

Open Draft - with Fabio Cerpelloni
Fabio Cerpelloni (www.fabiocerpelloni.com)
I have this channel to help writers improve their craft. You'll find interviews with authors, from small indie ones to big names like Seth Godin, Derek Sivers, Kerri Sackville, Matthew Dicks, Barbara Serra, and others. You'll also find unscripted rambles, unedited reflections, book reviews, writing tips, stories, rants -- anything to help you become a better writer and creative thinker. You're welcome to join me! I ask more questions than I answer.
The show is also on YouTube @fabiocerpelloni
The show is also on YouTube @fabiocerpelloni
Episodes
Mentioned books

16 snips
Nov 3, 2024 • 1h 10min
The King of Storytellling: Matthew Dicks on Writing, Creativity, and the Art of Telling Stories
Matthew Dicks, an internationally bestselling novelist and storytelling champion, shares his wisdom on writing and creativity. He discusses the transformative power of personal narratives, emphasizing their role in building connections. Dicks delves into the differences between fiction and nonfiction, advocating for flexibility in writing styles. He also highlights the emotional impact of handwritten letters compared to digital communication. Throughout, he encourages aspiring writers to embrace their creative journeys, even amidst life's chaos.

Oct 24, 2024 • 25min
A Book Every Creator Must Read: How I Changed by Reading Seth Godin’s “The Practice”
Dive into transformative insights inspired by a powerful book! Discover how creativity is framed as an actionable journey rather than a mere emotion. Learn why prioritizing process over outcomes can fuel personal growth. The speaker shares the importance of collaborating with clients who align with your values, ultimately enhancing both creativity and fulfillment. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to evolve in their creative endeavors!

Oct 18, 2024 • 19min
School Ruined Everything
Does school suppress creativity? In my experience, yes. Here's a rant and a few stories.
Videos/Books I mentioned:
- Seth Godin's interview - https://youtu.be/DivRzYrs8BY?si=jcMDnH2yWptQDe-o
- Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&vl=en
- "The Element" by Ken Robinson
- "Stop Stealing Dreams: What is school for?" by Seth Godin https://seths.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/stop-stealing-dreams6print.pdf
www.fabiocerpelloni.com

Oct 10, 2024 • 13min
Lessons from a 100-Year-Old Author: "The Happiest Man on Earth" (Eddie Jaku)
This discussion reveals powerful lessons from a Holocaust survivor's memoir, emphasizing the value of personal narratives. Listeners are reminded that everyone's unique experiences contribute to a rich tapestry of storytelling. The conversation encourages overcoming barriers to writing, urging aspiring authors to take action. It also suggests a shift from political discourse to personal growth through literature, inviting engagement in a supportive writing community.

Oct 3, 2024 • 48min
Facing Rejection, Perfectionism, and Finding Breakthroughs - With Lara Donadello
My dear friend Lara -- one of the most creative, resourceful, and perfectionistic people I know -- joins us for an honest conversation about turning creative ideas into reality.
We hope this will help you reflect on how you approach your own creative process.
If you prefer watching, here's the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/vPFshoIJkvI
***
LARA's LINKS
Lara's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@IngleseConLara
Lara's Podcast - https://enbooo.com/category/enbooo-podcast/
MY LINKS
Join Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private

Sep 27, 2024 • 9min
Shamelessly Drop Books You Don't Like
Discover the liberating idea that it's perfectly acceptable to abandon books that don’t captivate you. The discussion dives into the speaker's personal journey of embracing this freedom, encouraging listeners to prioritize joy and learning in their reading choices. Say goodbye to the guilt of unfinished reads and focus on what truly resonates with you!

Sep 20, 2024 • 13min
Wanna Write Better Sentences? Here’s a Helpful Book
Discover how to craft killer sentences with insights from June Casagrande's engaging book. Learn effective strategies to enhance clarity and impact in your writing. The importance of community support in honing writing skills is also explored, encouraging listeners to share recommendations and join a vibrant writing network. Get ready to elevate your writing game!

Sep 13, 2024 • 15min
Start a TINY Blog
You have no audience when you journal. Your reader doesn't matter because you don't have one. You write to and for yourself. Blogging is different.
When you blog, you're in the business of helping your readers. What do they want? What do they need? What do they think? Most importantly, how can I help?
Your next blog post could be 1 sentence long. Your next 1,000 blog posts could be that long too.
Who says we need to write a 6-minute article every week?
A tiny blog to be useful -- that's enough.
You'll start forming opinions, noticing, reflecting, and questioning. "Why am I saying this?" "Wow, I never thought about that before!" "I don't believe what I've just written." "Why do I believe this?" "Total bullshit!"
These are some of the thoughts that come to me when I blog.
A tiny blog helps you, too.
STUFF I MENTIONED
- My TINY Blog - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/blog/
- My review of "Serveral Short Sentences About Writing" - https://youtu.be/UEJmxMuKecg?si=JtiZhB57FQtsXXuv-
-A chat with Zulie Rane - https://youtu.be/LtmND8ykEX4?si=B7rEKCfKYXpxgd1a-
- A video on my channel that many people found useful - https://youtu.be/2TrxmpeiKAM?si=5y7DqxxdsiUPARRJ
- George Kao (Authentic Business Coach) @GeorgeKaoCommunity

Sep 6, 2024 • 1h 1min
Writing for Passion or Profit? Or Both? (With Zulie Rane)
Zulie Rane left her 9-to-5 job in 2018 to become a full-time online writer and content creator. She then became one of the most popular writers on Medium, a blogging platform that allows you to monetise your writing. Today, Zulie is back to a 9-to-5 job...at Medium.
What happened in between?
Zulie talked about reaching her audience, writing for fun, writing for profit, ghostwriting overcoming writer's block, capturing ideas for writing, burning out, writing a novel, making money on Medium, and many other things I guess only writers would be interested in. Enjoy the conversation.
(Available on my YT channel too - https://youtu.be/LtmND8ykEX4)
USEFUL LINKS FROM ZULIE
Browse 100+ publications in the Medium Boost Nomination Program - https://help.medium.com/hc/en-us/articles/23964242497559-Browse-100-publications-in-the-Boost-Nomination-Pilot
- Medium's Huge List of Publications Accepting Submissions - https://medium.com/@MediumStaff/list/mediums-huge-list-of-publications-accepting-submissions-7c0ec8037e61
- All the stories Medium staff have written about the Boost. https://medium.com/@zulie_at_medium/list/everything-about-the-boost-aea02a8f55f9
- Zulie's YT channel @ZulieWrites
MY LINK
Join Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

Aug 30, 2024 • 11min
Why Is It Hard to Write Consistently?
Aloha, a passionate writer and advocate for creative consistency, joins in a deep dive on the hurdles of consistent writing. They uncover five key reasons that make it tough to maintain writing habits and pursue goals. The conversation reveals the psychological barriers and practical challenges that can derail progress. Aloha also shares insightful tips for overcoming these obstacles, making the discussion both relatable and inspiring for anyone struggling with consistency in their creative pursuits.