicating your vision and communicating to employees and readers[12:45] Stepping back from Kickstarter, how he decided on his next project. Plus his ambitions for This Could Be Our Future.[17:07] How he overcame creative anxiety and wrote his book, using inspiration from the Beatles[22:12] An alternative to optimizing for financial values and how the idea bentoism can help[22:44] Apply bentoism to help you make better decisions [33:05] Using the Bento model to deconstructing how how Butch in Pulp Fiction makes decisions [37:00] How he sits with self-doubt and imposter syndrome while writing[41:18] Yancey’s self-talk when he’s feeling anxious, why he shares his ideas to help him and how and why he wants to write authentically.[46:41] Yancey’s philosophy and method for building and growing the Bento community around his book*ABOUT YANCEYYancey Strickler is the founder of The Bento Society, the cofounder of Kickstarter, and the cofounder of the artist resource The Creative Independent. His book This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World, explores a vision for building a society that looks beyond money and toward maximizing the values that make life worth living.*QUOTES FROM YANCEY:“Holding ideas is bad. You have got to, you know, even if it's just a close friend, you gotta let ideas feel the oxygen. You have got to try to talk them through” *RESOURCESConnect with Yancey:Twitter: @ystricklerInstagram: @ystricklerOther links:KickstarterBento SocietyThis Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous WorldNot for Bread Alone: A Business Ethos, a Management Ethic by Kōnosuke MatsushitaSmall Is Beautiful by E. F. SchumacherHara hachi buOtter.ai appYancey's interview  with Hank Willis ThomasFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Every journey in life, creative or other, has seasons of Winter – difficult periods where the world can seem overwhelming, when our next step is unclear, and where doors close before our eyes. How can we face such fallow periods, learn to rest, and be kinder to ourselves? In this episode, we chat with Katherine May, New York Times bestselling author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times’ about writing memoirs, writing through fallow periods, finding our natural rhythm, and how the key to happiness might be found in incremental progress over grand ambitions. *ABOUT KATHERINE MAYKatherine May is a New York Times bestselling author, whose titles include Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times and The Electricity of Every Living Thing, her memoir of being autistic. Her fiction includes The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club. She is also the editor of The Best, Most Awful Job, an anthology of essays about motherhood. *QUOTES FROM KATHERINE:“Suffering is actually quite functional to us as human beings, I think. And in the fullness of time, we look back on the periods we've wintered and see them as sites of transformation. And often you hear people say it was a terrible time, but I wouldn't change it now. And so that's what winter is all about” “I wasn't writing about what I thought I was going to write about. Actually... there was a different story that was trying to creep out from between the lines. And as writers, we have a choice with that kind of thing. Either we resist the story that's trying to come, or we surrender to it in a radical way and let that story out.”*RESOURCESConnect with Katherine:Twitter: @_katherine_may_Instagram: @katherinemay_Katherine May’s books:Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult TimesThe Electricity of Every Living ThingThe Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club and Burning OutThe Best, Most Awful Job - EditorOther links:On Being with Krista Tippet - Krista Tippett’s podcastMedway Mermaids Writing GroupWintering for Writers - Katherine’s writing courseShip of Theseus - mentioned in the show*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

In this episode we talk with Psychotherapist and podcaster Emma Reed Turrell on developing her writing practice alongside her day job, launching a book around her expertise, and how she wrote without expectation - in fact it was more important that she meant what she said than it was to get published. Emma also talks about how we can stop "people pleasing" in our writing.*ABOUT EMMA REED TURRELL Emma Reed Turrell is a Clinical Supervisor, therapist and podcaster (Best Friend Therapist which she hosts with Elizabeth Day). In her practice she works with people pleasers every day. Her book Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live, Emma offers insights and techniques that will help you understand yourself more fully and live more authentically.*QUOTES FROM EMMA:“If your reader was already on your side and already bought into everything you had to say, what would you say next?” “People cannot respect your boundaries if you don't set any. And resentment is a fantastic symptom for you to spot because resentment is the felt symptom of unfelt anger. So if you start to notice that you're resenting people, you might want to reinstate a boundary with the person you resent. So the first thing to do is be really honest with yourself. Have you set any boundaries before you wonder whether anyone's crossed them?”RESOURCESConnect with Emma:Twitter: @etcounsellingInstagram: @emmareedturrellEmma's Website: emmareedturrell.comEmma’s book: Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live.*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

In this episode we talk with the Carnegie winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction, Ruta Sepetys, about the joy of writing historical fiction, building believable characters, the research process, how she finds objects from history to have by her side as she’s writing and why she writes her first draft like the world’s on fire. Plus, the importance of melody and rhythm in writing, the power of collaboration and dealing with critics.*ABOUT RUTA SEPETYSRuta Sepetys (Rūta Šepetys) is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist as her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over forty book prizes, are included on over thirty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television.*QUOTES FROM RUTA:“Tonight you might hear a song that you haven't heard in five years and you can sing every word to that song, every word. And that's because melody and rhythm make things memorable and powerful. Melody and rhythm are often overlooked and writers I want you to read your work aloud, listening for rhythm and flow” RESOURCESConnect with Ruta:Twitter: @RutaSepetysInstagram: @rutasepetysauthorRuta's Website - Ruta’s Website*LINKS FROM THE SHOWBooks by Ruta Sepetys:I Must Betray YouThe Fountains of SilenceSalt to the SeaOut of the EasyBetween Shades of Gray*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonCREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How can you reclaim your creative and emotional life? How can you create content that impacts your audience deeply? We talk to the influential blogger, Natalie Lue, about how she launched and grew her blog, Baggage Reclaim, and how she created a profitable business around her writing. We dive into her success in both self-publishing and traditional publishing, and what it feels like to be an outsider in the publishing industry. We also talk about how to deal with the inner critic, reclaim our emotional lives and learn to say ‘no’.