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Too Much Social Podcast

Nicola Washington

If you're tired of playing the algorithm's game, but want to use Instagram to find readers for your work, this is the podcast for you. Listen for Instagram insights, practical tips, and encouraging pep talks, curated especially for writers and authors.

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 41 min
  • English

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  • September 9 · 48 min

    S3 E10: Serving books 📚 Future-proofing your career as an author, part one

    Welcome to episode 10 of the Serving Books podcast series! We have covered so much ground in this series, and I hope you have found all of the previous episodes useful and interesting - please forward them on to any writers groups or writer friends you think might be interested. Copy this link and send it to your friends as it will open the podcast on whatever platform they use to listen: https://podfollow.com/1826841227 Today was supposed to be the final episode of the series BUT, as Robert Burns so elegantly put it, ‘the best laid schemes o’ Mice and Men, gang aft agley’… which is a phrase etched into my brain from when I used to teach Steinbeck’s novel to teenagers. Basically, what they were both getting at is that even good preparation can’t always stop things going astray… In my case the things that have gone astray are my ability to sit at my desk thanks to a frozen shoulder and carpal tunnel inflammation which means I never got round to inviting one of the guests I want to interview, while another guest had to postpone recording because of much more important things they needed to make space for in their own lives. This all means that for today, we are going to hear from one of my guests who is going to talk about future-proofing your career as an author. She has so much to say of value that it’s probably for the best that she gets her own episode and I can spread the wisdom out! There will be bonus episodes featuring other special guests once I am able to record them, so please tune in when those episodes are released. Please welcome, Claire Venus ✨ "Queen of Substack" and co-author of How to Build a World Class Substack! Before you dive into this episode though, if you are listening to this episode before the 24th September 2026, you might be interested in a free workshop I am running called Setting Up for Instagram Success. This is a FREE online workshop taking place on Thursday 24th September, 2-3pm GMT (replay available). We’ll spend an hour walking through the 5 opportunities you have to capture the attention of every (relevant) potential reader who lands on your account. You’ll learn how to make the best use of: * your handle * your bio * your profile picture * your links * and your pinned posts Come along and set yourself up for success as an author on Instagram! Sign up for free below to attend live and/ or receive the replay: Find out more about Claire and her work Claire Venus ✨ on Substack Sparkle on Substack Website https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creatively.conscious/ Book, How To Build A World Class Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • September 2 · 1 hr 23 min

    S3 E9: Serving Books 📚 Keep momentum going after your book has launched

    Welcome to episode 9 - the penultimate episode! - of Serving Books: from inspiration to publication. The podcast where I map what it takes for a book to go from being a glimmer of an idea to landing in your readers’ hands. In this series I’ve sought to answer the questions I have as a publishing industry outsider by interviewing industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears! In this episode I speak with three guests about a variety of ways authors can keep the momentum going post-launch that are off the beaten tracks of newsletters and social media: * James, founder of Reading Rebels, offers his insights into how authors can hold effective school visits * Karen Powell from ethical audiobook platform xigxag talks about the opportunities they offer authors to reach their listeners * and Elizabeth Morris , creator of the Crib Notes newsletter and community, tells us about the possibilities offered by working in collaboration with bookish influencers and content creators If you’re new to the podcast you might want to start at the beginning: Or, select an episode from this list of everything I’ve released so far: ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 How do you choose the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How do you snag an agent and negotiate a book deal?🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you self-drive your book promotion whether you’re indie or traditional published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? Next week is the last episode in the series. If you’d like it to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified when it goes live ❤️ 🔗 Links to my guests Elizabeth Morris Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmorris.cribnotes/ James, The Rebel Reading Society Website https://www.rebelreadingsociety.co.uk/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_rebel_reading_society/ Karen Powell, Head of Marketing at Xigxag Website https://xigxag.co.uk/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/xigxag_official/ I obsess over Instagram so you don’t have to 😉 Join the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership for uncomplicated Instagram advice curated especially for writers. In the membership you will: ✨ be supported by me and the TMI community as you step into a scary new era of publicly claiming your identity as a writer✨ save time with post ideas curated to suit your needs so you stop wasting your time ‘scrolling for inspiration’✨ gain clarity about what you should be doing next thanks to my uncomplicated advice To become a member, click the button and upgrade your subscription 👇🏼 Membership benefits include: * lists of trending and proven post ideas to support you with your planning every month 💡 * accountability, and an opportunity to pick my brain, every Monday in the check-in chat 🧠 * personalised, detailed advice every month in the Ask Me Anything calls (replays available) 🧐 * opportunities to get the work done in company in fortnightly co-working sessions 💪🏼 * being part of a lively, warm and supportive community of fellow writers and authors who are all working towards the same goal: getting to grips with Instagram! 💓 To become a member, click the button to upgrade your subscription This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • August 26 · 44 min

