Inspired With Write Words

Session Days, Dancing Nights

 Women writing words; this was the group of bloggers I joined in Las Vegas a few years ago...the first writing conference for me.  Friends I've made through Facebook and blog posts greeted me in real life with hugs, laughter and excited chatter including "come sit here" and "you look exactly as I thought you would!" I could feel the instant camaraderie as we danced the night away at a sponsored Disco Party.

We enjoyed two days of sessions filled with self discovery, tech advice, branding and publishing expertise. In reflecting over my notes and my time spent one-on-one with many new friends, I kept noticing key words, words that empowered me to become a better writer. I call these motivating terms Write Words.

                                     The words that inspire and motivate me include:

INFLUENCER

We influence our readers with every word we write. We should be using the power of our words to influence the market place, the social conscious and the younger generations. As someone who is aging actively and positively; I need to view my writing as a message, whether it be the medical, educational, lifestyle or entertainment fields. Society is beginning to realize it's time to drop the "old folks" image and focus on the youthfulness of boomers and beyonders. Authors of any medium should shine a positive light on the strengths, wisdom and power of growing along. 

UNEARTH
 "Great pain can lead to a greater purpose," an author explained as she shared how the loss of her mother led to writing her first book. I too found healing in loss; found my ability to go it alone without my editor husband in the next room. To me the word unearth means always digging deeper, going the extra mile. By continuing to participate in writing communities, attending workshops and  conferences and branching into difference genres, I've discovered an inner strength that's reflected in my writing. 

EVERGREEN

Several panelists spoke about the importance of evergreen pieces...those that are usable again and again or can easily be repurposed. I totally had this wrong; believing it was lazy or pushy...sort of like saying "you didn't read it a year ago so I'll try again!" Now I see the benefits of reusing my Mother's Day tributes or my Dad's war story every Veteran's Day. Whether a timely piece or one for the ages; our archives of essays and stories are still empowering and meaningful.

THEME

The idea of branding our websites or author pages can be as simple as using a constant theme. Consistently presenting a familiar graphic or photo will draw readers in, remind them this is a credible source and an interesting read. My blog Gramcracker Crumbs started as a grandma with tons of grandchildren pictures and tales to share! I now bring my teaching and reporting background into posts; write about fitness, aging, travel and becoming a widow. It's become a 'lifestyle' blog and I'm free to write about anything. But I keep it consistent via relative content and images...with five grandkids growing along, the possibilities are endless.

UNIQUE

Signed copy from author and new friend
 Doreen McGettigan.

Another word used frequently...to be ourselves, to shine a light on our uniqueness. I found this word on several note pages; underlined, circled and with arrows! This is a BIG one for me. Worry that someone else just wrote about the same issue. Unsure if my work is polished enough or 'Elements of Style' worthy. I heard the words "no competition" and "everyone has a story" mentioned throughout the weekend. How many times did I ask students to write on command; to write about the story starter on the board! I loved reading the uniqueness of each one; their voice, their word choices, their various perspectives and experiences. Each word you write has been written before, but weaving them together your way becomes a new creation, a statement bursting from within.