*ABOUT NATALIE LUENatalie is the author of the hugely popular relationship and self-esteem blog, Baggage Reclaim where for over a decade, she’s shared the journey of her transition from toxic relationships to love, care, trust and respect. Her podcast The Baggage Reclaim Sessions have been downloaded over 2 million times. Natalie has sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her books including including Mr Unavailable & The Fallback Girl, and How to Self-Sooth Quick Guide.*SHOW NOTES:[02:03] Finding inspiration and setting boundaries with social media.[04:05] How her mother's advice that she should learn to love herself, led to the start of her blog.[07:03] The story behind Baggage Reclaim and what her early posts looked like[12:35] What's kept her writing consistently over the years[17:42] How she approaches her blogging today versus 18 years ago[19:10] Coming up with new ideas and topics for her blog[20:20]  Natalie explains what “future faking” is[21:43] How she decides what to focus on and how Seth Godin’s advice: ‘what is the change you're seeking to make?” helped[23:11] Dealing with imposter syndrome and self-doubt[28:56] Trusting our intuition and how to be more intuitive with creative work[35:04] Allocating time across different projects and mediums[36:44] How her income is distributed[38:17] Why she ventured into self-publishing[41:18] Managing her publishing team, and why she recommends hiring help[43:06] Tips on how to promote and market your own book[46:06] Why Natalie’s upcoming book will be published traditionally[51:04] A difficult experience with an agent and how she bounced back[54:56] The importance of saying no*QUOTES FROM NATALIE:“If you can quiet the negative voices down, what do you hear? Because I think that your creativity will show itself. Your intuition, your ideas will show what's out there.”“So I've realized that no, no is just the inverse of yes. So when you say no to certain things, then you're gonna be saying yes to something else. No can release you from stuff that you don't even know that you need to be released from. I've realized that no can actually be the, really the greatest gifts of your life, that those nos, that kind of wounded you in the past.”*RESOURCESConnect with Natalie Lue:Twitter: @baggagereclaimInstagram: @natlueBaggage Reclaim - Natalie’s blogBaggage Reclaim Sessions - Natalie’s podcastBambino GoodiesBooks by Natalie Lue:Mr Unavailable and the Fallback GirlThe No Contact RuleThe Joy of Saying NoThe Dreamer and the Fantasy RelationshipLove, Care, Trust & RespectOther books mentioned:Disconnected by Emma GannonStill Writing by Dani ShapiroThe Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth GodinThis is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

NY Times Bestselling Author and Oxford University Creative Writing Tutor, Marti Leimbach, on the art and craft of writing and plotting a novel. She shares her journey across two decades within publishing from being on a film set with Julia Roberts to dealing with family loss, and writing about difficult subjects. Also lessons learned including how writing a draft is like being in a ‘sandbox’, what it takes to finish and move beyond the first draft, and why some of the best works of art are great because of their imperfection. *ABOUT MARTI LEIMBACHMarti Leimbach is known for her bestsellers Dying Young  which was made into a film starring Julia Roberts, and Daniel Isn’t Talking. Her interest in science influenced her eighth novel, a YA thriller, Dragonfly Girl. She teaches on the Masters Programme in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.*QUOTES FROM MARTI:“Novels are never perfect. And some of the best work of art works of art, whether it's novels or screenplay or paintings or whatever else are very imperfect, actually, if you analyze them, that's what made them a great work of art. And Picasso has something to say about that. In fact, he said that the really original work, the important work never looks as good as its imitators. And the reason is that there's something in that first thrust of creativity that is ugly and raw, and the people who imitate you come after you.”*RESOURCESConnect with Marti:Twitter: @MartiLeimbachInstagram: @Marti LeimbachMarti’s website*Books mentioned in the show:Daniel Isn’t Talking by Marti LeimbachDragonfly Girl by Marti LeimbachSave the Cat  by Blake SnyderThe Story Grid by Shawn CoyneBird by Bird  by Ann LamottPeople mentioned in the show:Connor O’Brien - ComedianJulia Roberts - ActressJoel Schumacher - DirectorLeonard Cohen - Songwriter*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How can a writer start and grow their career in TV? What does it take to work your way into a Writer’s Room for a hit TV series? What happens behind the scenes of deals between producers and media giants like Netflix, BBC, and Amazon Prime? In this interview, held during lockdown, we talk with TV and film agent Nish Panchal (Curtis Brown) about his role as an agent, the main players in the TV industry and how budding writers can make connections and forge a career as a screenwriter. *ABOUT NISH PANCHALNish Panchal is an agent at Curtis Brown, working closely with Sam Greenwood. Their mission is to find unique filmmaking talent that they’re passionate about and enable them to build careers in the UK film and television industry, and beyond. They work  with book agents from Conville & Walsh.*SHOW NOTES:[02:35] Desert Island Disks - the TV show Nish would take on a desert island[5:29] The influences and people that led Nish to pursue a career in film and TV[08:01] Nish’s journey to getting a job in Curtis Brown[15:18] His role as an agent and how he helps writers[19:06] Understanding the market and what production companies are looking for[20:21] An overview of the main players in the TV industry [24:10] How he helps a writer move from an idea to a commercial project [27:27] How might writers get representation? What emails have caught his eye recently?[31:10] The importance of a good spec script[33:06] Recent trends in the industry[36:47] How books get turned into TV deals [38:36] How TV writers get paid from treatment to script fees[42:32] The process of getting a deal with the BBC versus Netflix [44:36] Can writers make a full-time living from writing for TV?