Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

How to Easily Create 3 Social Media Posts (or more) from 1 Blog Post

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Image of a computer monitor and phone with Beatrix Potter Books on it with the title "How to Make 3 New Social Media Posts from 1 Blog Post" inspiration for writing, blogging and social media with Julie Jordan Scott"

One of the biggest challenges for people wanting to impact the world positively through social media is finding the time to “get it all done”.  Without a strategy – and without the means to manage one’s to do list – we run the risk of becoming discouraged. 

Instead, let’s look at how simple it is to take one blog post to create 3 or more completely different social media posts. Repurposing – using content in different ways – will connect and engage different people with your messages. It will also inspire members of your community and yes, bring more people into your blog and beyond.

The easiest social media post to make from your blog post is to take your blog image and use canva to resize it to use on social media stories.

Social Media Post Example 1: A Story

For example, I took the 3 Easy Content Strategies from Beatrix Potter post earlier this week. Before I even published my blog I had an image ready to share on instagram and facebook stories. This is an effortless way I shared that story along with a link to my blog post. 

On Instagram, I also shared the story into  a highlight (by the way, if you look my highlights are not updated and need work – all in good time) so it will also be accessible in the days and weeks to come.

This is an instagram story sized image I shared immediately after my blog post was "live". Note how I kept space on the graphic (which I easily resized on canva) to add the link to the story.

This is how the story image looked – note how I left space for the link in the story so people can go straight to my blog post from the story.

What I am doing next is recreating the blog post into no more than 5 sentences to share on Linked In, Facebook, and/or in an Instagram Post or Carousel Post.

I simply go into the blog post again and use the headers as my “sentence starters.” This is my starting place – and I may even edit it down to shorter sentences but this first new social media post will work wonderfully as is, don’t you think?

Example 2: Condensed Blog Post to the Facebook Business Page and the Linked.

Below is an example of what I gleaned from the original post – below are links so you may see what it looks like on those platforms.

It might surprise you to know Beatrix Potter, a 19th Century children’s author, has wisdom for 21st century content creators.

Beatrix Potter was actually a multi-passionate creator who was an entrepreneur, a scientific illustrator and a wildlife conservationist who started writing her beloved Peter Rabbit – the work she is best known for – in order to have something to share with the sick child of her governess.

It was in her dedication to science experiments, mostly “amateur” and her hunger for knowledge that  helped her artistic endeavors

Beatrix Potter’s greeting cards and stories that began as letters to a sick child turned into what we would now call “merch” were not because she  wanted to launch an empire we would still be talking about all these years later, but because she was a woman who followed her fascinations and lived according to her passions.

She meant what she said when she wrote, “With opportunity the world is very interesting.”

Inspired? Here is a prompt for you to use to create a story or social media post following the lead of Beatrix Potter:

  • What is something delicious about what you are offering or observing today? Relate what you are offering to a specific flavor and be silly, creative, surprising with what you say. Try this in the form of a letter like what Beatrix Potter did for her governesses child. 

See this story on my Linked In Page here:

See this story on my Facebook Page, Writing Camp with Julie JordanScott

Example 3: Simple Social Media Quote Graphic

To write a simple third post, find quotes by Beatrix Potter your readers may enjoy. Use the quotes to make simple Canva graphics and share them daily in a facebook group, in a message to your email list, or make a free quote ebook giveaway or lead magnet.

The effort (which isn’t much) will make the endeavor quite satisfying.

While I was on Canva I took 5 minutes to make two different sizes so tomorrow I can post an Instragram Carouself post. See how simple this all an be with a bit of strategy?

Beatrix Potter was a scientist. Repurposing content is like a science experiment. You might even make it a deeper scientific experiment by checking out the analytics as you begin implementing these ideas.

What is your biggest take away or gold nugget from this blog post?

Julie Jordan-Scott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Northwest New Jersey (Sussex Borough, Nj) where she is working on finishing her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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The Return of Literary Grannies: Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Dream Interview

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The image describes doing a "dream writer's interview" with Charlotte Perkins Gilman, writer, reformer and change agent of the ninetheeth and early twentieth century in the US. Julie JordanScott is wearing a necklace featuring Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Prepare yourself for some literary fan-girl action. Literally, some serious, a bit over the top historical literary granny fan girl action.