    S3 E8: Serving Books 📚 How authors can work with book shops and book sellers

    Welcome to episode 8 of Serving Books: from inspiration to publication, the podcast for every industry-outsider who, like me, has lots of questions about how a book goes from being an idea, to landing in readers’ hands. If you’re enjoying the series so far, please share it with all your writerly friends to help me reach more listeners, or if you rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts this will help the algorithms do their magic 🪄 Serving Books answers questions like… ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 Which is the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How to snag an agent and negotiate a book deal?🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you self-drive your book promotion, whether you’re indie or traditionally published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? When I first started planning this podcast series I knew I wanted to speak to a bookseller about the process of exactly how books end up in book shops. Immediately, I decided that the only bookseller that would do was Ruth Wallbank-Hughes because Ruth is the founder of Drop City Books, a community-focused book shop in my home city of Stoke-on-Trent. So far, so what, you might be thinking, but if you’d indulge me for a minute I’d like to explain what this conversation means to me. Stoke is one of those places often described using that horrible, reductive phrase, ‘left behind’. It has always been a working class city so of course it bears the scars of 80s Thatcherite Britain and forty years later - for many reasons - there are few signs of the kind of regeneration enjoyed by its bigger, flashier neighbours, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. Stoke tends to only appear in the news headlines when there are riots, or hate-fuelled right wing protests, or when it’s been voted as the worst place in the country to live. In the months and years following the EU referendum in 2016, journalists would only make the trip to Stoke to ask why so many people voted Leave, and in the 2019 General Election the city did its bit to obliterate the Red Wall when all three of its parliamentary constituency seats turned blue. When you’re a left wing progressive who believes in class solidarity, who celebrates and welcomes difference and diversity, who thinks immigration strengthens a country, who is married to a Nigerian, and who has two brown children, it’s… complicated to call Stoke home. But I’m also proud of my home city - of its heritage and its history, of its humour and its unique accent. Stokies - or Potters as we’re known, thanks to the area’s historical ceramics industry - are self-effacing, down-to-earth, and distinctively friendly people. We call everyone ‘duck’ as a term of endearment, and in Stoke an oatcake isn’t a cheese biscuit, it’s a savoury pancake, made with secret recipes that get passed down through generations, that you load up with warm fillings, and to be honest you basically haven’t lived until you’ve eaten a hot, cheese-and-bacon filled oatcake fresh from the griddle. It’s a place where every school child learns the playground rhyme, Cos yer kick a bo agin a wall an' yed eet till eet bosts ar can cos thay, keeping little bits of a dying dialect alive. And it’s one of the few places in the country where people correctly pronounce the word, book. To repeat - that’s booook - like coooook, loooook, and hoooooook 😅 More seriously, Stoke hasn’t always made it easy to love it, but it’s still my home, it’s in my DNA. I can’t help myself. And then Drop City Books popped up in my Instagram timeline a couple of years ago - a rare moment of gratitude for the algorithms - and I got so excited! Book shops are never just shops that sell books - they’re portals to other worlds, places to be curious and open your mind to learn new things, they’re gathering places for ideas, and people - but for me, Drop City Books feels like even more than that. It feels like light and hope and belief that things can be better and Ruth’s warmth and humour, and even the colourfulness of her book shop, feel like all the best things about my home city rolled into one. So - at this point you might be thinking, for god’s sake Nicola get on with it… and I will! I promise. I really hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it - please welcome Ruth the founder of Drop City Books, based in Stoke-on-Trent - or, as she puts, it ‘the centre of the known universe’ 😉 Psst… Starting on Monday 31st August, I’m hosting a FREE seven day ☀️WAKE UP INSTAGRAM☀️ challenge. You’ll receive a short email each day containing a simple 10 minute task that will help you reboot your Instagram account if you’re coming back from a break, or things have gone a bit quiet. Sign up for the challenge 👇🏼 Find Drop City Books On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dropcitybooks/ Drop City Books website https://www.dropcitybooks.com/ On Bookshop.org https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/dropcitybooks If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • August 19 · 1 hr 11 min

    S3 E7: Serving Books 📚 DIY author branding, book publicity and pr

    Welcome to episode 7 of Serving Books: from inspiration to publication, the podcast for every industry-outsider who, like me, has lots of questions about how a book goes from being an idea, to landing in readers’ hands. If you’re enjoying the series so far, please share it with all your writerly friends to help me reach more listeners, or if you rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts this will help the algorithms do their magic 🪄 Serving Books answers questions like… ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 Which is the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How to snag an agent and negotiate a book deal?🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you create an ‘author brand’ in a way that doesn’t make you want to die of cringe, and self-drive your book promotion, whether you’re indie or traditionally published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? In this week’s episode I welcome two experts who offer insights into how authors might take on the (often) necessary heavy lifting of their book promotion. It might surprise you that I haven’t talked about social media in this episode - but you can always take a look in my archive of past podcast episodes, visit my Instagram account, or take a look at my archive here on Substack if that is what you are looking for! Instead, today’s episode is about the things I can’t advise you on so please welcome my two guests… Lucy Werner, is an award-winning PR expert who has spent her career helping businesses, entrepreneurs and authors gain media coverage without huge marketing budgets. She’s the founder of The Hype, a membership that helps self-employed creatives, freelancers and entrepreneurs get seen and paid in a way that feels good and she is the author of two books, Brand Yourself, and Hype Yourself, which are practical guides to branding, and generating publicity through storytelling and smart PR. Whether you’re publishing your first book or your fifth, Lucy has plenty of practical advice to help you become your own best publicist. And then my second guest today is Sarah Robertson who is a writer, mentor, designer and the author of Shape Your Brand Story, publishing with 91 Editions this autumn. Through Fonn, her storytelling studio, and her Brand Seasons® Method, she helps fellow writers or founders develop a brand strategy, style or story, and ultimately craft a brand that feels like home. Psst… Starting on Monday 31st August, I’m hosting a FREE seven day ☀️WAKE UP INSTAGRAM☀️ challenge. You’ll receive a short email each day containing a simple 10 minute task that will help you reboot your Instagram account if you’re coming back from a break, or things have gone a bit quiet. Sign up for the challenge 👇🏼 Links Lucy Werner The Hype newsletter and community https://www.hypeyourself.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lucywernerpr/ Books https://www.hypeyourself.com/shop/#books Sarah Robertson Book https://studiofonn.com/shape-your-brand-story Website https://studiofonn.com/ Substack Instagram https://www.instagram.com/studiofonn/ If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • August 12 · 1 hr

    S3 E6: Serving Books 📚 Working with your in-house marketing and publicity team to promote your book

    Welcome to episode 6 of Serving Books: from inspiration to publication, the podcast for every industry-outsider who, like me, has lots of questions about how a book goes from being an idea, to landing in readers’ hands. In this series I’ve interviewed industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears by answering alllll my nosy questions! If you’re enjoying the series so far, please share with all your writerly friends to help me reach more listeners, or if you rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts this will help the algorithms do their magic 🪄 Questions like… ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 Which is the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How to snag an agent and negotiate a book deal?🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you self-drive your book promotion, whether you’re indie or traditionally published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? This week I quizzed two marketing and publicity experts from the publishing industry about how the process works, and how authors can get the most out of their partnership with their publisher. My brilliant guests in this episode: Katie Sadler is Marketing Director at One More Chapter, where she leads creative marketing campaigns for a wide range of bestselling commercial fiction. With extensive experience in book publishing and a passion for connecting authors with readers, Katie has helped shape successful launches across multiple genres. Ana McLaughlin is an author and Campaigns Director at Quercus, where she leads publicity campaigns for an exciting list of bestselling and award-winning authors. With extensive experience in publishing and a talent for creating impactful, reader-focused campaigns, Ana has helped bring a diverse range of books to audiences around the world. If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode 🔗 Links to my guests Katie Sadler Substack: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiemorwenna/ Ana McLaughlin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anabooks/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • August 5 · 38 min

