Halloween’s a day for costumes and masks, for tricks and disguises. But without wanting to be a party pooper – when it comes to your writing it’s better to drop the disguise.
Dropping your writing disguise is the theme for this week’s podcast (4 mins 09 secs).
Tune in for 5 Halloween-inspired steps to clear, authentic writing:
Take off the mask – it’s great for rapport
Leave the costume behind - don’t pretend to be someone you’re not
Don’t trick your readers – transparency counts
Don’t cloak your writing - cut and edit excess words and visual clutter to reveal the power of your unadorned message
Don’t wait for the witching hour – don’t wait for the perfect conditions before you start to write. It’s more fun to get started and learn as you go
A commitment to clear and authentic writing is enough to get you started: to say what you mean and mean what you say. That way you can party on with your writing not just for one night – but throughout the year….
Photo credit: Flickr
Hi Joanna, I learned a lot from you and your guests about clarity this month, and was happy to contribute. I have one question – where do you get your fantastic images? That mask is outstanding!
So wonderful to start my day with your podcast Joanna! Happy Halloween!
As you know, I am intent on learning new media, and your weekly podcasts are keeping all the audio possibilities in mind … mahalo for your coaching
Hi Brad
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it and thank you again for guest writing. You’re welcome back anytime!
The photos come from a variety of sources.
I often start at yotophoto because it searches a number of sites for free, usable photos.
http://yotophoto.com/
This mask for example (which I agree is totally stunning) came from flickr, with a picture posted with a creative commons license.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22017189@N00/9648389/
You can search on flickr for pictures with those licenses – but yotophoto does the same thing and searches other sites too that I’ve used like morguefile (now there’s a good word for you)
Sometimes if I can’t find what I want – especially for materials that are going to last like the sidebar images, the coaching toolkit I’m working on or the authentic writing e-book I’ll buy photos from istockphoto.
http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php
They have some amazing stuff.
The customised images (like the clear writing one from the other day) come from Imagechef. You can do some fun stuff there (and I think that’s where my seekers for information on bling writing come from!!)
http://www.imagechef.com/
I might write a blog about this (when I can find time!) partly to find out what sources other people use too
Hope this helps
Joanna
Well Rosa, we have been inspiring each other day because I started off my halloween enjoying your fantastic photo-album of October highlights
What a great idea!
http://www.sayleadershipcoaching.com/mwacoaching/2007/10/kkou-in-pictu-1.html
Joanna
PS I can’t wait to hear your first podcast
Thanks for the photo tips, Joanna. They help!