Creating Happy Writers

As a non-fiction writer, you may wonder why it's important to tell stories in your genre. After all, when trying to impart knowledge or expertise, is it even necessary? In a nutshell, yes. And in this week’s episode, we’ll explore why. You’ll learn: How storytelling is hard-wired into us and is a natural part of being human - we’re going back to cave paintings, people! Why using stories in your non-fiction book will help build a better connection with your reader and help to explain more complex concepts that resonate with your audience Which stories to choose and why - I’ll share two stories I’ve used successfully in two of my books to help you clearly see why they work and why I chose them. The golden rules for storytelling in non-fiction - to help you get it right and make your stories memorable and meaningful for all the right reasons. I’ll also share other authors who do this really well, so you can go away and see what works! Storytelling in nonfiction is a skill, but it’s definitely one worth practising. You don’t have to be an expert novelist to make it work, either. Just tell stories that mean something to you, and that will inspire your reader to continue on their journey of transformation and change. I hope you enjoy listening! Further resources: You can read more about establishing good writing habits in this blog post. Books I mention in this episode are: The Obstacle is the Way - Ryan Holiday You’re a Badass at Making Money - Jen Sincero The 5-Second Rule - Mel Robbins Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - which is full of advice on writing and publishing a book in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.

Understanding our writer’s voice in non-fiction can feel tricky. We want to sound as though we know what we’re talking about, but with that comes the risk of sounding a little dull or dry. After all, when reading your favourite business or non-fiction books, one of the things that keep you turning the pages is the author’s voice, right? So when writing your book, you’ll want to be sure you’re sharing your unique writing voice too. But how do you do it? How can you sound like…well…yourself? Throughout this episode, I’ll share seven simple ways to discover your writing voice, so you feel confident your readers will keep turning the pages of your book. You’ll learn: How a simple personality exercise can help find the differences and similarities between your everyday voice and your writing voice A tool you can use that doesn’t require any writing at all - and we’ve all got easy access to it! Simple yet crucial research to help you sound more like yourself and less like an imitation of other authors - no matter how incredible they may be - and why I think it’s perfectly acceptable to write how you speak. Remember, your writing voice is your personality on paper. Don’t try to squash it or hide it away - embrace it and let it shine through for your audience to see. It will keep them coming back for more. I hope you enjoy this episode! Further resources: You can read more about establishing good writing habits in this blog post. Buy a copy of Julia Cameron’s book - The Artist’s Way - here and learn more about Morning Pages. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - which is full of advice on writing and publishing a book in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.

Writing can be daunting, but with the right mindset and approach, anyone can develop a consistent writing habit that leads to success. In today’s episode, we’ll explore the Tiny Habits philosophy, which has its foundations in behavioural science. Our brains are wired to form habits, and we can use this to our advantage by creating tiny habits that gradually build into bigger ones over time. By starting small and being consistent, we can rewire our brains to make writing a natural and effortless part of our daily routine. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn: The importance of setting yourself small, achievable goals - even committing to just 100 words a day can make your writing goals achievable and less intimidating. How BJ Fogg - the man behind Tiny Habits - used his daily toilet habits to improve his fitness - and how you can apply the same principles to writing Why your writing environment plays a vital role in establishing consistency - helping you develop new neural pathways in your brain. By implementing the Tiny Habits philosophy and the advice in this episode, you can build a consistent writing habit to help you achieve your goals. I hope you enjoy this episode! And remember, it's not about being perfect or writing a masterpiece every time but about creating and sticking to a routine that works for you. So, start small, celebrate your successes, and watch as your writing habit grows and flourishes. Further resources: You can read more about establishing good writing habits in this blog post. Buy a copy of BJ Fogg’s book - Tiny Habits - here or connect with him on Instagram. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - which is full of advice on writing and publishing a book in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.

A writing support network is something that, in my opinion, every writer needs. After all, writing is a lonely process, and when you’ve only got yourself to talk to about it, things can get just a little overwhelming. Now you may not have explored the idea of a writing support network before - who you need on your journey and why. But it can make a huge difference to your motivation levels and success. So in this episode, I’ll share who you should welcome on board your writing bus and why they need a seat. You’ll learn: The four types of personalities you should have as part of your writing support network Writing groups and what to look out for when approaching them - and what to avoid! How a writing coach and/or mentor can be an integral part of the process I hope you enjoy this episode and that it encourages you to think about your own support network. As I say in the episode, you don’t have to have a huge team; you just need a few of the right people around you to support and guide you as you embark on your writing journey. Further resources: You can read more about understanding your ideal reader in this blog post. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - full of advice on writing and publishing books in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.

How well do you know your ideal reader, and how important is it that you do? Well, to write a successful book - one that resonates with your reader and gives them the transformation or understanding they seek - it’s very important. In this week’s episode, I dive into the nitty gritty of ideal reader work and encourage you to think past demographics and dig deeper into the psychological reasons that would prompt someone to pick up your book. You’ll learn: Why knowing what keeps your reader up at night can help you write a book that resonates - and sells! The difference between demographics and psychographics - and which one to spend your time on when planning your book Why emotions play a crucial role in our buying decisions and how you can use this to your advantage to make your book irresistible to your ideal reader I hope you enjoy this episode and it’s given you the tools and understanding you need to know who’s picking up your book and searching for the transformation and support you offer. Further resources: You can read more about understanding your ideal reader in this blog post. Here are links to the books/authors I mention in this episode: Hype Yourself by Lucy Werner Persuasive Copywriting by Andy Maslen The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - full of advice on writing and publishing books in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website ----- Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.

How do you cope with vulnerability as a writer? Are you comfortable with it, or does it make you squirm? If you’re the latter, you’re not alone. But to become the writer you aspire to be, you’ll need to add vulnerability to your writing toolkit to get your work out there and into the hands of your readers. The question is, how can you do it? In this podcast episode - the very first one - I’ll be sharing my advice on vulnerability, including: Research from Brené Brown on why we feel vulnerable - it’s not what you think! Why courage and acceptance play a huge part in this process Some simple ways to embrace vulnerability on your writing journey - particularly if you need to ease yourself in! I hope you enjoy this episode and it’s given you the courage and motivation to start sharing your work with others. Further resources: You can read more about vulnerability in this blog post If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform: Apple Spotify Amazon Subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter - The Write Stuff - which is full of advice on writing and publishing books in your niche. Download my FREE PDF - 5 Steps to Plan a Bestselling Book in Your Niche Steph’s books: Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - Amazon Dare to Write: How to Write a Non-Fiction Book to Grow Your Business - CHW website Connect with Steph: Website: https://creatinghappywriters.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatinghappywriters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/creatinghappywriters Twitter https://twitter.com/stephcaswell_ Use #creatinghappywriters Listen to all previous podcast episodes on my website, via the podcast platforms below or by searching for 'Creating Happy Writers' on your favourite podcast provider. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music *Disclaimer: if you buy a copy of a book I have linked to in these show notes, I’ll receive a small commission as an Amazon affiliate. If you’d rather buy your books elsewhere, I completely understand.

The Creating Happy Writers podcast starts in March 2023! Each week, Steph Caswell will be here to inspire, motivate and empower you with the tools you need to make your writing journey a happy one. So if you want to improve your writing skills and become part of a community where we embrace the writing journey for what it is - a freakin’ rollercoaster, subscribe to the Creating Happy Writers podcast today.