    S3 E5: Serving Books 📚 Working with an in-house editor to create the best possible book

    Welcome to episode 5 of Serving Books: from inspiration to publication, the podcast for every industry-outsider who, like me, has lots of questions about how a book goes from being an idea, to landing in readers’ hands. In this series I’ve interviewed industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears by answering alllll my nosy questions! If you’re enjoying the series so far, please share with all your writerly friends to help me reach more listeners, or if you rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts this will help the algorithms do their magic 🪄 Questions like… ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 Which is the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How to snag an agent and negotiate a book deal?🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you self-drive your book promotion, whether you’re indie or traditionally published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? This week I quizzed the excellent Phoebe Morgan who you may know from her brilliant Substack, The Honest Editor where she is dedicated to telling the truth about publishing. When Phoebe is not writing her illuminating essays on how the publishing industry works, she is working as Executive Publisher for Commercial Fiction at Simon & Schuster, and today she has been incredibly generous with her time and insights into this notoriously opaque industry. You can find her on Substack: On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoebeannmorgan/ On her website: https://phoebemorganauthor.com/ And find her books here: https://phoebemorganauthor.com/books/ If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • July 29 · 1 hr 3 min

    S3 E4: Serving Books 📚 Getting an agent and negotiating a book deal

    Welcome to episode 4 of this brand new series, Serving Books: from inspiration to publication. The podcast where I map what it takes for a book to go from being a glimmer of an idea to landing in your readers’ hands. In this series I’ve interviewed industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears, because I am an industry-insider with lots of questions about the inner workings of this mysterious industry - and I know I’m not the only one! So far, I’ve released episodes about: ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 How do you choose the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How do you snag an agent and negotiate a book deal? THIS EPISODE! COMING UP: 🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you self-drive your book promotion whether you’re indie or traditional published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? In this episode I speak with two guests - Lauren Currie, who took the bold step of negotiating her own book deal, followed by Literary Agent and founder of Portobello Literary, Caro Clarke. This conversation is filled with truth-bombs and uncompromising reality that is somehow weirdly comforting at the same time. I hope you enjoy listening to me chat to my guests as much as I enjoyed talking to them! If you’re new to the podcast you can listen to the first episode here: If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode ❤️ 🔗 Links to my guests Caro Clarke Substack Instagram https://www.instagram.com/portyliterary/ Website https://www.portobelloliterary.co.uk/ Extra resources to support your understanding of publishing Courses - available inside the paid tier of Caro’s Substack which you can pay to access, or you can buy a copy of one of Caro’s client’s books, send her the receipt and she will comp you a subscription! Lauren Currie Books https://www.laurencurrie.co/books Website https://www.laurencurrie.co/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_laurencurrie_/ I obsess over Instagram so you don’t have to 😉 Join the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership for uncomplicated Instagram advice curated especially for writers. In the membership you will: ✨ be supported by me and the TMI community as you step into a scary new era of publicly claiming your identity as a writer✨ save time with post ideas curated to suit your needs so you stop wasting your time ‘scrolling for inspiration’✨ gain clarity about what you should be doing next thanks to my uncomplicated advice To become a member, click the button and upgrade your subscription 👇🏼 Membership benefits include: * lists of trending and proven post ideas to support you with your planning every month 💡 * accountability, and an opportunity to pick my brain, every Monday in the check-in chat 🧠 * personalised, detailed advice every month in the Ask Me Anything calls (replays available) 🧐 * opportunities to get the work done in company in fortnightly co-working sessions 💪🏼 * being part of a lively, warm and supportive community of fellow writers and authors who are all working towards the same goal: getting to grips with Instagram! 💓 To become a member, click the button to upgrade your subscription This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • July 22 · 1 hr 19 min

