BONUS! Episode #38.5 Jen's Complete NaNoWriMo Journey

A special bonus episode featuring Jen's meanderings as she attempted NaNoWriMo 2019. It's not a surprise that she did actually complete it, as we put the episodes up weekly, but if you missed them or fancy immersing yourself in the NaNoWriMo world this is the podcast for you!

Jen challenged herself to write a brand new novel over the course of November. That means 50,000 words. It was, as she finds out, a challenge. That is why they call it a challenge. Join her in an audio diary to find out exactly how many words she managed to write each day and her struggles with procrastination and plot lines.

There's also a lot of maths talk, and working out how many words Jen has written that day and how much she needs to do to complete it on time, but if you get over that bit and get to the points where it seems like she's losing her mind* it's a lot of fun. We find out what procrastination-busting methods work best and how to motivate yourself to keep writing under pressure.

Also this episode:

• Mayonnaise pixies!
• Questions from Marc!
• Fried croutons!
• Hypnotherapist cheating!
• Boo barks!

*No minds were lost in the recording of this podcast.

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #38: Friends Reunited

In our first episode of 2020, and our first one together FOR AGES, Jenni and Marc talk about what we've been up to. We chat about Jen's NaNoWriMo achievement, what else we've done over the end of 2019 and what books and other sources of inspiration we've found lately. And then we talk a lot about puddings.

Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...

We're back, bright and breezy for a new decade of writing talk! In this episode we discuss Jenni's approach to NaNoWriMo, the motivational techniques and how it feels to actually finish a book. NaNoWriMo, and especially the appy-tool website thing, was a real advantage to setting a challenge and completing it and we recommend it to all budding writers. Then we talk editing and next steps, as well as Jen's problematic title (warning, there is a BIG swear in there).

There's also some chit chat about books we've loved recently, how Michelle Obama and Marc are practically twins and Marc's adventures into networking and being a start up. Then the real reason for the podcast - we work out what puddings and how many are appropriate for Christmas Dinner. What's the deal with trifle anyway?

Also this episode -

• The campaign for Jen to narrate her own audiobook starts here
• We rate Michelle Obama's Becoming, Nadiya Hussain's Finding My Voice and Dawn O'Porter's So Lucky
• Audiobooks vs real books (again)
• A good old wartime adventure romp - John Buchan's The Thirty-Nine Steps
• Are we doing Dry January? Uh, no.

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #37: NaNoWriMo 2019... Part Four

Not to give anything away but... Jenni finished her book! Yes, find out how if feels to write 50,000 words in 30 days and only slightly lose your mind. Join us for the final stretch, as tensions are high and time is running out.

If you're writing a novel this month for NaNoWriMo, you can follow Jenni as JenniPOW at NaNoWriMo

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #36: NaNoWriMo 2019... Part Three

It's week three of NaNoWriMo and it's full on writing time for Jen.

If you're writing a novel this month for NaNoWriMo, you can follow Jenni as JenniPOW at NaNoWriMo

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #35: NaNoWriMo 2019... Part two

It's week two of NaNoWriMo so join Jenni as she has a little breakdown and gets hysterical over mayonnaise pixies.

It's a week of highs and lows, peaks and troughs, 6,000 words one day and 0 the next. Jen talks about how she's finding the challenge and how difficult it is to explain the plot to people without feeling a bit stupid and embarrassed. She is also begins to work out what writing and motivational strategies work for her, with great results and how to start getting the most out of defined writing times.

If you're writing a novel this month for NaNoWriMo, you can follow Jenni as JenniPOW at NaNoWriMo

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #33: The POWer of the Workspace

While Jenni only cleans her desk when she gets told off by her cleaner, and Marc settles into his brand new tailor-made studio workspace, we talk about the impact that your workspace has on your productivity and creativity.

Listen to us on

> iTunes

> Stitcher

> Spotify

> Acast

or right here...

Looking after and improving your environment is an extension of self-care, and will help you not only avoid procrastination but also being called Mr Treebus (if you don’t know who Mr Treebus is, all is explained in the episode). It makes an impact on your state of mind and when you feel good about where you are, you’re bound to create some amazing things.