[47:04] What motivates Nish as an agent?*QUOTES FROM NISH:“People ask - what do I send through? I think just one good spec script is, is really what we need…If you're an aspiring television writer, um, you know, having a strong spec, pilot that can demonstrate that you can tell a story in 60 pages, set up a character and throw something interesting at them and set up a world. And then also at the end of it, ask enough questions for us to make us to make me think, oh, this is a great world. I'd love to know what happens next. Those things are quite really hard to do.”*RESOURCESConnect with Nish Panchal:Twitter: @Nish_PanchalCurtis Brown Website*Links from the show:TV shows:Mad MenThe CrownOzarkDeath in ParadiseMidsomer MurdersHANNAFriendsLutherLine of DutyGrey’s AnatomySex EducationBooks:This Is Going To Hurt by Adam KFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Why are creative partnerships so powerful? How can we work on multiple creative projects at one time? In this interview, we talk to the award-winning investigative journalist and Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, we discuss her non-fiction book It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different which is all about the power of collaboration. We deconstruct how she writes news stories, books, and her research process. We also explore the idea of creative partnerships from Beyonce and JayZ to Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, how these partnerships are like a ‘dance’ and how we might spot our own creative collaborator. *ABOUT CATHY NEWMANCathy Newman is an award-winning investigative journalist and Channel 4 News’ first female main presenter. Cathy is also the author of Bloody Brilliant Women: Pioneers, Revolutionaries & Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention, and her latest book, It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different.*SHOW NOTES:[03:41] Cathy’s love for music, and why she shifted from music to writing[05:15] Playing in The Commons, and about her music group, The Statutory Instruments[07:40] Transitioning from writing journalistic articles to writing for TV[10:10] Some examples of what Cathy’s writing process for TV looks like[14:19] How she stays on top of things, including the tools she uses[16:18] The inspiration behind her book It Takes Two[19:19] The themes that unify the power collaborators, including competitiveness, muses, and the idea of the power couple[22:34] The pas de deux and the concept of balance in relationships[26:20] The partnerships and collaborations that have helped Cathy with her career[30:18] How to find and form creative partnerships[33:39] The writing and research process for her book[43:24] Self-doubt and responding to positive and negative reception[45:40] The power of reading and how it’s helped Cathy in difficult times*QUOTES FROM CATHY:“I was fascinated by the idea that a coupledom is a dance and whether that's a work relationship, a romantic relationship, and as part of the research, I read, um, a German sociologist called Georg Simmel, who talked about this concept of dyads and why this relationship of two is so crucial. And here's what I felt was quite revolutionary, was that he was talking about the need for balance and a horizontal type approach to any relationship…you've got to be finely tuned and balanced for the dance to work.”*RESOURCESConnect with Cathy Newman:Twitter: @cathynewmanInstagram: @cathynewmanc4Links from the show:A dilemma for Nick Clegg as Lord Rennard apologisesManhunt: Closing in on a British PaedophileUkraine conflict: Military actions unfortunately connected to human loss, says Sergei Lavrov‘You’re being emotional’: What happened when I asked Sergei Lavrov about the blood on his handsBloody Brilliant Women: The Pioneers, Revolutionaries and Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention by Cathy NewmanIt Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to Be Different by Cathy NewmanThe Statutory Instruments - UK Parliamentary String QuartetGeorg Simmel - A German sociologist, philosopher, and critic.Serial podcastFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALON:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonCREDITS:Production by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

​​In this episode, Selina Lim, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter (Sex Education, Hanna) shares her screenwriting journey from her first BBC script to earning a BAFTA nomination, and how she broke into the industry as an outsider. Selina also gives us a peek at the inner workings of a writers’ room on hit TV shows - including the roles, exercises they use, and how writers collaborate inside it. We deconstruct what it takes to write a great scene, including sex scenes, what it means to write authentic dialogue and the importance of knowing our characters. *ABOUT SELINA LIMSelina is a BAFTA and BIFA nominated screenwriter currently writing on series 3 of Sex Education (Eleven/Netflix) and season 3 of Hanna (Amazon/NBC) and has previously written for Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures/Channel 4) and was in the writers’ room for The Night Manager Series 2 (The Ink Factory/AMC).*SHOW NOTES[02:42] Selina talks about how she became one of the Sex Education writers and her experience of being in an online writers' room[07:22] How she started as a screenwriter[13:24] The dynamics in a writers' room[17:01] How to understand a character's role in your story and why it’s important to know your characters really well[19:45] How a writers’ room function, how writers ideate and collaborate[22:14] Writing a scene and knowing the bigger picture[27:08] Creating a scene's structure,  why she believes you should "write drunk, edit sober", and showing instead of telling[29:32] On writing sex scenes [32:14] What makes good and authentic dialogue?[33:34] Selina shares what helps her understand her character more[36:04] Dealing with self-doubt*QUOTES FROM SELINA LIM“What is the work that the scene is doing? Why is it there? You have to ask so you know what emotional beat you are hitting.” *RESOURCES:Connect with Selina Lim:Website: selinalim.co.ukTwitter: https://twitter.com/muppet0013Instagram: instagram.com/selinalim888Links from the show:Instagram picture we mention at the start of the show TV Shows mentioned:HANNASex EducationSuccessionThe Night ManagerOthersPlaying Ball - a  short written by Selina for BBCPainkiller - a 15-minute short film*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalon For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How does a poet see the world? How can we move past self doubt and keep writing after rejection? In this episode we talk to Anthony Anaxagorou about how his journaling practice helps him generate ideas for his work, what his editing process looks like, and why he might spend eight or nine hours working on a single poem. Anthony is candid about his experience of failure and rejection, shares why we should be wary of the temptations of ‘prize culture’ (always seeking validation through the next prize), and why it’s crucial to develop our own internal value system to sustain ourselves and our writing. He even reads us some of his poetry!