Technique

Blocks, Purpose, Q&As, Technique, Tips for authors

Tonight I have the honor of speaking to the ladies over at Mamacoach Circle on the subject of “Tapping into your inner author.” One of the questions they sent over before our call is this:

“I love how you say on your website that by going deeper we stop sounding like everyone else. Can you say more about that? We notice so many coaches using the same language, even copying each other’s words.”

I love this question because so much of what I see on the web is so repetitive and copycat sounding it makes me itchy.

It reminds me of a strategy & content project my husband and I did for a multibillion dollar company. Working privately with our core client contact (we’d never embarrass a stakeholder in public), we gave her a quiz where we lifted different lines of copy from her company’s site along with two or three competitor’s sites. The copy ranged from how each company defined itself, what they did, and what made them different.

We asked our client to identify the source of each line (her company, or a competitor’s). She got bonus points for naming the competitor.

Impressively, our client got each question right. But she saw our point loud and clear. Everyone sounded like everyone else.

What if you ran the same test on your site copy? Are you objective enough, as our stakeholder was, to see what a potential client would see?

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll offer up a list of specific ways to bring out your voice and distinguish yourself from everyone else.

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Want to join in on tonight’s teleclass (or get a recording of the call emailed to you)? Get details here.

 

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Blocks, Technique, Tips for authors

I started playing the violin when I was four years old. When I moved to New York in my 20’s, I had the honor of studying privately with Julie Lyonn Lieberman, a gifted teacher who specialized in teaching classical violinists how to improvise.

We started out with the circle of fifths, which felt like learning the ABCs for the first time. We moved on to Irish folk songs (the foundation of blues), then blues, then Jazz.

Eventually I was playing with a “dreamy rock band” called Edison Woods and performing at places like The Knitting Factory, Joe’s Pub and La Sala Rosa. And recording this album (check out track 8). Here’s us circa 2003 in Williamsburg. So serious!

Edison Woods

Learning how to improvise is about working through fear.

It takes a ridiculous amount of bravery to express music without a script, in real time and in front of your bandmates and audience (Joe’s Pub!).

And for me, it meant learning to trust that there was music inside of me at all.

When I would show up for my weekly lessons at my teacher’s Upper West Side studio, I was full of work stress (late-90’s advertising), most likely hungover (late-90’s advertising), and obsessed with boy drama (late-90’s advertising). I was lucky she let me keep coming.

One particular lesson that still stands out to me today is this:

The quality of your music begins before you even lift your violin to your shoulder.

One day, Julie asked me to pick up my violin and start playing. Then stop and put the instrument down.

Next, she said to think about my lower back, then lift the violin and bow into position, and start playing.

Over
and over
and over.

The shift in the quality of sound was unmistakable when I paid attention to my lower back.

I didn’t really get it then, but now I do: By thinking about my lower back, I was creating an intention about my music before the vibration of the strings began.

Writing Warm-Up:

What are you bringing to the keyboard today?

Are your fingers thinking they should really be washing the dinner dishes? Are they shaky from stress or indecision? Are they insecure about what is going to come out today? Are they too wrapped up in how long it’s been since they last touched the keys for something that really mattered? Are they impatient?

Stop. Breathe. Light a candle or drink a glass of water. Find a ritual that works for you.

Let go of what happened before and what might come after.

Good.

Now put your hands in your lap. Take a breath. Think about your lower back as you lift your arms to your keyboard.

Do it again a few times.

Good.

Now start improvising.

 

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