Confident Writing

Powerful Writing From "Crazy Monkey" Rodney King

Rodney King is a martial arts trainer and life coach, also known as (with cult status too as far as I can tell) the founder of the Crazy Monkey Defense System.

I got to know Rodney when he asked me to do a bit of coaching with him about the contents of his blog.  I was instantly hooked into his work: hooked through the power of his words and the power of his story.  Here's an extract from his 'about' page:

When I was young I lived with uncontrollable fear.  In later years I learned to stand up for myself and my fear turned into anger and rage.  I spent well over ten years fighting at any and every opportunity.  If it wasn’t in the ring, it was in my own gym or outside the doors of some of Johannesburg’s roughest nightclubs as a doorman

...

Once I was on a spiraling road to destruction.  Now I find myself working with world champion athletes to become the best they can be in the ring.  I have consulted with Special Force Military Units to teach them mental skills and help them implement a a winning performance mental game for the battlefield.  I have acted as a performance coach for countless CEOs, business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs to find their center of power, to manage their fear, anger and frustration and to help them develop into Embodied-Warriors for the boardroom.

After a few weeks Rodney asked me to help edit his forthcoming book: a manual for the worldwide network of coaches who teach his martial arts GAME approach.  We finished the editing after a few intensive weeks of work and I'm delighted to say the book's now available for sale.

I'd recommend it as a read for coaches whatever your focus - you don't need to be involved in the martial arts to learn from this book.  It certainly made me think a lot about the model for my own coaching business and the difference (and interplay) between teaching, coaching and the environment you create for students and clients to learn in.

I was also delighted to read this review of the book: I've grabbed some of the words that stood out to me (as editor):

a quick read; informal and conversational; frank and direct; accessible and thought provoking; effeciently presents a tremendous depth of thought (yes!); logical and compelling

Rodney has also agreed that I can share his first reaction on reading the results of my editing. 

At first I noticed that almost 50 pages were cut away. I was a little bit freaked to be honest. But as I worked through it, I realized you'd done something really important.  You kept the message but did away with all the inessentials. So while the book is a whole lot less, the content is still very ‘thick’, if that makes any sense.

What I think you have done is made it way more reader friendly.  Not only that it is something that any martial arts coach can read in a morning. I think this is important - especially for quick turn around in implementation. I don’t want to sound elitist, but many martial arts coaches have to be threatened with bodily harm to read something. This format will work perfectly for them.

I think it makes for a pretty powerful testimonial, so thanks for letting me share it.

Rodney, it was a blast working with you.  I wish you every success with the sales of the book and look forward to working with you on the next writing project.

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If you would like some help completing a book you're working on click here to find out how to work with me.  I can help in a number of ways including motivational coaching to help you complete your work and powerful editing to make sure your message shines through.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Writing, Art and Power: MAD About Art

One of my favourite charities around is MAD About Art. 

They're a small educational charity working with children and young people in South Africa who've been affected by HIV.  Their work is based on a mix of art and narrative therapy, creating some quite wonderful results.

The art, paintings, stories and hero books that the youngsters have created contain powerful, harsh, beautiful truths. 

Here's some writing by a girl called Rochelle, to accompany this beautiful panel from the Rainbow of Hope that they created together.

Rochelle

I am who I am
My light burns bright just like yours

At first I couldn’t believe I am HIV-positive
now I do accept
I choose to go on with my life

I’m relieved from all my problems
I can face the world again
I move on with my life
I don’t look back again

The VOLCANO is my anger coming out
I’m more relieved then ever
all the hurt, judgments and blame
I was facing is coming out

The volcano explodes to show I’m strong

SMOKE is coming out of my nose, eyes and ears
The smoke is the power  inside Me
The power I have to look forward to a new future

The WEIGHT shows I’m relieved
I can stand up for myself
I don’t care what people say,
I am what I am
I have the power
I face those who judge and blame me

I’m strong and happy because of love,
support and information

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I'm working on a way to generate some support for MAD through our powerful writing project. More on that at the beginning of next week.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

What I Learned From The Gifts I Received At SobCon08

Unpacking from the weekend I noticed a wonderful mash-up of gifts I'd received while I was away.  Here's some of them:

• Advice on eating pizza from Robert Hruzek (in front of everyone, plus a picture posted on Flickr, thanks so much Bob!)

