I found this poem going through the material shared on the summer writing space.  Participants had shared their work via blog posts, and tagged them they went along.  Looking down the list of tags… well, it spoke to me in poem form

With a little bit of editing and a tiny bit of poetic licence (I took out a few of the tags that interrupted the flow), here’s the result.  The words in italics are the tags.  This is the order they fell in.

Writing Practice

it’s poems, painting, photography

it’s reflection

it’s fun

it’s grief

it’s creativity, art, style

it’s process

it’s self, friendship

space

it’s commentary, fiction

it’s motivation

no, really, it’s just

life

or maybe:

courage

it’s prompt, prose, connection, expression

it’s micro writing ramblings thoughts

it’s memoir

it’s walking, camera, poem

it’s nature:
creative
reflective

it’s death

it’s perception, awareness

it’s both change and constant

it’s wonder
poetry
memory
growth

it’s the elements
dance
plant
sculpture

it’s ideas
it’s mindset

it’s consciousness
it’s empathy
it’s personal

it’s contradiction

it’s simply

practice

~~~

I’ve also recorded it, because it was one of those strings of words that asked to be spoken.

You can hear the recording by pressing ‘play’ on this voice thread (if it doesn’t show up in your feed reader why not pop over to the blog and play it from here?)

I hope you like it.  Thanks to all the participants on the writing space for teaching me more about writing practice.

So, I’ve created a Facebook page to promote my work… now what do I do with it?

I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a while, but was holding back because there’s so much I don’t know about running a Facebook page.

But I’ve seen a few different versions of the “so now what?” question recently, which has prompted me to pass on and share, for what it’s worth, that which I have learned so far.

This guide is based on 3 simple principles:

• Keep learning
• Keep listening
• Keep it simple

What are the benefits of running a Facebook page?

• It’s a simple way for you (and your fans) to spread the word about what you do.

• It allows for organic growth (the more clicks, likes, fans… the more people find you, easily).

• It provides a means for you to learn more about others (whether that’s clients, customers, students, participants, community)

• A separate page means you can separate out your personal use of Facebook from your professional presence.  This means, if you want to, you can keep your friends to those you ‘really’ know (whoever you define this) and your updates fairly personal / private.

• There are lots and lots of people on Facebook.  You should be there too.

• It’s not a huge amount of work given the word-spreading benefits.

• Trying to figure how Facebook works (or doesn’t) teaches you about social media, community building, online marketing, human behaviour

The Set Up

• You probably want to have a welcome page to explain what you’re about, (and also make that your landing page for new visitors)

• There are applications you can use that allow you to import your blog feed

• After that you can add in other things like photos, events, videos, but remember to keep it simple (and proportionate)

• Have a look round for the ways others have set up their pages.  Think about what you like, and what seems to work

• Just as you would borrow ideas from the blogosphere: look for good examples, borrow from the best, see how you can apply it to your own

• Once you know what you’re trying to do, google for the technical ways to do it.  There are lots of good blog tutorials out there that will talk you through things step by step (a couple of examples at the bottom.)

• But: you need to accept that the way to do things on Facebook keeps changing.  Advice you find might be out of date, or about to become so.

Content: What do you put on the page?

• Go beyond links to your blog posts – it’s not that an interesting a diet on its own

• Post short updates that are simple and easy to digest.  Thoughts, reflections, quotes, some links to good stuff you’ve read elsewhere, prompts, questions.

• Be positive and encouraging.  People often go to FB for a pick-me-up.  Offer something that provides support, inspiration, food for thought, a moment to pause and see a problem differently.

• You can also prompt discussions: I don’t use that feature myself though as a) the material can get lost, not appearing on the wall and b) it’s more work to manage and moderate than I think it’s worth.

• Get ideas from the way others use fan pages (that means you’d better sign up to some to get an idea of different approaches)

Managing and Moderating

So, you’ve got your page up and running, with content going out… then what?

Well, mainly, it’s a question of popping over, checking in, showing up, responding, and being present.

There’s also remembering to:

• Keep an eye out for news on changes that Facebook is making to pages, in case it affects you

• Be patient, and accept that FB is quirky and often frustrating

• Weed out ‘look at my stuff!’ material posted on your page wall.  (How much material you want others to post and share is something you want to consider, both at the start, and as you go along, in the light of how people use / abuse it)

• Respond to comments (and moderate / delete stuff you’re not happy appearing on your page)…

• … without needing to respond to every last word.  Conversations drift in a different kind of way on FB than they do on a blog.  It’s okay to leave some thoughts trailing; in fact you’ll need to, or you’ll never get to the end of some conversations.

• Decide what to do about becoming friends of fans (ie those who like your page). I don’t befriend fans unless they also happen to be people I ‘know’ in other ways.  (My FB friend rule is currently: would I email this person for help, regardless of whether or not I’ve met them in real life? If yes, they’re a friend.)

• Tune in to the things people are talking about, or seem to like, and think about ways to respond to those interests and needs.

• Don’t worry about the ‘right’ way of managing a page… go with what suits your style, the amount of time you have, how much engagement you’re looking for and so on

I’m sure there are lots of other points I’ve missed from this guide, but I was trying to keep it simple and not put you off if you’re contemplating running a page!

What would you add to this list?  What have you learned about ‘what works’ either from running a page, or participating on the pages run by others?

Some Resources:

If you want to see how I’m using Facebook, I’ve two pages on the go:

The Writing Space

The Midlife Journal

Here are a couple of examples of blog tutorials on how to set up Facebook pages. There are *lots* more out there.

How to use FBML to display your profile photo on a custom fan page: (Anti) Social Development

How to add a custom tab to your Facebook fan page: Blog Design Studio

Kim Woodbridge has lots of really good material at (Anti) Social Development – browse the Facebook category she has there for more.

Last but not least, if you’re not sure of the benefits of running a Facebook page, you might want to read this article about the way best-selling author Isabel Losada uses Facebook as a means to sell books.

Doubt:

• is torture*

• is terrible for others to watch

• will make you beg to be allowed to stop

• prompts fantasies of stacking shelves in a supermarket, at night, without thought, free of doubt

• is normal

• comes with the territory

• cannot be escaped

• reduces

• demands a front row seat at every launch

• questions your authority

• knows all your weak spots

• can stop you from starting

• can stop you from finishing

• can stop you from launching

• can make your stomach turn with nausea at the sight of your own name in print

• throws up shadows

• prowls

• then pounces

• is suspicious

• is destructive

Doubt cannot be escaped.  But you can learn to work with doubt by your side.

How?

By building up your writing muscles.  By stopping self-recrimination, and knowing doubt is normal.  By knowing where doubt cannot reach.  Where it has no power.  Because doubt cannot touch:

• Your right to practice

• Your intention: the difference  your words will make

• The strong, insistent beat of your writing heart

