logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
58m 14s

Telling Stories and Creating Legacies wi...

Sarah Archer: Speaker, Comedian, Author, Playwright and Coach
About this episode

As you may know in addition to teaching people how to become awesome speakers, I am a writer, and that’s how I first discovered Jo Gatford.

I was writing my second play, and needed some concentrated time to focus on getting it written, queue Writers HQ.

Jo Gatford is an award-winning writer of short and long fiction and the co-founder of Writers' HQ. It’s an organisation dedicated to providing low-cost writing courses and resources to arse-kicking writers with no time or money.  In the past five years Writers' HQ has given away over £10,000 of writing courses and retreats to under-represented and systemically excluded writers, and seen hundreds of students go on to be published and win prestigious literary prizes!

Jo has worked as an editor and copywriter for over 15 years and has been teaching creative writing workshops for almost a decade. 

You’ll probably be aware that the best talks are full of stories, and in this show Jo is sharing her thoughts on storytelling, what can get in the way of creation, as well as a few tips and hacks to get your stories moving.

Enjoy!

What you’ll discover:

  • How Jo became a writer. 
  • What inspired Jo to write her first novel, "White Lies" and what challenges she had to overcome whilst writing it. 

  • How the process of writing a short story differs from writing a longer piece.

  • Some of the common pitfalls or challenges that storytellers often face.

  • Tips for making your story work. 

  • How to ensure maximum productivity and focus whilst doing creative work.

  • What Writers HQ is and how it could help you realise your writing dreams!

 

All things Jo:

https://writershq.co.uk

https://www.jogatford.com

 

WRITERS' HQ:

Twitter: @writers_hq

Facebook /writershq

Instagram @writershq

 

Jo Gatford:

Twitter: @jmgatford

 

Books & Resources*:

The dog of The Marriage by Amy Hempel

 

Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Get a Powerful Talk Structure - Join the Masterclass

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Practice your speaking & test your content in a safe space in The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership

Want to create a signature talk that sells, then check out our Nail Your Signature Talk in 60 Days programme

Want to find out about working with me 121 then book a call here.

https://www.saraharcher.co.uk

 

Thanks for listening!

 

To share your thoughts:                                                  

  • Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

 

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

 

Up next
Jun 26
[Quick Tip] Judging 55 Speakers: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - 320
In this quick tip episode, I’m lifting the lid on how a speaking judge thinks and giving you the good, the bad and the ugly based on judging 55 speaker award entries … in one sitting (yes, I needed snacks!) I was honoured to be a judge for the Speaker Awards again this year, cove ... Show More
19m 35s
Jun 20
Beyond ‘Good’: Creating Client Experiences That Stick in an AI World with Steven Van Belleghem - 319
The business world is changing fast. AI is reshaping how customers search, buy, and connect — but most companies are still stuck in old habits, missing the human magic that actually builds loyalty. At the same time, too many businesses are confusing efficiency with excellence. Th ... Show More
1h 4m
Apr 10
Style That Speaks: How to Dress for Impact on Stage with Kay Korsh - 318
Let’s be honest — most speakers spend a lot of time crafting their talk, but when it comes to what they wear on stage? That’s often a rushed afterthought… or a full-blown panic. Are you second-guessing whether your outfit actually helps or hinders your message? Ever watched back ... Show More
1h 2m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2022
TCC Podcast #297: How to Write and Publish a Book with Mary Adkins
Our guest for the 297th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast is Mary Adkins. Mary is an author and writing coach who helps her clients start and publish a book. She walks through her process to writing her first book and how she’s gone on to publish three. This episode is the j ... Show More
1h 8m
Oct 2021
277 - The Best Writing Advice I’ve Ever Heard: 7 Famous Authors Share Their Secrets
Want to “make it” as a writer? In this episode, seven best-selling authors share the writing advice that helped them collectively write and publish 70 books and 28 bestsellers. Listen for over 100 years of writing experience boiled into bite-sized lessons that’ll help you blast t ... Show More
22m 59s
May 2023
The Keys to the Writing Kingdom: Effortless Content Creation
Creating compelling content that keeps readers engaged throughout a book is a challenge all writers face. It can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. As an experienced writer, I always believe that stories are a great way to captivate people. It’s essential to not o ... Show More
10m 28s
Nov 2023
155. Top Copywriting Advice from Working Copywriters
We’ve had the pleasure of hearing some truly remarkable stories and transformations from the students inside our Comprehensive Copywriting Academy. In this special episode, we’re giving you a roundup of some of the very best advice from our CCA students and working copywriters. W ... Show More
46m 31s
Oct 2022
SLP 227: Uncovering Your Voice and Sharing Your Story with Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane
‘So, I was looking at another way that I could use my skillset and use my passion for telling stories and self-publishing. And the world of books is just going absolutely gang-busters. I think I saw some stats the other day that book sales of self-published authors around the wor ... Show More
1h 20m
Mar 2023
TCC Podcast #336: Research, Writing, and His Go-to Lead with John Forde
John Forde is a direct-response copywriter and co-author of the book, Great Leads and the person behind the long-running newsletter called the Copywriter’s Roundtable. John shared his process for getting started with research and copy and the lessons he’s learned from his 23-year ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2022
How To Start Writing (w/ Anna Quindlen & John Dickerson)
You’ve probably heard about the importance of journaling, putting thoughts on paper to help process the daily vicissitudes of life. But it’s easy to stall once you see a blank page or get self conscious about what exactly you’re writing. On this episode of How To!, we bring toget ... Show More
39m 27s
Feb 2021
COPYWRITER 001: How to become a highly paid copywriter
What is copywriting? Why are so many people interested in becoming one? What does it take to become a successful copywriter? Is it possible to make a living from copywriting? How can you get started as a freelance or ad agency copywriter? In this episode, Valerie Khoo, CEO of the ... Show More
39m 39s
Nov 2019
TCC Podcast #163: Accomplishing Bigger Goals with Sarah Henson
Email copywriter Sarah Henson is our guest for the 163rd episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. We first met Sarah a couple of years ago (at a copywriter conference) and have seen her make big changes in her business in the past year as a member of The Copywriter Think Tank. We ... Show More
52m 58s
Jan 2023
BE 48: Why Verb Choice Matters in Business English Writing with Erin Lebacqz
Follow the All Ears English Podcast for more episodes with Lindsay and Michelle. Emotional Intelligence is a major factor in your business success in spoken English but how can you also display it in your emails? Find out today with writing coach Erin LebacqzGet more episodes fro ... Show More
20m 40s