*ABOUT ANTHONY ANAXAGOROUAnthony Anaxagorou is a British-born Cypriot poet, fiction writer, essayist, publisher and poetry educator. His second collection After the Formalities was shortlisted for the 2019 T.S Eliot Prize. He was awarded the 2019 H-100 Award for writing and publishing, and the 2015 Groucho Maverick Award for his poetry and fiction. He’s the founder of one of London's leading poetry nights, Out-Spoken, and the independent publisher Out-Spoken Press.*SHOW NOTES[03:22] The experience of writing a book during the pandemic[04:41] Anthony talks about his uncle and how he influenced him as a writer[08:07] On failures and why it's important to ask yourself searching questions and see rejection as part of your job[11:48] What is prize culture and why does Anthony think it's dangerous?[14:06] Measuring success and creating your own value system[15:04] Anthony reads his poem, "Uber"[18:31] On being dissatisfied with his own work [21:53] On why he carrys a notebook with him all the time, and a writing habit he got from Lydia Davis[22:34] Anthony’s morning writing exercise[24:15] Anthony talks about his writing process, including 7-8 hours of focusing on one poem[27:43] How do you stop feeling intimidated by the academic side of poetry?[31:32] Anthony reflects on what "pushing your writing as far as it can go" means to him[34:32] Anthony shares the exercises he gives to his students to help them in writing a poem[36:38] What is the loaf of bread analogy, and why is playing with timelines when you write essential?[37:40] Resolving the poem and the idea of leaving the reader with questions[39:15] How do you know when a poem is done? [43:33] On being in conversation with the reader and why the writer is only half the conversation[46:13] Anthony shares how he started his London-based Out-Spoken open mic nights [49:44] Anthony reads his poem, "After the Formalities"*QUOTES BY ANTHONY:“The more you read, the more you get a sense for how poems work. And it's literally just from reading and you get a sense of where things end and where is an interesting place to end. If you think along the lines of—if you think the word interesting as opposed to kind of definitive. Then it kind of—it swaps. I just want to be interesting on the page. I don't want to be correct. I don't want to be certain. I want to be interesting.”*RESOURCES:Connect with Anthony:Twitter: @Anthony1983Facebook: anthonyanaxWebsite: anthonyanaxagorou.com*Links from the show:After the Formalities by Anthony AnaxagorouHow To Write It by Anthony AnaxagorouSuppose a Sentence by Brian DillonUber by Anthony AnaxagorouAfter the Formalities by Anthony Anaxagorou*Authors/Poets mentioned:Don PatersonTa-Nehisi CoatesEmily DickinsonOcean VuongMatthew SweeneyJericho BrownFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

We have published 10 episodes and we realised that we had never really introduced ourselves…So, we’re going to talk a little about where we’ve come from and why the London Writers’ Salon exists and what this podcast means to us.  We’re going to do this by interviewing each other!*ABOUT  MATT AND PARULMatt Trinetti and Parul Bavishi are the co-founders of the London Writers' Salon (@WritersSalon) and the creators of the Webby-nominated Writers' Hour where they write with hundreds of writers every week day. The Salon began as an in-person monthly interview series in central London and has since evolved to become a global community. In addition to the daily Writers' Hours, they host weekly interviews with writers and run workshops to help writers get published. They have partnered with organisations like Soho House, Allbright and Women's Prize for Fiction.Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to running LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore.Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to running LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published.  She previously worked as an editor and literary scout at Quercus and Random House.*RESOURCES AND LINKS:For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comEscape the City*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSArtwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

During times of enormous change, how can you harness the power of ritual to create stability and creativity? How can ordinary practices, such as writing, help us find meaning and cultivate deeper spiritual lives? We talk to author Casper Ter Kuile (The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices) about the difference between habit and ritual and how to turn habits into meaningful rituals. We explore Casper’s journey in publishing, how he moved past the first draft and his practices for overcoming the pitfalls of comparison. *Casper ter Kuile is the author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, co-host of the award-winning podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, and co-founder of startup Sacred Design Lab - a research and design consultancy working to create a culture of belonging and becoming. *SHOW NOTES[03:18] Casper talks about his 24-hour tech sabbatical and why rest isn't just about preparing us for the workweek[07:45] Why Casper, an atheist, was drawn to Harvard Divinity School to study and the surprising pull of community, ritual and tradition in the religious community[11:18] How his observation of the growing disaffiliation from religion and the fraying of our connections with each other led him to explore the power of ritual[13:11] The difference between habit and ritual and how to turn habits into  meaningful rituals[15:51] Why we should develop our ability to be choiceful[17:23] An observation of connection practices during the pandemic, including the absence of ritual[19:57] Applying the triptych: intention, attention, and repetition to his writing[22:23] Casper talks about moving past a terrible first draft of his book, The Power of Ritual, and how he landed his book deal[27:14] How Casper deals with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, including going on long walks[29:25] Casper shares how he balanced researching and studying while he was writing his first book, also how he deals with the pitfalls of comparison[31:13] Casper shares advice from Seth Godin for when you're having self-doubt[32:43] On how to move away from introspection, and writing not just as something to make you great, but as a gift[35:08] Casper shares how accountability is important in creating practices in new communities[36:14] How to both hold on and let go of a growing community[38:23] Casper shares the origin of his podcast with friends, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, and the community it built[41:50] What are the things that started and changed as the podcast community grew, and how did it even bring the community closer?