Writing from the heart

[Vivian Marshall]

There are many types of writing styles.  If you are in the academic world, everything follows the APA format.  If you are writing for publication, another formal style of writing is required.  However, I wanted to talk about writing from the heart.  To me as the reader, writing from the heart creates an almost instant bonding with the writer.  It isn't formal but when you read the words you start to get a warm glow.  I don't think everyone can write this way but I believe that Mickey D may be the best writer in this category I have ever read. Thank you MickeyD.

[FWPMikeyDee]

Oh my golly, Viv!! Thank you for making my day with a few simple words!!! I wish I had half the skill you and other writers on the forum have. That study you wrote was superb and on a level I can only hope to obtain. But still You totally just put a smile on my face and I thank you!!! 

PS: I've been preparing a couple of surprises for the members of the forum and the blog. They're really, really cool surprises. I don't want to spoil them but they're burning a hole in my pocket like a big wad of Hundreds so I will give a few details:

Member Surprise #1: Grammarly.com + An FWP Post Featuring One Of Their Studies = One Awesome Freebie that I'll Giveaway to a Lucky Reader!!! It's extremely valuable for writers but there's only one gift available so I'm going to have some kind of giveaway/contest/something-or-other in a few days once I post the article. That's all I will say for now.....

Suprise #2: I know many members are trying to find steady work writing online, so I have been in several negotiations over the last couple months with a few of my long-term clients and one or two new ones. The goal is to establish a team of writers that will write the content for these clients. I'll create that team from the writers on this very forum. As it is looking right now, the team will need a total of 5 writers to start but will hopefully grow over time. It's not finalized yet. There's several logistical things to work out as well as some further negotiations over rates. But I believe we should be working by next month sometime. This team isn't working for content mill rates either. I've convinced several clients to accept higher rates in exchange for the huge benefits that a talented team of professional writers can bring to the table. So, over the next couple weeks I will be contacting a few of you with offers to join the team. There should be enough work for all 5 writers to at least earn a decent part-time salary. I don't want to go into pay details right now cause it's not all ironed out but it will definitely be worth the time and effort.

I'll post an announcement soon and send ya'll an email invite to the team. This has been a major focus for me over the past several months and I think it will be one of the most beneficial things I have every accomplished. We'll get the ball rolling in the next few weeks. 

So that's the things I have been slapping together for my freelance family and I hope when it all comes together that ya'll will benefit from it as much as I think you will. Oh, thanks again for the kind words Viv!! Have a Happy Easter!!!

[Iva Ursano]

Ditto what she said and Happy Easter to all of you! I feel like I'm hanging out in the backyard around a good ol' bonfire listening to Mikey tell stories. This is one of the few forums I follow because of him (and, of course, all the other helpful peeps in here too). Keep doing what you're doing Mikey. We're paying attention!

I hope everyone had a fun Easter day and that you all have come out of your chocolate comas by now. xo

On Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 11:08:53 AM UTC-4, Vivian Marshall wrote:

[FWPMikeyDee]

This is exactly what I had in mind when I decided to try to build a community that would someday move to the FCCO site. That site is probably further away now than when I first thought of it, but I'm feeling some love growing here in this tiny little forum. That makes me happy. That makes me want to work harder at building something for you all that can benefit your lives in ...... some kind of way. Maybe FCCO is just too ambitious right now, maybe I'm not the web developer I pretended to myself to be, maybe I'll just take each little idea from FCCO and work on it till it blossoms like this forum.I dont care that we're still under 50 members, I care more about the quality of those members than the quantity and I think that is a main goal of FCCO.

So, a fairly tight little group is growing here. I wanted to include both of you ladies in the first tier of the writing team I'm calling Written Pictures. If ya'll are interested, I'll fill you in further in about 2 weeks when I know exactly what you will be earning per word (or post). Thats the last wrinkle to iron out and we'll be up and running. I'm giddy with excitement right now (and a lack of sleep from flying and hospitals and stressful near=tragedies this week but thats another story) 

This forum and the team is a small little nucleus of what FCCO could be and it's actually happening. SO, I wanted to just say thank you all for being straight up awesome and making this happen. I could have spewed my crazy words till I was blue in the face, but I could never force the group to come together and grow. That's all your doing! 

Iva, those 3 words "We're paying attention" touched my heart more than most the spoken talk I've heard all week. My wife says I'm emotionless, but you choked me up and made me feel pretty daggum full of emotions from your comment. I'm grinning from ear to ear and aint ashamed in the list to say I feel like standing a bit taller today because of the comments you ladies took the time to post. I hope I dont sound conceited or anything cause I aint. Im just so grateful and stoked that this dream is kinda coming true!!

As you've heard before, anything you need, I am here............ speaking of which Iva, was I supposed to do something with your sites??? An audit of you keywords and content??? or was that someone else??? I'm so sorry, I really need to get more organized but I totally suck at organization. Alway have. 

Well, Viv and I are scheduling a discussion meeting for either this weekend or Monday (depends on my schedule...yea Im difficult) around that time I can make sure that I get to your needs so that I dont get overwhelmed by deadlines and forget about it again...let me know if that's cool.

Did I tell yall how awesome you are? Cause yall are. So there.

[Kathleen Krueger]

Isn't 'writer love' wonderful? I've told people over and over to never consider other writers as competition but as teammates. Totally enjoyed reading this thread. I've also said that the greatest compliment I've ever gotten on my writing is when someone tells me that it made them cry. Your're right, Viv. Not everyone can write from the heart.

[Iva Ursano]

Ya Mikey, that was me. It's all good though. I didn't want to bug you about it as you are apparently just as busy as I am and my website runs with the help of my uncle so I'm not really paying too much attention to it right now. I probably should though. With that said, if you do find time to help me out with that, then great, if not, no worries. Anyhoo......

I want to tell you a quick little story and then I'll mosey on back to work (which is what I should be doing now anyway).

I have been sending out inspirational and motivational newsletters, monthly, for about 6 years now. I encourage my readers to dream big, reach for the stars, flick fear away and all that other awesome stuff. I love what I do. Last year I took it up a notch and starting blogging. Same stuff. Dream big, face your fears, you get the idea. I have no idea who's listening or paying attention or if I'm reaching anyone at all! No clue. Every now and then I'll get an email from a reader to tell me they enjoyed the newsletter of the month. I like receiving those. Then out of the blue, about 6 months ago, I get an email from a reader and she went on and on about how much I've helped her and inspired her and because of my blogs and newsletters, she's stepping out of her comfort zone, packing her shit and moving away to somewhere she really wanted to go. HOLY COW!! Really?? I did all that for you? Someone IS listening. I AM making a difference. The feeling I got after reading her email was nothing short of amazing. The fact that someone reached out to tell me that I have changed their life and they love me, well, I had tears in my eyes. It was humbling to say the least. 

The reason I share this story with you is this: I have learned that if you have a chance to make someone feel amazing and appreciated for what they do, you should take it.If someone is helping or inspiring you in any way shape or form, you need to tell them so they know that all their efforts are not in vain. It's more than just giving credit where credit is due. It's about showing your appreciation and letting someone know that what they are doing is awesome, it's working, and keep doing it! It's about letting someone know that their dream isn't a pipe dream and it can become a reality, it is becoming a reality and there are people around to help you make it so. 

Phew, sorry that was long. Anyway, I'm looking forward to whatever it is you have up your sleeve and, oh before I forget, I hope that whatever accident happened, everyone is ok. 

Peace and Love

Iva

On Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 11:08:53 AM UTC-4, Vivian Marshall wrote: