Write On ~ Creative Writing Services

By Lisa Manyon: www.lisamanyon.com 

I’m entering March with renewed energy and inspiration.

I must admit it feels really good.

2007 was a difficult year. My surgeries and other personal trials and tribulations really zapped my energy.

That’s why it’s so important to know “when to say say when.” In February, when I had my nasty bout of flu, I believe it was my body finally telling me to take it easy. I listened - mostly because I had no choice.

Once I recovered, I knew it was time to do something for me. Hence, the trip to Montana.

Not only did I visit with one of my longest and dearest friends, Shana, I also had the opportunity to share time with a new friend.

It’s always wonderful to see Shana. I hope you have lifelong friends who feel like home and make you laugh uncontrollably. The kind you know you can always count on.

Plus, spending time with my new friend brought back a part of me that seemed to be missing. I was reminded of the importance of fresh air and just getting out and moving. Quite honestly, it was hard to come home.

I sincerely hope you are making room for new experiences in your life.

You may wonder what my point is. Never fear, there is one. For those of you who work at the computer day in and day out, I think you can relate to the cooped up feeling.

Often, there is so much work it feels overwhelming. So, we may not take the time to do what we need to do for ourselves.

Here’s my point -

Take care of you. Do things that bring you joy. Make sure you have a healthy balance of work and play.

It’s that simple.

I feel absolutely blessed that my business allows me the freedom I need. Having the ability to grab my laptop and work from anywhere in the world is truly amazing.

I wish you the same. May you go forth and create a life you absolutely love.

Oh, and stay tuned for future travels in 2008. I’m off to Europe and Bali this year and I’ll keep you posted on my travels.

Technorati Tags: www.writeoncreative.com, Write On Creative, copywriting, Lisa Manyon, Montana

By Lisa Manyon: www.lisamanyon.com

From time to time, I send little bursts of inspiration your way. These include short video clips from Simple Truths.

The most recent clip I sent can be viewed here.

I asked you to think about three questions last month and Roger Parker did just that. In fact, I was so impressed with his answers, I’m including them here.

But first, here’s a little back-story. I met Roger via a tele-seminar with my mentor and friend Peter Bowerman. Peter is a true inspiration and if you don’t already know who he is, you can check him out here. He is one of my personally recommended resources in the Brain Buzz section of my blog (and I only recommend people who I’ve worked with or highly respect). Plus, he is releasing a new book this year and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see some familiar names featured.

Okay, now you know how Roger and I originally connected and now, here’s how he responded. (this will be posted on my blog in the next few weeks and you can log on and post your own thoughts).

Question: What is Your Definition of a Winner?

Answer: A winner is someone who tries as hard as they can, without sacrificing their values, their integrity, or time with their family.

Winners are not workaholics; they know how to balance business success with relationship success.

Winners recognize the truth of the saying: “It’s not so much what you do or say, but how you make others feel.”

Question: How Do You Face Defeat?

Answer: Perhaps the best way to face defeat, as an entrepreneur or self-employed writer, is to visit a friend or co-worker who spends their days in a cubicle. No matter how hard things get, visiting an office in a suburban office park is usually enough to give me the strength to continue on my own.

Question: How Do You Approach Your Challenges?

Answer: With music, day trips with a camera, and time with my wife and family, pets, etc.

One perspective that I always remember was originally stated by Tom Lehrer in the 1960’s: “By the time Mozart was my age, he had been dead 16 years!”

From that perspective, we are all lucky, and it’s useful to remember that others are not so fortunate.

A friend of mine is a professional photographer facing the same business pressures that all professional photographers face in today’s economy. One of the things that has really changed him was spending a morning a week teaching photography to brain-injured people. That has had a profound effect on his attitudes towards his own frustrations.

A really good book on the topic is Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism which I highly recommend.

Thanks to Roger for his thoughtful and helpful responses. You can learn more about him here.

Technorati Tags: Roger Parker, Peter Bowerman, www.writeoncreative.com, Write On Creative, copywriting, facing defeat, winner, winning, win, Lisa Manyon

By: Lisa Manyon www.lisamanyon.com

 In Your Wildest Dreams Premiers THIS Saturday on Discovery Health!

I’m super excited to let you know about the “In Your Wildest Dreams” television program. Leading Dream Expert, Lauri Loewenberg is featured working her dream interpretation magic. I know you will be as impressed with her as I am.

Personally, I find dreams fascinating and Lauri is truly gifted. She wrote the book “So, What Did You Dream Last Night?” The insights shared in the dream world can really transfer to your waking life. So, tune into Discovery Health on Saturday (tomorrow) the 22nd at  9 PM Eastern or 6 PM Pacific.  Some gal pals and I are having a “girl’s night in” to catch the premier.

