Productive Insights Podcasts

070. Valerie Khoo — Founder Of The Australian Writers Centre On Power Stories (And The 8 Stories You Must Tell)

Written by Ash Roy | Mar 26, 2016 5:47:43 AM

Power Stories (And The 8 Stories You Must Tell) with Valerie Khoo — Founder Of The Australian Writers Centre

Valerie Khoo is the founder of the Australian Writers Centre. She’s an award-winning feature writer who has been writing for Fairfax digital, a prominent Australian Media Company for several.

Her articles appear regularly in The Sydney Morning Herald, and she’s also the author of 6 books. Her latest book is Power Stories; the eight stories you must tell to build an epic business.

Valerie mentors feature writers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders who want to showcase their expertise in their own business.

She was also the features director for Cleo, and her work has appeared in publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, The Age Warriors, Silver Chris, and many more leading publications.

Like me, she’s a former accountant but switched careers many years ago when she finally gave in to her passion for writing.

Related / Mentioned Podcast Episodes:

Key Points (Timestamps)

00:37 — Intro and overview
01:51 — Valerie’s views on role of writing in business success and Entrepreneurship
02:47 — Writing underpins video content or audio content (to create structure).
03:03 — ‘It’s important to understand the difference between good writing and someone who just strings sentences together.’ – Valerie Khoo
03:27 — Why a good quality headline is absolutely critical to success as a writer
05:52— Valerie Khoo’s view on the power of stories and how they can transform businesses
07:31 — While data may be king, it’s the story that frames the data which makes a real impact.
08:22 — “The data connects with the head, it’s actually stories that connect with the heart.” — Valerie Khoo on the power of stories
10:20 — Storytelling is part of our DNA and has played a key role in transfer of knowledge (and survival of our species) through generations.
11:54 — How the internet has made us a lot less discerning about our storytelling skills
13:07 — “When you get someone’s attention, it’s important to treat it with the respect it deserves.” – Ash Roy
13:39 — Biggest challenges to get started with writing and creating contents
14:24 — “Everyone can write. Absolutely, everyone can write.” — Valerie Khoo
15:52 — If you want to have a copywriter, hire them on an ongoing basis so they can get to know your business, it’s voice and values.
16:40 — Why it’s a good idea to avoid ‘weasel words’ and MBA speak when writing
17:40 — When it comes to writing, simplicity is key. Clarity trumps cleverness every time.
18:42 — What business owners often don’t realise is that they have decades of experience to draw upon when it comes to writing a book about their area of expertise.
19:49 — The secrets to writing faster and more effectively (and overcoming writer’s block)
21:06 — How to use mind maps to write more effectively
23:09 — Ash’s favorite mind mapping tool at the moment: iThoughtsX
23:50 — Action steps you can take to get you going with your writing habit
24:29 — The importance of journaling when it comes to building a writing habit
29:20 — The 8 stories you must tell to build an epic business (your passion story, your business story, your customer story and more)
31:24 — The most common mistakes people make on their about page and how to write it in the most effective way
32:58 — Books that had biggest impact on Valerie and why
34:28 — How Valerie Khoo actually reads books by various authors
35:40 — Valerie Khoo’s view on book summary services like Blinkist
37:44 — Tips and suggestions for business owners who are interested in writing a business book or getting a book published