We chat about dream workspaces – and they are pretty fantastical, lovely smells, what you can do to make your workspace better, routines and much more. And then we start talking about the Muppets and the new Harry Potter game.

Also this episode:

• Marc makes a stand about excess packaging
• Jenni’s candle recommendations – Emporio Green Army
• Christmas Day viewing and essential Christmas Eve/Day movies

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #32: 5 Ways to Find Inspiration

This episode we’re discussing motivation and how to find inspiration!

What are your quick go-to points of inspiration?

What are the tools you always have on hand to fire up your brain and fuel your creativity?




Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...




Marc talks about the music, and the different types of music, he listens to to help his creativity. To get Jenni focused, she uses podcasts (even if she isn’t really listening to them). We discuss how music can set the mood of what you’re writing, free writing, exercising your brain (and your hands/wrists!) and more.

We also explore how important self-care is for keeping you inspired and motivated, something that is very easily forgotten about. The practical aspects of motivation, avoiding procrastination, confronting your fear of failure and making the tasks you have to do work for you in terms of simplicity are also covered. There's a mad tangent where Jenni creates a new phrase ‘deadlining yourself out’ which is sure to catch on, and is basically just creating lists, priorities and deadlines to motivate yourself, and then we make up some weird anthropomorphic characters that are based on keyboard buttons and it goes a bit strange. Enjoy!

Also this episode:

• Can you watch TV (well, Project Runway) while being creative?
• Jen does her best Norbert impression
• Philippa Perry ‘The Book You Wish Your Parents Read’ and Fearne Cotton’s podcast ‘Happy Place’
• Who should play Ursula in The Little Mermaid? Should actors be representative of the parts they play?
• Jenni on the radio!
• Imogen Heap and Lizzo

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #31: Therapy for Procrastinators

Focusing on procrastination and taking on a new angle for this episode, we look at new directions, career paths and how we (well, Jen) could be avoiding big decisions by generally just faffing about.

Listen to us on

> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...



What would you do if you could do it all again? Would you make different choices?

Jen is very interested in career changes and how people turn their lives in different directions. As someone who’s been in the same sort of job since uni, she’s fascinated about the reasoning and decision making that goes into changing your life completely.

We delve deep into the reasons why Marc has changed from his childhood dreams to be an animator, 

to his new print making and design business – MarcoLooks. Marc also tries to pin down the theorectical ‘Jennifer’ (not based on Jen in any way) on what she wants to do next.

We also discuss the difference between having these thoughts and conversations and then actually taking some action, and the fear of failure behind it. Marc goes into full on therapy-mode to ‘Jennifer’ (not a real person at all) for a really thought-provoking podcast.


Also in this episode

• We miss drinking while recording
• Catch up with the fantastic Esther Fairfax and Jenifer Klepfler interview
• The well known ‘Cobbler’s children’s shoes’ analogy (a little bit better explained here)
• Find out what Marc really wanted to be when he grew up!
• It gets extremely deep and we ask some tough questions for our made up persona "Jennifer' (again, this is a fictional person).
• That Tick Tock song.

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK

Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com

Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes


Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes


If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #28: Interview with Chris Billingham

This episode Jenni talks to Chris Billingham, one of our favourite people and a writer of many things.

We talk about how it's different writing with a partner, how to increase the diversity in our work, procrastination, deadlines, expectations and even term a band new writing phrase - 'percolation'.


Listen to us on
> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...



Chris Billingham has written three plays, a web series, two short films and won at least two awards. This means he is an 'award winning writer', although he doesn't like us saying that at all. He's a fantastically proficient writer, as well as having a proper job and having two/three podcasts with podcast partner Dan Doolan.

All the details for Chris's work will be below, so please check it out. We talk about the process of writing and how we write and plan plots (or not!), the importance and potential drawbacks of deadlines, how you should write for characters that don't fit your own gender, race or sexuality and also Chris's background in screenwriting.

Also...

• Jenni's laptop died on the first attempt of this interview so listen to us try to remember what we said the first time round
• How we wasted the opportunities of our uni years
• Chris's percolation process
• Using our lovely supportive partners as procrastination excuses
• Our daydreams of musical stardom and Jenni's failed band experience
• Actual kisses (and some stripping) on stage

If you want to find out more about Chris's writing and podcasting...

