SOLD: Beautiful Happyzine

I’m enjoying organising Happyzine’s inaugural Positive Writing Course.  People are actually beginning to confirm their bookings and this is quite simply: thrilling.  I find the art of positive media fascinating.  For years I’ve been aware of the power of each word we choose to use.  The fact that we can choose what and how we say it can be a revelation for some.  And then, in simply focusing on the words alone, regardless of the tone or context, there’s a lot to be said for the ripple effects of using the words “I am” over “I might” or using positive words such as “potential”, “possibility”, “opportunity” or “challenge” rather than “problem” or “disaster”.  It’s time the media starting wising up to the trickle down effects of the language they use – and that’s just the beginning.  When you factor in the tone of the article – is a solution assumed to be possible, or impossible?  Or the context – is the economic climate “bleak” or “on a down cycle”?  All of these details make a difference to the reader.  I love playing around with keeping my language more along the lines of positive and hopeful, than the pessimistic, as a writer.

It’s been an ongoing dance over the past decade learning to write in a language that appeals to readers as ‘professional’ and ‘normal’.  How do you get the messages of hope out there and inspire people to take their own form of direct, positive action for the planet, in a manner that people will not only understand but take seriously? If you have some words of wisdom around this subject, I’d love to read your comments.

Another interesting aspect of positive writing are the angles that us writers choose to run with.  A few years ago I took on a job for quite a big publisher, it was certainly the best paid work I’ve ever had, only my job was to search out NZ’s most dodgy tradespeople.  Oh dear … I writhed with discomfort through-out the entire process of digging for the dirt.   They didn’t seem overly impressed when I later emailed them and asked them if they had some more positive subjects for me to write about … sigh … many of us writers have to deal with this on a daily basis (luckily I was just about to take leave to have a baby).

It’s not the most energising work – note the positive way I said that??  Hee hee.  It can be quite entertaining playing around with language. I’m such a word-geek.  But not in a scrabble kind of way, no, I go for the feeling behind the words.

Anyway, I went onto start-up this very website, which has just so, so much potential to inspire thousands of people to at the very least feel a little better about life, and show a little more love for their families, or at the best, follow their hearts and make a positive difference in some larger-scale sort of way.

If you know anyone who might be interested in the course, it starts August the 1st on a Sunday and includes a one hour You Tube video lecture every Sunday for a month, plus a little dialog and a few conversations.  I’m accepting a maximum of ten people.  There are still places available.  If you feel a passion to learn more about the art of free-lance writing – the optimistic version – you can check out far more information here.

Oh the e-book – it took a back seat today … I felt very busy with various other projects but I did do one cool thing, I emailed a friend who promised she’d send me some quotes when she wasn’t feeling ‘maxed out’ and said “How about Now?!xxoo”.

365 Days of Fun and Chillaxation (as I raise my gorgeous son and grow my good news website to a subscription base of 100,000 people).  The Low Down on this Blog.

Check out yesterday’s blog.

Tags: good news