Learning to love the in-between
A story has a beginning, middle and end. But in the roadmap for our life’s stories, how do you describe the space that lives between the end and the beginning? It’s the space of in-between, limbo, when you know what you’re leaving behind but you don’t know where you’re going. I just learned a new […]
Living, for a moment, in the small stories
Last month, I described a path towards finding your big story, the narrative you can use to make your career or business come alive. Today as I return from a week’s writing intensive, filled with the magic of learning from writer/performance coach Ann Randolph, I am reminded of the magic to be found in the small. A story […]
Five questions about your bio your clients are secretly asking
Your bio isn’t your resumé. Its purpose is to help people decide whether they want to connect with you. Let it sing with your own voice, while showing that you’re credible. Think of it like a story, a little bit of memoir, a rendition of your professional life, a place for more creativity rather than a report. You need to be […]
Finding the magic in the middle of your story
Stories have beginning, middles, and ends. Last week, we talked about exploring the beginning of your story, the Origin Story. This week we’re going to explore the middle. The beginning sets up our hero’s challenge. The ending resolves it. Yet the middle is where the hero has to work things out, struggle and develop character. […]
How your Origin Story reveals the art in your life
How many of us have secretly felt, from time to time, like we were frauds in our professions? In 1978, Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes coined the term “imposter syndrome” to describe high achieving individuals who worried that they were frauds, who were someday going to be “found out”. In a similar vein, […]
Time for tea and reflection
Welcome to November, the time of long nights and cold rain in the Northwest. Our glorious Indian Summer, which I celebrated in My Favorite Fall Things, is officially over. November is my month for longer cups of tea and yummy evenings inside reading. Sometimes so much dark, though, still gets under my skin and I start […]
How to write about yourself when the future is foggy
Writing about one’s self when you’re in the midst of re-invention can be daunting. But with every step, the path gets clearer. “We make the road by walking.”
The Résumé’s not dead – just boring (or why you need more story in your bio!)
Sure, we all need to have a résumé. But a bio can be a lot more interesting to read – especially if you know how to bring it together with the power of story!
Find Your Best Frame
Last week, I gave a workshop on Strategic Storytelling at a conference of fundraisers. Strategic storytelling is the vivid use of stories tied to a framework you design – one that orients the listener/reader to the importance and relevance of what you are sharing. This framework is like the trunk of a tree on which […]
Embrace Your Creative Edge: Lessons from Ann Randolph
Last week, I attended a writing/performance workshop conducted by the inimitable actress Ann Randolph – known for her award winning solo performances in Loveland and Squeeze Box. Here are some take-aways!