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168 episodes
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Stolaroid Stories Fabio Cerpelloni
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- Education
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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A podcast to help writers and creatives improve their craft. Tune in for conversations with brilliant thinkers such as Seth Godin and Derek Sivers, interviews with authors, unscripted rambles, reflections, tips, stories, rants -- anything to help you become a better writer, artist, and creative thinker. Hosted by Fabio Cerpelloni, a non-native English speaker from Italy turned English writer, author, and teacher. -- www.fabiocerpelloni.com
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Answering Your Questions on Self-publishing a TINY Book
A few weeks ago, I published a video titled "You Have a TINY Book in You. Write It." My story resonated with many people. Some viewers asked me specific questions too. This video is to answer those questions. Hope this helps!
LINKS
Subscribe to Better Writers for free. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/
The "tiny book" video - You Have a TINY Book in You. Write It.
My (tiny) book - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-langu...
My website - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/ -
How to Journal: with Psychotherapist, Kay Adams
Kathleen Adams is one of the most prominent and established voices in the field of therapeutic writing. She's a best-selling author, speaker, and psychotherapist.
She's the founder and director of the Center for Journal Therapy, the premier source of education and training on the power of writing for healing, growth, and change.
She's also the director of the Therapeutic Writing Institute and adjunct faculty at the University of Denver, where she teaches Writing and Healing, a 10-week course. In an internet poll, Kay was listed (with Anne Frank and Anais Nin) as one of the three most significant influences on contemporary journal keeping.
I learned about her work when I read her first book, Journal to the Self (1990), a classic that has helped define the field of journal therapy. I then had the privilege to meet Kay to ask her questions about journaling.
- What is journaling?
- Why is it helpful?
- What misconceptions do people have about journaling?
- How can we start journaling?
- What journaling techniques are there?
- Is it better to keep a handwritten or digital journal?
- Should you journal only when you're sad?
- How can you become a better writer by journaling?
Kay and I hope this recorded chat will inspire you to write down your thoughts more often.
Enjoy the episode here or watch it on YouTube --https://youtu.be/8FvaRuz21uM
KAY LINKS
- Kay's first book, “Journal to the Self” - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353624.Journal_to_the_Self
- Kay’s Books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/F7818742-54B0-4A8F-8DED-F5CFFC3B2148
- Kay’s gift for you - https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:571b7eb5-8dfa-4d29-8c3f-70d583a05bd9
- The Center for Journal Therapy - https://journaltherapy.com/
- The Therapeutic Writing Institute - https://twinstitute.net/
MY LINKS
- Subscribe to Better Writers. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/
- My website - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/ -
"Avoid the Passive Voice" Is Nonsense (rant😅)
"Avoid the passive voice" is cheap writing advice that helps no one. I'll tell you why in this rant.
Join Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/
Watch the rant on YouTube - https://youtu.be/eQJpUhZi9-g -
You Are Ready to Write a TINY Book
You can write a TINY book today. You don’t need to have a talent. You don’t need to have an extraordinary life. You don’t need to have a big audience. These days you don’t even need a contract with a publisher. I had none of those things, and yet I published a tiny book — one of my proudest achievements in 37 years.
You can do that too.
LINKS
My Book - https://www.amazon.com/Any-Language-Want-Fabio-Cerpelloni/dp/B0CDYT58HW
Visit my website: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/
Watch the video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2TrxmpeiKAM -
A Book That Changed My Writing
"Several Short Sentences About Writing" by Verlyn Klinkenborg. I struggled not to highlight every sentence in this book. I loved it so much. It surprised me in so many ways and taught me things about writing I had never heard before.
Here are my key takeaways, nerdy stuff only writers will find interesting.
LINKS
Subscribe to Better Writers for free. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/
The blog about linkers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/avoid-overusing-linking-words/
The blog about this book - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/several-short-sentences-about-writing/
Watch the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/UEJmxMuKecg
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:05 The writer's job
05:39 Writing by implication
09:00 Transitions and logic
14:05 In your head
18:20 Write what
24:00 Conclusion -
Succinct, Punchy, Useful WRITING: with Derek Sivers
In 1997, Derek Sivers (accidentally) started CD Baby, the largest distributor of independent music in the world. Ten years later, he sold the company for $22 million.
What did he do with the money? Did he buy a Ferrari? A mansion? A private jet?
He gave it all to charity.
He then became a TED speaker and a writer. He's published 5 books:
- Anything You Want (2011) -- Best business book I've ever read.
- Your Music and People (2020) -- Best marketing book I've ever read.
- Hell Yeah or No (2020) -- Best book on productivity and decision-making I've ever read.
- How to Live (2021) -- Best book on life philosophies I've ever read.
- Useful Not True (2024) -- Best book on beliefs I've ever read.
Derek Sivers is the person I've watched, read, and listened to the most since I got an internet connection in 2000.
No joke!
I could’ve asked him questions about music, business, productivity, marketing, or public speaking, but many YouTubers and podcasters have done that before.
For 1.5 hours, we talked about one thing only: WRITING.
- What brought him into writing?
- Which writers inspire him?
- How did he write his books?
- Why succinct writing?- Why does he not use semicolons?
- What does he do to actively improve his writing?
- Does he have a sentence he's particularly attached to?
We discussed this and other nerdy stuff about writing.
Enjoy!
DEREK'S LINKS
His (succinct) website - https://sive.rs/
FABIO'S LINKS
Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/
YOUTUBE LINK for this episode- https://youtu.be/jI3efiQ2u_M
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
03:30 Starting to write
11:30 The influence of bad writing
15:55 Reading reviews
19:00 Different reasons for writing
23:20 Writing "How to Live"
28:43 Writing one sentence per line
34:34 The influence of writing songs
39:06 Derek's best sentences
40:00 Imitating other writers
44:51 Reading old books
47:15 The work is the practice
53:25 Publishing daily?
01:04:00 Why succinct writing
01:05:30 Using stories to illustrate a point
01:07:05 Semicolons
01:07:45 Reading with a writer's mind
01:09:50 Academic writing
01:12:40 Writing for English as a second language speakers
01:15:00 Next book?
01:17:30 Being disciplined
01:19:28 Saying just enough
01:30:30 Conclusion