Janspirations

The English language is fascinating, and even more so is what goes on inside our creative minds. Put the two together, and it’s not an instant recipe for clear communication. Whether you’re simply writing an email or not-so-simply crafting language for your brochure or website, every word counts. And they must be put together so there’s a natural flow.

True communication is an art that is constantly in motion. You have a blank canvas in front of you. Let your intuition run free as you envision the painting you’re about to create – even before you pick up that brush or choose the first color.

Now, with brush in hand, consider these Communication “C” rules. I use them every time I paint a stroke.

Compelling – Use colorful, vivid and action-based words that allow the reader to “feel” the message.  Don’t hesitate to use a Thesaurus. For example, whenever you write the verb “is,” change it to an action verb. And, if selling/marketing is the motive, expound on the benefits and value of the product or service, not just the service or product alone.

Concise – People don’t read through long messages or six-fold brochures any more. To keep the word count down, make sure your message isn’t muddled with details or side thoughts. And a part of your editing process should be to go over your text and remove whatever words you can yet still get your message across. KISS – Keep it Simple and Savvy.

Creative – Think outside the box.  Allow your brain to go in several directions before your write, and pick the path that most clearly connects your message with your reader. Then, allow it to flow (but not overflow). Make your lead line surprising – maybe even ask a question. Capture the reader’s attention right from the get-go.

Clean – When your draft comes close to being a finished product, go over every word, every punctuation mark and every paragraph break to ensure accuracy. No one likes to “reed” mistakes. You, too, can be the one who mispells misspell. And, if you’re like me, take out most of the exclamation points. (!!!) After all, I dutifully earned the nickname “Jan (!) Hovey.”

Connect – The key point is to CONNECT with your reader. Write to the one person, not to the whole. When you reach your final draft, read it as if you were looking at it for the first time, ensuring you’re reaching the true connect point with your reader. Clarity. Clarity. Clarity.

So, did I make myself clear?

Have a glorious day. That is, unless you have other plans…

 

I have free reign (i.e., welcome to my blog)! There’s so much I want to share with you – life philosophies, business epiphanies, epic journeys of leaping into the void, small business innovations and essential tools for living a robust life.

Obviously, material will be all over the place, but with the common thread – inspirations I’ve had, am having and dreams about the future.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey by signing up for blog posts and share your personal and business inspirations with me.

 

Living in Paradise

I’d always wanted to live by the ocean – any ocean, and when my life took a 182-degree turn in 2014, I found myself obsessing long-term rentals on Craigslist from Morro Bay to Los Angeles. After all, my family lives in Southern California.

With rents upward of $2,500 a month on any California coast for a livable studio, my dreams were shattered. That was, until I whimsically checked house rentals in Kauai. I’d visited there 30-some years ago, and did so only leaving fingernail marks on the plane door.

I gasped, “My God – it’s cheaper to rent a place on Kauai than it is on Morro Bay!” Serendipity strikes! Paradise found! My destiny was set in permanent marker.

It took six months to find the perfect location, yes, on Craigslist – a two bedroom house on the North Shore for $1,600 a month. In 28 days I packed up 28 years in two bags and was flying to my new island home, where I didn’t know a soul. Reactions like “WHERE are you moving?” “People only VACATION there!” and “It costs too much to live in Hawaii” blew light-speed behind me.

After missing my connecting flight in Honolulu (brain-dead from exhaustion), I arrived via rental car to my new home in the jungle, the very last habitat down a ruddy dirt road at 1 a.m. I was in heaven. Wafts of Plumeria and Night-Blooming Jasmine greeted me in the pitch dark as I searched for a flashlight, which wasn’t there. As I inched up the pathway, turning on the first light filled me with utter bliss. I was home.

Two years later, Kauai is still my home and it is paradise. I learned right away that, yes produce is expensive, but I can live on a decent food budget of $85 per week. Yes, most people vacation here, but the island is home to 70,000 residents, most of whom made the move from the Mainland. And yes, the Hawaiian language takes some getting used to, but I’m proud to say I can now pronounce street names.

Adjusting to island life was easy (how hard is it to stare gape-mouthed at craggy, misty mountains replete with tall, thin waterfalls or be cradled in the ocean’s turquoise, reef-protected current?). However, getting to know islanders was a different story at first. People were an island unto themselves. Yet, once I found a wonderful spiritual center here, my tribe grew exponentially.

The inspirations here are as tall as the mountains and as deep at the sea. I’m currently playing with my dream of writing an interpretive guide to Kauai, deepening the island experience with legends, history, “her”story, flora, fauna, geology and the rich stories of this truly unique place. There are dozens of guides of where to go and recreational opportunities, but I want to condense the most valuable information from two years of research into one compelling story. It’s the book I wanted when I moved here.

Wish me luck – give me pointers. We’re a tribe.