[44:44] A parting note - understanding the sufficiency of the gift that you have to give*QUOTES:“Think of writing, not as something that is going to make you great, but as a gift to someone who might need it."*RESOURCESThe Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices by Casper Ter KuileHarry Potter and the Sacred Text podcastSeth GodinThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelHarperOneHow We Gather - Casper’s co-written paperDavid SedarisVanessa  Zoltan*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comFollow London Writers’ Salon:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How might we launch our newsletter and build a loyal following for our writing? How can we monetize our newsletter to six figures and beyond? In this episode, we interview Polina Marinova Pompliano who quit her job at Fortune in 2020 to focus on building her weekly Substack newsletter The Profile, where she profiles interesting figures like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York. We talk about tactics for growing a loyal and paying readership, how she develops ideas for her newsletter and the importance of feedback to improve our writing.*Polina Marinova is a former Fortune Magazine editor and writer, and founder of newsletter The Profile where she studies the world's most successful people & companies. She’s written for CNN, CNN Travel, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Boston Herald, Food & Wine Magazine, Odyssey, The Hustle and more. Polina is part of an emerging trend of writers who are looking ahead to the future of media and content and considering what it might take to start a media company on their own terms.*SHOW NOTES[02:39] Polina shares what gave her the courage to quit her job at The Fortune and dedicate her time to The Profile despite the pandemic and why you only need 100 true fans[06:42] Polina shares how she's become good at time management over the years, and how she stays productive[09:06] The importance of sharing your work with the public and opening yourself up to criticism and feedback as a writer[11:56] How Polina deals with feedback today versus how she dealt with it in the past[13:00] What Polina learned from writing articles and getting feedback, and how she used them to get more readers[15:33] Polina talks about her relationship dynamic with her husband who's also a writer, and how their differences help her get a business perspective for her newsletter[21:07] Polina shares the tools and systems that have helped her to be better at writing[27:42] The challenges Polina encounters in writing newsletters and what keeps her writing [29:15] Polina shares some newsletters that inspired her, including James Clear's blog[30:51] The business side of The Profile: how Polina grew her newsletter, and how she focused on quality content[31:58] Monetizing The Profile, and what made Polina’s readers convert to a paid subscription[34:09] Polina shares some of the ways she earns from The Profile[37:07] Why you don't need a massive following to monetize your work[37:33] Polina talks about her future goal of building a human interest company[38:32] The future of newsletters and why it's the perfect time to be a writer right now[41:30] On dealing with self-doubt and criticisms, and why patience and consistency is important if you want to start a newsletter*QUOTES:“So I think a lot of times people think they need this massive, massive following to monetize anything. It's not true. As long as you can prove that the audience is really high quality and really engaged and they actually click and they actually open, and they actually read it.”“The best piece of advice I heard was from Kat Cole, who's the president of Focus Brands. She said that every time you get a piece of feedback, the first thing you should do before you reject it—before you think it’s stupid is accept it and try and be like, okay, if this is true, then what can I do about it?...Accept it as truth before you outright dismiss it. Because after a while, that was not the only email I got like that. I got a number of them that were very critical, but it made me have thicker skin. It made me evolve in my writing. And by the end of my time there, I'd like to think that my voice, my tone, how I wrote, [the] people really liked because it was me and I wasn't trying to be somebody else.”*RESOURCESThe ProfileFortune Magazine - an American multinational business magazineThe Messy Middle by Scott The Messy Middle by Scott BelskyMaria Popova - Bulgarian writerChefs Table - Grant Achatz EpisodeSingle Supplement newsletter - Nikola SlawsonNFTs and a Thousand True Fans - Article from a16z.com (Andreessen Horowitz’s website)Sara Blakely - Founder of SpanxShane Parrish - Author, founder of Farnam StreetAtomic Habits by James ClearJosh Wolfe - Investor, founder of Lux CapitalBusiness Insider - American news websiteThe Hustle - NewsletterBessemer Venture Partners - American venture capital firmThe Washington Post - American daily newspaperThe New York Times - American daily newspaperThe Wall Street Journal - American business-focused, English-language international daily newspaperBrandon Stanton - Author of Humans of New York*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comFollow London Writers’ Salon:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

How do we, as writers, turn raw emotions and observations into fiction? In this episode we interview Diana Evans (Ordinary People, 26a) about her creative process, how she discovered her true voice and how she creates characters. We also discuss practices that help Diana with writer's block, why she treats writing as a job and the importance of having other people read your work and being a part of a writing community. *SHOW NOTES[03:32] How music influences Diana's writing and how John Legend's soundtrack influenced her book Ordinary People[07:22] The messy journey Diana went through to discover her voice and what she does and doesn't want to write about, which began in journaling[10:43] Diana shares some of her practises to help her with writer's block, including reading poetry, leaving your work for a while, and forcing her way through writing[12:38] On treating writing as a job, and some of Diana's writing rules and habits like having a schedule and not beating yourself up when you don't meet your target[19:07] Diana shares why she distances herself from the characters and the world she's writing about[20:41] How Diana's peers helped improve her writing and how sometimes, the simplest way to write and