• Go With Him - AWARD WINNING Short film (Written and directed by Chris Billingham, produced by James Watts and Chris Billingham)
• I Did - Short film (Written by Chris Billingham, produced and directed by James Watts)
• Sneaking into the Theatre - Trailer (Written by Chris Billingham). Jenni is in this but thankfully not in her underwear.
• Nothing But Static - YouTube channel and podcast. Also on Twitter @Nothinbutstatic
• Steven University podcast
• Writing Space - TV Pilot Edit

Thanks to our sponsor, BadFish - use offer code POW for 10% off

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #27: PomoMARCHo! Setting Creative Goals

Join us for a little catch up episode where we check in on each other and how we’re doing, motivation-wise.

We can’t remember what number episode we’re on (is it any wonder with the amount of bonus episodes we’re knocking out?) but we are back to plot out our creative adventures.

Listen to us on
> iTunes
> Stitcher
> Spotify
> Acast

or right here...



We’ve come up against a strange sort of writer’s block when it comes down to finishing our book, so we talk through how writing letters from their characters has given us a push to get into the next phase of novel writing. We then set Jenni up on PomoMarcho where she’ll be writing 25 minutes a day for the rest of March in a bid to get lots of lovely words in. Marc will then use his holiday time, once he’s finished being all creative on his other projects, to take a look at our latest draft.

Will we achieve our Italian-sauce based goals? Will Jenni’s family get bored with constant pasta dinners?

Also...

• Jenni looks angelic briefly, which is not helpful on a podcast
• We uncover a massive problem with the POW logo
• Some book recommendations based on old people – An Unsuitable Match by Joanna Trollope and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fryby Rachel Joyce “If you like old people, you’d like it.”
• ‘Drag Race for Painters’ – Landscape Artist of the Year
• Old People TV! Great News on Netflix and Hold the Sunset on BBC
• The Screenwriting free course (plus loads of others) on FutureLearn

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

Check out Jen's 2018 booklist

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #20: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome?

This episode we talk about perception and impostor syndrome! 

A chance convo with a mystery someone got Jenni thinking about perception, and how what we think other people think about us can affect our motivation. 

Listen to the episode on

• on iTunes
• on Stitcher
• on Spotify
• on Acast

or on Libsyn, right here...

 

Do you worry about what your parents, significant other, or friends think about your life choices? As a creative person who might not be bringing in the big bucks, this can be an issue, so we can talk about how we can tackle this. 

Jenni and Marc discuss unrealistic expectations – not everyone is going to write a best selling book or win an Oscar – and how we impose our standards on other people’s expectations. There’s also impostor syndrome – have you ever felt like you don’t belong beside your peers? There’s chat about the types of impostor syndrome and how you can overcome these feelings to motivate yourself to achieve more.

It’s a deep old chat for us, as we delve deep into what we expect from our children, our families and ourselves and how these change as we grow, so join us as we unravel our brains just for you!

What else have we learnt this episode?

• Even the little things that you achieve can have a big impact on others without you knowing 
• What three career choices Jenni does not want Hector to pursue
• The amazing work of York Printmakers
• If Marc was a pokemon he would be a very very small one…
• 70% of people suffer from impostor syndrome at some point in their lives
• The five different types of impostor syndrome 
• Why should you name your impostor syndrome?

Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK

Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com

Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Episode #19: A Sit Down with Janu Miah

This episode we talk to Janu Miah, a leadership and organisational development specialist, about rewards and motivation.

How can we use rewards to get ourselves out of procrastination holes? Jan guides us towards better uses of our time and how our minds work.




Listen to the episode on

• on iTunes
• on Stitcher
• on Spotify
• on Acast

or on Libsyn, right here...




Marc talks to Jan about motivators, rewards and how to get things done, including some expert diving into how his mind works and just how often he picks up his phone (don’t we all?). Often we are not using our down time productively and triggers or habits mean that we end up wasting that time.

Should we be replacing the habits we don’t want with the habits that we do? Marc likes to get things done when he is pressure prompted, so that might be a more meaningful way to get things done. Jan offers some tips and advice on how to use what we know about ourselves to allow us to work more productively.

