New dates for Fresh Writing (plus spring tips)

Spring has come and it’s time for even fresher writing!

Here are the dates for the next series of our Fresh Writing Classes at The Werks.

Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.30

1 April
CANCELLED DUE TO NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

22 April

6 May

20 May

Put them in your diaries now if you have a positive intention to come and learn / create / express / play.

More information about the classes here.

To celebrate the fresh new season – three top tips for improving your writing & blogging… and expanding your mind…

1. Watch your verbs

Verbs are (remember!?) “doing words”. They are the action of your sentences. If you want your writing to jump from the page, give it legs. Think about your verbs. Use new ones. Take risks, combine them in new ways with your nouns (”naming words”). Experiment. Wake people up. Surprise them.

Here is a list to play with, inspired by Spring…

Use them in unlikely ways and surprise yourself. Thaw those frozen fingers. Explode onto the page. Or just tweet a little.

2. Stay alert with new ideas

The wonders of modern tech. Register a Google Alert for a key word expression that relates to your work / passion / writing / life. One of mine is “authentic blogging”. I get sent blog posts from all around the world that use these two key words together. I am forever finding relevant, inspiring new material to write/blog about.

Give it a try. Register here and follow the prompts.

It’s easier than you think.

3. You Think, I Think, We Think (Better) Together

Last thing is… you just gotta watch this clip… if you are remotely interested in creativity and innovation. Yum.

http://authenticblogging.com/2008/03/26/you-think-i-think-we-think-better-together/

Better still, buy the book. “We Think” by Charles Leadbetter.

Reap what you sow.

Hope to see you some Tuesday.

Libby

PS – Happy to come into organisations and do affordable bespoke sessions.

Please forward to anyone interested, with many thanks

More posts on writing to help get your words flowing…

You Think, I Think, We Think (Better) Together

Been reading reviews about Charles Leadbetter’s book We Think all over the place. Got to get my hands on a copy sooon (come on Rosie, hand it over).

If anyone is trying to get their heads around Web 2.0, social media, new paradigm thinking and all that claptrap – get a look at this. Lovely simple animation. I’m going to use it at the beginning of all my courses. Free event coming up soon to give people a taste of it all. Watch this space.

Guardian review here (including Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky) which also looks reeal good.

Shame The Big Issue review isn’t available online. A different and very valid take on things.

No wonder most journalist’s I meet are annoyed with blogging and What’s Going On with we-think.

No wonder I am compelled to work in and support this space.

So glad Rosie Sherry is in it with me (thanks for the video).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiP79vYsfbo&hl=en]

Friends – a simple equation

++ social networks ++ emails + 1 big conference = give me a dose of Seneca

“Stay hungry, stay foolish” – dip into the Well

Just when you think someone is “The Enemy”, maybe even “The Other“.. up springs a lovely, unifying surprise. Yep, it’s (still) all connected.

I’ve just joined The Well. Found myself wanting to get stuck into Bruce Sterling types again (rant rant nihilistic, post-modern, partiarchal “Technology is God” tossers).. still downloading from the LIFT experience. But then I realised I did not know enough about him or more to the point, what “he” represents to do this with a clear(er) conscience, more considered opinion.

Of course his very special wife, feminist activist/writer/film maker Jasmina Tesanovic was a red herring stuck in my rising bile – and should have alerted me to there being some potenial yin & yang in the equation.

Then I went to Brucey’s Wikipedia entry, his website, (intrigued by the shortness and meaning of the domain name) and then linked it back to… The Well. Well well well. What a place

I have come home after another long journey, and I smell nice things cooking.

I’m diving in. The Well describes itself as:

“a gathering that’s like none other — remarkably uninhibited, intelligent and iconoclastic.

“The regulars in this place include noted authors, programmers, journalists, activists and other creative people who swap info, test their convictions and banter with one another in wide-ranging conversations.”

