Hi,

Are you frustrated always having to come up with the right words to describe who you are and what you do?

 

Are you filled with anxiety when you sit down to write whether it is a blog post, newsletter article,  or a flyer for a special event?

 

Are you thinking about sharing your expertise by becoming a speaker, or writing a book?

 

Your Writing Mentor can help. As a creative professional with 25 years of extensive experience, I’ve written and edited web site copy, tag lines, columns, newsletters, brochures, ad copy, correspondence, books and booklets, portraying the stories of small businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations.

I believe good writing is more than just a group of clever words, it conveys the desired outcome of every sentence. My method of persuasive storytelling combines your personal side with the professional story. Asking pertinent and precise questions about your project and anticipated goals helps me create a story, the story of your business, which will draw each reader in and inspire them to respond.

If your response is “Yes” to any of the questions above, let me know you’d like to have a conversation to discuss how Your Writing Mentor can help to find your writing solutions by filling in the comment box below.

Live Juicy – Coaxing Creativity Tuesday Tip Jan. 31, 2012

Live Juicy...what does that mean? Well, it can mean just about anything you want it to mean. It can be a metaphor for taking a big bite out of life as if it were a juicy apple when all you really want to do is go to bed with a cup of soothing tea and write in our journal. It can mean doing the things that make you cry and allow your emotions to spill all over the place. It can mean living in the moment –  especially when situations call for us to use our creativity to cope with soupy circumstances. You decide what it means to you…

Transformation – Friday 5-minute writing prompt

OK. Set the timer for five minutes, get out a fresh sheet of paper and grab your fast-writing pen, or open a new word document on your computer and see where your imagination takes you when you start with the word transformation. Happy writing!

Jump start January – Coaxing Creativity Tuesday Tip, Jan 24, 2012

How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? Did you make any? Statistics say that most resolutions have been broken by now, however, every day is a New Day and a chance to reaffirm our resolve to make changes in our lives. There’s still time in January to make a new beginning to change our story and invite creativity into our lives on a daily basis. Take a walk at lunch today, read a little before you go to bed, write about your experiences of the day, or just go to bed a half hour earlier and listen to soothing music instead of channel surfing.

A rainy day is… Friday 5-minute writing prompt

What do you think of rainy days? Finish this phrase with the first thing that pops into your head. Keep your hand moving for five minutes. Challenge yourself not to take your pen off the paper, or let your fingers stop tapping the keyboard. Remember to set the timer for five minutes! Let your imagination take you on an adventure while your mind wanders into thoughts of rainy days past, or rainy days in the future. This is a chance for you to experience how much you can write in five minutes. Have fun with it!

Does your story have legs?

The story goes that if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water it will immediately jump out to save its life. However, if you place a frog into a pot of cool water and then slowly raise the temperature of the water the frog will stay in the pot despite the fact the water keeps getting warmer. If you are scratching your head and wondering what frogs have to do with writing, this is part where I explain myself. 

Just as the frog took action leaping out of the boiling pot, your words must create a reaction in your readers. Yes, of course, your content is compelling otherwise why would you be so passionate about sharing your message? However, unless your delivery method along with your sense of urgency entices your audience to jump into action, you are not generating enough heat! Connecting with your readers by allowing them to get to know you, and more importantly remember you, generates buzz. Buzz translates into your story having legs!

You aren’t sure how to go about writing your story. Do you need help? You know your story, but just need a little help. Your Writing Mentor is passionate about helping you create your message and connect with your readers. If you’d like to know how, please sign up fora free 20-minute consultation today.

 

Explore a new activity – Coaxing Creativity Tuesday Tip Jan 17, 2012

What has sparked your inspiration lately? Celebrate January’s International Creativity Month by exploring a new activity, craft or pursuit you have always wanted to learn more about, but never seemed to find the time. Remember that 15 minutes a day set aside for nurturing you? You’ve just found the time to visit a craft store, attend an art exhibit, or do a Google search on (you fill in the blank). Tapping into your creativity helps your immune system, increases your productivity and decreases your stress level. Your blood pressure will thank you when you take the time to relax (by striking a yoga pose, hike/bike/walk down a new trail, pick up a pen and paper and start journaling, take paint brush to canvas, or get needles clicking to suggest a few ideas).

Tell me your Crystal Ball and Standing Defiant Story

Are you standing defiant? Is this the year you overcome your biggest challenge of communicating clearly with your clients and customers who you are and what you offer them? You know that YOU are the SOLUTION to their DILEMMA. Yet, your message is not being heard out there in the Marketplace. Are you stuck writing blog posts? Do your e-mails go unread? Has lack of sign ups forced you to cancel an event?

Your Crystal Ball reveals a very different picture! No matter how frustrated, weary and just plain tired you are, You will not give up. You have a clear vision of your success. You have unshakable faith that once you master your biggest challenge, clients and customers flock to you. 

I would like to recognize anyone who is willing to share your story with me. The winning story shall receive a special gift from Your Writing Mentor for participating. Please post your story describing your biggest challenge and your vision for the future below by midnight (Pacific) Sunday, Jan. 15 to be eligible. As Your Writing Mentor, I’m eager to help you overcome your writing challenges and make your vision a reality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shape Up – Friday 5-minute writing prompt Jan 13, 2012

What comes to mind when you read, or hear, the words shape up? For your Friday 5-minute writing exercise start with the phrase shape up and write down whatever tumbles out of your head for the next five minutes. Take out a fresh sheet of paper, or open a new word document, set the timer and just write. Do not stop to edit. Do not worry about grammar or if you are repeating yourself. If you get stuck, just write shape up and keep going until something else occurs to you.

Creative wayfinding

January is International Wayfinding Month. I just love the promise and potential of that word wayfinding.  If you ever stood at a map at the mall trying to figure out which level your car is parked on, or how to find the nearest restroom, or the shortest distance to the food court, then you know about wayfinding. It is a term that defines the spacial and environmental information systems that help us find our way in our built environment. The signs that get us from place to place, direct us to the right road, to find the appropriate train track and point us to the correct gate at the airport.

How does wayfinding apply to business? As business owners, it’s up to us to create the systems to communicate and connect with our clients and customers. Using a variety of means available to us to stay visible (blog posts, articles, and social media to name a few) to our clients and customer, we make it a simple choice for them to choose us. Attract them with your knowledge and expertise, then keep them coming back with impeccable customer service and delivery of quality products and performance.