Content Mastery Guide

Editor and Ghostwriter

Write from the headlines: This doesn’t feel like global warming

By

While experts say that this cold snap doesn't disprove the theory of global warming, all I keep hearing about is how frosty everyone is feeling. So here are some January article topics inspired by the weather:

  • Life coaches: Top 5 ways to make your own sunshine
  • Parenting coaches: How to keep your kids active in the winter months
  • Business coaches: Are your clients hibernating? Make the best of it!
  • Relationship coaches: 10 ways to heat up your relationship
  • Career coaches: Top 5 winter jobs

Writing prompt: What issues might be coming up for your target audience in this cold weather? Or are there some unique New Year themes you could explore?

[Update December 29, 2012 – The original article is no longer available, but I did find this similar story about the cold snap in January 2012.]

AquaNotes: My initial impressions of this idea catcher for the shower

By

Well, I popped the AquaNotes onto my shower wall and gave them a spin. It was pretty remarkable to see the water just beading up and rolling off – I think kids would have a lot of fun with this in the bathtub 🙂 And I love that the paper and pencil are natural and non-toxic.

One thing I’m not sure will work for me is that the paper was too wet to immediately bring over to my desk and put with the other notes in my idea catcher.

There was a page enclosed in the box that read, “May you always be blessed with inspiration and great ideas in the shower…and enough AquaNotes to write them down! Thank you for order!” with a handwritten signature from Mark and LeAnn – a very nice touch.

I might add a few suggestions to that page, such as:

1. Before you apply your AquaNotes, stand in the shower to see where it’s most comfortable to write. (I moved mine twice before I did that!)

2. Leave your pages on the holder to dry so they don’t drip onto other papers. (Mark and LeAnn might be able to provide an approximate drying time.)

Overall, I think AquaNotes are a useful, creative and fun product that definitely do what they’re meant to do. I haven’t had any earth-shattering ideas in the shower since Nov 17th, but the next time I do, I’ll be ready!!

Pick up your own AquaNotes at www.myaquanotes.com.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein.

Write from the headlines: Rude people

By

Last week, Toronto’s public transit system started cracking down on rude riders. That got me thinking about the many ways that coaches can help us in our encounters with rude people.

  • Career coaches: Are you the victim of workplace bullying?
  • Life coaches: Five important lessons that rude people are here to teach you
  • Parenting coaches: How to deal with the rude behavior of other people’s children
  • Business coaches: Are rude customers still always right?
  • Spiritual coaches: How to lovingly detach from the rudeness of others

Writing prompt: Use one of these article titles as a springboard to a topic that is custom-made for your own audience. I’d love to hear your take on it – you can post a link to your article as a comment below. Please, and thank you.

Batching – group similar tasks to make the most of your time

By

I had a wonderful meeting with my mentor at the end of July, and one of the things we spoke about was "batching." In essence, she asserted that my time is valuable, and to make the most of it, I need to use it efficiently. That means grouping together similar tasks and getting super-focused on doing them all within that same block of time.

I had already intuitively implemented a lot of batching practices in my life (though I have to say that I practice some more regularly than others). Things like:

  • When I run errands, I group them together based on location  (there's extra incentive now because of gas prices)
  • Saving up cheques for less trips to the ATM (I also avoid any fees by doing my cash withdrawals at the same time, at my own bank)
  • Processing emails only twice a day (this one's been harder to stick with, and I still do like to check more frequently for messages from clients)

When it comes to writing, batching has meant creating a special block of time in my calendar every week for drafting, writing and pre-scheduling blog posts. I'm sitting in this time slot right now, and it feels spacious and precious to me. This routine has progressed out of my blogging in fits and spurts technique, and using the "draft" post function as an idea catcher is what makes it work.

Writing Prompt: What are some writing jobs that you could group together to tap into the momentum and efficiency of batching?