Everything Is Storytelling

In this episode, we'll explore an idea that's been growing over the past ten years: Is self-publishing your novel a shortcut to getting a big book deal? Without having to deal with the search for an agent? Especially with self-pub success stories like "The Martian," "The Atlas Six," and even "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" being used as examples, aspiring authors need to...

In this video, I do a real-time developmental edit of the world's WORST book...a book I started back in high school 20 years ago and never finished. You'll see what developmental editing actually looks like (hint: it's not about typos), and the kind of notes and feedback you can expect from a developmental editor. Except hopefully your editor is nicer to you than I am to myself. Resour...

Early in my editing career, an author's greatest fear happened to us...someone stole my wife's book idea and created their own version to sell. In this video, I'll take you behind-the-scenes of how the situation played out (you'll NEVER guess...), what we learned about protecting your IP and copyright, how to respond to idea theft, and how YOU can protect your own book. Resources f...

More and more, publishers [and readers] are using AI detection tools to "AI check" books. But can we trust those tools? Especially when classic books that pre-date AI are showing up as "AI generated"?In this episode, Jonathan explains the real story of what is happening with AI checkers, revisits the Mia Ballard / Shy Girl controversy that made headlines earlier this year when...

What if there was a secret way to reverse-engineer a book deal for yourself? Turns out there is...and few aspiring authors use the reverse-engineering method. Jonathan Jordan, an award-winning book coach and ghostwriter, demonstrates this secret method that uses Publishers Marketplace data and a good ol' fashioned spreadsheet to identify the right acquisitions editors for your book and the age...

In this webinar designed for aspiring authors (especially nonfiction authors), you'll learn: The 3 main paths to publishing a book The Good, The Bad, and The Gray of each path What you need to succeed with each path A fourth not-so-secret path (that you should be doing NOW) Common scams to watch out for And some dirty, dirty secrets about publishing Resources for writers like you at ⁠ForWordWr...

Have you ever struggled with how to be vulnerable in your content without crossing a line? Well, good news—this episode is going to give you a solution. The bad news? You’re going to have to talk about your mistakes. Because even the mistake you regret the most is storytelling. Resources for writers like you at ⁠ForWordWriting.com⁠ Get a free personalized 30-day book marketing plan at ⁠ForWord.io⁠...

Have you ever felt like you've made so many mistakes in life that you can’t move forward? Like your whole life story needs to be tossed in the trash and rewritten? If so, guest Brittany Young is going to show you the powerful way that she took her mistakes and used them to rewrite her Story—and how she’s helping others rewrite their stories. Because even our mistakes … are storytelling. Connect wi...

What do you do when you don’t have firsthand experience with a problem? Or even if you do, how can you provide external proof of the idea you’re sharing with your audience? In this episode, we’re continuing the series on the 5 Story Types with Story Type #3: Case Studies. We'll discuss how case studies let you "borrow" someone else's story to bolster your ideas and add variety to your storytelling...

Have you ever been through a painful experience like being laid off from a job? But what if that painful experience led you into a community that you can grow with and add value to? That’s exactly what our guest Laura Krauss is doing through her book The Layoff Cooties: It's Them Not You and the community she's built for others who have gone through the experience of being laid off. Because commun...

You've been told to start with Why. Instead, start with Story. In this special episode, host Jonathan Jordan provides a preview of the audiobook for his new book "Start With Story." Resources for writers like you at ⁠ForWordWriting.com⁠ Get a free personalized 30-day book marketing plan at ⁠ForWord.io⁠ Show Notes Order Jonathan's book Start With Story Subscribe to the show's...

Have you ever wondered why some people can communicate more clearly than others? Is clarity a natural gift? Or is it cultivated? Today’s guest, Adam Knorr, is helping people learn how to monetize clarity in their message. Because in a world where everyone wants to stand out, the key isn’t to be clever, it’s to be clear. So if you’re stuck in the war of Clever vs. Clear in your communication and yo...

Have you ever had the problem of not knowing what stories to share with the world about what you do? Well, what if I told you the solution to that problem is actually finding another problem? In this second part of the series about the 5 Story Types, we take a closer look at Problem-Solution stories and how they effectively allow you to share your ideas, offer proof, build rapport, and asset your...

What would it look like to create a subplot for your life? And how could it enrich your main Story? If you’re a driven individual, I bet you struggle with making space for subplots—pursuits unrelated to your work. But today’s guest Charlie Daly is a bestselling ghostwriter on a quest to kayak the entirety of Ireland. And he shares about how his love of the sea enriches his life and makes him a bet...

Have you ever felt like you don’t have enough stories? With a little observation, you’ll find stories all around you. In this first part of a multipart series about the 5 Story Types, we’ll dive into Personal Anecdotes: Why they’re so powerful, how to identify them, and how to infuse them with purpose. Show Notes Subscribe to the show's ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ Connect on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Learn more at Wordro...

Have you ever looked at someone and said, “How are they so freakin’ positive?” Or maybe like me you’ve been called a “Debbie Downer” a few times. Or maybe you’re skeptical about the power of positivity. If so, then I'm positive this episode is for you. Life coach Sara Schroeder brings you a daily dose of sunshine, discussing the power of positive thinking and how it helps rewrite your story. M...

How do you define the word “Story”? And what does it mean to be a Storyteller? Most people have too narrow a view of Story and Storytelling, leading them to say, "I'm not a natural storyteller." Host Jonathan Jordan busts through those objections by redefining Story so you can unleash your Inner Storyteller. Show Notes: Unleash your Inner Storyteller with Jonathan's book Start wi...

Has anyone ever said, "Hey, you should write a book?” And maybe that made you feel good for a second and maybe you even started…but then you got stuck. And you didn’t know how to finish what you started? If so, author and ghostwriter Jordan Ring is going to be able to offer you some simple, actionable steps on how to transform your book idea into action. And even if you’re not writing a book, you...

You've heard that "storytelling is everything." But what if everything is storytelling? What kind of impact could we make if we were to unleash our Inner Storytellers and leverage the power of Story in every aspect of life? Jonathan Jordan, your storytelling coach, introduces the idea behind the show. Show Notes Subscribe to the show's Substack Connect on LinkedIn Learn more at W...

A podcast that helps authors move their writing forward, whether they are still refining the idea or want to improve their book marketing strategy. Show Notes Subscribe to the show's Substack Connect on LinkedIn Learn more at ForWord Writing Watch on YouTube