One of my social writers challenges on instagram asked us what writer we would most like to interview and the #mystylephotochallenge had the theme of necklaces. Only someone who loves women’s history and women reformers of the past would be so excited to share as specifically as I did.

I was giddy to share I would most like to interview (if she was living) Charlotte Perkins Gilman, writer, reformer, speaker, drama-loving, mother, well connected and one-of-a-kind whose image I also saved perpetually within a series of necklaces I made honoring literary grannies. 

What and who are “Literary Grannies”?

If you don’t know what literary grannies are, they are women in literary history often the less famous women and often without children of their own. Their lineage is their work. An example of a famous literary granny who fits this quality is Louisa May Alcott. Charlotte, however – my favorite Literary Granny – did have a daughter named Katharine. It was through her postpartum depression experience that her most famous work was written.

Charlotte’s novella “The Yellow Wallpaper” inspired a visual art body of work I created several years ago that culminated in seeking out and visiting the home where she died in Pasadena, California.  This is the same town where she wrote her most famous work in two days during a heat wave in the summer of 1888. Pasadena is also the town where both my father and two of my brothers were born.

Being a Literary Granny Fan Girl isn’t eccentric at all! (?)

I have gone on fan-girl travels to significant Charlotte Perkins Gilman locations outside of Pasadena into Oakland and San Francisco and yes, I visited the home of her relative, Harriet Beecher Stowe in Hartford, Connecticut, where Charlotte herself was born. I even made a trip to Berkeley, California, for a staging of a brilliant play based on “The Yellow Wallpaper.”

We both have daughters named Katherine (though her daughter’s name is spelled “Katharine”) and as noted, we both have ties to Pasadena.

I warned you, there would be fan-girling!

If you are curious about the necklaces, among others I made featured Jane Austen, Zelda Fitzgerald and Adelaide Crapsey – a woman you probably never heard of until now who invented the short form of poetry called cinquain.

Literary Granny Visual Art and Jewelry

Charlotte often wore blouses with ornate lace embellishment. I couldn’t find a photo of her wearing jewelry but there were plentiful photos of lace – almost – necklace -like adornment.

What writer would you most like to interview?

Have you ever made necklaces or other types of jewelry?

PS: The inside story for Bloggers & Other Content Creators

By the way, for the bloggers who are reading this blog post, I have now repurposed this original instagram post (with minor edits) in several different places.

It is a way to expand your reach and reach more people who share your passion. Beside that, it is simply fun!

Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted, artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:

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Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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Happy Birthday, Emily Dickinson

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Emily Dickinson's birthday is today, December 10. Her portrait along with a poem of hers and an overlay of a leaf as she loved nature.

I imagine Emily would be annoyed by the fuss we all are making. Have you seen the guest list for her party today? I haven’t seen it, but considering it is being held on Zoom my guess is it will be bigger than ever.

My son, Samuel, is hula hooping on Emily Dickinson's lawn.
Samuel hooping on Emily’s lawn as Emma watches with approval.

One of the things I love most about Emily Dickinson is she lived life on her terms. People call her an eccentric, a hermit, some call her mentally ill.

I call her a person who knew what she wanted and wasn’t going to change because others thought she should. One of the most revered American Poet in history didn’t want fame, didn’t like people around much less crowds. She only published 10 poems while she was alive and frequently sent poems to her closest friends and correspondents.

Emily Dickinson knew how to wield power. She would appreciate Alice Walker, another American writer who lives life on her terms – when she said “The most common way people give up their power is thinking they don’t have any.”

My first visit to Emily Dickinson’s home

Emily motivates me not only because of her unique poetic voice, she motivates me because she gives me permission to live my life “my way.” To not agree to anyone else’s rules or expectations.

I have been up to my chin in fear and anxiety this week because I had forgotten Emily.  She even makes free writing and journaling easier. This video will show you how:

Today, it is her birthday, and my fear and anxiety are finding themselves washed with peace and presence.

Do any writers of the past or present motivate you? Tell us about them in the comments.

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Portland Treasures: Beverly Cleary & Powell Books

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Julie JordanScott standing with the sculpture of Ramona Quimby, beloved character created by Beverly Cleary who lived near Grant Park in Portland when she was a child.

