So, humor me. This is going to be a really long post…
I wrote about what was most important to me at Blissdom 2010 about ten days ago.
I didn't lie.
It was the most important thing to me..the human connection. Tweeps that became IRL friends, connecting with brand new friends that I can't imagine ever giving up now. Amazing what can happen in 72 hours.
I was blessed with being able to attend the Wisdom Workshop on Thursday.
I am so glad I took the extra day and dug in deep.
Here are my favorite points from each workshop:
Say What You Want to Say – Dan Barber & Jessica Smith @jessicaknows – Fleishman-Hillard
The purpose of message points -
Define your agenda and help you focus;
Make it easy for you to “tell your story” and for others to remember it;
Give you a “life raft” to cling to if the waters turn rough;
Ensure you’re delivering a consistent message over time.
Good messages are – Concise, simple and specific; Memorable, genuine and personal; Strategic
Very informative and funny to boot. LOVED this session
Coding/Back End – Darcy di Disegno @my3boybarians, Daisy Olsen @DaisyOlsen
I have to admit that this workshop was WAY over my head, but I loved it.. I learned alot about CSS, HTML and there was a discussion about different blogging platforms. Don't ask me anything.. I am NOT an expert. I did learn about the importance of writing in a .rtf program.
Inspirational Writing – Casey Mullins @mooshinindy, Stephanie Precourt @babysteph, Molly WIgand @hmkmollyw & Sarah Mueller
LOVED this workshop.. LOVED it. I met Jenny86753oh9! For goodness sakes.. but these women were fabulous!
- What inspires you to write?
- Honest and big questions really get them going.
- The thing you are most afraid to write is what you must write!! (OUCH!!)
- The more perfect you try to make it the worse it gets and the more you fail.
- Saying too much too soon, there is a difference in being passionate and being impulsive.
- Take time to be a good listener, it enriches the breadth of experience that you have to write about.
Writer's Craft – Amber Haines @amberrunsamuck, Megan Jordan @VelveteenMind, Deb Rox @debontherocks, Arianne Segerman @ToThink
Another one of my favorites.. no joke.
- Guide the reader so they know how to breathe.
- Pace your reader.. Deliberately…
- 95 % blog readers spend 5 seconds or less on your site.
- Add audio blog to your posts…Pacing, structure, read your words out loud
- What rules are important to keep and what rules are important to break?
- Stretch yourself to do something different, tighter and more directly.
- Check for repetition. Your verbs can be very powerful.
KeyNote: ReDiscovering Play – Bringing Fun and Passion to Your Work..and Life – Kevin Carroll @kckatalyst
AmAZINg…Still has my mind thinking about how the lines between work and play are no longer blurred for me and how they need to be. Oh, how they need to be. For a creative mind to flourish..they need to be. Loved him to pieces. Check out Alli's post on Kevin. She said it all.
You Should Know Better – Susan Getgood @sgetgood, Liza Barry-Kessler @lizawashere, Kristen Berman
WAY OVER MY head. Know the rules. Blog with integrity. Really. Disclosure is really important.
Personal Branding – Shelly Kramer @shellykramer, Liz Strauss @lizstrauss, Alli Worthington @alliworthington
One of the most important statements made: If you are writing on a blog and you are not who you are, then why?
Be who you are and see who stays.. What is your message? What do you believe in? What can you deliver? Who are you and why do you matter? OWN IT and go with it! Keep it real.
Striking A Balance – Christine Koh @bostonmamas, Deb Rox @debontherocks, Megan Jordan @velveteenmind, Arianne Segermann @ToThink, Carmen Stacier @mttsm
I was so mesmerized by their sharing that I didn't take notes. Focus, goals, schedule, play, family, work… it's gotta balance.
Blogging With the Stars – Holly Buchanan @hollybuchanan, Dana Loesch @DLoesch, Melissa Michaels @theinspiredroom, Michelle Mitchell @scribbit, Tsh Oxenreider @simplemom
Content is king (or is the King the content.. I added that.. 🙂 ) Write about what inspires you today. Make it conversational, like you are talking to your best girl friend.
Getting Published – Erin Chase @5dollardinners, Tsh Oxenrider @simplemom, Sharyn Rosenblum @sharynrosenblum, Kristen Welch @wearethatfamily, Alicia Ybarbo @todaysmoms
Lots of great information about book proposals, literary agents, perseverance and not underselling yourself. Bloggers who want a book deal need to keep blogging. That IS your platform. Your readers ARE your audience. (All four of mine)
Content is Queen – Emily Freeman @emilychats, Amber Haines @amberrunsamuck, Isabel Kallman @isabelkallman, Deb Rox @debontherocks
Use an authentic voice, truth telling means that you have developed a voice. Write often. You don't have a voice until you work it out. Quality writing means living life. Read good writers.
Amber has great writing resources on her website: therunamuck
Memoir Writing – Catherine Connors @herbadmother, Megan Jordan @velveteenmind, Tanis Miller @redneckmommy, Michelle Mitchell @scribbit
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What makes a memoir different?
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Length – short
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Point of view – 1st person
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Expanse – snippet, a short scene, symbolism, irony
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Structure and Elements
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Resolution – is there any?
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Honesty – how did this story really happen?
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Posts are crafted to tell a story, for the most part. 🙂
So there you have it sweet reader. I learned ALOT. These notes are just a snippet of the wisdom from these amazing panels. When the dates of Blissdom 2011 are released.. RUN, don't walk, RUN and register. I didn't even tell you how wonderfully we were treated/taken care of.. ahh, the bliss of it all.
Thank you ConAgra Foods, Hunts, iRobot, Orville Redenbacher, Healthy Choice, intuit, Lands' End, Weight Watchers, CoverGirl, Hanes, Blue Bunny Arnold, Kraft Bagelfuls, Lifetime moms, Hallmark and Soles4Souls! Hopefully you will continue to see the benefit of sponsoring Blissdom in the future.
Most of all.. thank you Alli Worthington, Barbara Jones & Paula Bruno you have set the bar high.. and I for one, am sold.
Okay. So can we just start planning for next year. Maybe, if I start now, I'll be able to go! Thanks for the recap. I'm interested in seeing your more detailed notes on a few topics.
You were my blessed discovery at Blissdom! You are so beautiful and enriching. I would love to have 10% of what you have.
Love ya girl…can't wait to do it all again next year!
I loved meeting you so much! We have got to stay in contact better since we live about 20 minutes apart. Twitter isn't close enough. I need more Dedra!!
I am SOLD too…..and plan to go back!