Category: The Writing Life

The Most Important Marketing Tool

Are you wondering what the most important marketing tool is? Also, why do you post on social media? If it’s to connect with your readers or potential clients, this article is for you.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

First of all, I want to mention marketing guru Dan Blank of We Grow Media. When I read his newsletter last week, it struck a nerve. One of Dan’s principles is the importance of connecting with the right audience, that person who needs what you are offering. I wholeheartedly agree with this idea.

How I Expand on Dan’s Idea

My experience includes the importance of purpose. Why do you want to publish your book? What is your motivation?

If you want to help your readers or your clients improve their lives, then we are on the same page.

Non-Fiction vs. Fiction

It is obvious that many non-fiction books are written to help elevate the reader. In contrast, have you ever felt better or learned something about yourself in a fiction book? I know I have. Those are the fiction books I crave; well-written, interesting locations, history is nice, and characters that learn something along the way. Some of my favorite fiction books that fit this description are:

There are many more on my Goodreads profile. Furthermore, I’m in the process of adding books I’ve read in the past to this account, making it a resource for my readers, like you.

What about my favorite non-fiction?  First, I want to note that the first three non-fiction books in my list above are loosely based on the author’s lives. I suspect that is often the case.

Here is my short list:

I imagine you are thinking, these are kind of strange, unrelated subjects. Absolutely! But that is the key to the most important marketing tool.

Here’s the Marketing Tool

After being very clear what you are selling, writing about, or the service you are offering, imagine your perfect client sitting with you. Have a conversation with them. What would you talk about? Ask them about their interests and hone in where you have common ground. Furthermore, what are they looking for that you can give them?

Finally, use this information when you post on social media.

Draw your perfect client or reader in with a photo, question, or quote. Engage with other like-minded people on social media. Don’t just ‘like’ their posts, comment from your heart. Share their posts. Use their profile link in your share to let them know you care about what they are sharing.

Be real.

An Invitation

Let’s have some conversations on social media. You can find me several ways. Click on the social media icons on the page. Or search for @dawnoutside on Twitter and Instagram. I can’t wait to read your share on the most important marketing tool.

Update on my Instagram account: A friend notified me she had received a personal message from someone who stole my profile picture and was contacting my followers. Hmmm. At first I was very angry, then fear crept in.

Finally, a little more about my photo here. It’s a photo of the first dawn at my new house. Did it help to draw you into this page? I’ve found that personal, real photos are much more effective than using professional images. Furthermore, my loving energy will always be in my photos, words, and paintings.

See you soon,
Dawn

Doing Something Just for Me

For me, this week was all about doing something just for me. It started with my first Airbnb experience and ended with my first attempt at clarity cards. In between I listened to my intuition and discovered some truths about myself.

Unique Mountain Farm

Solitude, comfort, amenities; it’s all right here just outside Hendersonville, North Carolina at the Unique Mountain Farm.

As I was planning my trip, I knew exactly what I wanted to do each day. In contrast, after I arrived at my destination, my relaxation allowed the days to flow more naturally, surrendering to a calmer frame of mind.

Listen to Your Intuition

I checked the weather and found my first full day was the sunniest. As I arrived on Monday afternoon, Waze, my favorite mapping app, sent me down winding roads, right past the Carl Sandburg Home National Park Service Historic Site. I knew a visit was meant to be.

It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in gathering forest and to ask of himself, “Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?” – Carl Sandburg

This quote sums up what my heart told me I needed when I planned my getaway. So much emotion and stress had lain heavy on my shoulders the past nine months. Consequently, while walking the grounds of Carl Sandburg’s home, I suddenly burst into tears, multiple times.

Conversely, I also had several lively conversations with dogs and their owners. One of those conversations ended with this confession from one owner.

“You just made my day.”

With my emotions now stabilized, I felt only joy. As I turned to continue down the hill, this scene lay before me.

It’s Worthwhile to Go the Extra Mile

My lifelong friend, Pat, lives in Western North Carolina, three hours from my stay near Hendersonville. Certainly that is much closer than the nine hours from my Florida home. Last week, I called Pat up and we arranged my visit for the middle of my retreat.

Once again, my intuition was spot on. Our short time together helped me see who I am and where I am going. It was the perfect segue for my final day in North Carolina.

It’s All About Clarity

Time for the hard work came on my rainy last day. I began Dan Blank’s Clarity Cards process. This was the primary reason for my alone time, to gain clarity.

At first, the cards looked more like a list of things I do, rather than what I want to create. Slowly, a theme emerged.

Becoming an integrative nutrition health coach is the framework that will allow me to help others change their lives. Each time I interacted directly with people this week, whether strangers or dear friends, I felt more alive, more connected to the positive energy all around me.

Above all, helping others amplified because I am doing something just for me.

A Harvest of Ideas

As we conclude the first official week of autumn, I extend my wish for your own harvest of ideas gleaned from doing something special just for you.

Warmly,
Dawn

Writing Morning Pages Opens Up Creativity

Today, I returned to writing morning pages. Finally, I picked up one of the spiral journals on my bookshelf, plucked a pen off my desk and wrote.

My first morning pages started over thirty years ago when I was introduced to The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It is one of the tools she uses to open up creativity.

What are Morning Pages?

The idea is very simple. Each morning, before you do anything else, take pen in hand and write on paper. The standard for how much to write is three pages or thirty minutes. The only requirement is physical writing.

At first, you might not know what to write. That’s okay. If you’re stuck, write “I don’t know what to write. This is stupid.” Continue writing these two sentences. As if by magic, your words change to release whatever needs to come out. Maybe the emotions release. Perhaps, a new idea may emerge.

There is no wrong way to do morning pages. Furthermore, don’t worry about syntax, punctuation or spelling. Above all, just write.

How Might This Work?

The physical task of moving the hand allows the brain to slowly unwind. It seems like expressing your thoughts on paper is basic therapy. Moreover, it doesn’t hurt you or anyone else.

Morning pages are private. They are not shared. When you’ve filled up your first notebook or journal you choose what you do with it.

    • Store it
    • Burn it
    • Shred it
    • Physically tear it up

Start Today

Why not give writing morning pages a try? Do you have an empty notebook lying around the house? Any writing instrument will do; pen, pencil, marker. Start writing morning pages and watch your creativity soar.

For me, today’s morning pages made me feel so much calmer, I didn’t stress over publishing this page much later than usual. Ahhhh.

Helpful Resources

As I composed this article, I remembered the scores of young people who were not given the joy of learning cursive writing in school. If you want to learn how to master this creative style of writing, here are a few of the many helpful sources online. Most noteworthy, the first link is full of more resources at the end of the article.

On a personal note, thank you, kind reader, Donna M., for emailing me the link in the last item above. The world needs more teachers like you.

Have an enjoyable, safe Labor Day weekend, enjoying the vestiges of summer and looking forward to fall.

Warmly,
Dawn