• Time, a warm welcome and an introduction to a different side of America from Brad Shorr

• The correct pronunciation of Arkansas (and thank you Michelle for not laughing - too much - at mine)

• Tablet, from Amy Palko, for me to give to some people at the event.  I gave it to folks on Twitter which meant their responses (and Amy's name) was part of the livestream from the event, helping her (I hope) to feel part of it, even though she couldn't be there

• An introduction to Oovoo from Rick Mahn.  Now when I say introduction I don't just mean "here's a link", I mean he took the time to run it and show me how it works, giving me the confidence to take the next step

• A hug from Liz Strauss, one of my blogging heroines

• One of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen from Karen Putz, aka Deaf Mom (the motto  on her business card is "life is too short to pout all the time", and boy does she live up to that)

• Lessons in how to play pool from Joe Haukes, and lessons in how to be patient and encouraging to a team member however hopeless they are (and I was seriously hopeless)

• A lesson in confidence from Stephen Hopson.  Stephen has never met me or connected with me through blogs, emails or comments before but he was in Chicago early, as I was, and he wanted to be sociable.  He is hearing impaired which means he didn't just need to phone me out of the blue, but he had to do it through a relay service, where the conversation is mediated through a 3rd party.  I'm glad he did because we had a great conversation, over lunch, and the whole weekend.

• A small piece of rock from Jon Swanson's back yard, and a conversation about rootlessness. Meaning more to me than I can hope to convey here.

• The hand of friendship from Karen Hanrahan, aka Mother Earth.

• A copy of Phil Gerbyshak's Make It Great book, which I'm looking forward to reading and then applying the lessons in writing, in business and in life

• A copy of Christine Kane's CD. Her music on Friday night really rocked the boat

• A lesson in the culture of the US from J Erik Potter who helped me understand a lot of things better

• A story from Terry Starbucker, reminding me of something I'd been pretending I didn't want

• Tips and suggestions from readers here and people I know on Twitter about places to go and things to do when I was in Chicago.  This made me feel a lot more confident about being there.  Thank you.

And what did I learn from this mashup of gifts?

People like to give.

The gifts they chose to give teach us something about them, and about ourselves: what we notice, appreciate and value.

And last but not least, as Karen Hanrahan said: People are cool.  Way, way cool.

What have you learned from the gifts you've received recently?

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Thanks to everyone who was at SobCon08 for smiles, hugs, friendship, companionship over a meal, business tips, travel advice, blogging suggestions and more.

Cliff Atkinson , Shashi Bellamkonda , JJ Betts, Chris Brown, Chris Brogan, Anita Bruzzese, Dave Bullock, Mark Carter, Brian Clark, Tom Clifford, Clay Collins, Valerie Combs , Chris Cree, Lisa Cree, Thomas Croghan, Donna Cutting, David Dalka , Kevin Dixie , Tim Draayer, Andrew Dubber , Easton Ellsworth, Kevin Ferrasci O’Malley, Chantelle Flannery, Sarah Filipiak, Mary-Lynn Foster, Annie Galvin Teich, Brian Gardner, Chris Garrett, Jon Gatrell , Phil Gerbyshak, Jared Goralnick, Karen Hanrahan , Joseph Hauckes, Vicky Hennegan, Scot Herrick, John Hong , Stephen Hopson, Robert Hruzek, Timothy Johnson, Sara , Pete Jones,   Todd Jordan, Bob Kakoliris, Christine Kane, Adam Kayce, Kristen King, Scott Kolbe, Jen Knoedl, Thomas Knoll, Stephen Koernig, Bryan Kress, George Krueger, Amy L, Tammy Lenski, James G. Lindberg , Eli Litscher, Rick Mahn, Sim Margolis , Michael Martine, Becky McCray, Maria Meadows, Cory Miller, Ann Michael, Dawud Miracle, Debra Moorhead, Matthew Murphy, Paul O’Flaherty, Tim Padar Jesse Petersen, Melissa Pierce , Wendy Piersall, Sandra Ponce de Leon , J. Erik Potter , Karen Putz , Susan R Quandt, Levy Rivers, Barbara Rozgonyi , Jeff Sable , Sheila Scarborough, Mary Schmidt , Derek Semmler, Maria Sharon, David Sherbow, Steve Sherlock, Brad Shorr, Louise Silberman , Sonia Simone-Rossney, Julien Smith, Stephen Smith, Michael Snell, Derrick Sorles, Terry Starbucker, Liz Strauss, Jon Swanson, Ruth M Sylte, Michelle Vandepas , Lorelle VanFossen, Colleen Wainwright, Denise Wakeman, James D. Walton, Randy Windsor ,