tell a story is actually the easiest way[23:05] The importance of having other people read your work, and being a part of a writing community[25:39] Diana’s writing philosophy, the importance of journaling and why it's our responsibility to write about our experiences[28:00] Diana shares her creative process, and how white American authors writing about ordinary life inspired her to do the same for her book, Ordinary People[31:12] How Diana come up with her book characters, including writing down lists and brainstorming[34:40] Why planning everything is important for Diana, and why she prefers that her writing is led by a character and what the character is experiencing[37:44] Our responsibility as readers and writers in documenting the world around us*QUOTES: “I think journalism, journaling rather, it's quite important for just recording things. I think it's, it's our responsibility as writers actually, to comment on the world and to reflect the world around us, whether that's historically or today because we are mouthpieces of society.”“And I feel that there is so much in the world that is real and alive, and that is happening both in my life and around me, in the lives I see around me that is, you know, rich in story and in drama. I'm really not a world builder. I'm a world observer.I investigate the world and try and analyze it, and encapsulate human life. So that's where the writing comes from, but in order to achieve a distance, I have to kind of place myself in a position that is somehow apart from the characters and the world that I'm writing about. So I have to find a way to do that in order to tell the story."*RESOURCESDiana's Books:Ordinary PeopleThe Wonder26aBook awards mentioned:The Guardian and Commonwealth Best First Book awardsWomen's Prize for Fiction - Orange AwardWomen's Prize for Fiction - Discoveries AwardBooks mentioned:The Emperor's Children by Claire MessudAuthors mentioned:John UpdikeJames SalterRichard YatesOthers:Song: Ordinary People by John LegendSinger: Michael Jackson44th president of the United States: Barack ObamaDiana Evans’ Harper's Bazaar article*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comFollow London Writers’ Salon:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Can creativity and money go hand in hand? How can we guarantee that we pay ourselves a profit no matter how much we earn? In this episode we talk to Mike Michalowicz about his Profit First method that helps creatives manage their money better, pay themselves well, and make a profit. We also talk about guerilla marketing strategies, connecting with your readership and how to build your confidence. *Mike is the author and creator of Profit First, a methodology used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit. Profit First is a perennial global Top 20 Book, in the category of Personal & Business Finance (Publishers Weekly) and has transformed readers’ lives. Mike is the author of Fix This Next, Clockwork, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. Simon Sinek calls Mike Michalowicz  “the patron saint of entrepreneurs.”SHOW NOTES[05:26] On being considered as the patron saint of entrepreneurs by ‘Start With Why’ author, Simon Sinek, and how Mike built a relationship with him[08:31] Mike shares how he lost everything and how it became his purpose to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty and pursue his dream of becoming an author[11:37] How journaling became an outlet for Mike to address his depression and a source for ideas for his book[14:30] Mike's dream of being an author and how to qualify the naysayers[16:40] Mike shares how he went from having 20,000 copies of his books and zero sales to selling a hundred thousand copies using guerrilla tactics[18:46] Mike shares his ultimate hack for freelancers, writers, creatives to be permanently profitable[24:43] On doing different and why we should overcome our fear of rejection and being an outsider[25:56] What does it mean to pay yourself first? And why it became Mike's ethos for his book Profit First[32:48] Other key tenants of the Profit First system, including what he calls the five foundational accounts[37:52] On why it's our responsibility to share our work and ask people to consume what we have[42:34] Life's mission as the ultimate motivator, and how we can use our pain to help you reach your goals[47:01] Mike shares how he uses pain and pleasure to manage his finances, and the difference between denial and delay[49:34] Mike's battle with self-doubt, why reaching out to your followers—no matter how small—is important, and the recipe for confidence*QUOTES FROM MIKE “So many authors, poets, writers are simply just trying to scratch by, to survive and therefore they can't give their best. There's this constant worry. They're going to sleep, not thinking about their next great creation. They're going to sleep saying, “Holy shit, how am I going to eat tomorrow?”  To give our best, we must make sure that we're satisfied that we're served and protected. And that's what profitability does. It allows you to protect yourself. So our clients, our readers thirst for that. So you have to be profitable. The technique to do this is the pay yourself first principle. Apply it to your business. Every time you have income coming in from the work you sell, you subtract a predetermined percentage of that money as profit, hide it from yourself and then run your work off the remainder. And what this does is it starts accumulating profit...”RESOURCESMentioned books of Mike MichalowiczProfit FirstThe Toilet Paper EntrepreneurFix This NextClockworkSurgeThe Pumpkin PlanBooks mentioned:Start with Why by Simon SinekCrushing It by Gary VaynerchukThe Five Love Languages by Gary ChapmanOthers:Julia Cameron's Morning PagesTim Ferris - Entrepreneur, investor, author, podcaster, and lifestyle guruYanik Silver - Author, entrepreneurPay Yourself First principleParkinson's Law*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonCREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

