Write Well Me

20% Off Every Product and Program Starts Today (and Ends Tomorrow)

I have finally gotten the rest of the 2012 calendar in place, full of popular programs and even a new, begged-for quarterly workshop.

To celebrate and in the spirit of helping you achieve your business (and personal) goals this year, I'm making available to you a 20% discount on every program and product I am offering for the rest of 2012 (and even one workshop in January, 2013).

And there is reason to celebrate. Although I sit down and figure out my program and product offerings twice a year (and I've been doing this for six or seven years now), I was shocked this time at how much time it took. It wasn't simply a matter of plopping a workshop on this date, and then I was done. It was a heck of a lot of work! Website updates, shopping cart back-end, thank-you pages, and more. Of course, there's also the fact that I just redesigned the website, and there were tweaks here, there, and everywhere.

To be honest, I couldn't have done it without my own Just Write! Virtual Workshops or the Create Your 2012 Writing Plan for Your Business. Just sayin'. :)

I want to offer you tools, strategies, accountability, and support to help you do all you need to do in your business.

• Do you want to write?
• Do you have lots to write for your business? (Think sales pages, blog posts, ezine articles, speaker sheets...)
• Would you like to have an organized plan to help you achieve your business goals?
• How about some really cool (and fun) strategies to get your creative juices flowing?
• And of course, there's always working on your writing and becoming a more confident writer.

If it's on the calendar, and it's a product or program I offer, you can get 20% off (even including the private, one-on-one Writing From Your Soul Private Coaching Package.)

The 20% off sale only lasts today and tomorrow, so you'll want to take advantage of this great deal right away.

Here is a snapshot of the products and programs I offer (and that you can save 20% on).

(By the way, there is no limit to how many programs you sign up for and use the 20% discount... Sign up for one, two, three, all... and save 20% across the board. Just use coupon MAYDAY.)

Another hint: The "Continue Shopping" button is a great way to return to the Write Well U website and select other products and programs you want to save 20% on.

Create Your Writing Plan for Your Business Tool - You may be thinking, "But I'm not a writer," but if you own a business, you have a lot to write! Blog posts, ezine articles, video scripts, RFP responses, website copy, sales pages, emails... the list goes on and on and on.... The Create Your 2012 Writing Plan For Your Business (which comes with free annual upgrades) helps you organize your writing and marketing plans, so that everything is in one place, making for easier and more efficient running of your business.

 

Create Your Writing Plan for Your Business Quarterly Companion Workshops - Specifically requested by people who bought the Create Your Writing Plan for Your Business stand-alone product. They wanted structure and accountability around creating that writing plan for their businesses. "Frankly, I have my sheets and haven't filled them out! (I really didn't want to tell you this, but decided, I'm just going to be honest!). I think if I had had the accountability of someone there saying "where are you on this...", I probably would have done a better job. If you were to do this in the next couple months or the next quarter, I would say 'Sign me up.'" 3 DATES TO CHOOSE FROM!

 

Just Write! Virtual Workshops - monthly (and sometimes more often), we spend four hours writing. The accountability and support (and the time to write) are priceless. MONTHLY DATES TO CHOOSE FROM!

 

Ready, Set, Write From Your Soul 4-session live program - In this live, virtual, interactive class, we cover creativity, how you process information, 50 strategies to get creativity flowing, and how you can use that knowledge to write. Comes with the Ready, Set, Write From Your Soul Toolbox (see below). OCTOBER, 2012.

 

Ready, Set, Write From Your Soul Toolbox - 100+-page manual with information on how you process information (and how you can use that to help you get started with writing more easily), more than 50 strategies to help you brainstorm, generate ideas, and get you past any stuck points in your business writing, as well as an extensive resource library. You get worksheets, examples, websites, and step-by-step instructions for applying these strategies to your writing

 

15-Minutes-A-Day Writing Challenge - This was so popular, I had to bring it back! 15-day program where we get together and write for 15 minutes a day. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done! NOVEMBER 1-21, 2012.

 

Writing From Your Soul Complete Toolkit - The Complete follow-up system from the free Writing From Your Soul 13-step process. The Complete Toolkit provides more tools and resources in the form of audio guides, checklists, worksheets, and articles to help you tap deeply into your purpose and connect with your target market. For the business owner who wants to fully tap into her soul and unleash her power and brilliance.

 

Writing From Your Soul Private Coaching Package - If you've ever wanted a personal, caring, knowledgable guide to help you tap into your purpose, what your soul wants to say, and then say it, this is for you. You get four 30-minute sessions along with review and feedback on marketing materials you're working on. For the business owner who wants guided support and expert feedback on her marketing.

 

Use coupon code MAYDAY to save 20% on all the programs above.

Are you ready to get lots of writing done, unleash and expand your creativity, and make marketing easier and perhaps more fun?!

Start the Year Right - And Write! (And Save 20%)

(Sorry, I couldn't help the play on words. Call me a word geek.)

While I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, I do believe in putting into place tools and strategies that help us do what we want to do.

• Do you want to write?
• Do you have lots to write for your business? (Think sales pages, blog posts, ezine articles, speaker sheets...)
• Would you like to have an organized plan to help you achieve your business goals?
• How about some really cool (and fun) strategies to get your creative juices flowing?
• And of course, there's always working on your writing and becoming a more confident writer.

In the spirit of helping you achieve your business (and personal) goals this year, I'm offering a 20% discount on every program I'm offering for the first six months of 2012. (Sorry - I don't have the last six months planned out!)

If it's on the calendar, and it's a program I offer, you can get 20% off (including the big, honking, 24-week Writing Essentials Program).

The 20% off sale only lasts today and tomorrow, so you'll want to take advantage of this great deal right away.

Here is a snapshot of the programs I offer (and that you can save 20% on).

(By the way, there is no limit to how many programs you sign up for and use the 20% discount... Sign up for one, two, three, all... and save 20% across the board. Just use coupon JAN20.)

 

Create Your Writing Plan for Your Business Teleclass - 90-minute teleclass that will help you create a writing and marketing plan for your business. Comes with a cool, 30-page tool that you can use all year 'round.

 

Just Write! Virtual Workshops - monthly (and sometimes more often), we spend four hours writing. The accountability and support (and the time to write) are priceless.

 

Ready, Set, Write From Your Soul - In this five-week, interactive class, we cover creativity, how you process information, 50 strategies to get creativity flowing, and how you can use that knowledge to write.

 

15-Minutes-A-Day Writing Challenge - brand-new, 15-day program where we get together and write for 15 minutes a day. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done!

 

Writing Essentials Program - While the Writing Essentials Program covers grammar, structure, and style in writing, what it really does is immerse you in writing. You come out the other end a stronger, more confident writer who isn't afraid of anything. It's 24 weeks and starts in June (but don't forget that you can save a whopping 20% off the program cost!)

 

Use coupon code JAN20 to save 20% on all the programs above.

Here's to a successful 2012! May all your dreams come true!

Are You Tired of Writing Being Hard?

Is writing hard for you?

Do you shudder every time you have to write something, even an email, because you're afraid of what people will think when they read it?

Do you struggle with where to put a comma, what the heck a semicolon is, the right word to use, how to end a piece of writing powerfully, or how to keep your audience's attention?

How much time are you spending in struggling to write a blog post, ezine article, marketing materials, emails?

What if you could just shoot off an email response? What if an ezine article or blog post just flowed right out of you?

What if you sent off a proposal or an information request, confident that your writing skills were strong?

Do you know how to get to that place?

I do. It's the six-month Writing Essentials Program. We'll cover just about everything to do with writing, including

• grammar
• punctuation
• easily confused words
• style
• voice
• introductions and conclusions
• flow
• creating tension (yes, you even need tension in a sales page and in an ezine article)
• Concise writing

It's an amazing journey that you'll go through in the Writing Essentials Program. Your writing will start to shift and improve almost instantly. You'll be aware of things you've never even thought about before. You'll get past any of your personal roadblocks and spend time where it's important - making sure you convey your message powerfully.

Here's the thing... you don't want to agonize over where to put a comma or how to end your article. You want to spend time focusing on your purpose, why you're writing in the first place, and then beef that up.

Purpose, not commas.

In the twenty-four week program, I'll also be incorporating my new Writing From Your Soul process so that you never lose the focus of why you're writing.

Ready to join me?

I’m offering a pretty steep discount for the remaining two seats in the class, which starts October 27, 2011, and ends April 26, 2012.

Here’s the special offer: $1800 pay-in-full for October's Writing Essentials Program - save $900 off the regular price. I'm also offering a generous payment plan: eight monthly payments of $300 - saving $100 off the regular pay-in-full price and $300 over the regular payment plan. This offer is available for you until Friday, October 14.

Find out more and apply today.

In addition, after teaching this class for six years, I’m making some improvements to make it even better – and really help you hone your writing skills. (And maybe even fall in love with writing!)

The last day to apply and take advantage of this great offer for this comprehensive twenty-four week class is this Friday, October 14. Don't miss out on being able to write powerfully and easily.

How Are Your Writing Skills? Want Them To Be Better?

• Is poor writing getting in your way?
• Do you need to have excellent writing skills?
• When it comes to writing, do you shudder?

If you really want to jump-start your writing in a big way, the Writing Essentials Program is just the ticket.

With 24 weeks of writing intensive, you'll work on structure, mechanics, strategies, and techniques. You'll gain a writer's filter and view everything from the point of view of a writer. (Although when you're at the grocery store and reviewing the advertisements for fresh fruit, you might wish you could turn off the filter.)

I won't kid you; the Writing Essentials Program isn't a course for the lazy. It's for the person who wants to step into her writer self - for someone who wants to feel confident about her writing skills.

The next Writing Essentials Program starts October 27, 2011, and I'm offering a deep, labor-free (Happy Labor Day!) discount that's only available for a few days.