Plus, you’ll want to keep your eyes open for exciting new DreamZone opportunities.

By Lisa Manyon, www.writeoncreative.com

A few months ago I wrote about living in full color. By that I meant to really cherish every day to the fullest. It’s so important to feed your soul personally and professionally. One thing I have learned is that life is not black and white.

People draw lines in the sand, believe in their own ideals and pass judgments as though we are not human. This doesn’t happen all the time but it happens and it’s disheartening.

If you’ve followed my writing for a while and are familiar with my business principles, you know that I believe in transparency in business. This basically just means being real and not playing games. In a nutshell it means honest, ethical business practices.

When I was younger I used to draw a firm line in the sand between business and personal life. I’m still pretty private but my thoughts on this practice have shifted a bit.

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By: Lisa Manyon www.lisamanyon.com

This morning a full page ad consisting of only 9 words, one graphic, a logo and A LOT of white space, caught my eye.

Apparently Mr. Whipple is no longer with us. On page 12D of USA Today (yes, I’m traveling and it’s the morning paper I found outside my door) a cleverly placed add, packs a punch.

The graphic is one of the Charmin bears, roll of tissue in hand, dabbing a teary eye with quilted toilet paper. Below the graphic the text reads: In memory of Dick Wilson. “Mr. Whipple” 1916-2007. Then, of course, the signature “Charmin” font treatment logo.

I understand the importance of using your real estate in advertising effectively. I know it makes sense to say whatever you need to say to make the sale. At the same time, I cannot discount how emotional impact can help shape and support a brand. More… I found myself remembering Mr. Whipple and oddly felt an emotional connection with the weeping animated bear. I’ll probably hear “Don’t squeeze the Charmin” for the rest of my drive back to Idaho, today.

I am continuously asked if long copy out-performs short copy. Direct response authorities Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer have statistical proof that it does. And, at the same time, short copy can pack quite a punch, especially if the short copy hits an emotional chord.

While the full page Charmin ad, sporting tons of white space, minimal words and graphics might not be designed to sell, it will do so by default. The ad agency handling this account is well aware of the nostalgic feelings “Mr. Whipple” brings. Creating emotions in the cartoon bear connects women to the product (after all, in most two person households, women are the TP purchasers). Plus, a tasteful farewell to an advertising icon positions the company as caring. These elements coupled with the softness of Charmin, definitely sells.

My point: Use both long and short copy when appropriate. My background started in traditional ad agency “short copy” mentality. Studying the direct response masters like Kennedy and Glazer (and implementing long copy tactics) has proved to be quite profitable. For the most part, I masterfully blend the two to create messages that support my own personal flair.

Do what works for you and your business.

Technorati Tags: Mr. Whipple, Charmin, Dan Kennedy, Bill Glazer, Charmin advertising, advertising, copy, copywriting, Write On Creative, Lisa Manyon

I’m usually not a last minute person. Lately, though, I’m reinventing my life and so I’ve been way more spontaneous. I am LOVING it!

Here’s how my latest adventure went down…

On Sunday November 4th, I chat with my friend Viki Viertel of Digital Buddha Studios. We hadn’t connected for a while and she mentions she’s heading to Ali Brown’s event. I tell her with all the personal unrest in my life, I really cannot swing it.

I get off the phone and feel like kicking myself (or at the very least, shifting my thoughts to a more positive perspective). It’s not like me to use the “can’t” word (after all I created the POWER Planning Process to help others get over that very thing!).

So, I e-mail Viki, hop online, register for the event, make airline and hotel reservations and start packing. The next thing I know I’m with my peeps in Los Angeles having an ABSOLUTE blast. And, Ali’s event is so great. I am still on information overload.

The first day Bill Glazer speaks. You may recall that I’m the first professional copywriter in the state of Idaho to have achieved his Creating Copy that Sells certification.  Not only do I meet Bill for the first time in person, we have lunch. Yes, I love my life.

Ali’s presentation and delivery are phenomenal. I learn so much on just the first day my head is literally spinning. And, I finally get to meet her in person after following her for years and hearing so many great things about her from Lorrie Morgan Ferrero.

It’s like old home week at the event. James Roche, the Info Product Guy is there and it’s great to see him. Plus Viki and I connect again in person for the second time this year.

I meet so many new and interesting people that I cannot even begin to list everyone here. The networking is unbelievable. I have the opportunity to visit with Marie Forleo on several occasions. I really like her and I grab a copy of her book, Make Every Man Want You (or Make Your’s Want You More) – How to Be So Damn Irresistible You’ll Barely Keep From Dating Yourself. It ROCKS (more on that later).