Yeah yeah, you’re all fab. Alles Gutte. But it was when I saw the roots of it coming from The Whole Earth Catalog that my heart and mind were won over. Many things clicked into place. Bruce couldn’t be all bad, maybe just a bit misguided or misunderstood! There was more to reveal. It looked like a place for my integrated/complementaty thinking/being to emerge into more light. The Yin & Yang thing again. Science and Gaia, unified?

Steve Jobs was also an early adopter:

“When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation…. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.” During the commencement speech Jobs also quoted the farewell message placed on the back cover of the 1974 edition of the catalog: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” (from Wikipedia entry)

Now I can see the origins of my internet addiction, indeed why I married my husband Graeme Sutherland, as he woo-ed me with utopian visions of appropiate, world changing technology.

I grew up with The Whole Earth Catalog (then Whole Earth Review > now Magazine). I was young, but it was ever so formative, as were the joints and conversations around the table of that expansive, bohemian childhood. It was THERE, everyhere. As ubiquitous and omnipotent as the bible, more so (hey Steve, you stole my line). I am having an epiphany right now just thinking about it. Must find out if Tim Berners-Lee read it before he invented the WWW.

Well… it looks like there is more to know about Bruce and his very much extended community. If any of you have Well stories or WEC>R>M to tell, do tell. I shall restrain myself from posting a Bruce-esque diatribe until I get a better context.

In the meantime, here’s the umpteenth profile I have submitted this year. I have most definitely joined Well. Interesting to see all these different selves we portray isn’t it. Thank goodness I have Buddhism and meditation to help me discover who I really am / am not. Ha! Another cosmic joke.

I particularly enjoyed writing this one, I think because I had a better idea of who the community was and how I am right now, having just come through a very heavy bit of navel gazing. All very self-indulgent and self-referential, but I wrote it for myself first I guess.

“Hello hello. I’m a West Australian-born woman who has finally made it back to Europe. We chose (digital / gay / pagan / close to London / Gatwick etc) Brighton, just like Second Life has – but for very, very different reasons. We chose Europe, or it chose us. I have a 7 year old girl and am well into looking at the world as her generation’s advocate. My card says “I help people express, connect, learn” because we teach what we most want to learn. I love learning > evolving. I am an educator / activist / social entrepreneur / Buddish-pagan / future-aware / whimsical / eccentric / meditating / social constructivist / idealistic realist / Leunig, Harold Maude, Nick Cave, Schubert lover with a real hope that humanity can get it’s shit together FAST and move on from the “Technology / Man is God” paradigm towards more integrated, creative, intelligent, kind, humble, interconnected ways of being and relating… before Gaia swallows us whole.”

There is just one tiny issue of the massive ego’s in question here, and the place of humility in the search for real wisdom. But we’re working on that, aren’t we Brucey.

Social media is dying. Long live social media!

So social media has truly hit the mainstream. It even has it’s own comic strip. Are we all onboard and up-to-steam? Thing is, this new way is meant to be real. It’s meant to come from a genuine desire to connect with others (customers, stakeholders… fill in the blank).

I’m starting to cringe about the whole thing. The hype. The hyperbole. Sure, Google’s algorythms (currently) love blogs. Sure we can optimise search and get “seen”. But who’s actually going to be listening?

Some emerging thoughts here about how the cream is going to rise to the top.

Many early adopters are already screaming for the off switch.

We are reaching a new point in the adoption of social media. Something’s gotta give (she says joining Dopplr). There is another tipping point approaching.

Time for some great editing and aggregation. Time for some trusted sources to filter it all for us, and I don’t mean the USA Today Bloggers & Podcasters Guide (even if we do keep ranking 1). Or even cool geek individuals like Scobelizer. I’m looking for something all about my interests, the blogs I want to follow, but more visual. Definitely NOT Google’s Blog Reader.

What do we think Gra… time for a chinwag. Oh look, there’s my husband blogging in the room above me. Time to STOP all this and go find him.