~~~

“Doubt is torture”: a short chapter in Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones

Photo Credit: Crescent, by Hamed Samer

She was rushing busy busy
When she tripped on the reflection
Stopped by beauty
Stunned by wonder
When she fell into the time warp
Timeless beauty
Endless wonder
When she heard the monk-voice whisper
‘Write them beauty
Sing them wonder’
And she stopped to write a poem
Twelve line thank you, ode to wonder.

~~~

I wrote this last week in response to an invitation from Christine Valtners Paintner at Abbey of the Arts to share a poem in response to the image, above, and the theme of being a monk in the world.

I’m afraid this particular poetry fest is now closed, but if you’re interested and like the sound of the invitation just subscribe to Christine’s blog to make sure you hear about the next one.

As for 12 Line Thank You, well, I thought you might enjoying reading it at the start of another busy week…

And, one of the things I’ve been doing as a consequence of taking part in the summer writing space is writing more poems.  Exploring different forms, and aiming to write a poem each day (coupled with not beating myself up if I don’t).  I’m also gearing up to share more of what emerges.

This is a start

More of what emerged from the Writing Space later…

Meantime, have a good week, and don’t forget to take a few minutes to watch and wonder.

Photo Credit: Christine Valters Paintner

A big thanks to the August sponsors of Confident Writing for helping to spread the word about writing with confidence and trusting in the power of your own words.

This month’s sponsors are:

Next Day Flyers

Next Day Flyers are an online printing company providing offset printing services.

As well as flyers they print postcards, business cards and brochures.  These might be items that you need to spread the word about your own business, or materials that you’re preparing as part of client work that you’re doing, whether that’s writing, editing or proof-reading.

Getting the words right for business cards, brochures and flyers definitely calls for the skills of plain English, getting to the point, and writing with confidence

LifeLines Publishing: helping you share your story

LifeLines Publishing is run by Melanie Jongsma.

Most of Melanie’s clients are people who want to turn a manuscript into a self-published book.   She also works with businesses, ministries, and individuals who need Annual Reports, brochures, business cards, catalogs, fundraising appeals, newsletters, memorial programs, and other publications that carry their story to the world.

Fee ranges are given at the LifeLines website, but if the service you need doesn’t fit within your budget, send Melanie an email anyway. She may be able to offer you a different level of help, or know of other sources you could check with.