Through Tuesday, September 13, 2011, I'm offering a get-the-fall-started-right special: $1600 pay-in-full for October's Writing Essentials Program, and save $900. There's also a generous payment plan: eight monthly payments of $300 - saving $100 off the regular pay-in-full price and $300 over the regular payment plan.

Continue your journey as a serious writer and apply for the Writing Essentials Program before midnight on Tuesday, September 13.

(And if you're still not sure if this is for you, be in touch to set up a one-on-one conversation with me to see if the Writing Essentials Program is what you need.)

http://www.writewellu.com/writing_essentials_program.html

What if you actually scheduled writing time?

Every time I hold a Just Write Virtual Workshop, I get email after email from people saying, "Oh, I want to do that!! But I have _____ [fill in the blank with your favorite reason]. I'll do it next month!"

But then next month comes, and it's the same thing.

So, what if you scheduled writing time NOW? What if you went ahead and just signed up for the Just Write Virtual Workshop on Friday, August 12?

Here's what would happen...

• You'd feel like a kid in the candy store. "I actually get to write!!!!"
• Your brain would already start playing with your current project. You might even be inspired to write some notes, just to get you ready for Friday, August 12.
• You could finally tell your inner critic voice to shut up every time he starts to say things like, "Yeah, you say you want to write, but you never do...."
• More importantly, come August 12, YOU WILL WRITE!

And that's not all; you'll get the support of the group (if you've never written in an environment like this - even a virtual one - you have to experience it to really know the power), accountability, structure, and some on-the-spot coaching with me if you need it.

Won't you join us?

WHAT: Just Write! Virtual Workshop
DATE: Friday, August 12
TIME: 12:00pm - 4:00pm eastern
LOCATION: Virtual! From wherever you want to write (but try to make sure it's a quiet place, as there will be a group of us together).
PRICE: $29 - includes the four-hour workshop, handouts, and on-the-spot coaching.

To find out more and to register, click here.

No matter what you do, WRITE!

Have You Lost the Fun In Writing?

Does writing just seem too hard?

Or is writing (that article, that blog post, that marketing email, that self-help book, that fiction story) one more thing on your to-do list, and you just try to get it done?

What if writing could be fun?

What if writing could be easy?

That's what the five-week class, Ready, Set, Write, is all about. It's about embracing the process of writing, learning how YOU uniquely see the world, and strategies that help you take a somewhat-vague idea and flesh it out.

And have fun in the process.

In Ready, Set, Write, we cover 50+ strategies to get ideas flowing, whether it's for a press release, an article, a story, a screen play, or other writing project. You'll spend five weeks practicing the strategies and observing how your writing process changes as a result. By the end of the five-week class, you'll have discovered which strategies work for you the best and have a bevy of techniques to strap to your writing toolbelt.

In addition, as part of Ready, Set, Write, you receive the 87-plus-page manual, Ready Set Write Toolbox, that describes each strategy with examples, a handy resource to have for every writing project.

Ready, Set, Write starts Tuesday, May 31, and the last day to register is Thursday, May 26.

It's an affordable, fun way to work on the creative process of writing (and it actually makes writing easier, but we'll cover all that!)

Find out more and register for Ready, Set, Write - and revel in the fun and creativity of writing!

When Was the Last Time You Wrote Anything?

Do you yearn to write?

Do you write consistently?

Do you often plan to write, but then everything else seems to take precedence?

It's pretty common. Unless you are a professional writer with and editor and deadlines looming over you, it takes an incredible amount of self-discipline and self-motivation to write on a regular basis.

Sometimes, all you need is a structured time to write. A start time, an end time, and people counting on you to show up. Once that is in place, it seems much easier to actually write.

That's what I'm offering to you - an opportunity to set aside a block of time to write. I'll create the structure; you just show up - and write.

WHAT: Just Write! Virtual Workshop
DATE: Wednesday, December 29
TIME: 12:00pm - 4:00pm eastern
LOCATION: Virtual! From wherever you want to write (but try to make sure it's a quiet place, as there will be a group of us together).
PRICE: $29 - includes the four-hour workshop and handouts

To find out more and to register, click here.

I hope to write with you on the 29th!

Do You Write or Just Dream of Writing?

If writing seems hard, maybe it's because you don't know how to get started. To you, writing should just be the simple act of putting words down on paper or on screen, right?

Actually, not really. Writing is much more than that. It's the creation of an idea that comes to you without much form, and then you try to put form and structure around it. That's not as easy as you think.

Most people try to rush through the idea process to get straight to the words, sentences, and paragraphs. But if you don't spend enough time nurturing the raw thoughts themselves, it's awfully hard to get to the word part.

Creating, brainstorming, and idea generating doesn't have to be all about outlines - the way most of us were taught. It can look like many different things (mindmapping, staring out the window, drawing pictures, interviewing, being interviewed, journaling, just to name a few), and it can fun, liberating, playful, and exciting.

In Ready, Set, Write, we cover 46 strategies to get ideas flowing, whether it's for a press release, an article, a story, a screen play, or other writing project. You'll find out how you process information and what brainstorming strategies work the best (outlining isn't all it's cracked up to be).

You'll spend five weeks practicing the strategies and observing how your writing process changes as a result. By the end of the five-week class, you'll have discovered which strategies work for you the best and have a bevy of techniques to strap to your writing toolbelt.

In addition, as part of Ready, Set, Write, you receive the 87-plus-page manual, Ready Set Write Toolbox, that describes each strategy with examples, a handy resource to have for every writing project.

Ready, Set, Write starts October 26, and the last day to register is Tuesday, October 12.

Don't let "I don't know how to get started" or "I'm stuck" continue to be excuses for not writing.

P.S. This is the last Write Well U class for 2010, so don't miss out on an opportunity to stop dreaming and start writing. Register for Ready, Set, Write today!

How to Convey Your Message with Power and Passion - Part I

I’ve always been about writing. It’s just what I did. In school I was told I was a good writer. So I got lots of support, and my confidence was pretty strong.

I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, so when I went into undergrad, I figured majoring in English would be a good thing. (You have to be able to communicate well, right?) At the same time, I also worked in the law school on campus as a court runner. How better to see the inside workings of the legal system than to work in the legal department? Within a month, I figured out that I so did NOT want to be a lawyer.

Now what?

I went back to that place—what I could do well—or at least what I had been TOLD I could do well: writing and teaching. So I finished my English degree with a minor in business administration and my certification to teach.

Well, two years working in a school where my 7th and 8th graders were more concerned—and rightly so—with pregnancies, taking care of their siblings as their parents worked three jobs, and gangs—took its toll on my enthusiasm and passion. The last thing they cared about was writing.

And I couldn’t blame them.

I found myself feeling lost. This is what I thought I wanted to do—teach.

And I thought it might have been me: if I did a better job, if I connected better… Maybe I could have really helped fire their passion about writing…

So I left teaching. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. Maybe I’d watched To Sir, With Love too often and thought that I could change these kids’ lives.

Fast forward a few years, and I was working with business owners to manage their businesses, and, of course, writing was a big part of what I did—and still do. I strategize, craft, and create everything from Ezines, marketing campaigns, web copy, affiliate management and campaigns.

I ran into a lot of people who really struggled with writing. And some of these people were amazing at what they did, but they couldn’t write. But, more importantly, they didn’t THINK they could write. I started to take what I could see their problems were (because, yes, there were some places where they did need some help—but it wasn’t hopeless) and begin to design solutions.

I thought it was just going to be this little thing I did on the side, you know, an eight-week writing class. Teach the class. And—poof—they’re better writers! Mission accomplished, and I’ll just go back into my life.

Unh unh.

The writing class grew from eight weeks to twenty-four weeks as I really understood where people struggled—they didn’t have a chance to really integrate what they’ve learned and techniques into their writing. Most importantly, they didn’t have an opportunity to practice and bring their own writing style into being—and hone it and polish it.

What really happened, though, was that I rediscovered my passion and my soul purpose: to connect. It’s the work I’m meant to do—and it’s my greatest gift—and my greatest need. Now I've taken that passion and gift for connection and help others connect with their passion. 

So how do you convert your passion into powerful writing?  It starts with confidence. If you’re not confident about your message, it’s not going to matter how well you write. Along with that, you have to be confident about getting that message out there. Remember when I talked about being in school and getting awards for my writing ability? That confidence made me THINK I was a good writer. Was I good a writer? Maybe, maybe not. But I thought I was.

Once you've got that confidence (or at least working on it), the number one thing to focus on to get big results in your writing is to be very clear about your message. Everything comes down to being clear about your message. 

If you don’t know your message, if you’re not clear on what you’re trying to do, if you don’t know the results you’re hoping to get (and I’m talking about focused results—not just “I hope people read this article” or “I hope people respond on Twitter”), you’re going to struggle with writing or your writing is going to fall flat.

The clearer (and more specific) you are about your message and the results you want to achieve, the easier it is for you to write. Because then the words flow, because they're flowing from the heart.

You’re connecting with your audience.

And that power and passion comes naturally.

When we struggle with the writing, or the words just don’t seem to come easily, or you think that you fall on the “I suck” part of the writing spectrum—it’s because of two things

• lack of clarity (and this covers all manner of things: purpose, audience, message)


• lack of self-confidence

Now, are there tips and techniques that will help you? Absolutely, and we’ll get to those in Part II next week.

Until then, we’re going to start with what you want from your writing:

• you want it to be easy


• you want it to flow


• you want to connect with your readers, your audience


• you want those readers to do what you want them to do—there needs to be a reason WHY you’re writing

Imagine being able to sit down to write—and it’s easy. And you’re so clear on what you’re writing and the message you’re trying to convey. And the words flow…

And that being your experience with writing—over and over.

Stay tuned next week when we discuss Part II of How to Convey Your Message with Power and Passion—10 techniques to jazz up your writing—AFTER you’ve become clear on your message, purpose, and audience.