Blogging at LIFT08

Next week I will be dedicating some time to a few long lost passions.

1. Eating fondue.

2. Inviting time, space, stimulation, reflection, dialogue to motivate my curiosity for how we learn and create

3. Learning, creating (well, not so long lost)

4. Blogging at the level we encourage others to.

Actually, they gave me a free ticket to attend, so I really HAVE to blog it. Do unto others and all that.

Since things took off for Authentic Blogging last year, I have to admit to feeling a bit of a fraud. Every week we talked with people about the potential of reflective blogging – and barely found time to walk the talk. No excuses now. Time to put down some real stuff for the Authentic Blogging book.
From 6-9 Feb I will be at LIFT08 in Geneva, then taking a train around the alps to just kind of be in the world, gaze in awe, maybe stop somewhere and yodel. Write. Breathe. Write.

It’s a rawther special happening by all accounts, gathering together the likes of speakers Andy Reisinger (Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore), Naked Scoble, Bruce Sterling, Cory Doctorow and many other lovelies besides. In so many ways the LIFT folk model the way we want to see people coming together in the shared, co-construction of higher thinking, feeling and creating. Hyperlinks subverting hierarchy all the way… I cringe as I name drop the big guys we all respond to (or not), as I espouse the more egalitarian wisdom of the crowd.

Sure it will get a bit techy at times and I will wish my uber-geek Gra was sitting in my ear like a babelfish from time to time. It will be strange being away from my little family, Gra, Bea and Maxi the Cat. But I am guessing that the people, the novelty, the conversations, giggling at the Svizz-ness of it all will keep the baying wolf of homesickness at the door for a few days at least.

There are still some tickets available if you want to join up. It’s going to be amazing.

More to come…

Any offers of somewhere to stay in Geneva or advice on which train journey to take are most welcome indeed!

Fresh Writing Classes in Brighton

For Beginners & Professionals

Express * Create * Connect * Learn * Grow * Play

A chance to let your words rip and flow. Fun, fresh activities will make these classes one of the highlights of your week.Perfect for anyone who uses the written word to communicate, eg. social enterprise folk, creatives, geeks, government folk, artists, writers, journalists, communications professionals, business people, activists, eco-warriors, peaceniks, bloggers. Come one and all!

“Fun, interesting and worthwhile – personally and professionally. I’m glad I took time out of a lousy schedule to do this class. Now I can rite reel good.”

“It’s been easier to write. I’m jotting down ideas again and having more of them. It’s the creative convalescence, soon I’ll be back at full strength.”

Find out what else regular participants are saying about them here…

Great writing exercises and games that build confidence, dissolve writers block and get your fingers flying across the page or keyboard.

* Connect with your real voice
* Enjoy expressing yourself again (or for the first time?)
* Give the ferocious editor (or “inner critic”) a holiday and let your words flow freely
* Learn how to write effectively for different audiences, and even for yourself
* Write authentically and learn to connect, be heard and seen by others for who you are

* Stand out from the crowd and compete in the “Attention Economy” of the new world order
* Enjoy writing like a person, not a corporate-speak, “we’re not listening anymore” brochure.
* Get help editing and planning your writing projects
* Join our fab new online space and share youre words, projects, ideas – get extra resources (all students eligible to join).

Your teacher Libby Davy from Authentic Blogging has a background in creative and professional writing, editing, education and strategic communications.

Venue:

The Werks
45 Church Road
Hove
BN3 2BE
www.werkshop.org.uk

Bike, bus or drive if you must. Parking is only a quid for two hours

When?

10.30 – 12.30

1 July

15 July

Put them in your diaries now if you have a positive intention to come and learn / create / express / play.

£13 per session (on the day) or £20 for last two.

Still offering first class free to permanent desk spacers at The Werks and friends of students.

Leave a comment if you would like to know what we will be going in Autumn or to make suggestions…

Please help this grow by spreading the word to those that might be interested.

