Lightbulb moments
Light bulbs mean different things to different people. To some, they represent a moment of inspiration; to others, a waste of energy.
As a writer I can see both sides.
Light bulbs burn out and frequently need to be replaced. But don’t they fend off the dark, illuminate our work and help us to see more clearly?
They’re also the source of a great many jokes. Here are a few of my favourites about writers.
Q: How many writers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Just one, but the light bulb has to endure a series of conflicts and challenges before it finally changes.
This one is a classic, although the punchline is ironically predictable.
Q: How many writers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: One, and they like to give it a good twist at the end.
I can especially relate to this one:
Q: How many writers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: But why do we have to CHANGE it?
It speaks to me not only because it can be painful to change but because asking the difficult questions is important. And that is something writers can be replied upon to do.
Are you waiting for a light bulb moment?
Why not cut to the chase?
Hire a writer: we’ve got plenty of bright ideas!
The power of words #3
This post is inspired by the poem ‘Spelling’ by Margaret Atwood, one of the writers I admire most. While she uses spelling as a metaphor for the power so often denied to women, the quote about words themselves as a source of power resonates on many levels. Read the poem in its entirety below.
Margaret Atwood is a leading Canadian poet, short story writer, novelist, critic and environmental activist. A prolific writer, she is celebrated as the author of works from Surfacing (1972) to the Handmaid’s Tale (1985) and Alias Grace (1996). Feminist ideals are at the heart of her work.
The power of words #2
Which means they must be used wisely, at the right dose, and targeted to your audience. Helping you inject the most powerful words into your communications is what a good writer does best.
The power of words #1
Do you have something to say? Putting words on paper is the quickest way to focus your thoughts and find out. #writingisthinking
Lessons from writers
I had the privilege of attending the 11th Geneva Writers’ Conference last weekend. It was hosted by the Geneva Writers’ Group, founded in 1993, an international group that brings together 300 English-language writers from 30 countries.
It was my second time at the conference. I earn a living as a freelance corporate writer and when I’m not working, I spend my free time…writing. (Not all of my time, but a good deal of it.) Of course, there is writing and WRITING, and the work I do for my clients, while gratifying on many levels, is not the same as the writing I do for myself.
So, I hear you thinking, sitting in a room full of writers all weekend. Dotting the i’s and cross the t’s together. How nerdy is that? In fact, it was a lot of fun. We plotted and pitched, assassinated characters and created entire universes together.
Hit reset
5 ways to hit reset and reboot your creative mind
I love summer. But perhaps not for the reasons you think.
Holidays are great but what I love most about this time of year is that everybody else takes them. Leaving me, like most freelancers, with a bit of a lull. It’s tempting to just play hooky but who has time? When things get quiet at work, it’s the perfect opportunity to give yourself some creative development time.
I call this ‘hitting reset’. Because after several months of routine, you may have lost sight of those goals you set yourself at the beginning of the year. You may need to re-evaluate if what you’re doing is working. Or you may just be in a rut.
Here is my full reset program for summer creative camp: read more
Bird by bird
6 ways to write like a writer
Few people are writers but everyone has to write, even if it’s only an email to accompany their CV. Whether you are writing a social media post, a project report or a cover letter to a prospective employer, you need to get your message across in a way that is clear, comprehensible and letter-perfect.
I write for a living, which means I can’t afford to get it wrong. My clients come to me for copywriting and editorial support on documents that need drafting or ‘doctoring’ after rounds of revisions. Also, I write as a hobby. In addition to my corporate communications blog, I blog about life in France, am currently completing a memoir and starting work on a novel. When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading.
One of the most treasured tomes on my bookshelf is ‘Bird by Bird’ by writer and humorist Anne Lamott. Offering ‘some instructions on writing and life’, it wraps up nuggets of wisdom in simple, down-to-earth stories from the author’s own life. The title was inspired by one such tale about Lamott’s little brother, and how he became immobilized by the enormity of the task at hand: completing a class report on birds that he’d had three months to write and was due the next day. Her father sat him down and gave his son the best advice any writer could ask for: ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’
Breaking any big job into smaller, more manageable pieces can help move it forward. The important thing is to get it out of the starting blocks. Because let’s face it: even for those of us who do it for a living, writing can sometimes feel like pulling teeth.
Here are 6 tried-and-true tips to get that job written quickly and professionally. read more
How to conduct a great interview
Interviews are a rich source of content – for your website, content marketing campaign or background research. Asking the right questions opens the door for the people who matter to your organization to tell their story: an employee talking about what makes their job unique, an expert sharing insight into the challenges of your industry or a satisfied customer telling us why they bring you their business. Whoever is answering the questions, interviews give a human face to your content.
Throughout my writing career I’ve conducted dozens of interviews. No matter who you’re talking to – from CEOs to engineers, scientists, medical professionals and people-on-the-street – each interviewee has a unique story to tell. Your job as the interviewer is getting them to share it. Sometimes the goal of the interview is just one good sound bite; other times you want to scratch the surface and discover the deeper story. No matter what the objective, each interview is different, as is each individual’s personality, story, mood and agenda.
One key quality of interviewing that should run throughout the discussion is empathy. The ability to put yourself in the other person’s shoes will enable you to ask the right questions: the ones your audience wants answers to, and the ones the interviewee wants you to ask. That, combined with a certain killer instinct for probing questions, is the hallmark of the great interviewer.
Conducting a successful interview requires some advance planning and a lot of listening. Here are five tips to ensure you make the most of yours: read more
The power of one
When you work as a freelance writer, you quickly learn the secrets of flying solo.
At first it can be daunting. Let’s face it: there are things you give up when you go out on your own. Like being part of a team, having colleagues to cover your back, not to mention the perks of full-time employment – the comfort of knowing you will be paid at the end of the month.
Then there are the amazing upsides. There’s the satisfaction of bringing real value to a client who chooses you for their project. The focus and perspective you are able to provide while sitting on the outside. The opportunity to learn about different clients and connect with their culture. All while enjoying freedom from team meetings, office politics, and the ability to pick and choose who you go to lunch with.
Independence doesn’t come without its challenges. When you are accountable only to yourself, there are no excuses. And there are plenty of objectives. First and foremost, find work. Get it done. Get paid. read more
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