    S3 E3: Serving Books 📚 Putting your best book forward

    Welcome to episode 3 of Serving Books: from inspiration to publication, the podcast for every industry-outsider who, like me, has lots of questions about how a book goes from being an idea, to landing in readers’ hands. In this series I’ve interviewed industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears by answering alllll my nosy questions! ✍🏻 How do you get words on the page?📖 How do you choose the right publishing path for you?🤔 What’s involved in the different stages of editing?🪝 How do you snag an agent and negotiate a book deal?🤝 What are the best ways to work *with* your publisher to prepare and promote your book?🗣️ How might you self-drive your book promotion whether you’re indie or traditional published?📕 What’s the bookseller’s view on how they select the titles they’re going to back?⬆️ How can you keep the ball rolling after publication?🔮 And how might you future-proof your career as an author? This week we’re hearing from editors who are experts in getting your book ready for readers whether you decide to self-publish or go the traditional route to publication. My brilliant guests in this episode are: Adrienne Dines is best known for her work as a storytelling mentor, novelist, and creative writing educator. Over the past two decades she has become highly regarded in UK writing circles for teaching the craft of storytelling I’ve invited Adrienne onto the podcast to talk to us about how writers can work on the stories they are telling until they can be confident they are putting their best book forward, whether they are pursuing a traditional publishing path, or one of the alternative I talked about in the last episode. Next, I speak to Joe Sedgwick, Head of Writing Services at The Literary Consultancy who are the largest provider of editorial services in the UK, about why authors might want to invest in a developmental edit of their work before they send it out to agents or readers. Joe is a literary agent, editor, and publishing consultant with extensive experience helping writers develop their work and navigate the publishing industry. At The Literary Consultancy, he works closely with authors at every stage of their writing journey, offering editorial guidance, mentoring, and insight into what makes a manuscript stand out in today’s publishing landscape. And finally, Catriona Turner is a writer and editor who understands the publishing journey from both sides of the desk. Through her business, The Word Bothy, Catriona helps indie authors transform polished manuscripts into professional books through expert copyediting, line-editing, proofreading, and one-to-one publishing support. Catriona is also an author herself. Her memoir, Nest: A Memoir of Home on the Move, explores questions of identity, belonging, and what it really means to feel at home. That experience gives her a unique perspective on the creative and emotional realities of bringing a book into the world. Today Cat is going to talk us through some of the last - but far from least - stages of the editing process: line editing and copy editing. If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode Further advice about finding editors Cat is a member of the CIEP - Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading - and their website has a directory of their Professional and Advanced Professional members, who have experience, training, and extensive professional development under their belts. Other editing organisations that have directories include the Editorial Freelancers Association, ACES - The Society for Editors, and Editors Canada. Reedsy and the ALLi partner member directory are also useful. If you’re interested in learning more about ALLi, Catriona has an affiliate link - click here. Other tips for finding editors: * Word of mouth - ask for recommendations in your writing groups and communities. * Look in the acknowledgements of books that align with your theme/genre/topic. * Look at the portfolio and/or testimonials on an editor’s website to see what they have worked on in your genre. One more thing: a way to reduce your line/copyediting costs is to send your editor a manuscript you’ve already cleaned up as much as possible, so that they can focus on the nuance and consistency of your language. I have a free checklist for this. Click here to get it. 🔗 Links to my guests Adrienne Dines Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556654917713 Joe Sedgwick, The Literary Consultancy Website: https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theliteraryconsultancy Catriona Turner Website: https://thewordbothy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catrionaturnerbooks/ I obsess over Instagram so you don’t have to 😉 Join the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership for uncomplicated Instagram advice curated especially for writers. In the membership you will: ✨ be supported by me and the TMI community as you step into a scary new era of publicly claiming your identity as a writer✨ save time with post ideas curated to suit your needs so you stop wasting your time ‘scrolling for inspiration’✨ gain clarity about what you should be doing next thanks to my uncomplicated advice To become a member, click the button and upgrade your subscription 👇🏼 Membership benefits include: * lists of trending and proven post ideas to support you with your planning every month 💡 * accountability, and an opportunity to pick my brain, every Monday in the check-in chat 🧠 * personalised, detailed advice every month in the Ask Me Anything calls (replays available) 🧐 * opportunities to get the work done in company in fortnightly co-working sessions 💪🏼 * being part of a lively, warm and supportive community of fellow writers and authors who are all working towards the same goal: getting to grips with Instagram! 💓 To become a member, click the button to upgrade your subscription This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • July 15 · 1 hr 16 min

    S3 E2: Serving Books 📚 Choosing your publishing path

    Welcome to episode 2 of this brand new series, Serving Books: from inspiration to publication. The podcast where I map what it takes for a book to go from being a glimmer of an idea to landing in your readers’ hands. In this series I’ve interviewed industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears. Last week I started at the beginning with how writers can get support with getting words on the page, when we heard from the excellent Penny Wincer, Caro Giles, and Huma Qureshi. If you haven’t already done so, you can listen to that episode here: Next week you will hear from editors who are experts in getting your book ready for readers whether you decide to self-publish or go the traditional route to publication so before we get to that I thought it would be worth talking about the different routes to publication that are available. My three brilliant guests that you’re going to hear from today are: Holly June Smith - is a self-published author of 8 romance novels, as well as being a scriptwriter for spicy audio platform, Quinn. More recently she has secured a literary agent for herself and we’ll be talking about what that might mean for her career as an author. Steph Caswell - is a seven-times published author, and a non-fiction book coach, who has recently launched Areta Press, a hybrid publishing company exclusively for women writers. I’m going to be asking Steph about her own routes to publication as well as about the founding of a hybrid publishing company and why that might be the right choice for some authors. And my final guest is entrepreneur, speaker, author, and artist Lauren Currie . I’ve spoken to Lauren on the podcast before about confidence because she is the founder of UPFRONT, a movement helping women build confidence and lead with courage but today I’m going to be asking her about her experiences of both self and traditionally publishing books, as she has done both. If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode 🔗 Links to my guests Holly June Smith website: hollyjunesmith.co.uk/ Instagram: instagram.com/hollyjunesmith/ Books: hollyjunesmith.co.uk/books Steph Caswell Instagram: instagram.com/stephcaswellauthor/ Podcast: stephcaswell.com/podcast/ website: stephcaswell.com/ Areta Press: stephcaswell.com/aretapress/ Lauren Currie website: laurencurrie.co/ Instagram: instagram.com/_laurencurrie_/ Books: laurencurrie.co/books This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • July 8 · 1 hr 35 min

    S3 E1: Serving Books 📚 Getting words on the page

    Welcome to episode 1 of this brand new series, Serving Books: from inspiration to publication. The podcast where I map what it takes for a book to go from being a glimmer of an idea to landing in your readers’ hands. In this series I’ve interviewed industry experts including writing mentors, book coaches, writing community founders, editors, agents, book marketers, publicity and pr experts, and book shop owners to bring their insights and knowledge straight to your ears. Today we are starting at the beginning - where else? - and I’m going to introduce you, in a moment, to Penny Wincer, a non-fiction book coach and founder of writing community, The Fold; Caro Giles, author of two memoirs, Unschooled and Twelve Moons, who also works as a mentor for memoirists; and author and creative writing teacher, Huma Qureshi. Because - basically - writing a book is hard and lonely sometimes we need someone in our corner to turn to when we’re trying to get the words on the page but we get stuck and don’t know what to do, or feel like we can’t keep going. So if you’ve ever been in that situation - I mean, who hasn’t - and you’ve wondered whether seeking support might help, hopefully today’s episode will help as I am going to be asking Penny, Caro and Huma about their work, what it can help with, and how they help writers get the words on the page. If you’d like future episodes of the podcast to land in your inbox, subscribe to Too Much by Nicola Washington, and you’ll be notified every time I release a new episode 🔗 Links to my guests Penny Wincer website: https://www.pennywincerwrites.com/ The Fold: https://www.pennywincerwrites.com/the-fold Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennywincer/ Podcast, Not Too Busy To Write: https://podfollow.com/not-too-busy-to-write Books: https://www.pennywincerwrites.com/books Caro Giles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carogileswrites/ Books: Unschooled, Twelve Moons Substack, Open In The Middle: Huma Qureshi website: https://www.humaqureshi.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humaqureshiwriter/ Books Substack: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • July 2 · 2 min

