Good writing changes us, whether we are the writers or the readers.
I’ve taught a few writing courses this year and have plans for more in the coming months. No matter what kind of writing course I teach, whether it’s PR writing, business writing, or personal writing, there is one common element to what I teach. In every course, there is at least one session in which we talk about writing that impacts change.
Whether we write blog posts, newspaper articles, press releases, novels, ad copy, memoirs, or simply emails and Facebook updates, there is always potential for our writing to impact change in other people and ourselves. We may never see it that way (and often it’s best if we don’t), but writing is a powerful medium that can cause a LOT of impact.
While paddling across the lake last week, my friend and canoe-mate Jo, who’s very close to achieving her PhD in Psychology, told me that there is a growing field in psychology called bibliotherapy in which people use books, poetry, and other written word as their therapy. It was a relief to me to hear that this is taken seriously among experts, because books have always been my favourite therapists.
Because I teach writing for change, and have an upcoming workshop at the university called “Writing to Impact Social Change”, I’ve been asking a lot of writers to share their best tips on the subject. I have happily compiled tips from 26 writers (plus myself) that I’ve used in my classes. Writers include Christine Claire Reed, Margaret Sanders, Renae Cobb, Jarda Dokoupil, Michele Visser-Wikkerink, Jamie Ridler, Julie Daley, Katharine Weinmann, Hiro Boga, Susan Plett, Michele Lisenbury Christensen, Rachelle Mee-Chapman, Connie Hozvicka, Ronna Detrick, Dora Dueck, Marion Ann Berry, Tara Sophia Mohr, Amy Oscar, Mahala Mazerov, Debbie Lattuga, Kathy Jourdain, Lisa Wilson, Lianne Raymond, Jo Hassan, Tina Francis, and Desiree Adaway.
Because I love their advice, and I love playing with images, I put together a beautiful little ebook that I’m thrilled to share with you. (The pages look like the sample above.) Along with a tip, each page contains an original photo taken by me. (Except for the last photo, which was taken by my daughter Maddy.)
It’s a freebie – no strings attached, no need to give me your email address, no need to sign up for anything. Just download it, share it, pass it around, read it out loud at your writing circles, save your favourite pages and use them as your desktop wallpaper, or print and laminate them and hang them on your wall as posters in your writing room.
All I ask is that you PLEASE, pretty please, always remember to credit me and the other writers who graciously shared free advice with you. 🙂
To download, simply click on the image of the cover below. And then… enjoy! Be inspired. And WRITE!
Note: If you’re interested in an 8 week course that I’ll be teaching in Winnipeg this Fall called Creative Writing for Self Discovery, or if you want to know about the 1 day workshop on Writing to Impact Social Change at the university, email me at heather at heatherplett dot com.
Heather,
Thank you, Heather! What insightful tips and so handy to have for myself at this time as I develop my blog and focus more. I am hoping to write for change as well – to impact lives and I hope to make a difference somehow for someone else by sharing stories and experiences that encourage, lift up, empower and comfort.
I had signed up for your Lead with Your Paint Clothes On workshop and couldn’t participate so had postponed it until this September. Maybe I should rather hire you as a life transition and writing coach?
Thanks Tera! I’d be happy to work with you as a coach, if you’d like! 🙂 I’ll also be doing another version of the Paint Clothes workshop in the fall. We can chat about what would fit best over email.
Thank you so much for this book. It is beautiful and so timely for me!
Oh Heather, what a gift! Thank you so much for this collection–a powerhouse group of writers with fresh and engaging tips that made me grab a note pad and scribble as I read. Your photography adds a visual power that really speaks to me as well and makes the words even stronger. Fantastic!
I’ll be featuring this lovely eBook on Saturday for my Saturday Spotlight. I’ll come back and give you the link if you want to see. I’m sure my writer’s group in particular will enjoy this book.
Sending glowing gratitude your way!
Thank you Heather for this wonderful gift. and I love the quote that you have at the top of the blog… “write for the intellect and the emotions…” I hadn’t thought of that and it rings very true. I look forward to simmering through this compilation. with gratitude… this is just what I needed for inspiration today.
Thanks you so much for this wonderful book ~ the images are so beautiful and the tips are so profound and inspiring! I will be returning to it again and again I am sure as I journey more deeply into my own writing practice!
Thank you for the gift, Heather. Your photos are a perfect complement to the words, and I’m loving the philosophy and spirit of Sophia Leadership as a whole. I also extend my gratitude to the contributors, including Connie Hozvicka, who pointed the way to your book.
I’m coming here to comment about your newsletter article on right/left brain and choosing. Sometimes it’s really hard to choose but maybe we can influence. Yesterday I was suffering from a mighty big headache all day. I was taking tylenol first and finally in the evening some ibuprofen but I think what finally did the trick was getting totally involved in an art project that mattered to me. I was drawing a bowl I received as a wedding gift and which now has a fine crack that threatens to completely break the bowl; I wanted to remember the bowl in case it does break. I’ve had it for just about 39 years and used it almost daily! Once involved in the painting my headached disappeared. Perhaps the pills finally kicked in but they hadn’t made a dent all day long so I really think it was getting lost in my right brain where healing could take place as ease and peace came over me. I just wanted to share my experience to corroborate your article.
Thank you so much for your comments everyone! I’m so glad my lovely little book was meaningful for you! I love hearing the way this is wandering around the world and being shared with writers everywhere. That’s what I hoped for when I put it together.
Timaree – I LOVE what you said about shifting into right brain thinking! You’re right – I’m sure it helped with your healing process. I think the same can be said for mental illness. I was in an art therapy room in a psych ward once and I came away convinced that it was one of the best healing processes possible.
Thank you so much. This is a treasure. Terah
Hi Heather! I did feature this gorgeous book today at my blog. I can’t say enough about it. Here’s the link: http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/2011/08/covered-in-love-spotlight-saturday.html
Have a blessed weekend.
And thank you for sharing Amanda. So glad you sent me over here!
Heather, I found you via Amanda at Persistent Green. I’ve already read your wonderful ebook and downloaded it. I deeply appreciate your generosity.
What a gift. Thank you!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and your beautiful images Heather. I’m not sure which I love more!
Hi Sophia,
Debbie Lattuga has led me to your page and to the wonderful ebook.
I love the pictures and the wisdom from all those writers.
Thank you so much for putting this beautiful ebook together and for your generosity.
Love and Joy
from
Yorinda
Hi Heather! I got here from Debbie introducing me to you, glad she did. I enjoyed the compilation of messages you made for us in your ebook. My favorite was page 8, number 2. I have trouble writing to the point and that message helped me to think harder and will be taking action at cutting down a lot of what I write on my posts. Thanks again
-Jaclyn Castro
P.s. You have amazing images!
Thank you – this is a fantastic collection of advice !