Contact Libby Davy on 07968 687 107 or libby@nodestone.com

Some folk already starting to book in and watch what’s happening at Upcoming: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/402221/

About Libby
Hello there. I have a degree in communications and have taught writing, editing, publishing and strategy at a university and community level. I am a published and awarded short-story writer (very low-key to be honest) and have had work broadcast on national radio. For many years I have been studying education and involved in a range of education projects, in addition to my own teaching practice. Completed part one of an innovative new Masters programme in Person-Centred Education at Sussex University, and may even return one day.

For many years, I consulted in strategic communications and marketing, and business coaching – with an increasing emphasis on ethical, sustainable / environmental and social enterprise.

In essence, I am a fun, friendly, Australian mother with a passion for creative expression, business, education and human potential – including yours!

http://nodestone.com/2008/05/29/fresh-writing-each-fortnight/

http://nodestone.com/2008/03/28/new-dates-for-fresh-writing-plus-spring-tips/

Case Studies & Styles of Blogs

Here is a helpful take by a PR agency on the 25 main styles of blog. Each style has a case study to check out too.

What they don’t say is that, you can of course use a combination of styles and there are many new forms emerging all the time. Take it to the edge. Be you. That’s all I want to say right now. And as Shel Israel dropped into say on a previous post:

“In Naked Conversations, as I recall, we emphasized that short blogs were more popular and that bloggers who posted brief articles and then posted often, would score well in rankings. We certainly did not intend to say what blogs were MEANT to be. They are meant to be whatever the author chooses them to be.”

Every blog has it’s upside and downside, it’s pros and cons. Each one is unique, hopefully, as it’s creator/s. There’s no magic formula, despite the way these PR folk are trying to package it.

You’ve just got to blog, surf, listen and engage with the blogosphere – and let it all emerge. It’s as simple and as difficult as that. You’ve got to listen to yourself. Hmm, I think I’ve said that before somewhere… ;-)

[slideshare id=37589&doc=the-25-basic-styles-of-blogging-and-when-to-use-each-one-14243&w=425]

Editing the self

Just out of interest.. I added the bunny ears around “thought leader” in between sending the last post out as an email to some current students, and putting it up publically.

Why do that? Why tell you I did it?

I was editing myself. I was thinking carefully about how I wanted to communicate. I was listening to myself. I was learning, as I am right now in this moment, very very deeply.

In the first version I was uncomfortable with calling myself a thought leader due to the perhaps pompous nature of appointing yourself as that, yet is has some meaning. But I knew I was in a more closed conversation with people that had intimate, direct experience of any credentials I might have in that way.

I was uncomfortable with the use of it for two reasons. One – it makes me sound like a tosser to include myself in that category. Two – in context, it was ironic due to the inherent hierarchy implied. My authentic self sees everyone as potentially thought leaders, and that’s a part of the potential blogging offers. That’s the deepest part of the conceptual space we are developing here. Lead your own thinking. Listen to yourself first.

In the second version -  I used the bunny ears for “thought leader” to suggest the questionable use of the expression, as if I was quoting some else in using it. Which I was. Earlier I spent some time (on an off day when I should be in bed recovering from a cold) looking at some of the world’s top, self appointed “thought leaders” who might want me to join them at the top.

I guess I’m not quite ready to go there.  I think the view and sense of interconnection is better from the earth, not up on the mountain looking down. I hate heirarchies.

There. Lesson to self finished. If anyone else gets anything from it, that’s a total bonus.

Editing yourself

Some serious bloggers like to show where they have changed a previous post.

See this for an example.

There are no hard and fast rules about how to do this, but I will be looking for more and more examples to help you develop your own protocols.

Gra – would you like comment?

The question was asked by someone in our Academics Blogging course, so we will look for specific examples of conventions evolving in that world. Please add a comment if you find any yourselves.

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