Writing Tip ~ Find Your Fresh Voice
Are you finding freedom in expressing your voice, your unique writing style?
I think it’s important to celebrate little as well as big achievements in our lives. So yesterday I bought flowers and basked in the glow of achievement.
With joy, I celebrated a couple of speaking opportunity that came my way for “Write Your Story NOW” and I celebrated completing my monthly writing goals as part of the 500 word a day writing challenge group. Once again for the month of September I wrote, Every. Single. Day.
When I gazed at the flower selection to make my choice, these pink and white mums captured my attention. They reminded me of when my Colombian daughter, Rosita, graduated from high school.
She had two outfits she debated on for her senior party. One of them I preferred and wanted her to wear. However, she liked the pink and white one better.
“Which one do you like mom?” She asked me in a tone that told me she wanted to please me.
“I like this one,” I pointed to the other one, “but I want you to choose which one you like better. This is your party and I want you to feel good in what you wear.”
When she chose the other one, I was mildly disappointed she didn’t chose the one I favored. However, she had a sense of freedom and she looked so cute and fresh in her pink and white outfit, my feelings quickly changed to delight.
I’m in a season in my life where I no longer want to please everyone else and fit into a mold. I’ve been fighting to allow myself to nurture my more creative self while meeting business expectations. Not easy.
The flowers remind me that it’s okay for me too to be who I want to be and to wear what I want and to be the voice in the writing world that I want to be.
My voice may not please everyone and may not fit in a mold but like my daughter in her pink and white, my contribution can be delightful, fresh and free.
Maybe you can relate to some of this about finding your unique voice. I would love to support you in discovering your voice and expressing it well. You can also learn how to write or learn creative writing strategies in the “How to Write for Fun and Profit” writing course.
To overcome your fears about expressing your voice, you’ll find tips, encouragement and strategies in this book,”From Stuck to Success: Conquer Your Fears and Achieve Your Writing Dreams.“
Sometimes you have to break out of the mold of what your family or culture likes and find a new path. Discover your unique voice. Be free to express it and share it with us. The world needs to hear what you have to say.
Go Write now.
Enjoy the Gift of Writing!
Writing Tip: Let the Child in You Out to Play
Today, I had a lot to do. I walked by my watercolors. My heart longed to stop and enjoy them. Most of the time I walk on because it takes time to get everything out and then put it away. Because of other demands with my work, those creative urges get repressed and leave an an unfulfilled longing.
However, today I decided to apply the 15 minute principle. I pulled out my little travel case of watercolors and sat down and began to play with them. I have taken drawing and watercolor classes before but set those on the shelf for years. Recently, I started going to a watercolor class again.
My grandsons inspire me with their simply joy in creating art and they don’t care what it looks like. “Look what I did!” They exclaim as they eagerly point to their paintings.
I decided to let myself be a child again and simply be creative and capture the joy I see in them. I had learned other more formal methods to make everything look good but somehow that approach also hindered me because it took so much time.
So I imitated my grandsons and simply sat down and did a watercolor sketch and then wet into wet paint. I’m sharing it here to say, “Look what I did!”
After I finished in about 15 minutes, I felt renewed and refreshed and my business tasks seemed lighter and more doable. Then I decided to write about it and I feel more inspired and creative in my writing too.
I encourage you to experiment with other creative activities and hobbies to give you a fresh approach to your work and your writing.
This is a fabulous productivity tip to motivate yourself and to get your writing done.
Come be a kid again and learn how to write or learn how to write better. Check out “How to Write for Fun and Profit” and play and learn with me.
A proverb that inspires me to pursue the desires of my heart says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
Be a kid again. Pursue the desires of your heart and don’t be afraid to share with us your creative endeavors even if they’re childlike. The important thing is to do them!
For additional insights, read 5 Tips to Nourish Your Creative Side and Let Play Support Your Work.
What do you like to do to nurture your creative side and how does that help you with your writing? Share with us in the comments below.
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The World Needs to Hear Your Voice
“Save the whales! The whales are in trouble!”
I strolled along the beach in Oak Island, N.C. on my vacation and spotted a large circle with writing in the sand plus a large drawing of a whale. The sand message intrigued me so I stopped to read what she wrote about the whales.
A young girl (11 years old) came up beside me. I introduced myself and found out her name is Callie. I asked Callie about her writing and drawing. She explained the plight of the whales.
I got down a little closer to the sand to read what she wrote, “How interesting. What kind of response are you getting?”
“You’re the only one who has stopped or noticed.” She said her voice tinged with sadness. 
“Well, you wrote something and reached one person and if you reach one, who knows how many others may be affected. I’m going to write a blog post about this and so anyone who reads it will be educated. What would you like people to know about the whales?”
