HOW TO PLAN YOUR OWN WRITING RETREAT (based on the awesome one I just had)
I have just returned from an epic writing retreat. Maybe it was epic because it was my first one, ever. Or maybe it was epic because of what happened at the end of it. Suspend the next eight minutes with me as I take you on my writing retreat and you might get some tips to create your own writing retreat that will have you on a spiritual high like I was at the end of mine. The punch line is this: I FINISHED MY NOVEL! “Now, wait,” you say, “didn’t you… Read More
LEADERS: DO THIS, DON’T DO THAT.
I wrote this post as an article for the Leadership column of The Mennonite magazine’s most recent issue. There are powerful leaders and humble leaders, horrible leaders and questionable leaders. Throughout my adult life of working under various leaders—from churches to places of employment, from neighborhood associations to my children’s school board, from nonprofit organizations where I’ve volunteered to my own family—I’ve had varying experiences of leaders and come to understand that everyone is a teacher. They teach me what to do and sometimes what not to do. 1. Do this: Get your hands dirty When… Read More
HOW TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE (HINT: SET YOUR ALARM)
I recently read an inspiring article about a man who gets up everyday at 4:22am. Not 4:15. Not 4:30. 4:22. He generously took readers through each moment of his day from the minutes he eats breakfast to what he reads on his commute to work. He sounded fulfilled, satisfied and very very productive. I hate that in people. Actually I love it. I was intrigued and also a little jealous of this dude’s tenacious way of being each day. He accomplished much and took very good care of himself: eating crazy delicious… Read More
FREELANCE COPYWRITERS + BRAND IDENTITY
So you say, “I’m a contract writer, I don’t need a brand identity.” And I’m like, “Dude, you need a brand identity.” Then you’re all, “But does that mean I need a logo?” (silence) Then I say sighing, “A logo is not a brand identity.” So instead of rolling my eyes at the mention of a logo in any way being a brand (and though a logo does identify a brand it is not a brand identity) let’s Tarantino this a bit and start way back at the beginning to unravel the real… Read More
Claire DeBerg // Writer 