What does it take to launch your book and build a fanbase? What do most writers misunderstand about the craft of writing and launching their book? Tim Grahl has dedicated the last 10 years of his life helping over 100 authors – from bestsellers to first time writers – get their books into the hands of more readers. In this episode we talk about smart and authentic marketing steps every writer can take to find their first 1000 readers and give their book a chance of reaching the bestselling lists. We also dive into Tim's memoir Running Down a Dream and talk about writing about devastation and grief.Tim Grahl has worked with authors like Dan Pink, Ramit Sethi, Shawn Coyne, Pamela Slim, Dan and Chip Heath and has launched dozens of books to the top of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other bestseller lists. He also runs  The Story Grid podcast, where he had his own book edited live by editor Shawn Coyne. Tim has written books on building an audience: Your First 1000 Copies; on building a business: Running Down a Dream, He has also been the architect behind the hugely successful Story Grid writing community and works with Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne at Black Irish Publishing.*SHOW NOTES[03:46] Tim talks about the vulnerability of being critiqued live on The Story Grid podcast with Editor Shawn Coyne[09:38] How to build the right audience, and the benefits of learning in public for accountability[12:12] How a successful book launch always starts with a good plan[12:23] What went wrong with The Threshing's launch, and the things Tim did right to market The Sand and Sea (280,000-word epic fantasy) [15:38] Why it's harder to get people to read a book than buy one, and what Tim and his team did to sell The Sand and Sea[19:38] Building an email list as the number one marketing tactic sell and promote your book[23:51] The importance of building a habit and why being consistent is better than doing one big push on anything that you do[26:22] Tim's advice for those who are trying to build their email list, and why you should treat the process as an adventure. Plus how to get your first 100 subscribers.[30:56] The value of being consistent in whatever you do[32:25] Tim's definition of marketing[34:07] The story behind Tim's memoir, Running Down a Dream, the dream he was running down and how it's evolved over time*QUOTES FROM TIM GRAHL“If you see any books that are still selling ten years after they came out, it's not because the publishing house did an amazing job marketing the book ten years ago. I think of it as a rocketship. If you turn off the engine when it's halfway out of that atmosphere, it's going to crash down to earth every single time. So if you can just get it out of the atmosphere, now we can see if it's going to live on its own. And that's how I think of marketing a book is the job of the publisher / author is to get that book out of the atmosphere. And the goal is to get 10,000 people to read the book. At that point, you find out if the book's going to fly on its own because, again, I can force 10,000. I can't force a million or five hundred thousand or a hundred thousand.”*RESOURCESStory Grid Podcast by Shawn Coyne and Tim GrahlRunning Down A DreamBook LaunchMentioned authors:Dan PinkRamit SethiPamela SlimDan and Chip HeathRyan HolidayJames ClearSteven PressfieldJeff GoinsMentioned books of Tim Grahl:Your First 1000Running Down A DreamThe ThreshingOther books mentioned:Tales of Iceland by Stephen MarkelySave The Cat! By Robert MckeeMachine Man by Max BarryThe Sand and Sea by Michael McClellanThe War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven PressfieldAtomic Habits by James ClearThe Amazing Scrolls of Wonder by M.J. ThomasThe Dip by Seth GodinAnything You Want by Derek SiversOthers:Hugh MacLeod - author and cartoonistConvertKit - a marketing platformMatt's blog post where he mentioned Chris Guillebeau's booksSong: Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom PettyDerek Sivers’ CD BabyJoe Rogan's podcastElizabeth Gilbert - journalist and author*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

Benjamin Hardy’s articles have been read by over 100 million readers. He has also been the #1 writer, in the world, on Medium.com. How does he do it? In this episode, he shares his writing process and how he plans, structures and ships his articles. We also talk about why it’s important to set the right goals to help us reach our most courageous dreams, how our goals shape our identity and personality, and the importance of the environment in achieving our goals.*Dr Benjamin Hardy (@BenjaminPHardy) is an organizational psychologist, bestselling author and the world’s leading expert on the application of the Future Self science. His books include Be Your Future Self Now, The Gap and the Gain, Willpower Doesn’t Work and Personality Isn’t Permanent. His blogs have been read by over 100 million people and are featured on Forbes, Fortune, CNBC and many others. He is a regular contributor to Inc. and Psychology Today and from 2015-2018, he was the #1 writer, in the world, on Medium.com. *SHOW NOTES[02:47] How we underpredict our future selves [04:15] How Ben clarified his goal to become a professional writer and land a six-figure book deal[06:55] How Ben used Medium to grow his email list from 0 to 400k [10:05] Ben’s systems and processes to create consistently popular articles[14:47] Ben's writing process and how he plans, structures and ships his articles[17:30] On using Medium vs LinkedIn.[19:18] On repurposing an article for two different platforms[27:50] What does it mean to orient our lives towards our goals? From LeBron to watching Youtube late at night[31:26] How James Clear’s goal led him to sell 2 million copies of Atomic Habits [33:40] The importance of environment in changing your life and achieving your goals[39:35] Why being useful is important, and how you can get what you want by helping other people[40:51] Resources for crafting good headlines[44:29] Why ‘empathetic witnesses’ can encourage you to write, publish and more*QUOTES FROM BEN HARDY“...most people think that who they are today is who they're gonna be in the future. So their future self actually isn't imagined far different. They think that their future self is going to kind of pretty much be the same person that they are today, which is just not what the research shows. We massively under predict how much we're going to change in the future. And we spend so little time imagining our future and turning that into concrete plans and strategies for courageously becoming the person we wanted to be”*“What is the actual objective of this article? What am I trying to accomplish? Or what am I trying to have the reader accomplish? What is the purpose of this article? Like just answering that question, like, what am I trying to accomplish? What am I trying to solve here?”*RESOURCES:Podcast Offer: To access the Genuis Blogging Course, email [email protected] and mention the LWS interview offer along with proof of purchase of Ben’s book. Follow Ben Hardy:Website: benjaminhardy.comTwitter @benjaminphardyInstagram @benjamin_hardy_phdBen’s Books:Willpower Doesn't WorkPersonality Isn't PermanentWho Not How (co-authorship with Dan Sullivan.)Authors mentioned:Ryan HolidayTim FerrissMark MansonJeff GoinsOther books mentioned:Disunited Nations by Peter ZeihanMan’s Search for Meaning by Viktor FranklAtomic Habits by James ClearThe Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark MansonPerennial Seller by Ryan HolidayCourses mentioned:Guest Blogging by Jon Morrow - (summary here) & Genius Blogging*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

