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Yarn a Tale to Grow Flow

Have a Ball with Yarn as Prompt

Yarn is a good prompt for writing.
Squeeze a ball of yarn. It’s soft and fluffy to the touch. What metaphors or images arise from the sight or touch of the yarn?

Have yarn, will create! Using this spun thread to create connections is nothing new. The word itself has a secondary meaning, which is to spin a tall-tale, fable, or myth. There are some good reasons for this connection. First, yarns squeeze metaphors to create literary impact. Second, creatives can literally juggle  balls of yarn to consider how a plot can be twisted and turned to add drama. Finally, finger-crocheting can help knit together a dialogue or setting. Let’s look at yarn’s versatility as a writer’s tool below.

Squeeze Out Metaphor

Rubber stress balls work to help anxiety-filled writers and artists, but those made from yarn are better. Soft, fluffy, and light, they help us to squeeze metaphors while literally clamping down on them. Think about it. Maybe the logger who created the Paul Bunyan folklore had access to yarn balls while spinning tales of Paul and his blue ox named, Babe? Not familiar with the American tale? The city of Bemoiji, Minnesota’s website has detailed storylines for Paul and Babe’s travels. See more here: https://wewriteitright.com/sow-flow-visit-antique-shop/

Juggle ideas around while rotating these light-as-air balls to loosen up a plot.

Juggle Ideas Around with Yarn Balls

Perhaps juggling can loosen up a stuck plot. Without too much scientific thinking here, simply juggle three balls of yarn. Stand or sit. It doesn’t make a difference. Focus on the act of juggling the balls for five to 10 minutes, then write a journal entry about the current piece. See what types of connections altered or sprung up from the simple act of juggling. Need a refresher on how to juggle? Look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNigMfLNhpg

Finger Crochet to Knit a Tale

Want to bring a scene or a dialogue alive? Try finger crocheting some yarn at the desk. This works better seated than standing. Again, do not think too much about the creative piece. Think summer camp or study hall in middle school. Simply focus energy on doing the loops in finger crocheting for about 10 minutes. The process is what matters here, so don’t sweat the way the long link looks. Then, again, write a journal entry to note any new sensory images to add to a scene or dialogue.

Finger crochet for dialogue or scene development.

Your Turn

Creating space to allow images to pop up is important for writers and artists to yarn their tales. Frist, try to squeeze metaphors to enhance the story. Next, mix things up in a plot after juggling. Finally, use finger crocheting to knit together a scene or a dialogue. Choose any of these or all three to keep your story skills fluid.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

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Day After Twelfth Night Stirs Flow

Flow Arrives the Morning After Twelfth Night

Red wreath brings glee.
A red berry wreath remind bears glad tidings beyond Twelfth Night.

Entering into life beyond The Twelfth Day of Christmas challenges even the most cheerful among us.  People don’t get too excited about the thirteenth day of Christmas now, do they? Yet flow arrives on the heels of such a day. Honestly, it is important to know where to look. My family packed up Christmas after attending an Epiphany service. And, I’m not going to lie, it felt a little sad. Then, I realized what was needed to keep the spirit of the holidays going into at least next month. What was it? A simple red berry wreath.

Flow Found in Red Berry

A wreath is a traditional sign to welcome those entering a home. This red berry wreath is hung on a pantry door in my kitchen for a few reasons. First, it recalls winter’s joyful landscapes. Where I live it is in the 70s during the day and down in the 40s at night.  So, the symbolism of a white door behind the red berries reminds me of the Snow Belt where I grew up. Next, it winds around on itself as a sign of infinity. Glad tidings, I am reminded, are reason for an additional smile. And, another. Finally, stir those images around to find a satisfying sense of flow to extend the joy of Twelfth Night into today –  and beyond.

Other Places to Find Flow Beyond Twelfth Night

Easily find flow and where it grows through the five senses. First, get out a journal. Next, walk around the office or house and jot down anything that smells, sounds, tastes, feels, or looks like an extension of the holiday. For example, note that the red earthen wear bowl can hold fruit such as apples on the counter. Perhaps a dash a cinnamon in coffee or on cocoa brings a jolt of joy. Finally, take this listing of sense-related phrases and quickly write a reflection on Christmas joys. No need to share it – unless that, too, brings joy.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

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Excellent Entry-Level Resumes Follow Three Cs

Entry-Level Resumes Follow Fashion to Deliver Resultsshutterstock_50395111

Entry-level resumes. They are desired by nearly every new graduate out there beginning THE job search. Unlike previous generations, many of these tech-savvy young adults create their own resumes and cover letters. It seems like a no-brainer when using apps. Think again. Using stock may be cheap, but as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for” in terms of a product’s quality. When hiring a resume writing service, like We Write It Right, look for the Three Cs of fashion to keep documents classic, crisp, and clean. Looking to do it alone? We discussed key traits of a great resume in an earlier blog, http://wewriteitright.com/three-things-every-resume-needs/

Classic paper choices works best for entry level positions. Anything labeled “sleek” or “elegant” may be too sophisticated for an entry-level position. Furthermore, anything that has graphics of mac-and-cheese, kittens, or rainbows in watermark backgrounds must be avoided to be taken seriously. Reaching in each of these directions mismatches skill sets with the position levels being sought. Keep it classic with solid ecru or ivory paper in a 24-pound linen. This weight gives credence to the hard put into getting the degree, certificate, and/or license. Stay away from regular white paper, which causes eye strain. You want the reader to continue from the cover letter to the bottom of the resume not set it aside due to glare.

Crisp wording goes a long way in grabbing a recruiter’s attention. By showing restraint and giving the most important details, applicants set themselves apart from those who cram every sentence with lists of classes, extracurricular activities, and every single participation award ever received in high school and college. Need a rule of thumb? Three to five short phrases or sentences per section work best.

Clean formatting is a hallmark of great business writing. It provides the framework to your qualifications. As with fashion statements, less is more. For example, use a thin border or a line to separate the header from the copy – never both.  And use bullets sparingly. Choose filled spheres over dashes, boxes, or other textbook symbols. Again, you want the reader to pay attention to the wording, not the cleverness of the intricate fonts. Ditto with using bold and italics. Both detract from the wording unless they are used appropriately for titles.

Observing the Three Cs can go a long way to creating a resume package that stands out in a crowd. Keep it classic, crisp, and clean and you can’t go wrong.

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February’s 814 Offer: Resumes Remedy Recent Lay-offs

Revise and Recover with Resume Offer After Lay-Off

Those recently laid-off can get a resume, interview tip sheet and thank you note for a great price during the month of February
Those recently laid-off can get a resume, interview tip sheet and thank you note for a great price during the month of February

Lay-offs. They never come at a good time. After making it through January, the thought of moving forward in February – even with the weather’s wild swings from freezing to thawing and back again – seems unrealistic. At times like these it is good to find inspiration from the circumstances at hand. But how? “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.” Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson knew a thing or two about perspective. The challenge applies to every downturn in life. Here in the 814, or Erie County, in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania, Emerson’s words are especially challenging for the hundreds who have recently been laid-off their jobs.

To help assist individuals with moving forward from their recent job loss, We Write It Right has a great offer during the entire month of February. It is a bundled resume package to help individuals gain footing when they most need it. The Recovery Resume Bundle includes:

  • a resume written in the order that best supports the job search, whether it is chronological (traditional timeline) or functional (presented by grouped skills/experiences)
  • a tip sheet for interview success
  • a thank you note to send after the interview

Reasonably created at $49, the Recovery Resume Bundle is specifically priced for those individuals who have experienced recent lay-offs residing in Erie, County, Pennsylvania. The offer is good for both white and blue collar workers. Simply go to website’s contact page at https://www.wewriteitright.com/contact. Would you prefer to call? Reach us at 814/450-1964.

Looking forward to helping you find the power behind your words!

If you like what you have read here, please share it with your friends, family and business associates today!

 

 

 

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The Best Resume Update Strategy You Need

The best strategy for updating your resume puts your finger on the pulse of your talents.
Need to update your resume in a hurry? Try this time-saving strategy to get ahead today!

Industry’s Pulse Found On Resume’s Update

“Writing an update to my resume is my favorite way to spend time!”  Said no employee ever. If there is one thing that most people avoid, it is hitting the refresh button on their resumes and associated cover letters and thank you notes. But resume package enhancement does not need to be painfully tedious work. Indeed, the best way to update a resume is a strategy that I like to call “P.U.L.S.E” for its simplicity. It keeps your finger on the industry’s heartbeat. This time-saving tool enhances performance in two ways. First, it prepares you for sudden job loss in a turbulent economy. Second, it lays out the foundation for rapid promotion by showcasing your most current strengths.

There are many benefits of using a simple organizational strategy involving a hanging file folder or an e-file folder to update a resume. Many people update their resumes every year or two. Remember in college how your professor suggested that you update your resume at the end of each semester? That 4-6 month rule still applies. Professionals who want to get ahead can update more frequently and with greater ease through a task that takes less than five minutes a day to perform. This technique gathers resources as they become available for instant reference to turn a previous mountain of a project into a mere molehill. A series of five folders placed in one folder will go a long way in organizing your resume updating activity. So, what does this traditional file folder or Dropbox, Word or Docs e-file folder hold? It holds your industry P.U.L.S.E. that includes the following.

Pictures, Photographs and Assorted Visuals

Any project that you accomplish or seminar, convention or conference that you attend can be documented in photographs and included in this file. These photographs, charts and tables can jog your memory of facts and figures to rapidly summarize your activities. Every image counts. Include current head shots, design layouts and even the occasional group shot taken with a selfie stick. While not all images will be used, they will jog your memory as to who you worked on an assignment with or where the conference was held.  These small details make for tailored resumes.

Up-to-the-Minute Documentation

Performance appraisals, assessments and reviews go into this file. Recommendations for enhancing or correcting issues that popped up in your performance review can be dealt with immediately. Those positive actions can be annotated and added as an example of your problem-solving abilities. All forms of evaluation go within this file.

Letters

All types of positive letters go into this file, including: letters of recommendation; formal thank you letters from companies or corporations; and all emails, texts, and in-box messages that can be used to identify exceptional work.

Selected Articles and Industry News

Any article that you wrote or were interviewed for in a consumer or trade journal, or other periodical, goes here. Building one’s credibility becomes evident –  one published piece at a time.

Extraneous Notes

Any note from a staff meeting, comments in a status report, or thoughts scratched on a napkin during a coffee date can be added here. If the item is going in an e-file, snap a shot of it and import the image into the file.

By taking time to collect images, paperwork, and extraneous notes , and separate them into five files in one folder labelled “RESUME UPDATE”, you can easily maintain your document’s integrity in moments a day. And, the clarity that comes from the consistent building of a future resume update lends to a more focused work experience on a daily basis.

File that under, “CONFIDENCE”.