Many small business owners want to grow their blog. But it’s hard finding time to write. You’re busy growing your business. The good news is you don’t need to set aside hours of writing time. You just need 10 minutes at a time.
Continue reading “Need Time to Write? Start with 10 Minutes”Like Autumn Leaves, Your Writing Can Change Too
One of the beautiful things about fall is how the leaves change colors in such unique ways. No two leaves are the same, but they all reflect the beauty of fall.
Just like fall leaves, writing can take on different hues. Your first draft can look one way. As you begin to shape your story, your writing style might change. And that’s good. It means you’re growing, your story is taking shape, and transformation is happening.
Continue reading “Like Autumn Leaves, Your Writing Can Change Too”Shorter Days, Shorter Blog Posts
It’s that time of year when the days become shorter. You are busy, maybe feeling a little tired. You have little time to work on your blog — and even less on the horizon with the holidays coming up. You’re just not able to write those long posts you want to share with your clients and prospects.
You’re concerned your blog will go into hibernation till January.
But you can keep your blog going by matching the rhythm of the fall season: shorter days, shorter posts.
Continue reading “Shorter Days, Shorter Blog Posts”Start Small to Finish Big
As I sit here with my decaf pumpkin spice, enjoying the early fall weather, I’m reflecting on what I’ve observed with my clients and my own writing projects over the past season. The theme seems to be how small steps move big projects forward.
Continue reading “Start Small to Finish Big”Courage to Raise My Hand
In the early 1980s, when I was a sophomore in high school, my friends and I enrolled in Junior Achievement (JA). We traveled to a big conference center one night a week to meet with our business mentors and participate in a JA business venture.
Each JA group was involved in a business project, where we created and sold a product, all the while learning about how to run a business. Our group was tasked with making and selling hanging flower baskets. We stained pieces of wood, assembled them into a basket shape, and sold them to people who wanted to support our endeavors.
Early on, we all voted for a president of our little ensemble. I had no intention of running for any office. But my friends encouraged me to try. So, I raised my hand and said I would like to be in the running for president.
Continue reading “Courage to Raise My Hand”From Notes to Book: Collecting Treasures One Idea at a Time
Folks often ask how to turn their stacks of notes into a book. I compare the process to rock collecting: seeking and gathering treasures, discovering and appreciating what’s there, and arranging them into mini collections.
This process isn’t about turning notes into a book overnight. It’s about the joy of discovering the treasures already in your notes and finding wonderful ways to arrange them into a book outline. The more fun you have in the process, the more engaging your book will be for your readers.
Let’s look at how to turn notes into a book—rock-collecting style.
Continue reading “From Notes to Book: Collecting Treasures One Idea at a Time”Pumpkin Spice Blogging: Simple, Warm, Welcoming
The fall season is settling in. Perfect time to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte in a cozy nook while writing your business blog posts. When you write in a relaxed atmosphere, your blog posts are more likely to be simple, welcoming, and warmly engaging—which is exactly how your readers want to feel at this busy yet beautiful time of year.
Continue reading “Pumpkin Spice Blogging: Simple, Warm, Welcoming”Give Your Book a Fresh Start this Fall
Fall is a wonderful time for a reset. Schedules and activity levels are changing, weather is shifting. Fall is the perfect season to find a quiet writing nook and carve out some cozy time to focus on your book.
Continue reading “Give Your Book a Fresh Start this Fall”Teen Piano Accompanist, Creative Collaborator for Life: What Piano Taught Me about Listening and Support
My first freelance role began in my teen years, in junior and senior high school. I played flute and piccolo in the band, and I played piano for fun. Every year, we went to district contests, hoping to perform well enough to go on to the state competition. I performed flute and piano solos and participated in trios. But I soon discovered another role that I really enjoyed—piano accompanist.
Many instrument soloists needed a piano accompanist for their contest performance. When word got around that I was an experienced teen pianist and would already be at the contest venues, I suddenly had my first freelance clients. Through the years that followed, I played the piano accompaniments for woodwind, brass, string, and percussion soloists. Through that experience, I learned a lot that helps me today as an editor and ghostwriter.
Continue reading “Teen Piano Accompanist, Creative Collaborator for Life: What Piano Taught Me about Listening and Support”3 Ways to Repurpose Last Month’s Blog Posts
One of the many things I love about blog articles is how they provide great material for other types of communication, like social posts and email newsletters, as well as round-up-style blog posts for those weeks when you are short on time.
Before you head into your next month of blogging, let’s take a look and see how last month’s blog posts can give you more communication mileage.
Continue reading “3 Ways to Repurpose Last Month’s Blog Posts”
Janet Eriksson 