Action Verbs Get No Respect

From a student in Write Well U's Writing Essential Program (used with permission):

Visiting mom in the nursing home was enjoyable today. I took my notebook to write down action verbs on my list. Mom and I started spitting out words: cooking, helping, cutting. I think it may have been because we were watching the Food Channel. It was funny when mom wheeled herself out to the nurse's station and asked the nurses, "Who knows some action verbs?"

It really goes to show people really don't listen.

They said, "Who knows where Herman is?"

Mom wheeled back in and said, "They don't even know what an action verb is."

Do You Ever Get Stuck When You Write?

Whether writing comes easily to you or not, you've probably gotten stuck a few times.  "What do I write?"  "What's the best, most compelling title?" "How in the world do I write this article?"

 

That's where Ready, Set, Write from Write Well U comes in.  During this five-week class, we cover 45 strategies to get ideas flowing, whether it's for a press release, an article, a story, a screen play, or other writing project. You'll spend five weeks practicing the strategies and observing how your writing process changes as a result.

 

You'll also learn how you process information and what strategies will work best for you.  Not only does this help you write more easily, but it's information that you can apply to all areas of your life.

 

By the end of Ready, Set, Write, you'll have several strategies in your writer's toolbox to turn to any time you get stuck in a writing project. And these strategies can be used at any point in any writing project: beginning, middle, end, chapter titles, character description, self-help sections...

 

Ready, Set, Write begins on January 14, and the deadline to register is this Friday, January 8. Are you ready to write? Click here to find out more and to register. 

 

Imagine having an arsenal of strategies at your disposal any time you get stuck. Let's say good-bye to stuck!

Does Your Writing Lack Power and Passion?

I watch writers struggle to make sure their words are powerful and do what they want them to do. Part of the work I do with writers is to help them with two primary purposes: convey their message to their audience, and convey that message with impact and power.

Because if your message doesn't have impact, the audience won't do what you want them to do, whether it's to sign a petition, buy your product, sign up for a class, finish reading your book, hire you, whatever your purpose in writing.

Before you can start working on conveying that message, though, you have to know who's receiving your message. Can you reach everyone? No, you can't. You shouldn't want to. You should know exactly who your audience is. And it is not "everyone"!

Really.

Sometimes, writers (and anyone who writes for whatever reason) just slap some words on paper or screen and hope that they've stumbled upon the right combination.

It doesn't work that way. And that's where I come in.

First, you have to figure out what your message is and who it's for. Writing 101. (And Business 101 and Marketing 101 and so on.)

Here's the kicker: once you do that, you have to then figure out how to craft your message so that you reach your audience. By "reach," I mean to communicate, connect, share, bond, relate with your audience. And the only way to do that is to write with power and passion.

How do you do that?

That's part of what I'm going to show you in Thursday's FREE teleclass, How to Convey Your Message with Power and Passion - 10 Writing Techniques to Jazz Up Your Writing.

I'll share

• stumbling blocks writers face
• what writers need to pay attention to
• and those 10 writing techniques with examples

As a bonus for attending the class, you'll also receive The Nifty Guide for Writers Checklist that you can apply to any writing project.

We'll be recording the class so that even if you can't attend live, you'll get the recording, as well as that Nifty Guide for Writers Checklist.

Date: Thursday, September 3

Time: 1:00 p.m. eastern
12:00 p.m. central
11:00 a.m. mountain
10:00 a.m. pacific

To find out more and to register, click here. I hope to connect with you Thursday - and to help you convey your own message with power and passion.

Where Are You Stuck on the Publishing Path?

Friday was supposed to be launch day, and it ended up being a "soft" launch.  (I always wondered what that meant when a new store had a soft opening. Either they're open or not, right?  I get it now.)  Sure, Write Well U/AuthorSmart classes were open to the public, but I didn't get to make the big broo-ha-ha over it that I wanted.

That's today. A "hard" opening, I guess.

Now, that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy. Au contraire! As a matter of fact, I worked so hard last week that I was getting ideas even as I was going to bed at 1:00 a.m.  The best, most creative, and cutest idea I had was for the announcement of the Write Well U/AuthorSmart merger - and that was the idea that came at 1:00 in the morning as I lay my exhausted head on the pillow. I could write a story about the two little girls who started Write Well U and AuthorSmart, respectively!

Luckily, my BlackBerry is never very far from me, so I quickly emailed (I thought) Gail and asked for a baby picture. She's two hours behind me, so I thought she might be able to get it to me in time for Friday morning.

Friday morning (only five hours later, actually) came, and there was a picture.  However, it was attached to a meeting request. I was so tired the night before. I thought I was sending an email, but in fact sent a meeting request. Gail graciously ignored the fact that I was asking her to attend some weird meeting in which she needed to bring a baby picture and simply attached said pic.

I'd recount the cute story I wrote about the Write Well U/AuthorSmart merger here, but then you'd miss out on those pictures.  So visit the actual announcement, sign up for Fuel for Your Writing Journey, and browse our impressive class offerings.

And I promise I won't send you weird meeting requests at 1:00 a.m.

Voluptuous vs. Curvy

In the next-to-last session of the Writing Essentials Program last Monday, we talked about tone, and how tone can be conveyed by just word choice.  For example, if you want to describe a woman who isn't a stick figure, you might use the word "curvy" to describe her.  (See Scarlett Johansson in He's Just Not That Into You.)

But if you were to use the word "voluptuous" instead, then a whole new world of meaning comes into play. 

As Robin said in class, "Curvy is a road.  Now voluptuous.  That's a woman.

Expanding

It's been in the works for several months, and it's been hard to keep quiet.  ('Cuz you know, the trick is getting Dawn to shut up.) 

It's interesting that Write Well U is expanding at the same time that my whole feels like it's expanding: new life, new opportunities, new, new, new.  I'm happy that Write Well U gets to experience some of the same development that I get to.

That all being said, I'm VERY excited about the changes coming Write Well U's way.  I get to build relationships with a whole new band of great instructors, offer some teaching opportunities to folks new to both AuthorSmart and Write Well U, and present a robust series of classes on both writing and publishing.

As I've changed my focus to helping women writers (as opposed to just anyone who wants to write well), it was kismet that Gail was looking for someone to take over AuthorSmart at the same time.  It just seems smart to offer a publishing aspect for my market of women writers.  Because if you want to write, you're probably going to want to publish.

So here's the release in all its glory.  While AuthorSmart may look "dark" from the outside, know that behind the scenes, we're working busily to unveil big changes for Write Well U on May 1.

---

Writing & Publishing Programs Combine to Offer Full Spectrum of Training and Resources for Authors

(COLORADO SPRINGS, CO) March 25, 2009 - AuthorSmart.com, an online clearinghouse of publishing information, education, and resources for authors, announced today that on May 1, 2009, the company will become part of WriteWellU, a provider of writing programs and coaching.

The change will result in a one-stop source for authors seeking information and guidance throughout the entire publishing process from idea to finished book by bringing together subject matter experts to deliver training.

During the month of April 2009, at the close of its Winter Session classes, AuthorSmart will “go dark” as the transition takes place. On May 1st, WriteWellU will unveil a robust class schedule for the late spring and summer, which will include classes covering both writing and publishing topics.

AuthorSmart founder, Gail Richards, cited the reason for the transition as two-fold: a good match and good timing. “The majority of AuthorSmart clients are seeking help with writing in addition to learning about the publishing process, making WriteWellU a perfect complement. And the opportunity is well-timed professionally for me.”

Richards is leaving her role at AuthorSmart to focus on several private consulting contracts in her specialty of marketing communications. She shared, “When I decided to make this change, I wanted to find someone who would shepherd AuthorSmart’s programs with the same attention I have. I’m confident Dawn will do that, make this her own, and make it even better.”

WriteWellU founder, Dawn Goldberg is equally excited. “We can now provide a more comprehensive experience for clients of both AuthorSmart and WriteWellU. We’re taking two good things and combining them into something even better.”

Goldberg is recognized for coaching insight and expertise in working with writers. She herself is a writer, currently completing a collection of short stories.

###

Push Vs. Pull

In my coaching session with Stacy last week, we talked about all these amazing things that are coming so easily to me:  being approached to give and get paid for - very important! - a writing workshop; potential travel to Boston and Scotland (yes, the country) paid for by my clients; a new collaboration that's going to do wonderful things for Write Well U and writers who are interested in publishing; finishing my short story and working on the next one;  excited about my future...

I gushed and gushed about all these wonderful things happening. It feels like Christmas all the time.

Stacy's observation:  "You've been pushing most of your life to get where you are.  Now, you're not pushing so much, and you're pulling these things to you."

And I realized she's right.  Most of my life has been constant pushing.  The last few months, as rough as they have been, have involved me letting go of some of these areas (maybe all - I can't think of an area where I'm still having to push).  And since I let them go (at the time not realizing how much I had had to push and work), it's freed my energies, and I'm not fighting against the current.

That's where I want to be.  Maybe all of us want to be there, but how many of us really are?  How much of our lives are spent pushing, pushing, pushing because that's the way we think it has to be? Or it's not an ideal situation and we're trying to make the most of it? Or we're taking responsibility for everything to make life bearable, to make it work?  Or we put up with things because we think we have to, because that's just the way things are?

So I give up the pushing, and, instead, I pull things to me.  To put it another way, and to use another metaphor, it's like flowing downstream instead of fighting upstream.  (That metaphor comes from Stacy and when I wrote this post, it was Dominic's birthday weekend.  I wasn't going to bug her for clarification. I'm sure she'll happily comment and expand upon that metaphor if necessary.)

Here's to pulling life, wonder, gifts, desire, joy, love, fulfillment, creativity to me.  Even just writing that sends shivers up my spine. 

Still Virtual, But Flesh-and-blood, Too

A little over a week ago, I facilitated a writing workshop for a women's group.  This group of women meets once a month, and they explore topics ranging from Reiki to time management to writing.  (Hint: that last is where I come in.)

Several women in the group write and/or are interested in writing, but their main obstacle to being happy little writers is getting past the noise in their minds to the words behind the clutter.  A common problem, and one that I help people with all the time.  It was quite easy (and soooooooo much fun) to design a workshop around this topic.  I had material, exercises, tools... The workshop ran for 2 1/2 hours, and I didn't come anywhere near using all my material.  (The benefits of a teaching background - NEVER run out of things for the kidlets to do.  Or maybe that's from twelve years of kids' birthday parties...).

One of the tools I showed them was a strategy I showed small child some time ago.  Anastasia came to me, frustrated.  "I have all these ideas in my head, and I don't know what do with them!"  I gave her a box that fits index cards, and we brainstormed different categories.  She has a category for ideas for characters, titles, ideas for stories, scenes, added ideas - ones that are put together to make up a story.

I asked her if I could take her writer's box to the workshop as an example.  "Cool!" she said.  "I'll be famous to, like, ten people." 

"I'm also going to write about it on my blog."

"Oh.  Well, then, I'll be famous to eleven people." 

She thinks she's funny.  I have at least two readers of my blog.

Anyway, being asked to do this workshop (and getting paid for it, by the way), designing it, and giving it reminded me that facilitating workshops and eventually retreats has been part of my long-term goals.  I do virtual very well, but I shine in person. 

Giving in-person workshops is going to become a bigger facet of Write Well U, and I just can't express how dog-gone excited I am about it. 

I'm An Expert!

Last year I became a writing expert on AllExperts.com, a large-scale question and answer service on the internet, where volunteers share knowledge in their area of expertise. What types of questions does a writing expert receive at AllExperts.com? 

Well, it’s an interesting assortment of inquiries. For the cynical members of our audience, yes, a few high school students have asked me to edit their essays for college admissions applications. On the other hand, there are questions from those who are genuinely stumped. People for whom English is not their first language have asked for help interpreting what an author meant by a certain turn of phrase. I’ve also been asked to give advice on cover letters, letters of resignation, and letters asking for a refund.

Other than that, as you’d suspect, most of the questions are good ol’ grammar questions. I’ve had fun talking with people who truly want to know the answers to grammar questions.  Who knew other people besides geeks like me really cared?

I’ve realized – again – that my stuff (knowledge, programs, passion) works best when the participants really want to be there.  That’s who my market is:  people who really care about writing.  It’s not people who don’t want to be there or who are only doing this because they’ve been told to or think it’s something they ought to do. My gift is helping people become stronger writers – people who really want to write well.

So you can come find me on AllExperts.com, or you can get the full force of the Dawn (I told you I get a lot of mileage out of my first name) in one of my classes. So if you want to write well, want to write with a strong voice, or you want to learn some strategies to let those ideas flow, come find me.

Rocks In My Life

In my post on three words, Patricia commented, "Stones have such a mystical sense to them, and to use them in this way is lovely. I have a window ledge that could use some stones..."

I hadn't really thought about it before, but I have stones all through my house, including a couple of window sills.  I didn't do it on purpose. "Oh, I must put rocks on this window sill." It was more instinctual, and I didn't really think about it until Patricia's comment.

The more I think about it, the more I realize how much rocks and stones figure into my life. One of my favorite monuments in DC is the FDR Memorial, with all its large rocks (with words on them, yet).  I recently wrote a WOW (Writing On a Whim) prompt about rocks as a metaphor for milestones (huh - just saw the word play there:  rocks/mileSTONES).



Rocks in a circle formation on my altar.  (Note that the card from Cheryl Richardson's Grace Cards collection is "Act," along with one of my favorite art pieces. Nothing to do with rocks; I'm just still amazed by the synchronicity of picking out cards at random.)



Window sill in my bedroom. No rhyme or reason to placement or particular rocks.  They do have to somewhat match, though.



And just in case the rocks on the window sill weren't enough, a little bowl of them.  This makes three places in my bedroom where rocks are a staple.



And now for my office.  Yes, all the rocks (except the big purple one on the left) are black.  The only rhyme or reason to placement.

Groundhog Day Again

So yesterday was Groundhog Day, and of course that brings to mind the movie with Bill Murray, the main character who relives the same day (Groundhog Day, of course) over and over until he learns to become a better person.

Is your writing project going through Groundhog Day (well, without being woken up to “I Got You Babe” every morning at 6:00)?  Like I mentioned before, I could almost be at that place where every day I think that my writing plan is going to take shape.

(I’m really almost there.)

If you find yourself in the same boat, come play with me in Ready, Set, Write.  The next Ready, Set, Write five-week class begins February 24, and the deadline to register is February 10. For more information, go to: Ready, Set, Write.

Big Brags

Yay, me! Big brags. (And why it’s taken me so long to announce this, I just don’t know.  I’ll get over myself some day.)

Through Write Well U, I offer Ready, Set, Write, and I have to admit it’s one of my favorite programs I’ve developed.  *I* want to take this class! The original program covers forty-two strategies to get the writing process started, past the roadblocks of a blank page or an empty screen. (For more information, go here.)

Some people can’t devote an hour a week for five weeks to a live class.  I get it, and I’ve been pushed to offer the material on its own.  I never thought I wanted to do that (because I like to talk so much), but there really is good info here.

It occurred to me there was an opportunity, so we've made the manual for the Ready, Set, Write class available as a stand-alone product. It's the Ready, Set, Write Toolbox, and it contains descriptions and examples of the same forty-two strategies we use in the live program.

Now, when my prospective students can’t make it to a regular class – yet – they can purchase the Toolbox for $35. If they register for a program within six months, they can apply the $35 towards an upcoming Ready, Set, Write five-week class. So what do you have to lose? To purchase the Ready, Set, Write Toolbox, go to: Toolbox.

If you think you might be interested in the live class – and getting the full force of Dawn – the next class starts February 24, and the deadline to register is February 10. You can sign up here.

The Writing Hour

Lots of stuff going on here, and, unfortunately, writing is dropping off the wayside.  Now that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it, a lot. I’ve actually done a lot of thinking about my book, and I’m considering making some huge changes to it – big changes, yeah, but I’m excited about it. Now, if I could just get to writing!

And that happens. Sometimes we can’t always meet the goals we’ve set, and sometimes those are for very good reasons. 

I just have to make sure I don’t let the writing slip away completely.

But while I can’t always do this for myself (how typical is that?), I can help others keep their writing goals in front of them. If I can help you meet your writing goals, I’d love to talk to you. I’m hosting the Writing Hour on Tuesday, February 3, at 7:30 p.m. eastern. 

Every month I get on the phone and talk with folks who have questions about writing. As a matter of fact, I just talked with a woman who has a book she wants to write, and she just couldn't figure out how to get started.  Within 15 minutes, we had a strategy and milestones for her to reach.

How can I help you?

Sign up (so I know who’s coming), and I'll send you a confirmation with date, time, and call-in number.  What are you doing on Tuesday?

Tracks

I was pretty young when I started college, 17 years old as a matter of fact.  Soon after starting my freshman year, I met Chris and started on a track.  In my mind, I could see that track going and going and going.  I knew exactly where it was headed.  No doubts at all.  Marriage, kids, and, well, that was the extent of what I could see, but it was the main map of the track.

Over the years, the track has expanded, or the vision has become clearer, to include a business or two, a house, friends... While I couldn't necessarily predict each turn of the meandering route, I was pretty certain what the route was and some of the various stations along the way.

And now, that track no longer exists.  My life is unrecognizable. 

Even with Write Well U, I thought I had that track all figured out.  Develop programs, teach them, bring on trainers to teach said programs, continue to develop even more programs... Now, I realize that maybe that track as well isn't set in concrete (or with iron and railway ties, if we decide to adhere to the initial metaphor).  Maybe Write Well U morphs into something completely different.  I don't know, but I'm leaving my options open.

Funny enough, even though I've been a track girl (believe it or not, I also coached track along with teaching English), I've never been one to make specific plans. You don't catch me making five- or ten-year goals for my business.  I like to keep my options open.  Heck, I closed my VA practice for a couple of years and then reopened it.  I never saw that one coming!  I HAVE learned that life can change in a matter of months (in some cases in Dawn history, weeks and even days).  Yet those various tracks were always there, providing comfort and familiarity and a safety net and even complacency. 

I guess I just never expected that big picture, that track, to all of the sudden disappear.  And I'm leery of creating a new track.  Because I wonder if that gets me into trouble.  I like routine.  I like knowing what to expect.  I want clarity.  Yet, being on a track... can you keep your options open when you've already bought your ticket and boarded the train?

Maybe we NEVER know what the future holds for us in anything. We just think we do. Maybe we never really know what that track looks like or how it will morph.

Maybe there is no such thing as a track.

Words Vs. Numbers

I'm usually a word girl ("Really, Dawn?  We would have never guessed." Yeah, yeah. Be quiet.), but every now and then I can be moved by numbers.

At Write Well U, I offer a weekly free writing prompt series called WOW! Writing On a Whim.  Since they go out weekly, I have to make sure there are plenty in the tank.  Every now and then I get close to running out, and I have to replenish. 

Since I use 1ShoppingCart, it's nice and easy to set these up to go out automatically.  The first one goes out on Day 0 (the minute someone subscribes).  The next week's goes out on Day 7, then Day 14, and so on.  When I added my latest bunch of WOWs, I was up to Day 567.  That's pretty cool.  Now, those aren't 567 prompts total; there are really about 81.  (Dawn can do math, too.)  Still, the fact that I have 81 weeks' worth of prompts, or 567 days of prompts feels pretty impressive.

Here's to numbers!

When Feedback Isn't Really Feedback

People sign up for my WOW (Writing On a Whim) prompts, and each week they get a prompt delivered right to their inbox. The idea is that they write - with no agenda and no purpose. No one will see it (unless people send their WOW production to me - which they sometimes do). It's one of the few times, I imagine, that people can write with abandon and tap into the idea that writing can be fun, insightful, and maybe even delightful.