Five years ago I spent an afternoon out with Ramona Quimby and a bunch of other (human and sculpture garden) friends in Grant Park in Portland. I managed to gather people from online friendships and Bakersfield Ex-Pats to this park to enjoy a bit of Literary Granny history.

Sometimes I am amazed people are willing to follow my whims and other times I say “Naturally they do!” 

Why wouldn’t they? I tend to seek out quirky places other people hadn’t thought to explore yet, especially the artists and adventurers I am most attracted to. Little known secret: I had a conversation with Beverly Cleary more than thirty-five years ago at a convention for English teachers when I was working for a textbook publisher.

She was sitting at a table and no one else was there. She appeared to be fabulously ordinary which I found incredible inspiring. I wish I knew she had said this, “I was a great reader of fairy tales. I tried to read the entire fairy tale section of the library.” 

If I had known she had said this I could tell her I was the same way when I was a little girl. I loved hearing my mother’s voice when she read aloud. I would close my eyes and wish for once she would read “The Snow Queen” which I loved but was longer than the time my busy mother had for reading aloud. “The Princess and the Pea” was two pages long and I almost memorized it.

Julie JordanScott with a book sculpture outside Portland's Powell Books, a local and national treasure.

Beverly Cleary is a national and Portland treasure, like Powell’s books and a culture that made me feel at home as soon as I arrived. It continues to call to me today. Hearing of the unrest there made me want to road trip there again and lend my body and my voice to the protection of freedom of speech, but pandemic times and my health being what it is – I offer my memory and my love and admiration.

May we continue to honor and praise each other’s voices with an energy like Ramona Quimby’s.

What character from your childhood continues to speak to you today?

Woman writing on the front porch of a brick home,
Write wherever you find yourself.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in 2020 in #Refresh2020 in Bridge to the New Year to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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The Mini-Counter Cultural Guide to Loving Mondays

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I love Mondays. I have for years – since I stopped being employed by local government, anyway.

Monday is a fresh start, a chance to begin again. A new calendar page, a renewed attitude, different chapter, a white canvas to splash colors upon all await on this first day of the week.

Intellectually I know this is a false construct. Logically the realization is there.  I could just as easily choose to do as Mary Shelley advised “The beginning is always today” no matter what day of the week it happens to be.

In 2020, for example, I have been reviewing my weekly goals and plans NOT on Monday, but on Wednesday as an ongoing homage to the beginning of the year being on a Wednesday. It is refreshing – and fits in with a mid-week review that brings me to a mid-week revitalization.

For this week, I intend to look at every day as a fresh, brand new, just opened canvas for me to paint anything I would like upon it. My intention is gesso, the colors are my perspective and off we go.

What might happen if you lived as if every day was a brand new white canvas?

Portrait of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, who also loved new beginnings, every day.

What might happen next week if this week you decide to love Mondays?

Take a moment to write along with Mary Shelley – who was the woman writer who brought the world “Frankenstein” and was tangentially the second wife of the poet, Percy Shelley.

Prompt: If I lived like today was a brand new start in my life, I would….. write for five minutes, free flow writing style, and afterwards determine what message your renewed life wants to tell you.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, has openings for two creative life coaching clients. She works with people like you who are ready to move beyond their previous blocks and into a purposeful, productive and satisfying life. Request your Complimentary Transformational Coaching Session today here.

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Listen: Books & Their Writers & Mystery May Be Calling You…

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Visual definition of synchronicity: bird, feathers, and ice

Have you ever had an experience where you heard about something new and all of sudden that “something new” was everywhere you looked? Maybe you had simply amplified your awareness or maybe there were other reasons, but nonetheless, let’s take a look at these happenings.

It happened to me this weekend.

I discovered a book on my dining room table, left there by me who knows when. The dining room has become something of an archeological site. We don’t use it much these days.

The book almost got tossed because it reminded me of books using pottery as a metaphor that was outdated in my experience. I almost donated it, but the title called to me.

“Centering” I thought. It felt simultaneously comforting and expansive.

Today, in my email was Maria Popova’s “Brainpickings.” This is one of my favorite ezines, filled with writers whose work I enjoy and every time I read it, I gain new insights into life. Oftentimes I find new work from familiar voices. Today, I heard synchronicity, which Carl Jung named as a concept developed by psychologist Carl Jung to describe a perceived meaningful coincidence. Some might sneer at there being any meaning in such coincidence, but I think differently.