    Introducing... Serving Books: from inspiration to publication, a book's journey into your reader's hands

    The Too Much Social Podcast is back for the summer but this time I’m doing something a little different! Instead of focusing purely on the mechanics and mindset of Instagram book marketing, I’m casting my net a little further, partly to satisfy my own curiosity - but hopefully to satisfy some of yours too! To give you a little context, the inspiration for this latest podcast series is that I have lots of questions about the journey to publication because I’m a publishing industry outsider - I cut my social media teeth in the blogging and ecommerce worlds and there are times when professionally and personally, the inner workings of this industry leave me feeling a little stumped. A few months ago, I was looking for a podcast that would answer some of my questions and although I could find some answers dotted around the internet here and there, I couldn’t find a podcast that, in one place, would take me through all the steps a book has to go through before it ends up in a reader’s hands. So I decided to make one! Welcome to Serving Books: from inspiration to publication. For the last few weeks I’ve been busily recording episodes with some brilliantly knowledgeable and insightful guests from all kinds of niches across the publishing industry. I’ve spoken to book coaches, writing mentors, people who have pursued different routes to publication, agents, editors, book marketing and pr experts, all the way through to book shop owners, book world influencers and some brilliant people who have excellent ideas about how you continue finding new readers once your books are out in the world. Starting next week, on Weds 8th July, I’ll be releasing one episode every week until the beginning of September which you can listen to wherever you get your podcasts. I’m excited to share all these episodes with you soon but in the meantime please share this announcement with all of your writerly friends. To receive the episodes directly into your podcast feed subscribe wherever you listen, or sign up to Too Much by Nicola Washington on Substack and the episodes will land straight in your inbox. I look forward to welcoming you back soon! I obsess over Instagram so you don’t have to 😉 In the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership I:✨ hold your hand as you step into a scary new era of publicly claiming your identity as a writer✨ curate post ideas to suit your needs so you stop wasting your time ‘scrolling for inspiration’ and have a clear plan instead✨ offer simple advice and clarity about what you should be doing next ✨ motivate you to engage more in your book marketing than you otherwise would do! Benefits of becoming a member include: ✅ weekly check-in chats for accountability and advice ✅ monthly lists of trending and proven post ideas for you to add to your planning ✅ monthly Ask Me Anything calls for personalised advice ✅ fortnightly co-working sessions to get your content made in company ✅ quarterly challenges such as RECALIBRATE and the most recent 🧪TRIAL REELS LAB🧪 Have a browse of the archive to see what you’ll benefit from. Upgrade your subscription to become a member! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Oct 31, 2025 · 48 min

    S2 E3: 😱SCREAM-SHOT😱 Taming the twin ogres of visibility and vulnerability

    Boo! 👻 Welcome back to the TOO MUCH SOCIAL podcast! 👻 In this Halloween mini-series - 😱 SCREAM-SHOT (yes, I went there) - we’re exorcising the biggest fears that haunt writers and authors when it comes to book marketing and audience growth 🎃 In today’s episode I speak to Lauren Currie about how writers and authors can defeat the double threat of visibility and vulnerability that you often experience when you have to build your audience or promote your books. I am super-excited to bring you this episode with Lauren as, not only is she the founder of Upfront - an organisation dedicated to changing confidence, visibility, and power for 10 million women - but just a few weeks ago, she also launched her first book out into the world 🥳 Taylor Meets The Trick is a picture book, designed to be read and understood by primary school age children, that is also a powerful tool for parents and teachers who want to start the conversation about the patriarchy and gender equality but who don’t know how, or are struggling to find the right language. I remember when Lauren first introduced me to the idea of calling the patriarchy, The Trick and it transformed the way I talk about gender stereotyping with my children so if that sounds like something you, or your family, or maybe your child’s school might benefit from you can purchase your copy of Taylor Meets The Trick by clicking the button below: In the episode, we talk about: * where the all-too-common fear of visibility comes from * Lauren’s own feelings of vulnerability as she steps into a new identity as an author * specific strategies Lauren has used to increase the visibility of her book that may make some of us shudder, but that we can all learn from * her choices to be radically transparent about the process and the money, despite fears of judgement or ridicule, inspired by Amie McNee, and more! Huge thanks to Lauren and I hope you enjoy listening to the episode as much as I enjoyed recording it! Please let us know in the comments if there is something that lands particularly close to home for you, or a strategy you now feel braver about trying for yourself. We can’t wait to hear from you! Listen wherever you get your podcasts and, if you like what you hear, I’d love you to share it with your network, or leave a review so other people can find me 🙏🏻 If you’d like to learn more about the work Lauren does, you can find out more On Instagram where you can find her posts about how she set up her HYPE SQUAD, and what the finances behind her book launch look like. On the UPFRONT website. And, of course you can buy your copy of Taylor Meets The Trick. In our conversation, Lauren also references Amie McNee’s ‘radical transparency’ that inspired Lauren to be so open and vulnerable with her own experiences of publishing a book. Here is a three month update from Amie McNee: and a six month update. Both are well worth your time and I thank Amie for her incredible generosity in taking these risks: Don’t miss the first two episodes of 😱SCREAM-SHOT😱 In episode 1, Slay the Time Vampire before it drains the joy (and life) out of your book marketing 🧛🏻‍♀️, Amanda Appiagyei shares her take on ‘productivity’ and how we can spend less time doing the things we don’t want to do, in order to make more time for the things we do want to do. And, in episode 2, Going from ghosted to hosted on podcasts 👻, I interview podcaster, presenter and writer, Hannah Loy about preparing for, pitching to, and guesting on, podcasts so you can worry less about being ghosted 👻, or turning into a mumbling, stumbling zombie the second the host hits record 🧟‍♀️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and, if you like what you hear, I’d love you to share it with your network, or leave a review so other people can find me 🙏🏻 This podcast is my way of supporting writers and authors during some of the busiest times of the year for many of us: the school holidays! But, if you’re fed up of shouting into the void, and would like to make more effective use of Instagram for your book marketing and audience building all of the time, TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM is my membership where I keep Instagram as simple and streamlined as it can possibly be. Members receive monthly libraries of proven post ideas to use, access to weekly check-ins for advice, regular tutorials to keep improving your skills, and more! Join today by upgrading your subscription! Browse the archive here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Oct 29, 2025 · 32 min