Around week three, I ask my new WOW subscribers for their feedback. I want to get an idea if people are writing, what issues they might be experiencing, and what they think of WOW overall.

Not everyone responds, which is fine. And some people do, and their feedback almost always gives me something to think about, whether it's in terms of how to improve WOW, Write Well U, or maybe even a new program I could offer.

Almost always.

I recently received some feedback that really bothered me. As I thought about it, I realized it wasn't so much because the person didn't like WOW. I know that my stuff doesn't appeal to everyone, and that's fine. I believe in the Law of Attraction and that people are drawn to certain things. No one thing can be the end-all/be-all for everyone. Fine.

What really bothered me about this feedback was that not only was it not helpful, but it was rude. Here's what the person wrote:

The prompts are kind of predictable and uninspired. I have literally come up with better ones in my sleep. I don't think this university is for me.

Once again, I know my stuff isn't inspiring to everyone. Heck, even for those for whom it is inspiring, not every WOW is going to do the trick. We even explain to our WOW subscribers the reasoning behind the sometimes eclectic nature of our prompts. Some are serious, some are funny, and some probably make no sense at all.

We do that for several reasons:

• So they can exercise many different writing muscles.
• To reach as many people as we can. Some people like to write about memories or events that have personal meaning, while others like to write about concrete details. Some people like to really reflect and write from there. Others don't want to reflect at all, but just write.
• Variety can be a catalyst for creativity. Try something different to get a brand-new result.

Some prompts appeal to some; others appeal to others. And there's no one magic pill that can make me create the perfect writing prompt (or series) that will appeal to all people all the time.

Sorry. I got off track. :) I get that for this person, he/she didn't find the WOW prompts inspiring enough to write about. That's fine. But why did he/she find it necessary to be rude about it? "I have literally come up with better ones in my sleep."

It really doesn't tell me anything that will help me improve my products.  What would be more inspiring? What was this person looking for?  When I give feedback to the students in my classes, I don't just say "This is well written." I explain why it was particularly impactful for me, the reader.  If it's awkwardly written, I explain how it got off track.

I guess why it bothers me so much is that my purpose with Write Well U is to create a safe place where people can stretch, develop, and improve their writing. That safety is very important to me, along with a caring, warm attitude.

This person's response went against everything I believe in.

Great Writing Is That Which Takes Risks

As I teach or just talk to people about writing, a concept keeps coming up for me and over.  Great writing is that which takes risks.  I don't necessarily mean writing on a risky topic, although that could apply in some instances.

It's more the idea that in order to be really great, writing connects the author to the reader.  The reader identifies with something or sees himself or his ideals in the piece. 

Maybe the writer dug down deep and wrote from the heart (fiction or nonfiction).  Perhaps the writer wrote with a strong voice, revealing the person behind the mask, so to speak.  Or the writer gave in to passion and wrote what really stirred him.

For example, the best paper I ever wrote in college (and since I was an English major, I wrote a LOT of papers) was one where I really stepped out of my comfort zone and took a risk.  I could have written on a number of safe, "easy A" topics (Dr. Foster was kind enough to give us a list of six possible topics, but we always had the freedom to write about anything that occurred to us over the course of our reading and discussions.  I didn't write on one of the six topics.  Instead, I chose to write on a theme in the novel we were reading (Tracks) that was a little out there.

It was probably the first time I turned something in that I wasn't quite sure of.  When I got the paper back, Dr. Foster commented that this was the most powerful writing he'd seen from me ever (and I'd taken several classes with him).

Since then, I've coached my students in my Writing Essentials Program to try something new: a technique, odd sentence structure, a topic... When they do, their writing ends up stronger, more impactful, and, just like my experience, more powerful.

This idea fascinates me, and I have a feeling it will turn into an eventual writing book (after my current novel, the next idea for a fiction series, a writing book on voice...).  Right now, this is as far as I've gotten, and to get a little further, I've invited some fellow writers to write about their idea of taking risks in writing.  Look for those guest posts soon.

In the meantime, tell me what you think.  Do you agree that great writing is that which takes risks?  What kinds of risks?

Paragraphs Create Movement

In my Writing Essentials Program today, we talked about the visual impact of writing.  Sure, reading is a visual activity; we use our eyes to read the words and process.  However, before we get to that point, our eyes (and brains) take in the page and what it looks like.  Not enough white space, and we feel overwhelmed.  Sentence and paragraph lengths that all look the same bore us.  Paragraphs that go on for pages defeat us. 

It was that specific super-long paragraph that held our attention today.  If a writer has a long paragraph, then she needs to look at the core point she's trying to get across in that paragraph.  I'm guessing that if it's a loooooong paragraph, that there's more than one core point in that paragraph.  In the spirit of the writer taking the reader along a journey, help the reader navigate from one core point to another.

So one core point for each paragraph.  It's like saying to the reader, "Hey! Look at this.  Got it?  Good, now let's move on over there."

Hence, the idea that paragraphs create movement.

How do you keep your readers engaged?

Last night I had my Write Well U monthly call.  I get to talk about writing and words, and it's a great way for me to spend an hour.

People asked some really good questions.  I wanted to share one of the questions with you and get your thoughts.

Q:  As you're writing, how do you keep your readers engaged?

I've never been asked that question before.  Off the top of my head, here's what I answered:  Just knowing that your job is to keep your readers engaged is a big step.  Writing is all about the reader, not about the writer.  The next step is to take risks; have a voice in your writing.  Sure, you'll turn some people off, but you'll attract far more than by just writing something that a computer could have spit out.

The interesting piece to that question is the "As you're writing..."  How do you keep your readers engaged as you're writing?

What Dawn Has Been Reading - 8/23/08

I haven't read much "fun" books lately as I've been vetting books for my Writing Your Voice Alive class.  The idea of WYVA (I now even pronounce that way:  why-vuh) is to help people discover and strengthen their writing voice.  One of the ways we do that is to look at other people's writing and their voice and dissect how they do it.

So, I've had to figure out what would be the best books.  Short stories were a must as 1. I didn't want to assign a novel (horrors from senior English) and 2. I wanted people to get a sense of the author's voice across several different stories.

Here's what I was reading and what didn't make the cut:

• The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie.  It's not that I didn't like it (and it was fun rereading Agatha Christie), but there wasn't enough variation in the stories.  It was really like reading a novel.  However, there was one piece that stuck out particularly:  "It happened a long time ago--five years to be exact--but it's sort of haunted me ever since.  The smiling, bright top part of it--and the hidden gruesomeness underneath."  How true is that for so many things?  The smiling bright top hides the gruesomeness.
• The Best of O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi and Twelve Other Stories.  Through the years, I'm sure I've read dozens of O. Henry stories, and, of course, "The Gift of the Magi" is familiar to most people who went through high school English.  But ack!  More depressing stories I've never read.  I forced myself to read four, and I gave up.  English literature be damned.  I need happy!

Here's what did make the cut:

• How I Got This Way by Patrick McManus.  Talk about voice. It doesn't get much stronger than this.  I'm going to look forward to teaching with this book. On a snarky side note, I hate the cover.  It's a picture of the author with a gorilla.  Talk about not judging a book by its cover.  I'm proud of myself that I was able to get past the gorilla.
• Not the End of the World by Kate Atkinson.  While there's some depressing stuff in this book, it's not nearly as bad as O. Henry.  There's a reason for it in Atkinson's stories.  AND they're not all depressing.  I also liked the sci-fi aspect of some of the stories (but not so way out there to turn off those who don't touch sci-fi).

Once I had these figured out, I was able to read fun books.  First on the list was a true summer read.  (With a title like A Summer Affair, what else could it be?)  It was so good (and so nice to take a break from the writing program designer gig) that I finished it in two days.   My only complaint was that the point of view wasn't consistent.  Most of the time, the point of view was from the main character, Claire.  Every so often, though, we'd get little vignettes of other people's point of view, probably so that they could tell us things Claire couldn't.  It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't seamless either.

Then onto Lady Jane by Norma Lee Clark. (It's out of print, so no Amazon link.)  I read this over and over when I was an adolescent, and so there was a certain comfort in reading it again.  It's your standard romance, which I don't usually go for, but I really liked this one.  Interestingly, and something I didn't know when I read it more than twenty years ago, is that the language is very Austen-like.  Hmmm.  Maybe that's my saving grace.  Yeah.  I'm reading it because it's like Jane Austen.  We'll go with that reason.

I finished Lady Jane earlier this evening, so now I have to figure out my next book.  I need something light, entertaining, and mind-escaping.  I'll let you know what I come up with.

What Write Well Me Really Means

When I decided to write a blog over two years ago, I, of course, struggled a bit with what to name it.  I like words, and I like kitsch.  I was creating Write Well University at the time, and I loved the play on words between Write Well U and Write Well Me. 

Write Well Me it was.  Even though I got ribbed several times about the ungrammatical nature of the title.  Well, it was one person doing the ribbing several times.  Thanks, Mike.  :)  Other people thought it was clever, and to this day I still love the title.  (And, hey, the domain name was available.  Who would have thunk it?)

So Write Well Me was just a clever word play with Write Well U.  There was also the idea that I (me) write well.  Decision made and not thought of since.

Until now.  I've had some medical issues come up, and I know, absolutely know, that they're related to writing my novel.  Yesterday I found out that we can rule out really serious causes, but the problems are still there. 

As I was driving to the doctor yesterday, all the worst case scenarios went through my head.  I told that voice to shut up, but one thing came out clear.  If worst case came about, the first thing I would do to make myself healthy would be to finish the book. 

Worst case scenario did not come about (as it rarely does), but I still was left with the conviction to finish the book.  Not that I ever doubted it, but I haven't been working on it as religiously as I could have.  (Of course, things like BEA and eWomen Network Conference are really good excuses.)