Here’s what I read:

“Centering is a verb. It is an ongoing process.” Words from Mary Catherine Richardson, the author of the book I almost threw out. Synchronicity. Another way of the divine remaining anonymous with an insistent knock.

close up of women's face, with art in front of it, illustrates the mystical tone of centering.

“Centering, a verb – like healing – an ongoing process,” I thought.

Richardson continued: “Centering is not a model, but a way of balancing, a spiritual resource in times of conflict, an imagination. It seems in certain lights to be an alchemical vessel, a retort, which bears an integration of purposes, an integration of levels of consciousness. It can be called to, like a divine ear.”

I lifted my eyes, I had read enough. I don’t need to know more now. That time will be here before I know it. “I don’t need to overfill my mind immediately,” I thought, “I need to honor my learning process and take time to weave it together.”

Yesterday at book club one of the members mentioned the book by Rachel Hollis, “Girl, Stop Apologizing.” I almost poo-pooed it the book right away, except I knew Hollis was successful and even though I am much older than her, I still aim for similar success.I even have the audacity to be optimistic: I may reach much higher levels of success than I now experience.

Stacks of books on a curved shelf from the library

Today when I checked my Libby library app hoping my short term “Dare to Lead” audio book by Brene Brown was still there. It wasn’t. Who do you think was smiling at me from the face of my Libby library app?

There she was, Rachel Hollis, on the cover of her best selling book “Girl, Stop Apologizing” which was available in ebook form.

Synchronicity, again: I checked it out. When I first started reading I thought, “Oh, this writing style is grating and I am clearly not her target audience I don’t know how….” and then a phrase leaped out at me.

A basket with the 1962 publication "Centering" and an ebook of "Girl, Stop Apologizing" together.

And another. And I thought, “What if I read “Girl, Stop Apologizing” and “Centering” side by side? they both have optimistic, forward thinking, empowering messages – they are simply told by writers decades apart. I am right in the middle of that spread so why not try it? What if it made both experiences better?”

What will it hurt to try? What if I enjoy it and gain more than I imagined that I may pass on to my readers?

“Centering” and “Girl, Stop Apologizing”: a side-by-side, mindful exploration of what the content is speaking at the core of two women writing to the core of one woman reading.

I’m doing it.

What book(s) are you reading or thinking of reading? Do you have a reading goal this year?

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A is for Ada: Literary Grannies from A to Z/2018 #atozchallenge

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Please welcome Ada Lovelace, the first purely STEM writer to grace the Literary Grannies canon.

Ironically she is the daughter of 19th Century rockstar poet, Lord Byron, who she never met. She was entranced by the man whose portrait hung covered in her mother’s home, but her mother was so consumed with not wanting her daughter to be a fanciful poet, she hired tutors in mathematics in order to distract her daughter’s possibly poetic mind.

Ada instead created a fanciful flying machine, meticulously designed with her brilliant mathematical (and my best guess also lyrical mind).

Her mother worried needlessly about Ada, who teamed up with Charles Babbage who devised the plans for “The Analytical Machine” – a general purpose computer. Ada saw the applications for the Analytical machine could go much further than computation and she published the first algorithm and instructions for how to use it with more depth.

Ada is the first STEM writer to appear among Literary Grannies and the first since I stared CreativeLifeMidwife.com.

Her full name was Augusta Ada King-Noel, Countess of Lovelace. She was born December 12, 1815 and died November  27, 1852

Writing Prompt: Think back to what your mother hoped for you when you were a child? How does that differ from who you are now (or how is it the same)? Write about it – take 5 minutes and write, free flow style. 

Julie has participated in the A to Z Blog Challenge for several years and is thrilled to be back, once again with Literary Grannies. Follow here throughout April for blog posts featuring women of literary history along with a daily writing prompt that reflects each featured writer.

Julie Jordan Scott is the Creative Life Midwife: a writing coach who specializes in inspiring artistic rebirth for those who may have forgotten the pure joy of the creative process. She offers individual creativity coaching as well as creating individualized programs for businesses and groups in the form of workshops, webinars and more. Contact her at 661.444.2735 for immediate assistance with facilitation, speaking or experiencing an enriched life now.Facebooktwitterpinterest

Theme Reveal – #AtoZBlogChallenge – Literary Grannies and You, 2018

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7 years ago I spontaneously participated in a blog challenge.