For now, I just wanted to share a few pictures (including this one of James and Marie – notice they are sporting purple to support my brand—or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.)

I am going to go continue processing and catching up now.  Hope your weekend was even half as entertaining and enlightening.

Technorati Tags: Ali Brown, Alexandria Brown, Online Success Blueprint Workshop, James Roche, Imap, Viki Viertel, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero, Marie Forleo, Lisa Manyon, Bill Glazer, Ezine Queen, www.lisamanyon.com

Last month I sent out a special announcement about the Red Hot Communications live event.

I proofed it once, I proofed it twice and I sent it on its merry way.

Moments after it was sent, my mom emailed me. She wanted to know if my Communications Director had proofed it because there was a typo.

Okay, so I may be too old to get grounded for not doing my homework but mom was on to something. I had made a mistake and the mistake was all my own.

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Don’t miss this opportunity!

I want to let you know about a new company called My Millionaire Friends that is launching on January 1, 2008. This monthly coaching and networking program offers a lot of tangibles on a monthly basis (CDs and printed books and newsletters to name a few). They are running a special prelaunch price.

Check it out at http://www.my-millionaire-friends.com or click on the graphic below. And even if you can’t join right away–they have a great “How to Become A Millionaire Diagram and Checklist” you can download for free. Plus, I know this product is going to deliver far more than expected because it’s another brainchild of Sheri McConnell of AWE and NAWW.

Check it out today. http://www.my-millionaire-friends.com

Technorati Tags: Sheri McConnell, My Millionaire Friends

By: Lisa Manyon www.writeoncreative.com

This past week and one half has been a whirlwind of learning, laughing, networking and fleeing the California fires.

What started as a Red Hot weekend with Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero, segued into a California State of Emergency. Of course, the two are completely separate events, connected only by coincidence.

I landed in California ready to learn and network (two of my favorite things). Traveling for business purposes but also looking forward to some R and R in Lake Arrowhead once business was complete.

Lisa Manyon & Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero

True to form Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero’s one day intensive Insider Copywriting Formula Workshop was power packed. Seasoned copywriters (namely Lo’s Gold Mentees) brushed up on refreshers while those new to the Red Hot Copy formula soaked up the information. Lorrie attracts quality people and it was fun to connect with Patsi Krakoff of The Blog Squad and Francine Allaire founder of The Daring.

Me with LouAnn Savage and Patsi Krakoff

On day two the Red Hot retreat for the Gold Copywriting program members took place. Our feet were held to the fire on hot seats where, completely vulnerable, we dissected our businesses to create immediate action plans for growth. Ahhh… the beauty of like-minded mastermind groups. I cannot wait to see where everyone is in six months.

Saturday night the Gold group bonded further by heading to a Beverly Hills Mansion Mixer where Alex Mandossian led an interactive networking exercise. The mission – in five minutes – connect with five people and ask five questions.

Rich Rogala, Lorrie, Alex Mandossian and me

1. Who are you?
2. What do you do?
3. Where are you from?
4. Why are here?
5. Who do you want to connect with?

Acoustics were a bit of a challenge in the Beverly Hills digs but it was nice to have a networking template. The ultimate goal to help each other connect with the person we most want to connect with. I’ll keep you posted on the progress (I’ve already heard from several of the connections I made there).

On Monday morning I received a telephone call on my cell informing me of evacuation status. I was in Lake Arrowhead - an area in California that was really impacted by the fires. Thank goodness for technology because the electricity was out my cell phone was our only line to civilization. Needless to say my stay in California was cut short. While I am grateful to be home in Idaho, my heart goes out to all who were so tragically changed by the fires.

Evacuation view from Lake Arrowhead

Technorati Tags: Red Hot Networking, Beverly Hills, Alex Mandossian, Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad, Red Hot Copy, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero, LouAnn Savage, Francine Allaire, Lake Arrowhead, California, California fires, Rich Rogala

By Lisa Manyon, www.writeoncreative.com

I ask myself this question often. It pushes me to try new things and really strive to reach my goals.

Admittedly, it’s easy to stay in my comfort zone. My business has a large internet presence and I am very comfortable gaining exposure online.

Recently I was the featured member of the week for both the National Association of Women Writers and the Association of Web Entrepreneurs (you can learn more about these organizations in the Brain Buzz category on my blog. This is where you’ll find tried and true business building tips that I personally recommend). I was thrilled to be featured and the exposure was quite painless since the interviews were posted online and no public appearances were required.

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