What else did we learn in this episode?

• We let the first chapter of our book out into the big wild world - squee!
• Jen doesn’t actually reward herself for anything 
• We give essential updates on both of our rollercoaster games 
• The word ‘dinglehopper’ is mentioned
• We reference the lovely Negeen Papehn, writing wonderwoman 
• Do grown ups need bribery?

Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Episode #17: Writing Retreats

We're back and better than ever in Episode #17! We talk you through our first mini writing retreat, as well as our experiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

on iTunes
on Stitcher
on Spotify
on Acast

or on Libsyn, right here...



Marc and Jenni meet up in deepest Leicestershire to go through our first few chapters. We pod directly from the beautiful retreat, and a pub near the M1, while we edit, rewrite and work through the beginning of Too Much (...apologies for the sound quality in our on-the-road-podding).

Are writing retreats useful? How do you approach them? What’s it like re-reading your first chapters, especially when a lot of them were written about 10 years ago? We cover all these points and more when we do our own mini writing retreat. As well as some plot holes, we discuss the differences in perspective and narrative in the first few chapters and how effective we thought it was.

We also talk about:

• How our book is shaping up 
• Just how BEAUTIFUL our place to meet up was (The Grange Tea Rooms in
• Markfield) 
• We mention cakes far too often 
• Is procrastination something you’re born with? The link to article Jenni mentions is here, from The Stylist 
• Turning our novel into an adult activity book 
• The productive effects of carbs 
• The shows we saw in Edinburgh, including the fantastic Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels musical, and the comedy magic show Two Ruby Knockers and One Jaded Dick, and Marc's favourite show of the Fringe, Joe Sutherland's Toxic. 
• The magical mystery tour of Edinburgh 
• Jenni's low point in Edinburgh (walking home in the rain in a Primark pac-a-mac) 
• Chris Addison's blog post about insecurity and unhappiness in the creative process

That's about it. Our next episode will be hitting your devices very soon, so keep an eye out.

Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com

Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes

If you're reading this far, maybe you have time to like and leave a review on our podcast...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Music credit: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Episode #10: The Best of POW podcast UK

That's right! It's our best bits! To celebrate our tenth episode...it's our bestest bits!

You can listen to our 10th episode right here...

or at iTunes

or Soundcloud

or now at Acast

or right here...




Thanks for joining us on our journey so far, it’s been lovely having you with us. Since we’ve been podcasting, we have over 40,000 words in our book!

Not only is this episode cram packed with our (and yours, thanks to those that sent us suggestions) favourite bits, we also review how our Jan-Wri-Cha challenge went. Or is it Wri-Jan-Mo, Na-Wri-Ja-Mo…? Who cares…but yay for the great word count… it’s looking good, guys. It’s looking good!

Since we started podcasting, some wonderful things have happened. We improved our sound quality, we got lovely tweets from fellow authors and we wrote a blurb:

 

Four lives intertwine into a tangled web of lust, deceit and betrayal

...Nice!

Also did you know Sophie Kinsella has a new book out? It’s true…!


Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK and tweet us!
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes
Join our mailing list

Music: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Please like and rate our podcast. The both of us really appreciate all your lovely support.
...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

NaWriJaMo Writing Success!

Nanny Flymo? Nanno Wrimo? Janny Whymo? Whatever you call it, and I can guarantee you will never call it any of those things, it means SUCCESS.

Let me explain. Marc and I entered the spirit of November's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, write a novel throughout the month of November, find out more here) last year but set ourselves a modest target of 5,000 words between us. We completed it, of course we did, and then we started to wonder about how targets helped our writing, and encouraged us to write more.

Procrastination often means putting something off until whenever you think the time is right (spoiler alert, the time will never be right), but with the stick over your head of however many words to write and the end of a set time period fast approaching, as well as team member who is relying on you to do your bit as they furiously find time to complete theirs... It really helps motivate you and get the job done.

With that in mind, and the Christmas period over, we set ourselves a task to write 5,000 words EACH in January. And we did it! That means we have written 10,000 words collectively over the month- how amazing is that?