The second year I decided to try a theme and since I had so much fun in my Women in American History class I took at our local college, I decided to go with a women and literary history theme.

The third year I renamed the rather stuffy “Women in Literary History” with “Literary Grannies” and started with a profile of Aphra Behn (so fitting!).

In the fourth year I wrote specifically about Bold Writers from A to Z which focused on a quality of bold writing – A was Audacious, for example.

I started to incorporate writing prompts. My theme for 2014 was BOLD and I’ve always facilitated writing groups with prompts so it is quite fitting I chose that theme.  (that was my word theme of the year).

In 2018 I am thrilled to announce  I am going to go back to the roots of Literary History: Remembering Literary Grannies 2018 #atozchallenge.

I am amazed to find how much of my life has come to be shaped around literary grannies and some people still don’t know it is a fascination of mine. I think I discovered one of my favorites because I was looking for an “I” writer and found Ina Coolbrith, the

Adelaide Crapsey: Inventor of Cinquain Poetry

first ever poet laureate of California.

When I look back and think, “When was I happiest during these last ten years?” that period oftentimes shows up as a time of deep creativity and happiness. I loved writing and sharing daily.

I was teaching a bit back then, too, and facilitating programs.
It is time to rebirth those moments in a new way.

May you enjoy this time with Literary Grannies: some better known than others and all wildly deserving of our attention.

What would you like to learn about Literary Grannies?

Would you like prompts, quotes, excerpts? I may do a little smattering of different content, but if you specifically say you would like one thing or the other, I would happily craft my posts accordingly.

This is going to be a great year!

Oh, and if you wonder who that is I’m chatting with in the overall image, I am sitting at the grave of poet, memoirist May Sarton. I have visited many literary granny graves since I started this fascination in April 2011. I will share with you as we go.

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She created the process #5for5BrainDump that has birthed books, breakthroughs and many more livestream broadcasts. Participate in this process via livestream – to check the current schedule visit #5for5HQ

She is also a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in soon!

To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.

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Babysitting in the 70’s in New Jersey for Fun & Prizes: From Laura Ingalls Wilder Writing Prompt

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Yesterday I shared some writing tips from Laura Ingalls Wilder and Ursula K. Le Guin. Today I took a quote from Wilder and morphed it into a prompt. From the prompt, I wrote – as I suggest people do as well to learn the power of five minutes of writing – I wrote  a list of five different happy early memories (see them below the 5 minute essay) and randomly chose what one to use as a springboard to write. What could you do with just five minutes and a memory?

Laura Ingalls Wilder became a wild “overnight success” at age 57 back in 1932. Let’s get your words on the page. The world is waiting. Read mine to increase your inspiration. You’ve got this!

1970’s Julie (and a couple photos from 2017 revisiting the neighborhood where it all happened!)

Adventures in Babysitting was both a way of life for me for many years and a movie I enjoyed whole heartedly. The way of life provided me ample “fun and prizes” and the movie offers the one quote where I approve of the use of the F-Bomb, well used, by the character played by Elizabeth Shue while babysitting.

My babysitting offered me the freedom to purchase things I wanted but that I never expected my family to purchase for me. I had a very expensive hobby as a young girl: I had more pen pals than I can remember and my parents painstakingly footed the postage when I know financial times were tough.

As an adult, I get this more. I thought nothing of dropping three letters, five days a week and just expecting them to get mailed off to other tween and teen girls all across the country.

Babysitting allowed me the luxury of stationery and once weekly visits to the Hallmark store at the Bloomfield center. Saturday afternoons after tortuous Saturday mornings at the orthodontist I would walk to Bloomfield Center and carefully peruse the boxes of stationery.

I especially loved envelopes of different colors and ones with linings just felt so elegant.

My Granny even sent me the most decadent stationery products available to me: personalized stationery. I almost drooled when I opened the birthday packages.

Babysitting allowed me to do something I loved deeply in a way that felt abundant and luxurious. In a family with 6 children, a father starting a new business and a Mom in college and working as a teacher’s aide and two brothers about to begin college, we didn’t have much money for any extras.

Babysitting allowed me to buy stationery, favorite record albums and grow as a responsible tween – teen. I learned to save up for a small television for my room and a stereo eventually. I could have the same things the girls with wealthier families had.

