I love it when dots connect for the greater good. My business and creative coach, Shereen Hoban, recently introduced me to Jaime Marshall, founder of J.P. Marshall Literary Agency. Jaime, in turn, introduced me to today’s Woman Power Wednesday, Alison Jones, founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing and The Extraordinary Business Book Club podcast. Alison’s impressive body of work emphasises the transformative power of writing as a tool for personal growth and problem-solving.
After listening to Alison’s podcasts and reviewing her website, I signed up for The 10-day Business Book Proposal Challenge this January. The program is for individuals who have a book in progress and need help getting it to the finish line. It is for people with full-time jobs and requires a commitment of a couple of hours each day. The challenge seems like what the doctor ordered for my RELEVANCE: From Beginning to End project.
To get a taste of how good Alison is, check out the TED Talk below, titled Let’s Rethink Writing, where she focuses on exploratory writing and its benefits. I love the term instinctive elaboration, which she explains in the short TED Talk. Exploratory writing is about self-discovery and problem-solving. You are encouraged to give yourself a prompt and write uninterrupted for six minutes. Alison strongly suggests a simple pen and plain paper approach, not a typewriter (-; , nor a computer.
Benefits of Exploratory Writing:
- It helps calm anxiety and organise thoughts.
- Unlocks creativity and resourcefulness.
- Provides a safe space for self-expression and exploration of ideas.
Writing for oneself is different from writing for an audience. It allows for honesty and raw expression without the pressure of being judged.
Other benefits:
- Scientific Backing: The practice of exploratory writing helps improve well-being, mood, creativity, cognitive performance, empathy, focus, and even sleep.
- Empowerment and Self-Care: In a world filled with distractions and anxiety, exploratory writing is a radical act of self-care and empowerment, allowing individuals to become creators rather than just consumers. (See Bertrand Russell’s quote: How do we better live from a place of creative impulses versus from a place of possessive impulses?)
- Accessibility: The practice is accessible to everyone. It requires only a few minutes, a pen, and a piece of paper.
Woman Power! Thanks, Alison.