~~~

The work of sponsors is highlighted in a feature post at the end of the month.  It’s an excellent opportunity for you to spread the word about your product or service to a web-savvy, positive and enthusiastic community of writers and bloggers.  Find out more on this page for sponsors.

Just a quick update for those of you interested in / thinking about signing up for the Treasure Conscious writing, journaling and photography class.

First off, a few clarifying details in response to some questions that have come in:

Flexibility: the class runs in effect by email, so you can participate at any time and on any day in the week

Writing / Photography: you don’t *have* to include a photography element if you’d rather just… write (I can understand that impulse!)

Ning: you dont need to have used Ning before to take part (or ever again afterwards, you just join the group on Ning for the duration of the class). It’s quite simple to use, no more tricky than e-mail + other social networking sites you’re probably used to using, and full instructions on how to get set up will be sent through to you.

Any other questions… please do ask, if nothing else it’ll help me get better at explaining the next set of classes

Oh one other thing, there are only 2 spaces left on this class (I want to keep it small – a maximum of 12 – so you get the benefit of writing and sharing in a group), so if you want to take part, don’t delay!

UPDATE:

The class is now fully booked, sorry!

If you’d like to take part in a future Treasure Conscious class, please do just drop me a line at joanna [@] themidlifejournal.com and I’ll keep a note of your interest, thanks

Whispered fears run through your mind, freezing fingers as you’re typing, blocking drafts from being published, stopping sites from going live.

What if your writing isn’t good enough.

Your spelling, your grammar, your recall of old rules from school: not smart enough.

Your style: not witty enough.  Not engaging enough.

Your ideas: not thought through enough.

Your content: not significant enough to match your theme, your topic, your mission, your passion.

Your drafts: not brilliant enough to match the plans you had, the dreams you dreamt, the blog you saw unfolding in your mind.

Your position: not expert enough.  Not authority enough.  (I mean: who do you think you are?)

Your voice: not clear enough.

Your desire to make a difference: not enough to clear the bar.

To which I say: enough.

And ask instead:

If you are learner enough to learn new styles of writing on the web: for writing that flows fluidly, for connections made through words.

If you are responsive enough to let your style evolve, to see what works and folk engage with.

If you are open minded enough to explore ideas with others, to share your thoughts half-formed, still imperfect.

If you are moved enough by your theme, your topic, your mission, your passion that you can set your fears aside.

If you are human enough to accept that your words, your work, your site design might not be perfect, but is still worth sharing.

If you are free thinker enough to share your thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams without being expert, without the defence of authority.

If you are kind enough to encourage other thinkers, writers, dreamers as you go.

If you have courage enough to hear yourself sing.

If  you have desire enough to make a difference come what may.

If you have heart enough to feel the fear and do it anyway.

Then, with apologies to Kipling:

