Really Did Run Away With The Circus...
Vicky Fraser helps shy but fabulous business owners write life-changing books so they stand out like a flamingo at a penguin party
Hey, I'm Vicky, author of How The Hell Do You Write A Book? I'm also a podcaster, writing teacher and indie-publishing champion, trapeze artist and pole dancer, cartoonist of questionable quality, and herder of TinySheeps, chickens, and cats.
I'm a collector of small, cute animals, too many books, horrifying bruises, inappropriate facial expressions, and colourful socks.
And I did, in fact, run away with the circus. Kind of.
My goal is to help at least 1,000 business owners write better books, not just bang one out in a weekend.
This is Kernic. And me. (I do brush my hair occasionally.)
Author, Business Owner, Dork
Here's my official bio, written in the third person so I feel like less of a dork:
Vicky Fraser is the founder of Moxie Books and author of How The Hell Do You Write A Book? and Business For Superheroes. She helps business owners write books, connect with readers and new customers, and grow their businesses.
She’s ghostwritten, edited, and launched books for some of the UK’s most successful business owners – and has coached many more business owners to write and market their own books (even though they didn't believe they could do so).
Vicky started life as a direct response copywriter – she had to persuade people to buy stuff using only words – so she knows how to help you sell your book after you've written it. In working with hundreds of business owners and authors from a wide range of industries, Vicky has learned and practised the secrets behind writing and marketing a successful book. She teaches strategy and technique through her website and podcast.
FAQs
Phew. Now that's out of the way, here are the answers to some of the questions I get asked most often.
What does "moxie" mean?
I’ve adopted the word moxie* for my business because it perfectly sums up what a book can do for you and to you. One definition of moxie is “force of character, determination, or nerve”. That's true, I guess. But it's not very colourful.
A better definition of the word "moxie" comes from Kurt Vonnegut. He once had a student called Daniel Gleason. Well, I say "had a student". What actually happened was Gleason turned up in Vonnegut's classes despite not being enrolled, and refused to leave.
Vonnegut knew, of course, that Gleason wasn't supposed to be in his class. But he let him stay because, as he put it, "I liked your moxie."
So, for me, moxie is a refusal to be unseen, unheard, and unread.
If you look at any great writer (or creative), you'll find they had moxie. They simply refused to give in, go away, and be quiet.
Will you?
*Did you know the word moxie became popular in the 1930s as the name of a fizzy soft drink? It’s still popular today in New England and Houston, Texas. It came to mean “courage” because, in 1876, it was patented as a medicine called Moxie Nerve Food.
Can I really write a book? I'm not a writer!
Yes. Yes you can. And guess what? If you write, you are a writer! Writers write.
Seriously, though: I’ve made all the same excuses as you for not writing a book, including one that makes me feel sad: “I’m not really making a difference in the world.” You are. I promise you, you are. Even if you can’t see the impact you’re having right now, it’s there.
And as for not being a writer: like any other skill, it takes practice. You can learn to write well. Which is what I'm here for.
Are you a ghostwriter for other business owners?
Yep: that is one of the services I offer. Mostly, though, I coach business owners to write their own books.
Who have you ghostwritten for?
If I told you that, I'd have to launch you into space on a home-made rocket.
Will you ghostwrite my book for me?
Maybe. My waiting list is currently 12 months, though, and my ghostwriting fees start at £20,000 + VAT. Most business owners are very capable of writing their own books with guidance.
Oh. Okay. How long will it take me to write and publish my book?
Depends how much time you put aside to do it. But if you're here looking for help to bang out a book in a weekend or even a week, you're in the wrong place. I am not the circus freak for you.
There are people out there who can help you bang out a fast book in double-quick time, and they will do a good job.
But that's not what I'm here for. I want to stick a spoon in the spokes of filler-books-as-a-business-card and help business owners write the best book they're capable of writing. I want to raise the standard of non-fiction books and help you create something that will change your readers' lives. That takes a little longer, but it's worth it.
Did you really run away with the circus?
Yes. Well, kind of. Not in a traditional travelling circus spit-and-sawdust way – but I have performed on the trapeze in a big top. And I spend at least four days per week training on the trapeze and pole dancing. So, yes.
That's me. On a trapeze. In a dress.
24 Things About Me
Oh, what's that? You want to know more about the me lurking behind the business? The no-make-up, socially awkward introvert? Fine. Here are 24 Things About Me.
- I started out as a direct response copywriter and marketing bod, so when I tell you I can help you sell and market your book, I’m not bullshitting you. (I’ve spent years not just learning from the masters, but writing sales copy that gets results for me and my clients.)
- I love, love, LOVE helping business owners gain the confidence to be more bloody interesting—and seeing them tell their stories in their books.
- I’ve been pole dancing for more than 12 years—and, yes, I do the exotic stripper-style proudly (and often ineptly), mo-fos.
- I love my cats more than is socially acceptable.
- Ditto, my TinySheeps and my Beaky-Face chickens and Maisie Snake Fantastico.
- Ditto, cheese and gin. I have more half-drunk bottles of gin than you can shake a stick at.
- My addiction to buying books and leggings is totally under control.
- I have a short hairtenntion span (it’s currently blue and silver). Look, when you have feathers instead of hair, you have to make the best of what you have.
- I send an email to my email list subscribers every single day—and my emails make me money (if you want to sell and use your book, you should do this too. Ask me how).
- When I decided struggling and working 18-hour days and having no weekends sucked big hairy donkey balls, it took me just six months to make my first £100k. I’m pretty damn proud of that because it means we’re now living in our dream cottage in the country. The only downside is, we can often see the outside through the walls. And I don’t mean through the windows.
- Random ability: I can read and write ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs (although I’m a little rusty these days).
- I once made Drayton Bird scream (true story—ask him). And that led to an exciting opportunity…
- I once rendered Dan Kennedy speechless for a few moments (also a true story).
- I’m learning to draw cartoons, and I’m occasionally competent at it (I started cartooning so I could illustrate my own blogs, articles, books, and other marketing gubbins).
- Once, when I was a teenager, I was in a band. We played at a pub, and they gave us free drinks. We drank so many free drinks, they cancelled our next gig and banned us.
- My aim in life is to accept only excellence from myself. Occasionally I fall short because I’m human.
- If you touch or attempt to touch my belly button, I will cut you (it’s nothing personal, it’s a reflex reaction: google omphalophobia).
- I love words. Love them. Love the feel of them as they roll around in my mouth and the sound of them as they caress my eardrums. I love how they go together, of course, and the things you can do with them… but I love the words themselves.
- I am learning patience through growing my own vegetables (did you know you can’t harvest asparagus for the first two years?)
- I have discovered that “nice” isn’t valuable or helpful… but kindness and grace will get you a very long way.
- I live by JFDI (just fecking do it). Sometimes more forethought would be helpful.
- I spend more time than is probably sensible or sane working on my Zombie Plan (look, you never know what’s around the corner, okay?)
- One of life’s tiny pleasures, for me, is putting on socks in the wind. It’s like a hug for your feet.
- At the age of 40, I finally fulfilled my childhood dream and started playing Dungeons & Dragons with a group of nerds I love. My character is currently Farench. From Feranss.
So now you know more about me than you probably ever wished to. Sorry. I’d like to know all about you now.
Tell me your story.
Write it in your book.
Share it with the world.
People are interested, I promise. Start here.
Write Your Book. Start Today.
Grab How The Hell Do You Write A Book? now.