I have to get this book done.  Writing it is causing mental and physical distress.  Now, I could choose to not write it, but that doesn't feel like an option either.  Not writing it would cause even more mental distress, and maybe more physical problems.  Writing this book will get me well.  So Write Well Me becomes write to get myself well.

eWomen Network Conference - Part III

On my table at the eWomen Network Conference was a sign that said, "Ask me about my power words," cuz you know someone will see that sign and say, "Okay, I'll bite.  Tell me about your power words."

"I'd be happy to," I'd say, and I told them about how certain words resonate with me and that a list of these words can really define me.  (You can read all about it here.)

Thanks to Gail (I miss you!), we put a portable easel up by my table to invite others to list their power words.  Here's what I got:

Passion

Love

Create, Inspire, Experiment

Synergy, Integrity, Authenticity

Focus

Believe

Maholo, Aloha

Resources, Transformation

"Money Talks"

Creativity, Being, Defining

"Authenticity in Action"

Embrace and Adore, Live, Loved Ones, Strangers

Blessed, Encouraged, Empower

"Pain is temporary; quitting lasts forever" - Lance Armstrong

Thank you to all who shared their power words with me.  What are your power words?

(In case you're not caught up, start with eWomen Network Conference - Part I and eWomen Network Conference - Part II.)

eWomen Network Conference - Part II

Best laid plans of mice and men.  I meant to write sooner than this.  The idea of blogging every day about a big experience is smart.  I just find that I need to decompress during a time when I'm on all the time.  So the updates are a little delayed.  I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seats waiting.

The eWomen Network Conference was amazing.  I was part of the Publishing Pavilion (with my name and picture in the program and everything!) with a table at the writing station.  I was pretty pleased with my table, especially since it all came together in about a week.  I had a beautiful banner due to Sam at Signs of Progress and amazing printed materials thanks to Harold at Germantown Copy Center. These guys rock!

I met some great people and made life-changing connections.  First, I got to connect with Jenifer Madson, the coolest money chick who will teach you the skills for the best "money talks" you've ever had.  She, like me, had been a presenter at the Virtual Publishing Conference, and her presentation was one of the best.  Now I know her!  How cool is that!  (I'll apologize now for all the exclamation points.  They're all heartfully meant.)

Walking down the hall one evening, I ran into Erin Blaskie.  I've seen her emerge as a serious player in the VA world, and I couldn't believe that I got see her in person, non-virtually.  The dork that I am, I immediately called Stacy and left this blithering voice mail about meeting Erin and how cute she was and how amazing, and on and on and on.

I also got to have drinks with Alecia Huck, one of the keynote speakers for the conference.  Not only is she an English major, but she used "dork" and "wonky" in the same conversation.  I love her!

Then, walking down the hall who do I see but Kim Duke, the Sales Diva.  God, was she gorgeous! Much bigger hair (appropriate for Texas) and an even bigger personality.  I was hoping to make it to her breakout session the next day, but I was making those amazing connections and couldn't get to it in time. 

One of those amazing connections came out of the blue.  A woman came up to me and started talking about how she's been offered a publishing contract, but she doesn't know what she would write about.  She goes on to say that she has a pretty successful blog and she's a musician.  The light bulb goes off, and I ask her what her name is.  She says, "Christine Kane."  What does Dawn do?  If you know me at all, you so know what's coming next.  Yep.  I cried.  I've loved Christine's blog for years, and she's incredibly inspirational.  And here she was talking to me!!! (Funny enough, the post I reference in the link to "dork" above talks about how Christine used "dork" in a post and how much I admired that.  A fellow dork to boot!)

So, Thursday and Friday were these great days, and then Saturday started out a little slow.  I thought it might just be that anyone who had wanted to visit the Publishing Pavilion would have already done it by Thursday or Friday and they had better things to do on Saturday.  I was talking to people, but it just didn't have the energy that it had the other two days.  Then, Kathleen Caldwell walked up and mentioned that she had been featured in Blueprint For Success, a book that a friend and former client, Rand Golletz, was also featured in.  Kathleen is a fabulous woman, and we connected immediately.  (And, yes, I cried again.  Whatever.)

As I drove to the airport on Sunday (with a sore throat from all the talking), I heard a song on the radio, "A Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins.  I wondered if I had it on my iPod, and I made a mental note to check when I got home.  The first song I heard on my iPod on the plane when we were allowed to turn on our electronic devices was "A Groovy Kind of Love."

To everyone I connected and reconnected with while I was in Dallas, I send you "A Groovy Kind of Love."

(In case you're not caught up, start with eWomen Network Conference - Part I.)

eWomen Network Conference - Part I

I'm in Dallas for the eWomen Network Conference.  I haven't talked much about it, mostly because I don't know what to expect, even more than I didn't know what to expect at BEA.  I don't know if the difference is that BEA was a very personal experience, and the eWomen Network Conference is all about Write Well U. 

It could also be because the conference is in Dallas, where I used to live, and BEA was in Los Angeles, where I had never spent any significant time.  Dallas isn't as scary as Los Angeles (from a known vs. unknown point of view). 

Anyway, part one of this trip concerns my experience flying on AirTran. I had never flown on this airline, and, honestly, I'd never even heard of them.  I chose them because they had the lowest fares AND they traveled nonstop from Baltimore to Dallas.

The flight left on time and arrived twenty minutes early--pretty unheard of.  In addition, they offered free XM radio at every seat, and they gave away headphones (you don't have to pay for them) if you didn't have any. 

Most importantly, they use words well.

Here's what's on the back of their pretzel bag:

Eating Instructions

1.  Think about our wonderful low fares at airtran.com as you open packet.
2.  Place a pretzel in mouth.  With each crunch, be reminded of our low fares.
3.  As you swallow, remember again just how low the fares are.
4.  Repeat until pretzel packet is empty.
5.  Keep empty packet to remind yourself to book at airtran.com, where you'll always find our lowest fares.

What do you know?  A sense of humor and a voice in writing on the back of a pretzel bag!

Writing - Now That's Deep

I said yesterday that I was feeling wonky.  I wrote that post before the fourth session of my Ready, Set, Write class.  As I've found before, teaching erases any wonkiness or bad dayness that might abound.  It could be because the people who are in my programs really want to be there, and they're so enthusiastic (and creative and wonderful and just really outstanding).

It also could be because teaching fulfills me.  Once upon a time, I would have scoffed at the idea.  In a former life, I taught junior high English in a low socio-economic suburb of Dallas, and when you're dealing with 7th graders who are pregnant or in gangs, you're not quite so fulfilled.  At least, I wasn't.

Now, however, I'm able to connect with people on a very deep level.  It's taken me some time to get used to that idea.  Because, really, how can teaching someone to write well be a deep connection? 

It actually makes sense.  When we write, we make ourselves vulnerable.  Whether we're writing a business book on how to get to the top or a children's story or anything else in between, we're putting our efforts, tears, joys out there for anyone to see.  And for anyone to criticize.  And for anyone to love.  All that takes courage, so it's no wonder that I'm connecting with people on a deeper level through my writing programs.

Today is the last session of the January Writing Essentials Program.  I'm very sad to see it go.  I've enjoyed this class and the participants so much.  It's hard to say good-bye.  (But one of my students has already signed up for Writing Your Voice Alive.  She either loves me or is a glutton for writing punishment.)  Next week, Ready, Set, Write ends.  I don't have another class until August's Writing Your Voice Alive.

Until then, I know I'm going to be a little less fulfilled, a little less joyful.  And I'm grateful for that feeling because I know what it is I'm supposed to be doing at this point in my life.

And that's a good thing to know.

Lucky, I Guess - Part Two

Scott wrote a follow-up to his "How to Become the Luckiest Person You Know" post, and I wanted to share it with you as part of my own part two.

In his follow-up, he suggests that we

1. Think about the "luckiest" things that ever happened to us.
2. Write what great stuff happened as a result.
3. Think about what we will now do differently as a result.

He breaks it down with specific examples using the following structure:

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…

SO FROM NOW ON…

I liked that idea and although I'm not patient enough to go through that exercise for each of my lucky things, I did want to do it for the most recent.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
gave myself the choice to NOT pitch my book and then I went ahead and did it.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
three agents told me they were interested in my book and to send it to them when it was completely finished.

SO FROM NOW ON…
I'll be gentle with myself AND take risks that get me to where I want to be.

Let's do another.

BOY AM I GLAD THAT I…
listened to my intuition and decided to go to Kim's video Q&A instead of staying to listen to other women talk about their nonfiction books.

BECAUSE AS A RESULT…
I got to spend an hour with one of my favorite authors, and I made connections with a Harper-Collins producer and publicist.

SO FROM NOW ON…
I'm going to shut up and listen to my intuition.  That means I need space to check in with myself.

Please share your luck and what you're going to do from now on.  I'd love to hear it! 

Lucky, I Guess - Part One

I was going through my list of blogging ideas, and I came across Scott's post on being lucky.    In preparation for writing my post over a year ago, I started listing the lucky things that have happened to me (#4 in his 6 steps to becoming the luckiest person you know).  I never wrote the actual post (until now).  Maybe because I wasn't ready, or maybe because I didn't have enough to say about it. 

I feel ready, AND (and maybe this is the most important piece) I want to acknowledge all the opportunities that have knocked and that I've answered.

• Saying I didn't want a boyfriend (and meaning it) - then meeting Chris
• Moving to Maryland
• Stacy calling me "out of the blue" to be Chief Operating Officer of AssistU
• Sharing something deeply personal and getting a best friend out of the deal
• A client telling me it was probably time for me to let go of my business, even though that meant she'd have to find another VA
• Having five people run out of the room to sign up for my first Writing Essentials class
• To have my husband be not only a willing but enthusiastic participant (and idea generator) of a day devoted to MY company
• Jan King of eWomen Publishing asking me to be a presenter for the Virtual Publishing Conference and the eWomen Publishing Conference, again "out of the blue"
• Going to BEA
• Being gentle on myself and then taking the risk to pitch my novel to five agents.  I still find myself wondering what the hell I was thinking
• Doing a video Q&A with one of my favorite authors, Kim Harrison

I actually could have written "out of the blue" for each and every one of them because that's what it felt like.  Something out of the blue sky fell into my lap.  And I was smart enough to pick it up and look at it.