You’ll be a blogger my friend.

~~~

I drafted this a couple of months ago, inspired by someone who was holding back from starting a blog.  I hope you’re ready to roll now

Photo Credit: Willing to Stand Out, by Joanna Paterson

Learning what it is that holds you back is the key to moving forward.

A post from Seth Godin earlier this week on avoiding momentum rang true for me, both his identification of the need for momentum with its obligations, commitments, structures and schedules and our fear of it.

Deep down, this potential for an overwhelming response alerts the lizard brain and we hold back. We’re afraid of being part of something that feels like it might be too big for us.

Sound familiar?

Me too

But recognition shrinks fear.

Maybe lets you start to see where momentum might take you.

Photo credit: Momentum, by Naezmi on Flickr

It’s frustrating when you want to leave a comment in response to someone’s writing… and you can’t.

Here are some of the hurdles I’ve come across recently.

Profile required.  What if I don’t have a profile that fits your drop down box?  This is a Blogger bugbear of mine.  I don’t use Blogger so don’t know how easy or hard it is to set up the commenting options, but if some people can set it up so I can leave name and url… why can’t all Blogger bloggers?

Subscription required. Really?  Why?

Captcha.  Captcha is well named.  It doesn’t just capture spam, it captures time, energy, words, positive intention, the possibility of making connections.  Do you really need it?

What commenting hurdles have been tripping you up recently?

Photo Credit: please type the word in the photo to continue by Mick O on Flickr

Sometimes you read a question that your mind wants to answer (okay, wants to blog about). Chris Brogan’s question at the end of a post on his Twitter presence: how do YOU use Twitter? made me want to answer. To explore the question, and try and answer.

Maybe it was prompted by another conversation earlier in the week, on Facebook. Brad Shorr had asked: If you had to use only Facebook or only Twitter for business, which would you choose, and why?

My answer, for business, if I *had* to choose only one, was Facebook.

Whereas Twitter I need just for me.

I think that’s because Twitter, for me, is a place. A place where I can go and spend time, converse, connect, and engage. It feels real to me, sometimes tangible.

And when I thought a bit more about how I use it, or rather, what my presence is like when I’m there, I found myself thinking it was really my online neighbourhood. And that it’s the principles and practice of neighbourliness that I’m trying to demonstrate and encourage through the time I spend there.

Here’s some of what I do

My Twitter Presence

I do follow back if you sound human, engaging, interesting, normal.

I do follow back 95% of the time if you engage with me in conversation.  (But it’s not a cast iron rule.)

I don’t automatically follow back.  There’s too much gunk out there.  Plus, I want to be able to keep some kind of eye on my twitter stream.

I do reserve the right to unfollow if you tweet too much, too positive, too negative, too weird (my rules, my stream, I decide.)

I do try and talk back to anyone who talks to me (unless falling into the bit too weird category)

I do follow >1,700 people and no, I don’t manage to keep up with them all

I do use lists on Tweetdeck to make it easier to follow a smaller group of people.  Okay, correction, I follow one smallish list on Tweetdeck, because I never manage to keep track of more than one, plus the column of my @ replies.

I don’t just tweet about work, business or writing.

I do enjoy exploring ideas around art, creativity, beauty, possibility, change.

(It looks a bit like this:)

I do share quotes, but hopefully not too many, and not too trite.

I do share links to good things I’ve read, and not just things I’ve written.

I do use Twitter to play.

I do enjoy tweeting fast and furious, and probably too fast for others to keep up.  (I’m sorry, but it’s how my mind works.)

I do absorb ideas, words, thoughts from my twitter stream until my mind gets scattered.  Sometimes too much and too fragmented, but sometimes just the trick for finding patterns and creating new kaleidoscopes.

I do spend time on Twitter for my own well-being: encouragement, motivation, support.

I don’t tweet when I’m feeling blue, it’s too hard to find a way in, plus everyone else can seem too cheery and sorted.

I do try and notice if others are feeling quiet, or out of sorts, and offer a word of encouragement and support.

I don’t DM anything I couldn’t live with being published by mistake.

I don’t do drive by tweeting (‘hi guys, just popping in to say hi, bye!’)

I don’t spend time on Twitter unless I’ve enough time to spend there.  It takes a while to get into the flow of conversation, and I can’t really see the point of being there just to pop in and out.  (It’s not a wall.  It’s not like Facebook, an update, and responses.  It’s not a wall. It’s a stream.)

I do try to be kind on Twitter, and to spread kindness there.  I think it’s infectious (I hope so.)

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love ~ Lao Tzu

I do try to make people feel welcome, and included. It’s why I talk about the weather on Twitter.

I do use Twitter selfishly.

I get a huge amount from the time I spend there. I like hanging out with artists, thinkers, writers, possibilitarians. It adds colour to my working day, to my online neighbourhood.

I do use Twitter based entirely on my own rules. I do what works for me.

It’s probably not the ‘right’ way to ‘use’  Twitter (and I was reassured to find out from Chris Brogan that I, and he, and you, are no doubt doing it wrong.)

But it works for me, and I’ll keep on adjusting my practice to ensure I can say that’s so.

To continue the conversation: how do YOU use Twitter?

Photo credit: just another street in Buenos Aires by Stuck in Customs on Flickr