Love love love remembering these and more  adventures.

Making instant friends has always been an adventure for me. I met Marisol two days after my daughter’s wedding. She’s looking forward to my return. This diner was a Stuart’s Root Beer we visited to have an occasional mug of root beer. It was such a treat!

What are some mundane   “adventures”  you had as a child that left happy memories behind for you to explore with writing? 

Write for just five minutes and make new discoveries, adventures and yes: gifts and prizes <— I remember this as an ongoing slogan and now a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor. 

5 Happy Memories:

1. Miss Foley: having a teacher who actually seemed to like me.

2. Mrs. Elder continuing our relationship – my Mom did her best, but obstacles were huge. Gave space to find others who had more support themselves and their love overflowed to me.

3. Granny’s surprise party

4. Carly Simon Complete birthday gift

5. Babysitting for fun and prizes!

My brothers, sister and I took our photos so many times on these steps. I loved sharing the experience with two of my children. Katherine has visited before both as a toddler and after her graduation from Smith College. During this visit, she was busily enjoying her honeymoon!

 

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming soon!

Contact Julie now to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.

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Writing Beyond Showing Vs. Telling: Wisdom from Ursula K. Le Guin & Laura Ingalls Wilder

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One of the best ways I have found to improve my writing is to study the lives of writers who went before me.

I’m not sure when I became blissfully obsessed by the lack of women writers who were quotes and looked toward by the literary establishment, but this passion has brought me countless hours of joy and pleasure in its pursuit. Today, two women writers I revere. I spoke about some of this on a recent FacebookLive broadcast. At the bottom of the information is a link to watch this and more videos that are a part of the #WordLoveYourself project I am working on with Writer and Blogger, Christine Anderson. 

Ursula K. Le Guin– a powerhouse writer and trailblazer in both style and substance – died recently.  Le Guin was raised in the shadow of one of the most prestigious intellectual spaces in the Country, University of California, Berkeley.  Her father was a faculty member and her mother was also a non-fiction writer.

I’m reading her most recent book, “No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters.” And have also read bits and pieces of what she is best known for, science fiction.

She doesn’t believe in the adage of “Show, Don’t Tell” and believes people have gotten lazy and NEED the exposition of TELLING.

Laura Ingalls Wilder – best known for her series of “Little House” books which became a marketing juggernaut in the 1970’s thanks to a hit television series – learned early how to tell AND show simultaneously when she became the eyes for her sister, Mary, who lost her vision during childhood. The Ingalls Family lived frequently as wanderers, oftentimes poor and moving about regularly trying to keep the family fed and cared for meant giving up “extras” like education and new clothes.

Her descriptions are vivid and crisply written, oftentimes woven in a storytelling style.

What can we learn from these two very different yet similar Literary Grannies?

  1. Telling isn’t all bad: it is the CLUNKY exposition that is horrid. Le Guin sounds as if she gets frustrated by writers who leap into dialogue without any background or explanation so the dialogue doesn’t have anything to “hold onto”.

The worst for me is watching a TV show or movie where a lazy script writer puts dense clunky exposition (telling) into a moment that might have come alive with old fashioned story telling – the WHAT HAPPENED

This is the Berkeley Laura Ingalls Wilder would have seen when traveling there in 1915 to see a theatrical production when she traveled across from San Francisco (where she covered the World’s Fair for the Missouri Ruralist) and then took the Street Car along San Pablo Avenue from Oakland to Berkeley.

approach which is also exposition, just exposition done in a better, more engaging manner.

  1. Another technique is to “project the scene in your minds eye” and then step into the scene. Live it in words via the senses. What do you hear, see, feel against your skin? Work on making the telling a part of the showing. They don’t have to be separate and one good and one bad.

This fits perfectly with my belief AND is always better than either/or.

  1. Make practice into a game. Try showing and telling in different ways.  Share what happens by commenting here. You may also join our live streams on our Facebook page and writing community.  Livestreams flow directly into Facebook.com/JJSWritingCamp for the Word Love portion of #WordLoveYourself and Facebook.com/MindfulYenta for the Love Yourself Portion where my friend, writer and blogger Christine Anderson hosts.  Experience more community conversation in the Word-Love Community group. You are welcome everywhere.

 

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming soon!

Contact Julie now to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.

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