“That they’re intelligent. People think they’re stupid, but they re not. Whales know about natural disasters before they happen. The navy sonars are exceptionally strong and they mess up the whales mind. The sonar confuses them. When they get confused, they beach. The Navy people are not aware of it or they don’t think about the whales. People are the problem because they throw things in the ocean because they’re lazy or they do it accidentally, like balloons or plastic.
Maybe it doesn’t hurt the whales because they’re big enough, but it hurts other sea animals like the dolphins. If humans aren’t careful, some of the species of whales could become extinct and mess up the eco system.
The whales need help from us humans. Eight of the ten species migrate to this beach. Do you know what an Atoll is? I know more than most adults. I don’t like to brag but I’ve read more.”
I listened to her intently tell me all about the whales and then exhorted her.
“I encourage you to read and educate yourself all about the whales. Then learn how to write. Write about your passion for the whales. Be polite and considerate of those who don’t agree. Many will probably ignore you, but you never know, someone important might take notice. The world needs your voice to tell us about the whales.”
Now, her message reaches you and who knows how many others. We need to encourage others, regardless of how young or old. to find their message, write and express their voice. Who knows the difference this young girl will make for the whales and our world?
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How to Write: Share Your Stories While You Can
Do you have stories to write but you haven’t gotten around to it? Do you want to share your stories with others to help them?
At an English Tea Room during the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate, I met a couple of retired women dressed in color coordinated outfits with matching hats and purses. They asked what I did and when I shared that I am a writer, we started talking about learning how to write to leave a legacy for your family. One of the women said, “I need to learn how to write my life stories so my children and grandchildren can know me.” She laughed, “I want my children to know why I like the color blue.”
A father of two teenagers shared with me,“I have so many thing I would like to say to teenagers to warn them about some of the things that trapped me and how to avoid them. I’d like to share some of the lessons I learned but do it in a way that won’t bore them.”
A retired friend shared with me, “I believe some of my life experiences would inspire others and show how God worked in my life. I don’t know how to write the stories.”
Another young adult man said, “I would like to write humorous stories from my life that would teach lessons in a fun way but I know I need to learn how to write.”
An additional friend confided,“I have some amazing stories to share about miracles that have happened in my life. I know these are stories that need to be told but I can’t seem to find the time.”
How about you? What stories do you to tell? Many of us have stories to share but they are locked up in our hearts like items in a storage bin. We haven’t thrown them away but they are not being used and shared with others. Think of the difference your stories could make if you would get them out there and share them!
This week a beautiful friend died of age 49 with brain cancer. She generously gave of her time, her wisdom and her care to so many of us as well as loving her own family of seven children. She invested her life in others and in her kind and gentle way made a huge difference in my life and all she touched. The flowers at her graveside spoke of the beauty of her life. She loved well and we will miss her. However, in her final days, she wondered, “Did I do enough? Did I love enough? Is there more I could have done?”
How about you? Do you have stories you want to tell but you have not shared them. What if someone’s life could be changed for the better by what you write? Would it be worth the effort? If something happened to you, would you have written all you wanted to?
If you are not sure how to write and need some support and encouragement in creative writing, check out the “How to Write for Fun and Profit” online course. If you are like my friend who feels pressed for time, I’ve divided the course into segments you can read and do the assignments in 15 minutes segments. I would be delighted to support you as you learn creative writing to be able to share your stories.
Whether you take my course of not, the important thing is to write. Don’t leave this world without sharing your treasures with your family, friends and the world!
How to Write: Write and Bring Money to Your Bucket
People will give you money
What if a unique expression of your creativity in your writing could result in people handing you money with a smile on their face?
I enjoyed an extended visit with my sister who lives in San Diego last summer. One night I took a walk for exercise. As I walked down the streets of San Diego, I happened to wander into the Gas Lamp district where there are alot of restaurants and partying going on. It is a historic district and entertainment center. People crowded the sidewalks as the energy and excitement lured them. Since I’m not from around this area I got a little lost and ended up in front of an Irish Pub. There a large black man caught my eye.
He had on a huge mad hatter type hat, dreadlocks, layers of beads around his neck on top of an African print type loose shirt. He carried an orange bucket with decoys on it and a black boom box with a mike. He’d ask people their name and then sang a rap style song with their name in it. In this particular situation, he sang Irish songs, rap style. How unusual! He totally delighted me with his creativity so I put $1 in his bucket. I noticed it was full.
He turned to me and asked my name and then began to sing to me using my name and rhyming rap. Joy filled my heart as I stood there and enjoyed the gift of his talent. As other people passed by, charmed by his ability to use words to create rhymes on the spot, they also dropped money in his bucket.
I later learned from the one of the restaurants hosts that the rapper uses no curse words and encourages kids in his songs to obey their parents. He also supports a group who encourage young people in the arts. Everywhere he goes, he creates an environment of fun and positive vibes with his creative rap. He personalized his songs. Everyone loves individual attention and their faces light up with joy.
What can you learn from this relating your creative writing?