I'm going to be looking up from now on to see what else is falling into my lap.  What's falling into your lap right now?

Words of the Day

Yesterday I had a great From Concept to Content workshop.  One of the things we do in this workshop is talk about how we process information.  Being very visual and verbal based, I tend to use words to paint pictures.  One particular painting really struck a chord with me and another person on the call, and I wanted to share a piece of it here:

Savor the view.

"Savor" isn't a word we see often, probably because it's an action we don't do often.  When was the last time you truly savored a meal, a book, a movie, a moment?

What can you savor today?

Please Explain Why

This isn't a rant.  Really.  I just don't understand why people do the things they do.

At Write Well U, we offer Writing Circles, a way for people to get together, share their writing and challenges, and have a safe, supportive place to grow as writers.

We very clearly explain what Writing Circles are and how they work.  There's even an application form.

Here's what I don't understand.  Several people have signed up, which means they've gone through the trouble of filling out the application.  The next step in our process is to get in touch with the people and set up a time to talk with them about what's involved.  Two people, TWO, won't respond.  As a matter of fact, one person gave me a wrong number.  Now, maybe it was a typo.  Maybe not.

Why would you sign up, fill out an application, and give wrong information?  And not be in touch?  What am I missing? 

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream.* On Lecture Mode, You Can't Hear Anyone Laugh.

February has been the month of presentations for me.  First, I did a call for Sophronia Scott, The Book Sistah, on the eight signs of amateur writers.  It was a regular telecall with 50-60 people on the phone,  asking questions at various points and entering into dialogue with me.

Then last week, I did a webinar for VANA, Virtual Assistant Networking Association, on taking an idea and running, er, writing with it.  While it was great for the attendees to see the slide presentation, I was the only one talking.  People could type questions in the chat area, but voice to voice, it was just little old me.

On Tuesday, I co-presented "From Idea to First Draft," one of eleven sessions of the Virtual Publishing Conference.  At this session, 200-300 people were expected to attend, and lecture mode for the call, in which only the presenters can speak, was a must.

One of my gifts is connection.  I love connecting with people, understanding what makes a person unique, communicating, and being together on a journey, even if only briefly.  Put me on a phone call on lecture mode, and I don't get any of that.  I can't see smiles, heads nodding, looks of confusion.  I can't hear questions or validating "uh-huhs."

Worst of all, since I think I'm funny, I can't hear anyone laugh at my jokes.  Now that's not to say that I didn't give great presentations this month.  However, I like to pepper (not salt.  Hee hee.  See, I really do think I'm funny) my presentation with humor or, at the very least, self-deprecating remarks.  Gee, you don't see any of that in my blog writing, do you?

Would I do a presentation like that again?  Absolutely.  For one, it's a great opportunity for me to connect with people, albeit not in a way I'm used to.  Two, creating and delivering presentations feels like a natural part of Write Well U.  The more presenting I can do, the more I can refine my presentation skills (and perhaps work on that pitiful humor), and the more I can reach people.

*compliments of Alien.

So, Chuck, What Do You Think?

Sandra and I have been working on creating procedures for Write Well U for everything from creating new classes to sending out reminders to people registered for our monthly info call.  We're handling a ton of details, and sometimes everything seems important.

I ran across an e-mail detailing the differences between webcasts and webinars along with some tools and services for both.  I sent the info to Sandra for her to figure out what to do with it.  (Why have a VA if you can't drop stuff you don't know what to do with in her lap?) 

In my e-mail I said, "If you don't think we need it, chuck it."

That got me thinking.  Poor Chuck.  Here he is, this nice guy and all, and we're using his name to mean "throw something away." 

If you're a Chuck, what do you think about that?

Even 15 Minutes Can Help (And I'm Not Talking About Geico)

I don't know about you, but every week for me is a different week.  Much of that, I know, is due to the fact that I own my own business and work virtually.  I have no boss requiring me to be in the office for a set number of hours at set times.  I don't have an office with employees who are counting on me to be there and tell them what to do.  Thank goodness.

While all that is an advantage, it means the onus of organizing my life and being responsibile is solely on me.  I've figured out over the years that I like enough structure to allow me freedom.  I want some predicatability and some routine to outline my life, but I want that outline to be very large, with plenty of open space to roam around in.

Sometimes I get that, and sometimes I don't.

One thing that helps to create that outline is writing.  I've committed to writing on Thursday mornings, and my goal is to write three other days for 30 minutes each time.  Monday of this week I was sure I was going to meet that goal no problem.

By Monday afternoon, I wasn't so certain.

Even with all my Monday calls, I figured I could fit in some writing in the late morning or early afternoon.  But my cleaning lady showed up (I'd sorta forgotten about that every-other-week routine) around 11:00 a.m., and I found myself puttering in the afternoon.

Fine.  I'll just make sure I write Tuesday, I told myself.  Two days of 30-minute writing is acceptable.

But Tuesday was a no-school day.  I have the hardest time writing with other people around.  I've done it a few times:  locked myself in my bedroom and given my family dire warnings about disturbing me.  Somehow, even if they behave, I know there are other people in the house, and I don't concentrate as well.

I almost gave in and didn't write.  By the time the afternoon was almost gone, I had pretty much decided I wasn't going to.  I only had fifteen minutes to write while my babysitter was still here, not enough for thirty minutes.

I wrote for fifteen minutes.  And it was fine.  And I felt good.

It's like what you hear about exercising.  If you only have fifteen minutes, then go walk for fifteen minutes.  If you only have ten, then jump on the treadmill for ten.

While I do like to exercise, I'm much more likely to write for fifteen minutes than to exercise for fifteen minutes.  For whatever reason, it feels like a waste time to exercise for fifteen minutes, whereas I find it worthwhile to write for any amount of time.

What can fifteen minutes do for you?  And is it easier to write for fifteen minutes or work out for fifteen minutes?  What can get you motivated to do anything for just fifteen minutes?

So Much Is Happening at Write Well U in 2008

I wanted to let you know of some cool events that I'm participating in (and that you might want to take part of, too) as well as current opportunities at Write Well U.

I'm co-presenting From Idea to First Draft at the Virtual Publishing Conference. The conference takes place from February 5 to April 15 with 11 sessions. Yes, the conference started last week with Are You Ready to Become a Non-Fiction Book Author?, but you can still register (and get the information on the first session as part of your registration). If you're thinking seriously about, or are on your way to, publishing a book, consider the Virtual Publishing Conference.  Details are here.

The 2008 program schedule is live on the Write Well U website. As a matter of fact, the calendar includes programs through January, 2009. (I'm just starting to get used to 2008; 2009 seems impossible.) Check out the impressive program listings on the Write Well U calendar page. You can sign up for a program, free workshop, or informational call. What is your 2008 writing goal?

Specifically within our program listings, we have one opening for a participant in a fiction Writing Circle. If you want, or need, the support, structure, and comfort of a writing support group, sign up for a Writing Circle. We have Circlers standing by just waiting to get started!

Other Points of Interest

Each month, we offer a free, live telediscussion where you can talk with me about writing, Write Well U, and its programs. Will we "see" you on March 4?

Also, the next available program we offer, the Writing Essentials Program, begins March 31. Registration ends March 17. Apply now and set up a time with me to see if the Writing Essentials Program is for you.

Our From Concept to Content workshops are a hit! We offer this free workshop twice a month. Register for a workshop to get some strategies to take your idea from just an idea to content.

I'm right in line with my doing themes for 2008.

Words on Cars

I enjoy trying to figure out the meaning of other lucky car owners' vanity plates.  I don't mean SALLY or ABF CDF (a cute couple).  I mean the ones where there's some creativity and wit.  My love affair with words extends even to cars.  Since I scan license plates everywhere I go, I figured it called for a category of its own. Introducing Write Well Me's License Plate category!

I've always wanted a vanity license plate.  Now that Write Well U is off the ground, it makes sense that my license plate riff off my company.  The problem is that Maryland vanity license plates only allow for a max of seven letters.  I can't find a good seven-letter plate.  Even eight letters won't help me.  WRITEWELL is nine letters.  I can't even do WRITWEL.  If I'm going to promote writing well, I guess I should be able to spell.

The best I can come up with is WRITER or WRITE.  I haven't checked yet, but I'm guessing they're taken.  When I get my new car (my Acura TL is a good car, which means it will never die), I'll look into vanity plates then.

Here's the recent Write Well Me pick:

UBUIBME.

Welcome, License Plate category!

The Spoken Word

I recently joined Lonely Entrepreneur, an on-site community for entrepreneurs (lonely or otherwise, I suppose!).  I'm in a marketing phase with Write Well U, and one of my marketing activities includes networking, on-line and in person.  I can't remember how I heard about Judith and her Lonely Entrepreneur site (let me know if it was you!), but I've been a regular visitor since I joined several months ago.

Once you join (and right now it's free to join since it's new), you get access to group coaching calls, the Lonely Entrepreneur Forum, the expert teleclass archive, other tools, and interviews with members.  As a member, I signed up to participate in a monthly interview.  Other than having to get up at 5:45 a.m. for a 6:00 interview (Judith is in the UK), it was a great experience.

When I went back to listen (again, you can join for free - and then you can listen to me!), I was fairly happy with what I heard.  There was no preparation, and it was all off the cuff.  I was pleased that the audio recording wasn't peppered with a lot of "ums" and "uhs," and that I sounded fairly intelligent.  The one thing I did notice,though, was that I used the word "and" a LOT.  If I had been writing, I would have used periods and more connecting words.  Since I was talking, it turned out to be one long sentence.  Almost.  Thank goodness I don't write like that!

It occurred to me that when I'm speaking, "and" is an invisible word for me - one that I don't notice and don't consciously weed out.  We talk about invisible words in the Writing Essentials Program, but that's more from a reading and writing perspective (what words do your eyes just skip over?).  It was interesting to observe invisible words from a speaking point of view.  Next time I'll do better!

If you're in business for yourself, consider joining Lonely Entrepreneur.  If you do, check out my audio interview!

May we all write--and speak--well.

Yet Another Time Management Strategy

With being Chief Operating Officer of AssistU and founder and creator (and trainer and marketer and pr rep) for Write Well U, I have a few things going on.  I'm always looking at ways to better organize my time, especially when my desk is bowed under the weight of post-it notes and scraps of paper.  My newest strategy comes courtesy of the combined brain power of yours truly and Stacy.  :)

One day I was feeling particularly overwhelmed by all I had to do.  Stacy and I came up with a very visual time management system:  a huge paper calendar and color-coordinated post-it notes for all the tasks I had.  Color codes for each category in my life, post-it notes so that I could move it from day to day if needed, and a large paper calendar so I could see it.

I know people use Outlook's calendar and tasks to do this very thing, and I use those tools, too.  Outlook is where I keep my calendar of appointments and places Dawn needs to be.  It has to be electronic so that my assistants can access it and so I can synch it with my PDA.  I use Outlook tasks to remind me of recurring weekly and monthly activities. 

Why don't I just expand the way I'm using Outlook?  Because I don't want to be logged into Outlook, or my computer for that matter, at all times.  I want to be able to glance at the calendar and see what I have to do.

So with a plan in mind, Stacy and I made a trip to Office Depot and bought supplies.  I bought the perfect calendar, a pack of color-coded post-it notes, and colored markers.  I had so much fun filling out my filling out my calendar that first month.

Several months of using this strategy, I still look forward to doing my calendar planning each month.  (I get that I'm weird.)

Here's how it works:

• I fill in all my appointments for the month that I'm aware of
• I add in any monthly or weekly to-do items
• I make a post-it note for each task I have to do.  One post-it note for each task. 
• I look at my days and how busy I am to determine what makes sense for me to get done.  If I have calls and appointments from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., you can bet that there won't be any sticky notes on that day.
• Each day I take that day's post-it notes and put them on the side of my computer monitor.  Each time I complete a task, I throw the post-it note away (actually, I recycle it, but that's another post). 

Why this works for me:

• I'm able to look ahead (Oh, we'll be going out of town - I shouldn't do anything extra the day we're leaving) and plan smartly.
• I can move tasks from one day to another.
• I can make sure I don't overcommit myself.  If all the post-it notes don't fit in one day's space on the calendar, that's a pretty big clue that I'm trying to do too much.

I still use the white board, although I'm not sure why.  Sometimes it includes the very same tasks that are on the post-it notes, and sometimes it has stuff that hasn't made it on a post-it note.  Hey, it's not perfect or scientific, but if it works for me, then I'll do anything!

Author's Note:  You may have noticed that this isn't the first or second (or even third) post I've done on time management issues.  One would think I could create a "time management" category.  For some reason, I'm very resistant to that idea.  Maybe it's because I don't want time management to be a big issue in my life (yet sometimes it is).  Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Write Well U in the News!

I did all the right things (or, rather, I'm doing all the right things):  I've let friends, family, and colleagues know about Write Well U.  I've made connections with organizations whose members get value out of becoming stronger writers.  I'm writing articles to put out in the world.  I'm designing short workshops to introduce people to my material and my teaching style.  I'm networking.  I've written press releases to let the world know I exist.

It's that last that has gotten me in the news.

(And this is actually pretty funny because just last week, Stacy was saying, "What you need is media attention.  THAT's what's going to get you noticed."  Uh huh.  I agree wholeheartedly!)

So last week I get a call from a reporter from the Washington Times.  He saw my press release, and he does a weekly column on unusual businesses.  Now, I don't necessarily think I have an unusual business, but maybe that's because I've been in the virtual world so long that giving classes virtually doesn't seem weird at all.

Anyway, he calls out of the blue, he writes his article, and it appears in the Washington Times TODAY!!!

For those of you who care, you can find it here.

Sidenote:  It was very strange to be referred to all throughout the article as Mrs. Goldberg.  You can call me Dawn. 

So What If I'm Weary?

As I thought about my words of the day from Friday, I tried to think of what those three words (weary, quiet, and savor) really meant and their impact.  I've been working hard on Write Well U, and all those words are a result.  It's not as if I've been working 14 hours a day; it's just that everything I see, hear, and do are strained through a Write Well U filter.  Can I use that?  Oh, that's an interesting idea; how can I use that for Write Well U?  And so on.

So, yes, I'm weary. I'm tired of finishing one task and moving right on to the other.  That's where "savor" comes in.  I want to savor the things I'm doing.  I like almost every facet of owning a company as cool and dynamic as Write Well U.  I just want to enjoy it more.

As far as "quiet," I think that's related to "weary."  I want my brain to quiet down.  I don't want to be "on" all the time.  I don't want to be thinking all the time.  I shared with Chris some marketing advice that Laura gave me on Friday.  Chris says, "Oooh, I know you're tired of thinking of marketing, but can I just say something about what Laura told you?!"

I told him no.  :)  I wanted quiet.

It doesn't bother me that Friday's theme words were these.  I don't have a problem that "weary" was defining my life for a few days.  I don't even feel as if I have to "do" something about it.  (Uh oh, Dawn.  You're weary.  What are you going to do about that?  Nothing.)

It was what it was.  It informed me.  Maybe I need to make changes, and maybe I just need to roll with it and be.  Maybe tomorrow's word of the day will be "weary," too.  Shrug.  So be it.  At some point it won't be. 

Write Well University Informational Call

I'm holding an informational call tonight (7:00 p.m. eastern) for people who want to learn more about Write Well U and our programs.

If you're interested, email me at dawn@writewellu.com for the bridge line, or, heck, even just to say hi!

Hope to talk to you tonight!

Writing with a Wow Factor

In my quest to help people write well, I've created some fabulous programs at Write Well U (if I do say so myself - I guess I did just say so!).  These programs are fee-based as there's quite a bit of value you get no matter which program you're interested in.

I know that some people may not be ready to commit to a program that lasts for weeks.  Yet people still need to write well, and one thing that often gets in their way is the lack of opportunity to practice writing.

That's where the WOW! (Writing On a Whim) series comes in.  Here's how it works:  you sign up for the series (it's free!), and once a week you'll get a writing prompt.  The prompt can be anything from a thought, quotation, word, or phrase to get you thinking and, hence, get you writing.  All you have to do is sign up and commit to spending fifteen or so minutes a week writing.  How hard is that?

I haven't yet made it public on the Write Well U website (that's coming on Wednesday), but I'm giving you, my beloved readers and people who love me (because you read my blog, right?!), the inside scoop on WOW!  Take a peek and sign up if you dare.

May we all write well!

Living the Dream - Sort Of

Over a week ago, I found myself in Shenandoah National Park, in a cabin, writing.  If you've been keeping up with me for a few months, you know that my dream is to have a cabin in the mountains where I can go and write my novels. 

At the end of April, my What's Next group individually holed up in hotel or house (or, in my case, cabin) to spend the weekend working on their What's Next projects.  I had (and still do, truth be told - just different stuff) a ton of things to do for Write Well U, and a whole weekend to bang out stuff seemed like a good idea.

To top it all off, since I know I want the cabin-in-the-mountains thing, I figured I'd try it out and see if it was really for me.

The verdict?  Yes and no.

The second I drove into the park, I was in love.  :)  Shenandoah has many overlooks, and I wanted to stop at each one.  I did actually have to stop as the What's Next group had our first call-in to share what our goals were.  I wasn't at the cabin yet, and I wasn't sure how my cell phone reception was going to be, so when I found the perfect overlook and had several bars on my cell phone, I stopped.  Here was my view a couple of thousand feet up. 

Not bad, huh?

The call ended, and it was time to check-in and find my cabin.  The cabin wasn't nearly as magnificent as the views.  First, it reminded me of my dorm room in college with the sink right there in the main room.  Rustic, but okay.  I brought my stuff in and went down to dinner at the Lodge, one of the many things I was looking forward to (say it with me, "Blackberry cobbler").  After dinner, back to the cabin to truly unpack.

Hmmm.  Not a three-pronged outlet to save my life, so plugging in my laptop wasn't going to happen.  I also had cords for my cell phone and iPod speakers (the truly important things).  There was only one outlet that fit those, and it was by the aforesaid sink.

I trotted myself back to reservations and asked for another room.  I told them I was there to hike and write, and while I didn't see a problem with my ability to hike, I was going to have problems writing if my laptop ran out of batteries.  They were filled up, so there was no chance of me moving to another cabin. Additionally, they told me that if I had been able to plug in my laptop, it might blow a fuse as the wiring in these original cabins were old.  However, they did offer to charge the laptop behind their desk for me.

It wasn't ideal, but it would work.  I moved in, and set up some things to make the space cozier.  In retrospect, this was the smartest thing I did.  I had brought my cabin life map with me, as well as my Oggz Egg, Zena Moon's creative fire candle, a candle that came with my Joyful Business Guide, and a dragon.  The resulting space was colorful and cozy, and I had a constant reminder of the life I was creating.

So I had my creative space, and I was fairly happy.  The next two days I spent hiking and creating.  I didn't get as much work done as some of my fellow What's Nexters, but plugging along for hours on end wasn't my original plan.  I knew I wanted the whole shebang - the environment, the view, the cabin, the creative fire, the writing, the inspiration, the hiking. 

For the most part, I got all I wanted.  The only thing is that my eventual cabin will be a little more essentially equipped.  You know, with things like outlet and enough electricity to power my laptop.

Here's to the dream coming true - soon!