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Guest Blogging for the IWWG

Learning to Balance New as Guest Blogger

As a guest blogger for the International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG), I recently wrote about how I balanced the news of two mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton in a single weekend. It all goes back to a sing-song activity I learned on Romer Room as a girl.

The Posture Basket Song went through my head the other day as I took my morning walk for no apparent reason as I saw the American flag at half-mast. I had to do a little investigative work via a Google search, but was able to glean the odd combination of images and sounds once I got to YouTube.com. I knew that my Guild sisters would appreciate my thinking. Want to learn more about the Guild? Look here: https:iwwg.org

Want to feel more balanced in your daily round as a writer grappling with violence in the news cycles? See more below.

Marisa

The Strength of We Women Vessels

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Create Winning Grant Proposals

Seminar Set for Writing Proposals that Win!

Everyone wants their grant proposals noticed. Whether you are a small business, a non-profit, or an artist, the Writing Winning Grant Proposal seminar on June 6th is for you. There are many reasons proposal s miss their mark. First,  spelling, grammar, and usage mistakes move the proposal from the reviewer’s hand to the rejection pile. Second, a projects goals are weak or leave out important details. Also, a proposal fails when a single focus is on award money rather than the community where it originates.

Reasons to Attend

Learn the tips and tricks that professional grant writers use to  make their documents stand out from the competition. During this three-hour seminar, participants will gain the following knowledge:

  • learn why collaboration is the key to unlock funding
  • practice the SMART writing method for concise goals and objectives
  • refresh grammar and spelling skills
  • gain confidence when talking with funding parties
Professional business writing makes a difference.
Whether it is a grant proposal, business plan, business letter, or manifesto, let We Write it Right help you create your professional communications with ease.

Learn Ready-to-Use Skills

A further reason to attend this seminar is to become proficient in a short-form proposal for immediate use. Participants will leave with several handouts as resources to use beyond the seminar. Finally, network with other Floridian business owners, non-profits, and artists.

Event Details

This seminar will be held at Solid Rock Consulting at 3399 Cypress Gardens Road in Winter Haven, Florida on June 6 from 9am to 12pm. Register on eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-winning-grant-proposals-tickets-61138884048

 

 

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Stop, Yield, Go to Flow

Flow Found in Stop, Yield, Go

Stop to prep before writing.
Getting prepped to write gives yoiu the chance to see the big picture of a project and to get it right before you write.

The stop, yield, go signal helps vehicles negotiate highways and creatives handle flow. How? As the saying goes, it’s all about timing. Creatives can take a tip from everyday street light fixtures to time their energy and materials organization. This act alone maximizes the potential for ongoing fluid writing experiences. Ever wonder about the tri-colored traffic light’s history? Why were all three needed anyway? See more here to find out: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/artifacts/three-signal-traffic-light

Stop in the Name of Love

Just as Diana Ross and the Supremes crooned, sometime creatives need to stop in the name of (self-) love for best results. Valid reasons to stop writing include:

  • lacking the data needed to write a report – like statistics
  • finding a person to help fact-check public opinions and their root sources
  • trying to rush putting materials together with an artificial deadline
  • needing interviews to flesh out an article
  • seeking additional physical experiences prior to creating a plot, character, or setting

Furthermore, it is smart to hold off writing when exhausted. Do some mundane office tasks. Take a nap. Or break a lull with these tips posted earlier: https://wewriteitright.com/playtime-helps-adults-enter-flow/

 When to Yield to Flow

Pre-writing helps build flow.
Holy Batman, Robin! Take time to pre-write to get into flow.

So, rested creatives work better. Makes sense. And, preparing facts, figures, and additional media supports creativity, too. However, what if there is a nagging feeling that something else is missing. Here is when warm ups work wonders!

Take time for pre-writing exercises helps to avoid jitters that lead to creative block. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Then, go! If you need a prompt to start, try:

  • what I mean to say is…
  • the resources I still need to create this piece include…
  • the person(s) I can ask for help is (are)…
  • one day I will look back on this and say…
  • the thing that is holding me back is…
  • one more thing…

When It’s Time to Go

Green means go to flow!
When you get the proverbial green light, then go to flow!

The materials are collected. Check. And, the research is complete. Yes? All the nervous angst got thrown down into a spiral notepad. Finally, it’s time to create. If the product is formal, go with an outline, notecards, and other graphic organizers. It ensures accuracy. With a piece that is creative, simply work with circled words or phrases from the quick write during warm ups. The flow will show, because it is time to go.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

 

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KISS Your Way to Flow

KISS Literary Worries Goodbye

KISS is keep it simple silly.
Keep it simple silly. Get in and get out. Get that job done!

Keep it simple silly to KISS your way to flow. Make sense, yes? First, employ active voice rather than passive. Limiting prepositional phrases tightens text. Next, keep the writing brief. It will be remembered, because it is refreshingly on task. Finally, take time to polish your writing. Whether it is a blog post or a status report. Leave time for it to set, then check it before you hit the send or publish keys.

Active, Brief, and Polished

Using the active voice is smart. It gets the job done. Ambiguity shows up less so readers stay focused. Also, the use of active voice will score higher SEO ratings than passive voice does.

Be brief. Keeping things short helps busy employees or clients read an email or letter to the end. We’ve covered brevity in this blog. See more here: How Many Words Do I Need?

Polishing prose is important. Make sure you look for commonly confused words, such as their, there, and they’re. Correct any confusing wording before sending the work out. It separates you from those who do not take their writing seriously. Here are some easy ways to proofread: https://wewriteitright.com/the-3-best-ways-to-proofread-a-document/

Your Turn

Take any writing you do and KiSS it. Review it for active voice and brevity. Then, polish that baby up. You will feel great sending out your work, because you’ve added value to it. And, your readers will feel that compassion and will enjoy reading it to the end.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

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TGIF – Thank God, It’s Friday (and Flow)

Cliché Finds Flow on Friday

Grow flow on Friday with gratitude.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to Friday. And, at the workweek’s end, there is time to find flow. But, where do you go to find flow? First, realize that flow can happen anywhere at anytime? Need proof? Look at this week’s post on finding flow in a card and party goods store. Simply click right here: https://wewriteitright.com/visit-flow-in-a-party-goods-shop/

How Gratitude Leads the Way

Use grateful eyes to take in the world around you. Then, instead of planning to hit the bars and clubs when the clock strikes 5:00 PM, other options present themselves. Why not tour a museum? Or, take a walk through a park? Or, head home and spend an hour working on a poem, and essay, or a blog post. When you are grateful for the transportation home – even if it happens to be your own two feet – then that is enough.

Your Turn

Think back to grammar school, junior high, or middle school. Think about the electives that you took that helped round out your schedule. Did you take dance or music classes? Intramurals? Or, perhaps, like me, you did candle making. Whatever it might be, try to reunite your lost teen with your adult self. Take time to write, dance, sing, paint, or play with your Etch-a-Sketch!  You’ll be glad you did!

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa