Self vs Traditional Publishing: Pros and Cons with F.S. Yousaf | EP 11

07/29/23 • 82 min

Every aspiring writer will question whether they should self-publish their book or go through the traditional publishing route. In this episode, I speak to the poet F.S. Yousaf, who has experienced both self-publishing and traditional publishing, as he shares the advantages and disadvantages of both worlds. We also delve into the world of poetry, discussing his writing process, routine, photography, social media and much more.
F.S. Yousaf is the author of four poetry books and has a background in teaching. Currently, he dedicates his time to writing full-time.
Enjoy!
Timestamps:
0:00 Promo
1:07 Yousaf background
3:50 When poetry were born
14:40 Immigrant parents and children’s dreams
26:50 Art, making money, and social media
44:52 Self publishing
49:39 Self vs Traditional Publishing
1:00:50 Audience after publishing
1:02:20 Writing full time, process
1:14:04 Film cameras and photography
🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUSAF
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/fs.yousaf
Website: https://www.fsyousaf.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fs.yousaf/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fsyousaf_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fs.yousaf
🔗 CONNECT WITH HAZAWI
Join our newsletter: https://www.mohamedsmorshed.com/newsletter
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HazawiStories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HazawiStories
Website: https://www.mohamedsmorshed.com/tag/podcast/
📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Serenity: Poems: https://amzn.to/3OwL5Nb
Euphoria: https://amzn.to/3YcNsrR
Sincerely: https://amzn.to/43Mlg0a
Prayers of My Youth: https://amzn.to/3YdPUyr
🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST
Hazawi Podcast demystifies the writing and publishing process. It’s for emerging writers who want to improve their writing, discover the roadmap to publishing their work, and explore diverse writing careers.
🤝LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed this episode give the podcast a 5-star review on Spotify to be part of its growth
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hazawi-podcast/id1645790556
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LOnODlp3DVg6Fa2Nos5aS?si=348a0222e8f94fb9
🙏Thank you for listening and keep on creating.

Previous Episode

Embrace Your Unique Voice: Childhood Stories, Writing Style, Story Structure, and More with Jasmine Bager | EP 10

The stories we read during our childhood, the places we visit, and the challenges we overcome are all the bedrock of our upbringing; they shape our adulthood. In this episode, I speak to Jasmine Bager about her experience as a Saudi journalist, her upbringing, education, and writing on arts and culture. During our conversation, we uncover the inspirational stories that have shaped Jasmine's journey.
Jasmine Bager is a journalist from Saudi Arabia. She has an art degree, and she writes about women and the arts with a focus on the Middle East. She was one of the first Saudis to earn a degree from Columbia Journalism School. Her work has appeared in TIME, BBC, Refinery29, and Architectural Record.
Enjoy!
Timestamps:
0:00 Promo
1:04 What is Hazawi?
2:09 Jasmine's Upbringing
12:33 Imitating Other Writers
15:00 How to Find Your Writing Style
16:08 Who Does Jasmine Write for (Audience)
17:23 How to Make Your Writing Fit the Magazine You Submit to
25:34 How Much You Should Put Online About Yourself
29:04 What Makes A Journalism Piece Successful
33:10 Structuring Stories
36:27 Where to Find Stories
42:38 Finding a Writing Community
47:53 What Does Jasmine Hopes Readers Feel
50:56 Advice for Young Writers
🔗 CONNECT WITH JASMINE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminebager/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasmineBager?s=20
🔗 CONNECT WITH HAZAWI
Join our newsletter: https://www.mohamedsmorshed.com/newsletter
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HazawiStories
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HazawiStories
Website: https://www.mohamedsmorshed.com/tag/podcast/
🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST
Hazawi Podcast demystifies the writing and publishing process. It’s for emerging Muslim writers who want to improve their writing, discover the roadmap to publishing their work, and explore diverse writing careers.
🤝LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed this episode give the podcast a 5-star review on Spotify to be part of its growth
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hazawi-podcast/id1645790556
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LOnODlp3DVg6Fa2Nos5aS?si=348a0222e8f94fb9
🙏Thank you for listening and keep on creating.

Next Episode

Exploring Faith, Identity, and Culture through Poetry: A Conversation with Award-Winning Poet| EP 12

Rakaya is an award-winning poet, facilitator, event producer, and writer who explores themes of faith identity, and culture. She holds a master's degree in creative writing. You can watch her performances on YouTube (linked below). Rakaya has been commissioned by organizations like the BBC, Facebook, and Instagram.
In our conversation, we dive into topics ranging from her experiences as a third-generation immigrant to her poetry, the writing and editing process, and storytelling in both spoken and written form. This episode is filled with valuable insights.
Enjoy!
Timestamps:
0:00 Promo
1:49 Poetry Inspiration
3:19 Arabic Poetry
6:16 Poetry Themes and Audience
10:34 The Arts and Immigration
12:46 Generational Gap
14:10 Positivity in Rakaya's Poems
6:18 How to Find Your Voice
20:31 The Value of Workshops
24:46 The Question of Audience
28:09 The Danger of Writing for Audience Outside Your Culture
44:38 Storytelling in Poetry
46:28 How to Tell a Story
55:11 Advice for All Writers
🔗 CONNECT WITH RAKAYA
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rakayaesime
Website: https://taplink.cc/rakayaesime
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rakayaesime/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rakaya_esime?lang=en
TikTok:
🔗 CONNECT WITH MOHAMED
Join Our Newsletter: https://www.mohamedsmorshed.com/newsletter/
YouTube Channel: @mohamedsmorshed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mohamedsmorshed
Website: https://www.mohamedsmorshed.com/tag/podcast
🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST
Hazawi Podcast demystifies the writing and publishing process. It’s for emerging writers who want to improve their writing, discover the roadmap to publishing their work, and explore diverse writing careers.
🤝LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed this episode give the podcast a 5-star review on Spotify to be part of its growth
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LOnODl...
🙏Thank you for listening and keep on creating.