    S2 E2: 😱SCREAM-SHOT😱 Going from ghosted to hosted on podcasts 👻

    Boo! 👻 Welcome back to the TOO MUCH SOCIAL podcast! 👻 In this Halloween mini-series - 😱 SCREAM-SHOT (yes, I went there) - we’re exorcising the biggest fears that haunt writers and authors when it comes to book marketing and audience growth 🎃 In this three-part mini-series I’m talking to experts who’ll help you face down your biggest book marketing fears and slay those audience-growing nightmares 🎃 In today’s episode I speak to producer, writer and presenter, Hannah Loy about preparing for, pitching to, and guesting on, podcasts so you can worry less about being ghosted 👻, or turning into a mumbling, stumbling zombie the second the host hits record 🧟‍♀️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and, if you like what you hear, I’d love you to share it with your network, or leave a review so other people can find me 🙏🏻 If you missed Monday’s episode with Productivity Expert, Amanda Appiagyei: Slay the Time Vampire before it drains the joy (and life) out of your book marketing 🧛🏻‍♀️ - the cheeseball puns are giving me life, can you tell? - you can find it here: Today’s guest, Hannah Loy is a producer, writer, presenter and creator of Read the Room Productions, an audio production company dedicated to bringing arts and literature to life. She makes crafted and creative podcasts and radio documentaries and is hoping to launch a new audiobook strand to her business very soon, helping authors create professional sounding audiobooks on a budget. Hannah started Read the Room Productions in 2024, after 20 years broadcast media experience. She spent 18 of those years at the BBC, working across a wide range of daily and weekly programming, as well as making documentaries for BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and BBC Radio Wales. She is skilled in sound, documentary making, broadcasting, visual media production, social media and audio editing AND she currently presents an ongoing series on BBC Sounds called The Aberystwyth Book Club. You can find out more about Hannah’s work on her website or by following her on Instagram (readtheroomhan). You can also read about her life as a rural freelancer in her Substack Freelancing from a Field 🌳, and make sure you don’t miss episodes of The Aberystwyth Book Club on BBC Sounds. This podcast is my way of supporting writers and authors during some of the busiest times of the year for many of us: the school holidays! You can find the summer holidays series here for more episodes. But, if you’re fed up of shouting into the void, and would like to make more effective use of Instagram for your book marketing and audience building outside the school holidays, TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM is my membership where I keep Instagram as simple and streamlined as it can possibly be. Members receive monthly libraries of proven post ideas to use, access to weekly check-ins for advice, regular tutorials to keep improving your skills, and more! Join today by upgrading your subscription! Browse the archive here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Oct 27, 2025 · 54 min

    S2 E1: 😱SCREAM-SHOT😱 Slay the Time Vampire before it drains the joy (and life) out of your book marketing 🧛🏻‍♀️

    Boo! 👻 Welcome back to the TOO MUCH SOCIAL podcast! 👻 In this Halloween mini-series - 😱 SCREAM-SHOT (yes, I went there) - we’re exorcising the biggest fears that haunt writers and authors when it comes to book marketing and audience growth 🎃 In this three-part mini-series I’m talking to experts who’ll help you face down your biggest book marketing fears and slay those audience-growing nightmares 🎃 Episode 1 - this one! - will address the fear of never having enough time to do an effective job of your book marketing alongside everything else you do, with Productivity Expert - the parent and neurodivergent-friendly kind - Amanda Appiagyei. BEFORE WE GET INTO IT THOUGH, I MUST tell you about a ✨new✨ gentle productivity tool Amanda has created that I recommend trying if you find prioritising tasks, demand avoidance, decision-making, or transitioning between tasks a challenge when you’re trying to tackle your to do list. Amanda let me have a play with STOP THE SPIRAL before she released it into the world last week and I was genuinely blown away by how effectively it disrupted my demand avoidance and eased me through the transitions I usually find so sticky. Sign up with your email to get the tool for free! Today’s guest is Amanda Appiagyei, a Productivity Coach for parents. Now, before you all run screaming for the hills at the first sniff of the word ‘productivity’, I promise you Amanda’s approach is something different. She want to show parents - and other busy people - how we can manage our time better, without 5am alarms, hustle culture or toxic productivity. One of the main fears writers and authors hold about book marketing and audience building is how much time is it going to take up? And how am I going to fit it into my already bursting day? So, in this episode, Amanda talks us through how we might do the things we have to do, faster, so there’s more time to do the things we want to do, with the very important caveat that it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters. I hope you find this episode as enlightening and encouraging as I did. HUGE thanks to Amanda for her time and expertise. If you’d like to find out more about Amanda’s work, you can find her Time Buckets method here, her Instagram here, and her website here. And don’t forget to sign up to try her new, transformational, to-do tool - STOP THE SPIRAL - for FREE! This podcast is my way of supporting writers and authors during some of the busiest times of the year for many of us: the school holidays! You can find the summer holidays series here for more episodes. But, if you’re fed up of shouting into the void, and would like to make more effective use of Instagram for your book marketing and audience building outside the school holidays, TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM is my membership where I offer writers and authors simple, easy to implement, but effective, Instagram tools, tips and ideas. Join today by upgrading your subscription! Browse the archive here. More 😱SCREAM-SHOT😱 episodes coming this week Episode 2 - Wednesday - is all about preparing you for pitching to and guesting on podcasts so you can worry less about rejection, or making a fool of yourself, and really reap the rewards of this route to your readers, with Producer, Presenter and Writer, Hannah Loy And, in episode 3, released on Friday, I’ll be joined by confidence maven, Lauren Currie who has embraced vulnerability and made a feature of it in the launch and promotion of her new children’s book, Taylor Meets The Trick. I am SO proud of these episodes - mostly because these guests are epic and offer so much of their wisdom for you to take away with you. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and, if you like what you hear, I’d love you to share it with your network, or leave a review so other people can find me 🙏🏻 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Oct 22, 2025 · 1 min

    BOO! 👻 What scares you most about book marketing?