Thanks too to all those bloggers who were there in spirit if not in person: people I talked about, people other participants told me about including Amy Palko, Emma Bird, Karen Swim, Robyn McMaster, Yvonne Russell Cat Morley, Karen Wallace and (time and again) Rosa Say

Thanks also to those of you who were encouraging and cheering me on through my blog and through conversations on Twitter.  Your contributions helped me to have a great time.

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This post is a contribution to this month's What I Learned From (WILF) challenge, run by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings.  This month's theme is What I Learned From Mashing It Up.  I'm not sure this meets his criteria, though I have covered a lot of the listed topics (food, technology, friends, recreation, heroes, time, space). 

It's also a mash up of my last SobCon post and WILF entry, which I think deserves credit, if not a bonus point....

Picture mash up includes following pics (starting top left and snaking round): Make it Great; stone from Jon's back yard; Stephen Hopson & Karen Putz; Liz Strauss and me; Joe teaching me how to play pool; how not to eat pizza; Brad in Geneva; tablet; reflections from Cloud Gate

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Blog Writing Tips from 100 Successful Bloggers

As you might expect there were a whole lot of tips on blog writing from the gathering of 100+ successful and outstanding bloggers in Chicago at the weekend.

Here are some that stuck out for me - not direct quotes but close enough for me to attribute them to the speakers.

They're structured around some key questions to ask yourself before you start to write.

Why

Write to get attention - but make sure it's the right kind of attention
Brian Clark @copyblogger

What

Add value - don't just repeat what others have said
Chris Garrett @chrisgarrett

How you do your job or your business - makes for an interesting story and might be the thing that helps you to stand out

Chris Garrett @chrisgarrett

Your successes - don't be shy of letting people know about the good stuff
David Bullock @davidbullock

What's going on - the good stuff and the challenges, let go a bit of control and allow your readers to identify with you - and be inspired by what you've done
Wendy Piersall, @emom

How

Take ownership and responsibility; check your sources; correct any mistakes instantly
Anita Bruzzese

Don't write for your teacher - chances are they're not reading your blog
Liz Strauss @lizstrauss

Use powerful questions to get feedback or stimulate a response

Say what you mean, don't worry about getting it perfect but do make it attractive and easy to read

Use techniques to break through your barriers: start writing by penning an e-mail (not to be sent, just to draft the material), using voice recognition software, talking to a rubber duck.
What do you want to say, why, what difference does it make, "so what"?

Those last three were all from Chris Garrett.  I've included a lot of his because he had so many useful, practical suggestions on productive blogging (getting more bang for your blog.)  If you don't already follow his work, check out ChrisG.com. Chris is also the co-author with Darren Rowse of the Problogger book - I got a copy at the weekend which I've just started and will share more of later.

When

Think about your schedule; how often to post; days of the week readers are around (varies from market to market)

Be aware of your own time and energy; use it wisely; watch drains on your energy and focus on what matters

Anticipate periods when you won't be able to write - holidays, times when you're ill; have a backlog of posts, collaborate with others so you can cover for each other

Again, these three are all from Chris Garrett.  Cheers Chris for giving us so much practical advice.

Thinking about 'when' is the most important one for me: when I draft (trying to do them in one sitting), when I post, getting a mix of short and long, anticipating periods when I won't have time to write so much.

What about you? Have you picked up a tip recently that has helped you be more productive in your blogging?

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This is one in a series of posts on learning points from SobCon08.  I've also posted some ideas on blogging and business for those of you that are interested in that.

