Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP127: Can Poetry Still Make an Impact in 2024?

It’s rhyme-time in this week's episode of Fully Booked, as Craig and Roland explore the enduring power of poetry even in today's fast-paced digital world. Their guide through the evocative world of rhythm and flow is Viral Gor, spoken word performer and author of "Poetry is Motion: Mind, Body, and Soul." 
Virus the Poet shares his insights on how poetry remains a vital form of expression and connection in the modern age, even as social media and technology increasingly dominate our lives. He argues that poetry continues to inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions in our rapidly changing world through its ability to resonate with a diverse audience and adapt to contemporary platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 
Virus also argues for the therapeutic benefits of poetry, emphasizing how it serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and emotional healing for both creators and consumers. So whether you're new to the genre, or have been waxing poetic for years, this discussion on the techniques and timelessness of poetry has something for everyone.
 
Virus the Poethttps://virusthepoet.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP126: Weaving a Story within the Fabric of a Memoir

In this episode of Fully Booked, we delve into the world of memoirs, exploring why we write and read them, along with the techniques involved in researching, structuring, and crafting these personal narratives. Our guide for this journey is Becky Ellis, author of a captivating memoir that intertwines her childhood experiences with her father's service in World War II. Becky's extensive background in publishing, combined with her own writing experience, provides valuable insights into how memoirs can deeply resonate with readers by capturing the intricacies of personal and family histories and skillfully balancing truth with storytelling.
As Becky shares her memoir writing journey, she highlights the emotional challenges and transformative power of recounting one's life story. These feelings are common among memoir authors, as they arise from the deep authenticity required during the meticulous process of distilling vast life experiences into a coherent narrative. Through practical advice for aspiring memoirists, including tips on scene setting, handling backstory, and the psychological excavation necessary to create a genuine and compelling memoir, Becky provides a rich perspective on the art of memoir writing, valuable to anyone interested in this type of personal storytelling.
 
Becky Ellishttps://beckyellis.net/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP125: Unveiling the Secrets of Discovery Writing

In this episode of Fully Booked, we dive into the fascinating world of discovery writing, featuring returning guest KimBoo York. KimBoo, an accomplished author, librarian, technology historian, and former IT project manager, brings a unique perspective to the art of "pantsing" — writing without an extensive outline. In fact, she's written a book on the subject: "By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery Writing." Today, KimBoo takes us through the contrasts and overlaps between plotting and discovery writing, highlighting the freedom and creativity that come with embracing a more spontaneous approach to storytelling.
There are a variety of techniques and mindset shifts necessary for successful discovery writing, such as relying more heavily on intuition or embracing the concept of reverse outlining, but KimBoo provides some intriguing exercises that can help writers develop these and other discovery writing skills. So whether you're a seasoned plotter looking to incorporate more spontaneity into your process or just curious about the world of pantsing and discovery writing in general, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice to enhance your writing journey.
 
KimBoo Yorkhttps://houseofyork.info/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP124: How Can Authors Define Their Target Market?

In this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into a crucial, but often overlooked aspect of author success: defining your target market. Joined by seasoned publisher and author Ann Aubitz, they explore the significance of understanding who your readers are, why it's essential to know your audience before you even start writing, and how this knowledge can shape both your writing and marketing process.
Much like advertisers invest heavily in understanding their target market, authors need to be keenly aware of who they are writing for so that they can adjust their marketing strategies to reach the right readers and create a deeper connection to them. For authors seeking ways to better target and engage with their market, the insights and ideas discussed in this episode are invaluable.
 
Ann Aubitzhttps://www.kirkhousepublishers.com/about
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP123: Embracing the Challenges of Writing Comic Books

This week on Fully Booked, we delve into the process of writing comics and graphic novels with accomplished comic writer and publisher, Adam Wilson. What began as a fun hobby of creating mini comics during his college years evolved into a full-time passion and business when Adam co-founded Read Furiously with his partner S. Atzeni, a company specializing in various forms of illustrated narratives..
Authors new to this medium will discover both similarities and differences between scripting comics and writing traditional novels, alongside unique challenges such as collaborating closely with artists to bring their stories to life while ensuring those artists are fairly compensated.
Adam provides practical advice on these topics, and many others, while also highlighting a variety of useful industry resources. With Adam's invaluable insights into navigating the various forms of visual storytelling, this episode is essential for anyone looking to embark on a career in the world of comics and graphic novels.
 
Read Furiouslyhttps://readfuriously.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP122: Is Mindset an Author's Most Valuable Asset?

What’s a self-published author’s most valuable asset? Their writing experience? Their marketing expertise? Their ability to create vivid and engaging characters? All of those attributes are undeniably important - but former Air Force fighter pilot and USA Today bestselling author Steve Pieper argues that the most important asset an author has at their disposal comes from within - their mindset.
It’s mindset that has set Steve up as a pioneer in direct sales of his self-published books, and seen him lead dozens of other authors to similar success. He argues that mindset values such as grit, determination, self-awareness, and self-belief play a pivotal role in a self-published author’s eventual success - and in this week’s episode of Fully Booked, he provides Craig and Roland with some actionable techniques that authors can use to help cultivate their own winning mindset. 
 
Steve Pieperhttps://app.stevepieper.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP121: AI and the Realities of Copyright Law

In this week's episode of Fully Booked, we explore the complicated issues around Intellectual Property (IP) laws as they collide with the advancing frontiers of artificial intelligence. Join us as seasoned IP attorney Peter Nieves walks us through the often misunderstood realm of copyright law, fair use, and the contentious landscape of AI-related legal battles. With a background rich in handling patents, trademarks, and copyrights, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge that enables him to clearly explain the technicalities and potential legal ramifications of using AI as a writing or publishing assistant in terms everyone can understand.
Our discussion covers a wide variety of related topics such as the misuse of the fair use doctrine, the nuances of parody in legal contexts, and the pivotal lawsuits shaping the future of intellectual property in the AI arena. Peter's insights are particularly timely, given the high-profile AI-related cases currently progressing through the court system, which involve complexities surrounding digital content creation. So if you're an author looking to use artificial intelligence to help with your process, this episode will equip you with the essential knowledge needed to understand the evolving landscape of IP law in the age of AI.
 
Peter Nieveshttps://nievesip.com/peter-nieves/
 
Hidden Gems
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EP120: Enhancing Author Productivity with Sudowrite

In today's episode of Fully Booked, we're diving into the future of writing by taking a look at Sudowrite, an AI-powered tool designed to transform the writing process. In the past few years, Sudowrite has grown from a small experimental tool into a revolutionary writing assistant, expanding in capabilities as the dynamic needs of modern authors change and evolve. To walk us through all that it can do, we're joined by one of its co-founders, James Yu.
James not only takes us through specifics of how Sudowrite aids authors now, such as through detailed AI brainstorming and sophisticated outlining tools, but gives us some insight into what sorts of enhancements are coming up next. We also discuss Sudowrite's credit system and how it allows writers to select from a variety of AI models to best suit their project’s needs.
Regardless of whether Sudowrite is right for you, this discussion will demonstrate how the efficiency and creativity of AI can be harnessed to aid in the writing process, while still maintaining your unique voice.
 
Sudowritehttps://www.sudowrite.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP119: Helping Author's Find Their Own Story

Have you ever considered what truly defines you beyond the highlights of your resume? This week on Fully Booked, we engage in an enlightening conversation with author and columnist Brent Olson, who regularly challenges authors to strip back the layers of accolades and academics and instead focus on the raw and personal experiences that shape their essence.
Brent's own eclectic array of life experiences reads like a series of classic one-liner Chuck Norris jokes, such as "Of the ten most dangerous jobs in America I’ve dabbled in six." While most of us lead more mundane lives, we still harbor a treasure trove of defining moments waiting to be unearthed. These experiences, once recognized, serve as the bedrock for crafting stories that resonate deeply and authentically with our audience.
As Brent explains, the trick is simply learning how to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through the power of introspection and narrative, the tales most personal to you can become the ones that echo in the hearts and minds of readers everywhere, turning your own life into a legacy of adventure.
 
Brent Olson
https://www.brentolson.online/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP118: Diversifying Your Author Income

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, we explore the concept of diversifying your income stream beyond traditional book sales with our guest, Kendra Q. Drawing on her background in HR consulting and her transition to authorship and speaking engagements, Kendra guides us through the maze of opportunities available for authors eager to transform their literary passion into multiple profitable ventures.
An alternative to juggling a traditional job with writing on the side is for authors to bolster their income through avenues such as speaking engagements, workshops, or personalized consulting services. By leveraging their unique areas of expertise in a variety of ways, authors not only have an opportunity to enhance their financial stability but may find a broader audience for their writing. So if you're looking to expand your horizons and discover new ways to thrive in the competitive world of self-publishing, Kendra's tips can provide ideas and inspiration for monetizing your talents in ways you may never have imagined.
 
Kendra Qhttps://kendraqdodd.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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All episode details and links: 
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