    The TOO MUCH SOCIAL PODCAST is BACK this half-term holiday for a brand new three-part podcast mini-series… A couple of weeks ago I checked the download stats for the first series of the podcast that I started on a whim in July, without a clue what I was doing, and was staggered to see that the 6 episodes have been downloaded over 3.6k times! I really enjoyed making the first series but didn’t have any expectations about how many people would listen. I just wanted to have some fun while being supportive! This number of downloads was a lovely surprise and I don’t need another reason to have another crack at it! So, as we approach another school holiday, when it may feel near impossible to stay in touch with book marketing alongside all the other things you’re responsible for, I’d like to introduce… 😱SCREAM-SHOT😱! warning, incoming, disgusting levels of Halloween-themed wordplay… 🕷️ Spooky season is upon us… and like all the best witches I’ve been creeping around behind the scenes, brewing up something special for you! I’ve conjured three special edition episodes featuring wickedly smart experts who are here to help you exorcise your marketing fears and banish those book-promo demons once and for all. Over three fang-tastic episodes, we’ll help you: 🧛🏻‍♀️ Slay the Time Vampire - before it drains the life (and joy) out of your marketing and writing routines. 👻 Going From Ghosted To Hosted On Podcasts - and avoiding mumbling and stumbling like a zombie the moment someone hits record. 👹👹 Tame the twin ogres of Visibility and Vulnerability - and learn to dance with them instead of running for the hills. So grab your garlic and your guts - it’s time to face your fears and rise from the marketing graveyard stronger than ever 💀✨ ok I’ll stop now 🙈 Episodes will be released next Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - hopefully I’ll see you there! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Aug 27, 2025 · 16 min

    S1 E6: Hashtag, It's Summer - but what if I don't want to do my own book marketing?

    Hello, and welcome back to the Hashtag, It’s Summer podcast series, which is my invitation to you to stay in touch with your Instagram book marketing and platform building in this super-busy season. This week’s episode is the last of this series! If you’d like me to record more episodes in future, let me know in the comments! I’ve really enjoyed this experiment and would like to record more but, like many of you, my time is limited so I want to focus my efforts on the things you tell me really make a difference to you. If the podcast is it, then bring it on, but you have to let me know! This week’s episode is about the concept of ‘radical acceptance’ and how flexing this muscle can help you feel less resistant and resentful about showing up on Instagram. I hope you find it useful! 👩🏻‍🏫 September is RESET month in the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership If you’d like to Reset your relationship with Instagram so you feel better about using it, now is the time to join the membership because during September members will receive: * exclusive access to the RESET series for the whole month - 20 daily 10 minute tasks that will transform how you feel about Instagram and change how it fits into your life (rather than the other way round) * ‘Speak Out On Social Media Like You Mean It’ training with Siobhan Strode, an advocacy mentor who specialises in helping people make themselves heard. Come along to work on the confidence to create an Instagram presence that aligns with who you really are * a bank of proven post formats to use during the autumn, like this one: * weekly check in group chat - share your post plans every Monday and get advice if you want it * fortnightly Content Create-alongs - ring-fence time to create content and I’ll answer your questions while we’re there * monthly Ask Me Anything clinics - a space for me to give you more in-depth advice and guidance * regular resources such as tutorials to learn from in your own time, including the Reel-y Simple Reels series and the Growth Sprint To become a member today, upgrade your subscription 👇🏼 Referred to in this episode: This piece about radical acceptance by Anna Ray: Thanks for listening! ❤️ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Aug 20, 2025 · 24 min

    S1 E5: Hashtag, It's Summer - will Instagram work if I only have a small audience?

    Hello, and welcome back to the Hashtag, It’s Summer podcast series, which is my invitation to you to stay in touch with your Instagram book marketing and platform building in this super-busy season. This week’s episode is for you if you ‘only’ have a few hundred followers and are wondering whether there’s any point in investing time in your Instagram account, OR if you’re tired of chasing followers and want to focus on the value - and huge potential - of building networks and community instead 🕸❤️ If you’ve taken a break from Instagram and are about to return, join the WAKE UP INSTAGRAM Challenge! WAKE UP starts on Monday 25th August and is a free seven-day series of 10 minute tasks and exercises to get you back in front of your favourite online people. You can join by signing up with your email below: Referenced in this episode of the podcast This essay by me: And this piece from Julie Vick Curious about the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership? This is where I make Instagram feel doable, sustainable, and better than it ever has done before. Expect ideas, encouragement, advice, and - best of all - no more shouting into the void! Members enjoy: * weekly check in chats - talk about your post plans (great for accountability) and get advice * fortnightly Content Create-alongs - ring fence some time to create content and I’ll answer any questions you have * monthly Ask Me Anything clinics - space for me to give you more in depth advice and guidance * regular resources such as tutorials, post ideas and guest speakers to learn from in your own time, including the Reel-y Simple Reels series and the Growth Sprint To become a member today, upgrade your subscription 👇🏼 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Aug 13, 2025 · 19 min

    S1 E4: Hashtag, It's Summer - no one engages with my Instagram posts - what can I do?