The stick approach (as in the carrot and the stick) of having a goal to complete before a set time or risk the wrath of my team mate was something, but also there was the glorious carrot. In my case the carrot was tweeting how many words I'd achieved and how much closer I was to my goal, as well as catching up with Marc to see how he was doing. Both elements of motivation in force and with very impressive results and also some lovely plot development and new elements of the story.

And are we going to carry on in February? Actually no... there will be no goal word count this month, although we are setting ourselves some other challenges. We don't want this to get too easy - we'd write the book really quickly and then what would we podcast about? Huh?

Episode #9: How to Stop Procrastinating?

Welcome! It's us, Jenni and Marc! We've been friends for year...join us on our writing journey!

You can listen to our 9th episode right here...

or at iTunes

or Soundcloud

or now at Acast

or right here...




This episode includes:
- A jolly discussion on what procrastination is and ways to perceive it, to help you stop doing it! In particular, we examine a TedX Talk from Archana Murthy called An End to Procrastination...does this teach us how to stop procrastination?
- We chat about how Woebot can support your efforts to be more productive, it helps improve your mood and well being…and it’s a Facebook app!
- Starting things off though, we have a smoothie corner! Marc’s recipe: Spinach, Peach, Banana, Apple Juice, Almond Butter (any nut butter will do, just a tsp, it makes a nicer texture to drink and acts like a lil protein boost) ...and a dash of smoothie mix with turmeric or some jazz like that.
- We talk about what we’ve been doing, what we’ve been reading (A Boy Called Christmas, by Matt Haig) and Pantos! Lovely chat about Victoria Wood and her writing (Talent, Pat & Margaret, Dinner Ladies).
- Jenni laments only reading four books since Christmas (Mary Beard's Women & Power, Richard Ayoade’s The Grip of Film, Why Mummy Drinks by Gill Sims, and Sarah Millican’s How To Be Champion) whilst Marc rejoices over the return of Celebrity Big Brother!
- We have some fan feedback! …Namely from Louisa! Thanks, Louisa!
- Marc and Jenni talk about Ready, Set, Novel - an awesome, awesome book that helps you write your novel. Highly recommended if you're writing your own book.

Things we’ve learnt from recording episode 9 of POW podcast UK:
- Jenni has a Cock Jacques revelation and likes mixers with her bubbly
- Marc escapades as a wannabe sommelier and likes his wines deep
- Good news, Drag Race fan! All Stars 3 will be broadcast over here in the UK (…it will be on Comedy Central)
- Did YOU know you could buy a bootleg gig at your local market...yes, on an actual cassette tape!
- How to make an awesome pomodoro sauce!

Today’s management meeting has hated being part of Dry January…don’t even get us started on the silliness of Veganuary.

Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK and tweet us some drink suggestions
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Find all our episodes: Pow Podcast UK Episodes
Join our mailing list

Music: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Look out for EPISODE 10 of Procrastinate or Write! We have a special edition BEST OF, to celebrate our tenth episode, awwwww!

Please like and rate our podcast. The both of us really appreciate all your lovely support.
...also, don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with all our latest news.

Episode #8: CHRISTMAS! With Special Guest, Gemma!

We are Jenni and Marc, we have been friends for years and we’re writing a book…join us on our journey…It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid…we’re here!



This episode includes:
- Our guest (and friend of the show) we discuss motivation techniques used in schools, managing your time, the importance of a digital detox and why it’s important to elevate the quality of your work and life balance...but who is Granny Flymo?
- We talk about listening to "white noise" on youtube to help productivity
- We talk achievement chains!
- We talk feedback - do we need feedback from an audience yet? Would you like to read what we’ve written so far?
- We talk about Ed Catmull's Creativity Inc and Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass
- Hear us reminisce about our teenager days and where we used to shop (…you’re welcome)
- Christmas lists…namely Tom Hanks new book and the new Harry Potter books from the British Library (Harry Potter A History of Magic and Harry Potter, a Journey Through the History of Magic). How Not to Be a Boy by Robert Webb (you can find Richard Herring’s interview with Robert Webb here). Pete Tong’s Philharmonic album. Richard Ayoade’s Book, the Grip of Film. Mary Beard’s Women on Power. Pitch Perfect.

