3 things to thaw out your creative brain this winter
Short stories to read in bed, writing prompts for cold mornings, and a new workshop for small business owners!
Happy New Year! If that phrase makes you want to grab a plate of cheese and crawl back into bed, I’m with you. Most of us seem to prefer using September as the start of our year, so this whole ‘new year, new me’ thing feels a bit forced. But I am using 2024 as a chance to revisit some priorities, including using the One Page Plan (OPP) framework that I learned from my long-time client, Alpine Investors. My 2024 intention? Go for it!
Winter may feel like it’s going to last forever, but we’re on the other side of the darkest two months of the year. When you frame it that way, doesn’t February sound bright? This month has been all about sunny, snowy off-leash dog hikes, launching a virtual writing workshop for small business owners, and cooking every recipe
Welcome to the January edition of Flow State, the newsletter about people stories, writing, and impact-driven companies. I’ll use this space to share a mix of work and fun, mostly writing- and reading-related, all inspired by how I’m spending my own time.
3 TRUTHS:
1. Accountability is half the battle.
That’s why I launched a virtual writing workshop for small business owners, focused on creating the content you’ve been trying to prioritize since last year. If I get enough interest, I’ll also launch a writing workshop for non-biz people who want to write for fun.
What kind of writing workshop do you need in your life?
2. Life is too short for unfinished books.
Stop forcing your way through that nonfiction business book (unless you’re my husband who seems to enjoy that sort of thing). Instead, figure out the type of books you love and read those. Fantasy, short stories, romance novels, cookbooks, magazines. It doesn’t matter what they are or what other people think about them, it matters that you’re temporarily transported into a different world. I’ve been into short stories and audiobooks lately, two formats that fit my life right now.
Listen: Anthony Bourdain’s “Kitchen Confidential” feels like sitting behind the bar with him after a busy shift. Narrated by the man himself, it’s honest and cuts to the core of his life experience.
Read: “The Book of (More) Delights” by Ross Gay. Gay set out to write a single essay about something that delighted him every single day for a year. In his second year of this project, the writer produces thoughtful observations on life while reminding us to notice and appreciate the little things.
Watch: “Shaun White: The Last Run” on Max. This four-part documentary chronicles Shaun’s life, from birth through five Olympics. It’s a human and emotional look at what it takes to become (and remain) an elite athlete while balancing your humanity, and I cried at every single episode.
3. Everyone has 7 minutes to spare.
If you agree, sign up for my Creative Fridays writing prompt series (it’s free!). Each Friday morning you’ll receive a writing tip and a short writing prompt that will inspire you to think differently. The idea is to set a timer for 7 minutes, write until it goes off, then move on with your day. No pressure, no sharing, just a little creative burst to break out of your usual routine.
If writing your brand purpose and story is stressing you out, I can help.
We’ll start with a conversation to better understand your goals and target audience, then we’ll work together to define your brand tone and voice, write “about us,” mission, and vision language that’s uniquely yours, and identify how and where to share your best stories. There are lots of ways we can work together.
Send me a note to learn how we can design a project together: becca@wattersoncreative.com and check out my brand storytelling portfolio to see what’s possible.
Thank you for reading the January edition of Flow State. Stay tuned for February’s 3 truths, including tips for that last-minute love letter, more project recaps, and why I always think about gardening in February. 🌿
Thanks for being here!
Cheers,
