The big things are important but they’re also vague and unmanageable. And they can overwhelm us when we think about writing. It’s nearly impossible to capture the enormity of a pandemic … but you don’t need to. It’s not effective. Your daily details are what this is really about. What can you say about those?
Words are powerful, especially in times of uncertainty. Consider this switch in language during coronavirus shutdowns: it is not about fear. It’s about strategy.
Words carry weight that we can feel in our mouths and in our minds. So in that vein, I propose that thankful is a little lighter, whereas grateful carries more weight.
Like anything else, we can psych ourselves out of sitting at the laptop and creating. We can let the trickster in our brains run roughshod over us, get bogged down by head trash … and do nothing. And that would be a shame, because you have something to share and your gifts are being withheld from people who need them. If writing is your obstacle, you can get past it in a number of ways, whether it’s a few tweaks to your technique or an entire mindset shift.
What do a pie-eating contest and stretching have to do with each other? Both of them can involve you getting outside of your comfort zone and getting a little messy. Find out what lessons I took from my son’s participation in a pie-eating contest and my own participation in a business challenge.
A little understanding of left brain-right brain science can make a huge difference in your writing.
When you pay attention to details, you become a better writer and your copy will pop. Beauty is everywhere — or at the very least, visual interest is everywhere. Use it!
Elections can teach us a few things about writing. Candidates know the power of story and how to use it.
You are enough. This can be the hardest thing in the world to believe, but it’s time to step out from behind your stories and embrace your talent — in particular, your writing abilities.
Your business benefits when you share a little something about yourself. When you inject snippets of your personal story into your writing, whether that be blog posts, emails, your About Me page, or social media, you invite readers in. You create likeability and trust.
I'm Karin, writer and editor.