    Hello, and welcome back to the Hashtag, It’s Summer podcast series, which is my invitation to you to stay in touch with your Instagram book marketing and platform building in this super-busy season. This week’s episode is all about one of my favourite subjects - engagement. Account growth tends to grab all the headlines for obvious reasons, but the internet is littered with tales of people with large social media audiences securing book deals and then delivering disappointing book sales. This is because there is a BIG gap between someone hitting follow on Instagram, and actually being motivated to buy and read a book. Where there are interactions between a potential reader and the author, that gap closes. If you’re taking a break from Instagram this summer, why not join the WAKE UP INSTAGRAM Challenge at the end of August? WAKE UP is a free seven-day series of tasks and exercises to get you back in front of your favourite online people. You can join by signing up with your email below: In this episode I talk about: * three reasons why engagement is so important for authors and writers * the different kinds of engagement you might want to cultivate * and how you can use Instagram to get your audience commenting under your posts One of the tactics I mention is how you can use games to engage your audience and I reference this post that includes some ideas: Curious about the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership? This is where I make Instagram feel doable and sustainable. Expect ideas, encouragement, advice, and - best of all - no more shouting into the void! Members enjoy: * weekly check in chats - talk about your post plans (great for accountability) and get advice * fortnightly Content Create-alongs - ring fence some time to create content and I’ll answer any questions you have * monthly Ask Me Anything clinics - space for me to give you more in depth advice and guidance * regular resources such as tutorials, post ideas and guest speakers to learn from in your own time, including the Reel-y Simple Reels series and the Growth Sprint To become a member today, upgrade your subscription 👇🏼 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Aug 6, 2025 · 24 min

    S1 E3: Hashtag, It's Summer - how do I grow my Instagram account?

    Hello, and welcome back to the Hashtag, It’s Summer podcast series which is my invitation to you to stay in touch with your Instagram book marketing and platform building in this super-busy season. I’ve recorded a slightly longer episode this week because it turns out I have A LOT to say about growth (and this version is 15 mins shorter than the original ✂️ 🙈). I actually find it quite tricky to talk about account growth in a generalised sense which I think is why I started to waffle in the og recording. I really dislike it when Instagram ‘gurus’ up and down the internet pretend that driving account growth is as easy as slapping a fill-in-the-blanks hook over the top of some b-roll video and churning out the same content formats as everyone else. These tactics of course have their place but what will deliver sustained and sustainable growth varies enormously across niche, genre, and/ or target audience. Once I got going with my planning for this episode though I realised I was falling foul of The Curse of the Expert. I see this all the time with experts who’re writing in their field. You think the basics are too basic to share when in fact there is always someone who doesn’t know what you have learned over many years, or who may have been waiting for someone like you to say it in a way that is perfect for someone like them. All of that to say that once I started planning this episode I realised there was so much I wanted to say about growth - in different forms - that I actually had to edit 15 minutes off this episode once I’d finished with it 🙈 In this episode I talk about: * why account growth is often a common area of anxiety for writers and authors * three content types to have in the mix if growth is a priority for you * practical advice about driving account growth * how you might reframe growth so you don’t burnout or end up getting The Ick about Instagram. If listening to this podcast has made you curious about the TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM membership, you can find out more here. But in brief, members enjoy: * weekly check in chats where you can share your post plans and get advice * fortnightly Content Create-alongs - these are co-working/ body doubling sessions to ring fence some time to create content and I’m always there to answer any questions you might have * monthly Ask Me Anything clinics when there is space for me to give you more in depth advice and guidance * regular resources such as tutorials, post ideas and guest speakers to learn from * access to the full archive of resources including the Reel-y Simple Reels series and the Growth Sprint To become a member, upgrade your subscription today. If you’re taking a break from Instagram this summer, why not join the WAKE UP INSTAGRAM Challenge at the end of August? WAKE UP is a free seven-day series of tasks and exercises to get you back in front of your favourite online people. You can join by signing up with your email below: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

  • Jul 30, 2025 · 16 min

    S1 E2: Hashtag, It's Summer - what if every time I post I feel like I might die of Cringe?

    Hello, and welcome back to the Hashtag, It’s Summer podcast series which is my invitation to you to stay in touch with your Instagram book marketing and platform building in this super-busy season. This is episode two, and contrary to what I previously said, this episode is about The Cringe! I was supposed to record an episode about how to get started on Instagram but this question of how to tackle The Cringe would not leave me alone since I watched a clip of Ocean Vuong talking about how ‘Cringe Culture’ is holding back his creative writing students. I’m sure what he says - I’ve included the clip in the podcast, and you can watch the og video below 👇🏼 - will feel relatable to many of you in the context of your writing, but what also occurred to me is how often this feeling shows up when writers and author have to talk about yourself, and your work, in order to build a platform or promote your book. So, I’ve done my best to explore why writers and authors might experience cringe when it comes to posting on Instagram, and I’ve made six suggestions for ways you might start to overcome it. I hope you enjoy the episode! Next week’s episode is going to be a meaty one about growth on Instagram so, if that’s interesting to you, make sure you’ve subscribed on your podcast provider, or here on Substack, so you’re notified as soon as that episode drops. Featured in this episode: * The Wake Up Instagram Challenge - a FREE week-long series of 10 min daily tasks to help you get back in front of your favourite people after you’ve been on a break. Sign up with your email address below. The challenge starts on Monday 25th August 2025. * clip of Ocean Vuong talking about Cringe Culture * a masterclass in ‘owning’ the cringe * Becky Brynholf who I’ve borrowed from in this episode: ‘on the other side of cringe is freedom’ This feels like a good time to tell you about my membership, TOO MUCH INSTAGRAM which is hosted here on Substack. Members benefit from: * a weekly online chat where you can access feedback, advice and encouragement in a safe, judgement-free space * a monthly Ask Me Anything session where you can get more detailed advice with any sticky problems * fortnightly co-working sessions where we create posts in company (and there’s usually an opportunity for you to pick my brains) * a wealth of other resources, ideas, and tutorials to support you with using Instagram to get more readers * and you also get to be part of a brilliantly warm and welcoming community of writers and authors all facing in the same direction. You can browse the archive here. Upgrade your subscription to become a member ❤️ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicolawashington.substack.com/subscribe

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