If you want to talk through how to apply these and other principles and learning points you can book an hour of my coaching time - find out  more here, including how to book.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Photo Credit: Gentoo Book by Gunnar Wrobel

SobCon08 Round Ups

I'm trying not to bombard you with material on what was quite an overwhelming weekend.  On the other hand, a lot of you have told me you're keen to learn how things panned out.

So we've had photos (and geographical context), powerful writing ideas, a video, some blog writing tips scheduled for tomorrow, and Friday my personal reflections and thanks.

Meantime I've written up a separate page covering my learning points on blogging and business.  Follow the link to check it out.

If you'd like more ideas on what came out of the event, check out this resource-rich post from Easton Ellsworth (cheers Easton!): 139 Business And Blog Improvement Tips From SobCon08

You can also tune into a radio interview with various speakers and participants done by Michelle Vandepass from Live Your Purpose Radio.  It includes a short interview with me about why I'd travelled so far to be there, which took us into a conversation about my writing purpose and writing with purpose... which is our next theme here (starting in about 10 days time).

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Are You Ready To Share Your Voice On The Web?

One of the competitions at SobCon was an advert for your blog using video, audio and pictures through Utterz. 

You can see the winning entry here - just takes a minute or two and it's creative, inventive and fun.  (If you're curious, the other entries are posted here.)  Congratulations to the winner Jen Knoedl.

I didn't enter because I didn't have time or a video camera (though I've just ordered a webcam so things might start to change...)

The competition made me think about the power of using our own voice to tell our story (of our business, or values, or way of looking at the world).

There's more and more multi-media out there now, and in line with web principles of transparency and authenticity that's probably going to mean a challenge to start sharing our voices and moving heads as well as our words and for some of us, our pictures.

I know a lot of people who are reluctant to do this - because of (perceived) technical barriers, because they don't like the sound of their own voice, because they haven't had the feedback (yet) that their voice is a powerful asset, and can perhaps make all the difference.

I'm interested in ways that we can work through these barriers - knowing more about what they are, and what kind of things would help.

Partly because I think I can help with some of it (especially the confidence part) and partly because I might need some help in breaking the video blogging barrier...

So what do you think?  Are you ready to share your voice on the web?  And if not, what would help you to get there?

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

10 Outstanding Definitions Of Powerful Writing

I was listening out for many things at the SobCon08 conference at the weekend but I couldn't forget my current theme of powerful writing.

Here are 10 more gems that I gleaned from the speakers and participants.  The first five are what others said (not word for word, I don't do shorthand I'm afraid, and there's a wee bit of interpretation gone in too).

The second list is 5 more of my own definitions, inspired by conversations with other people.  Who they are (blog and twitter ID) follows my one-line.

Powerful writing is...

Feeling the fear and writing it anyway.  Don't censor yourself, don't stop your voice from being part of the conversation
Chris Garrett  @chrisgarrett

Deciding to start: like learning a dance, you need to get out there on to the dance floor. When you hear the music get out there and dance
Jen Knoedl @jenknoedl

Inspirational: when you can't hear the music, don't stop - make your own
Karen Putz aka Deaf Mom @deafmom

Your answer to the question: who are you *not* to be great?
Wendy Piersall @emom

Owning your space, because you've worked hard to be the you that you are
David Bullock @davidbullock

Powerful writing...

Powerful writing tells a quiet truth

Inspired by Rick Mahn @rickmahn

Powerful writing provides answers to questions people didn't know they were asking

Inspired by Jon Swanson @jnswanson

Powerful writing gives me goosebumps

Inspired by Terry Starbucker @starbucker

Powerful writing tells a story that people want to hear

Inspired by Robert Hruzek

Powerful writing rocks

Inspired by David Bullock @davidbullock

 

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These one-liners come from the conference I was at over the weekend and fit into the theme of powerful writing that I've been running here for the last few weeks. 

I'm challenging you all to come up with your own definition of powerful writing in 30 words or less.  There's still time to join in, just leave a comment, send me an e-mail or write it on your own blog and link back here. 