When you create a positive fun environment in your creative writing, people are drawn to you. There is so much focus on the negativity in the world that it’s important to find ways to engage people in positive ways. When you learn how to do creative writing, you will refresh them and lift them up. You can draw people to you by letting your light shine in how you write. As you write, you sing your song. Personalize it and people will feel loved, cared for and delighted in. They will reward you for your creative writing efforts.
Be Unique
Express your uniqueness as you learn how to write and increase your creative writing in your chosen area. Find your voice and sing it. Be your positive self. As you learn creative writing you will find ways to reach people with the skillful use of words. You can grab people’s attention with personalized attention. Then people will flock to you and put money in your bucket. Soon it will overflow like the man whose main skill was his knowledge and use of words.
If you’ve always wanted to write but lacked the skills, I can help you make that dream come true. If you’ve always wanted to write but lacked the skills or you want to improve your writing skills, go to a writer’s conference or take an online writing course. You can learn “How to Write for Fun and Profit” and enjoy the positive energy and rewards our friend with the top hat did.
How about you? What can you do to create a positive environment through your creative writing and draw people to you?
Go write now.
Share the Gift of Writing!
photo from FreeDigitalPhotos.net by anankkml
5 Tips to Nurture Your Creative Side
What do you do to nourish the creative side of you?
Often times you get caught up in the day-to-day routines of life. You work in various capacities, do household chores, take care of kids or parents depending on the stage of life. These tasks are necessities of life but do you do them to the extent that you neglect your creative side?
Recently, I found my creative self in dire need of nurture. I worked long hours to establish an online business, develop three websites, and create an online writing course. Though I wanted to do this and enjoyed much of it, it involved technical tedious “left brain” work, which means you are not always in the creative zone.
After several months, though proud of my accomplishments, I began to get a little burned out with overuse of my left brain. Then I read in one of my writing books that it is important to cross pollinate and develop your creativity in other areas. They stated by doing so, you will come up with new ideas for the things you have to do.
That was all the permission I needed. Gaining that perspective was well timed because I was getting ready to go visit my creative sister, who teaches art. She has successfully established a wonderful business teaching people who don’t know how to draw a straight line, how to draw beautifully.
We have a creative feast when we get together because we both love art and other creative activities. I decided I would learn to draw flowers. At the same time, I also took an online photography class. My whole world began to lighten up!
As I took photos and focused on drawing principles, I began to see correlations between those two arts and the one I had chosen, learning how to write. I felt refreshed as I explored new levels of creativity and it started showing up in my creative writing.
How can you incorporate creativity into your life?
5 Tips to Nurture Your Creative Side
- Make creative appointments with yourself. Give yourself permission to actually schedule creative activities into your day, week, or even take a creative day once a month.
- Go to a conference or creative, stimulating event. If you have the resources, you can even schedule a block of time to travel to a conference or workshop in your area of creative interest. Even if you don’t have a lot of resources, often times art shows and local festivals are free.
- Go to the library and look through art books or gardening, nature coffee table books, magazines on decorating, scapbooking or crafts, anything that stimulates your right brain.
- Get out in nature. Even something as simple as taking a walk in a scenic area can be refreshing and stimulating to your creative side. Go walk somewhere new or go to a local park and write.
- Take an offline or online writing course to learn creative writing or further your writing skills. If you can’t travel to a conference on how to write, set aside time at home to take online classes to further expand your creative writing skills. For example, if you want to learn how to write or expand your creativity in writing, you can take my online creative writing course, “How to Write for Fun and Profit” or some other course teaching you how to write.
A healthy person has a balance in their life of work and play. You can even justify this if you need to. Often when you take those times for play and creativity, ideas to solve problems in other areas of your business or home life come to you. When you go to have fun, work happens. With these writing tips, you can certainly justify your creative development.
Creativity needs some structure. Accountability, support and encouragement is a winning formula to achieve your dreams. You don’t have to be stuck, you simply need a desire to express your creativity and a commitment to achieve your writing dreams.,
If you want encouragement, productivity tips and strategies to overcome your fears so you can fully express your creative side, Check out the book I wrote to encourage you, “From Stuck to Success:Conquer Your Fears and Achieve Your Writing Dreams.”
Don’t simply go through life, nurture the creative side of you and enjoy your life!
How about you? What are you doing to nurture the creative side of you? If you are not, then what promise are you going to make to yourself to do so? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
How to Write: Find Your Voice–Are You Trying to Wear Someone Else’s Clothes?
Recently, I needed to write something for business. I felt intimidated by the prospect because of my lack of experience in a new area. Would I do it right? Would it be good enough? Acceptable? Appealing? I looked at what others had done and tried to fit myself into their mode.
As I attempted to imitate other people’s models, it felt like trying to fit into their clothes. I squirmed and wiggled. I felt stilted. One style seemed like putting on clothes that were too big for me and another felt like the clothes were too small and they sucked the life out of me. Read More Here…