As writers, there may be times when we must delve deep into the harder ‘themes’ of life - that of grief and loss. How might we start to write about loss and in what medium - a blog? Or a book? And where do we begin? How can we be vulnerable on the page? Join our conversation with Anna Wilson, as we talk about the craft of writing memoirs, having the confidence to tell the truth, and the mindset that has enabled her to write 50+ books. *Anna Wilson is the author of over 50 books for children and young teens. In 2016 she started her blog Good Grief about mid-life, loss and new beginnings. This eventually led to her memoir A Place for Everything which tells the searing account of a mother’s late-diagnosis of autism – and what it means to care for our parents in their final years. Anna is also an editor and lecturer, a tutor for the London Lit Lab and the Writer's Block in Cornwall and for the Arvon Foundation. *SHOW NOTES:[03:53] Anna's love for swimming and how it helped her deal with grief[06:23] Anna's struggle to write during lockdown[08:16] How Anna chooses the themes for her books[11:23] On pitching ideas[14:42] Anna's blog and how it started[19:42] How to move from draft to a polished piece + Anna's writing practices[23:03] What to include and what not to when writing a memoir[24:56] How Anna decided to write a book about her mom and dad[27:09] Why Anna suggests reading other people's memoirs[30:29] Anna shares what the book A Place for Everything is about[33:39] On being vulnerable in your writing[37:24] Anna's advice for someone who wants to tell the truth[38:29] On how Anna came up with the title for the book[41:21] Why having a good relationship with your editor is important[44:39] Anna’s favourite writing exercises[46:10] Pigheaded attitude and being disciplined as a writer*QUOTES FROM ANNA:“I think it's quite a pigheaded attitude. I think you have to be pretty disciplined. I love Margaret Atwood when she says, “Show up, show up, show up. And the muse will too.” In other words, don't talk to me about, oh, I'm just waiting for the muse to come. I'm just waiting for that moment when I'm going to feel writer-y, and then I'll write something. Now you've got to show up every single day.”*SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Anna WilsonTwitter: @acwilsonwriterInstagram: @acwilsonwriterWebsite: acwilsonwriter.wordpress.comVlad the World’s Worst VampireSteve VoakePaddington2 - The Story of the Movie (Movie Tie-in)For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comFollow London Writers’ Salon:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonCREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

So you've started a blog, written a book. What next? How can you find your first 100 readers and grow that to 10,000 and beyond? Chris Guillebeau talks about how he grew his audience, one by one, from zero readers to thousands hanging on his every step. He's authored multiple New York Times bestsellers. And today when he launches a new book product or even an event, it sells out instantly. Join us for our conversation with Chris Guillebeau about becoming a disciplined writer, building a global community around your work, and making it as a full-time writer.ABOUT CHRISChris Guillebeau is the author of seven books. His first book, The Art of Non-Conformity, was translated into more than thirty languages. His second book, The $100 Startup, was a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, selling more than 700,000 copies worldwide. His newest book, The Money Tree is all about finding fortune in your own backyard. He’s also built Side Hustle School, a wildly popular podcast with more than 2 million monthly downloads, to help people create a new source of income without quitting their job.*SHOW NOTES[03:04] Chris talks about his secret to getting an NYT review[04:28] Chris talks about his relationship with role models and the people that inspire him[07:39] The core components of being a writer, and the importance of serving others[10:36] Discipline as part of being professional and how doing things every day is sometimes easier than doing them less frequently[13:53] The abundance mindset and why this is important[17:16] Chris talks about what it's like transitioning from doing book tours to doing everything online during the pandemic.[20:28] How to allocate time to finish different projects without feeling overwhelmed[22:25] Chris talks about where he generates more income[27:02] Chris shares his thoughts on monetizing his works[29:21] How to build and grow an audience[32:47] Blogging before vs now[34:26] Chris shares his approach when it comes to talking about a difficult subject*QUOTES FROM CHRIS GUILLEABEAU“A guiding value has always been — there's gotta be something I can do today to help somebody … it could be highlighting other people's projects. It could be like doing whatever you can to get someone else to have attention or whatever it is.”“The other secret about the podcast is it would be easier for me, or it's easier for me to do it seven days a week than it would be to do it like three to five days a week. Like if it was like Monday, Wednesday, Friday, it would be harder than every day because every day it has to happen, right. Whereas if it's on like a staggered schedule, it's like, oh, you just kind of get off the rhythm.”“And so the only thing you can do is take more hits or try, you know, like you take more chances. That quote about, like, to be luckier…I'd like to have more luck, take more chances”*“Most of the time I'm not selling anything. Like most of the time, it's like for months or years go by without doing much. The podcast is free. The blog is free. Other stuff is free. I'm not really working on trying to build out that part of the online business. So I guess when the time comes to launch the book, I don't hesitate to push it a little bit because I mean like I said, I know that that's going to help people, and then I know it's going to help me as well.”*“...[A]nybody who joins my email list, that person has chosen to give me like their most valuable asset, which is their time and their attention…As much as possible, I want to build individual relationships with those people… And so for the first 10,000 people that joined over the course of, I don't know, two years, I wrote to each one of those people. Not just like an autoresponder, but I wrote an actual email to those people, and said, “Hey Matt, thanks so much for joining”, you know, “Hope you like it. Let me know what you're up to.” … [I built it] one by one.” *SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Chris GuillebeauWebsite: https://chrisguillebeau.comTwitter: twitter.com/chrisguillebeauInstagram: instagram.com/193countriesGretchen Rubin & The Happiness ProjectSeth GodinTim GrahlFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.comFollow London Writers’ Salon:Twitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!