Deadline's 10th May.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Chicago Pulse: Why The Windy City Was The Perfect Setting For SobCon08

What is it about Chicago that made it the perfect setting for SobCon08?  A gathering of 100+ web publishers, business owners, entrepreneurs, teachers, learners, writers and bloggers.

Now I'm not talking hot air here when I refer to the Windy City (though put us all together in a small boat and we sure did make an awful lot of noise...)  I'm talking about the Chicago environment, atmosphere, and landscape which for me created the perfect context and conditions for an event which truly rocked.

From a flick through of my Chicago photo album you might say it was because:

You have to look up to see the whole picture

The city tempts you to reflect, and see things from a new perspective

 

We had a clear view ahead from the windows on the 10th floor of the Executive Summit conference centre

It's a city where people like to play, create and have fun

 

The skyline and skyscrapers are a celebration of audacity

 

Dig a little deeper and you'll find hidden gems, unique, with great attention to detail and design

 

Downtown Chicago is dominated by bridges: crossing points, opportunities for growth and expansion

The buildings play off each other: reflecting, creating, inspiring

Sarah Bernhardt said Chicago was the pulse of America. 

Daniel Burnham, Chicago architect and planner is quoted as saying:

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized.

It's a quote that captures the mood of Chicago for me, and is part of what made it the perfect backdrop for this event.

What do you think? If you know Chicago can you see other ways the city works for the spirit and culture of blogging entrepreneurs?  If you were at SobCon08 what elements of the city landscape or environment added to your experience?

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This is my first follow up post to SobCon 08.  I've got other ideas, messages and learning points buzzing through my mind that I'll share with you over the next week or so. 

I'm going to keep the main focus on writing (and powerful writing at that - some great lines and ideas to add to the mix from the weekend) and may well post a separate page of ideas for those of you who are particularly interested in blogging and business.

I wanted to start with this one though: because I loved taking the pictures, because it was my first trip to the US and a big (wonderful) deal for me, because a number of people have said they'd like to see photos and learning points... and mainly because I was trying to find a way to thank Liz Strauss.

It's hard to find words to say thanks for such a monumental contribution but (if you'll excuse the pun) I hope this celebration of Chicago will go some small way because I know you love this city Liz, and rightly so.  Besides I thought you might be able to use some of this to drum up more sponsorship for next year :-)

Joanna

The Song Of The Littlest Birds

One of the things I enjoy about these monthly conversations is the way recurring themes and images emerge.  This month singing and songs have wound their way back into our understanding of powerful writing - and that's inspired another song posting.

This one's the Littlest Birds by the Be Good Tanyas.  It was gifted to me by Captain Stardust on Twitter as a theme tune for a virtual road tour we were planning, but the song is so sweet and the lyrics so lovely it seemed like a good theme tune for powerful writing too.

 

It makes me think of Wendi Kelly's words on having faith in your own voice, however small it might sound to you.  Of how much encouragement and support an online community (like my friends on Twitter) can offer you, and how much power that gives us (both in the giving and the taking).  Of the wandering blues (which begged me to go to Chicaco).  Of the people and places we carry with us, and how those memories work into our writing and give our words power.

How the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs.

Enjoy singing yours.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Have A Little Faith In The Power Of Your Own Voice

I love the way our words connect.

From a post Brad Shorr wrote on powerful writing, to a post here sharing a clip of Thunder Road.  The power of the song prompted Wendi Kelly to leave this comment:

Sometimes we have to have a little faith in our own voice, in our own authenticity. We have to have faith that what we need to say just might need to be heard somewhere

And then to write this post: Having Faith

Somebody is listening somewhere. Somebody needs to hear what you have already figured out. Somebody needs a hand up, a little help along the way. Or they need to know that you are struggling too, that they are not alone. They need to know that they are not a lone tree falling in the forest. That you are there and will catch them when they fall, that your words will hold them up-because you have been there first. Maybe all you have to say today is great job or I love you, but these can be powerful words too. Don’t underestimate what you have to say. Someone needs to hear it.

This is what powerful writing means to me.  The decision to write, to leave a mark, to make a difference.  To release, to realize the power of our own words.

Thank you Wendi for writing such a beautiful piece, and inspiring people to have faith in the power of their own voice, the power of their own words.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count