London Writers' Salon

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 ben@benjaminhardy.com 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!

There is something about Holly. If you look through the online reviews you’ll see comments like _‘there were times I felt Holly had climbed into my head’ and ‘I cried so much reading this_’. Her writing has the gift to connect to the reader – we explore this in the interview from her first book written on a 45 min commute, to overcoming imposter syndrome, why she thinks a writer should spend only 33% of their time writing and how writing fiction is the act of destroying the perfect idea you have in your head. Holly also talks us through her ideation process, how she uses psychology to get into her characters’ heads and her approach to marketing her work.  *Holly Bourne has written 12 books over 7 years. She started her writing career as a news journalist, but after working with young people, was inspired to write teen fiction and won awards for her best-selling, award-winning ‘Spinster Club’ series. When she turned thirty, Holly wrote her first adult novel, How Do You Like Me Now about the intensified pressures on women once they hit that landmark. Her latest book Pretending has garnered praise from book reviewers, bloggers and authors Marian Keyes, and Dolly Alderton. Four of her books have now been optioned for film and TV.Alongside her writing, Holly has a keen interest in women’s rights and is an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health problems. She is an ambassador for Women's Aid and their Love Respect campaign, educating young people about healthy relationships.*SHOW NOTES[02:18] Holly talks about her writing process and her coping mechanisms during lockdown[04:23] How to be kind to yourself while writing in lockdown[06:20] Having a hobby and doing other things apart from writing [09:49] Holly’s journey from having a full-time job to becoming an author, and how she wrote her first book while commuting to work.[13:18] How to overcome your imposter syndrome[17:08] Why you should only spend 33% of your time writing[18:37] Why the first draft is just like digging up a fossil[20:02] How psychology helps in Holly’s writing[22:36] How writing fiction is the act of destroying a perfect idea in your head[24:43] Holly’s writing process, the need to have the first line, and doing extensive research before the actual writing[29:56] On being authentic with yourself and asking the hard questions[34:55] Holly talks about marketing her writing and doing promotions*QUOTES BY HOLLY“Writing fiction is the act of destroying a perfect idea in your head…lots of people in this room have had that moment where they have this idea for a story or a character or a poem, screenplay, and they're so excited, and the temptation is to just leave it at that as this perfect unformed... once you start writing, it will never live up to the hype in your head. And then you might get a different idea or you might get bored of it, or you start having plot problems or characters...So it’s accepting the fact that you're going to completely ruin the best idea you ever had. But if you were that excited to begin with—if you were just buzzing when that idea land is, you've got to know that in the translation from head to work, there'll be enough of that. There will. You won't ever be able to get a hundred per cent, there'll be enough, and you cannot mend the blank page.”*SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Holly BourneTwitter: @holly_bourneYAInstagram: @hollybourneyaFacebook: Holly.BourneYAThe Science of Storytelling by Will StorrFor 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!

Alastair Humphreys has built an impressive career as a creator using a simple formula:Step 1: Go on an adventure.Step 2: Write a story about it.Step 3: Earn money from it.Step 4: Repeat.Sounds Simple. But far from easy.In this episode, we dive into Alastair’s creative process – from planning, adventuring, writing to publishing and eventually, getting paid. We’ll also discuss how Alastair has navigated hard times to persist as a creator for 15+ years, his journey from teaching to writing to filmmaking to children’s books to podcasting, balancing family life with adventuring and creating, and tips for writing stories about your personal experiences that readers will love and publishers will buy.*Alastair Humphreys is a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, podcaster, filmmaker, and author of 13 books. He spent over 4 years cycling around the world, a journey of 46,000 miles through 60 countries and 5 continents. More recently Alastair has walked across southern India, rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, run six marathons through the Sahara desert, completed a crossing of Iceland, and participated in an expedition in the Arctic.In 2018, Alastair trekked over 350 miles across Spain in the footsteps of his adventurer-author hero Laurie Lee, feeding himself only with money he earned busking. He turned that story into the enthralling, raw memoir, My Midsummer Morning: Rediscovering a Life of Adventure.*SHOW NOTES[05:07] Alastair's rowing experience across the Atlantic Ocean[07:06] How to push yourself in your path of adventure by starting small[09:48] Big adventures and how to turn them into micro-adventures when life gets in the way[12:10] Alastair’s coping mechanisms during the pandemic including climbing a tree, plus the importance of passive income[15:49] How to find an audience for your writings that's beyond friends and family[18:24] Alastair’s love for travel books and what inspired him to write[19:13] About Alastair’s busking adventure in Spain and how this led to this book, My Midsummer Morning, and balancing adventuring life and home life[28:31] Alastair’s journey from having a publisher to self-publishing his own books[33:22] On trying new things and becoming an expert in your own niche[37:04] How to get paid gigs with brands & and how to approach brands[40:11] On self-doubt and how to get past it[42:53] What would your eighty-year-old self tell you to do today?*QUOTES FROM ALASTAIR“There's a blog post called, The Long Tail, which shows you graphically like, how many times you'll hug your parents again, how many times you'll swim in the ocean again, and if you see it graphically, there are so few. And if he'd been so inclined, he could probably have written on his little bar chart: here are the books you have time to write in your life. And I suspect once you see that, your eighty-year-old self would suggest that you begin.”*“If you're a writer and you compare yourself to Shakespeare, it's pointless. If you're going to play football in the park and you compare yourself to Lionel Messi, it’s pointless. But we spend all our lives measuring ourselves against people like this. It’s ridiculous. So call yourself a working whatever, and then get to work and try and find a thousand people who read your books and then repeat the process and try and get 2000 for the next one. And you'll probably be alright.” *SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Alastair Humphreys:Twitter: @Al_HumphreysInstagram: @al_humphreysFacebook: Al Humphreys Facebook PageWebsite: www.alastairhumphreys.comWait but Why Blog by Tim Urban - The Long Tail*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!