Things we’ve learnt from recording episode 8 of POW podcast UK:
- Since we’ve started podcasting we have added 13,000 to our book. So far, as we draw to the end of 2017, we are at a total word count of 31,000 - yessssss!
- As well as being a superstar young person educator, Gemma is also part of a sensational acapella singing group - follow them at @avenue_acapella
- We learn that Jessie J’s “Man with the Bag” is a silly song
- We learn Jenni’s vomit related stories
- If you want to find the facebook group “Writing About Writing”, you can find it here.

Today’s management meeting is supported by festive drinks (namely Snowballs and Cinnamon&Vanilla Baileys)

Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK and tweet us some drink suggestions
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Visit our website at: powpodcastuk.blogspot.co.uk
Support our podcast by “buying us a beer”

Music:"Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Please like and rate our podcast. The both of us really appreciate all your lovely support.

Episode #7: Our Survey Says...

Welcome to Procrastinate or Write!

Its our survey episode! A few weeks back, you may recall taking part in our survey about the things that make YOU procrastinate and what you do to stop...well here are the results...and that's not all...this is the very first time, in POWpodcastUK history, that an episode has been recorded with Jenni and Marc being in the same room...we think you'll agree it's a marvellous joy to put upon your ears!

We are helped by coffee and the antics of Jen's beautiful dog, Boo. As well as the survey, we discuss writing fanzines and have a good old catch up! Enjoy!

Take a listen HERE...



or at iTunes

or Soundcloud

or now at Acast


We also talked about...

• Chocolate biscuits
• Whiskey and what time it is appropriate to start drinking whiskey (it is about 11.25am)   
• Taskmaster
• Ru Paul's Drag Race AllStars
• Tom Hank's new book
• Voices for dogs
• Social media and Marc's 'no internet - back to the dark ages' campaign 
• Fanzines!  
• Marc's childcare tips
• And lots of chat about our survey results - THANK YOU if you took part, you are amazing! 

Follow us on twitter: @POWpodcastUK
Email us at: powpodcastuk@gmail.com
Support our podcast by “buying us a beer”

Music: "Clap Your Hands" by Scott Holmes

Please like and rate our podcast. The both of us really appreciate all your lovely support.

How did your #NaNoWriMo Go?

It's the end of November! Which also means it's the end of National Novel Writing Month! How did you do? Did you complete your 50,000 words?

We set ourselves a mini NaNoWriMo challenge of 5,000 words, so 2,500 words each, and we actually reached it pretty easily. Marc completed first on 12th November with 2,504 words, while I was then shamed by his productivity and completed 2,678 on 21st November.

So What Have We Learnt?
Judging by how quickly we rattled these words out, we could have set ourselves a bigger target and still completed it easily (well, that's just my view!). I think it definitely shows that if you set yourself a target it helps you achieve more and increases productivity. It was really useful.

It's time to think about a word count challenge for December (well, maybe January. Let's get Christmas out of the way...)!

Mini NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is among us! Even if you have trouble pronouncing it, like we do, if you're a writer you have probably come across National Novel Writing Month. This month long initiative aims to get writers creating an entire 50,000 word novel over the month of November.

While you don't write your novel on the NaNoWriMo site, you do update your word count, get trophies and, if you get to the 50,000 word target, you upload your novel to the site to win (we are not sure what you win, apart from the sense of satisfaction and the fact that you've just written a novel in a month - go you!).

We can't take part in NaNoWriMo this month, mainly because we're already 20,000 odd words through our book and also because we can't commit to such massive word count.

However, we CAN commit to our own MiniNaNoWriMo! We've decided to write a MASSIVE 5,000 words (between us!) over November.

Will we do it? Will we fall at the first hurdle? How will we keep our motivation going? It's taken us years to get to the 20,000 point, so there is no guarantees we won't find ourself procrastinating at any point possible.

There's a lot of great tips, tricks and resources, both on the NaNoWriMo site and elsewhere, that we will be sharing throughout the month.

We'll keep you updated on our MiniNaNoWriMo word count on Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus

Are you doing your own NaNoWriMo? Or even a MiniNaNoWriMo? Let us know and share your journey!