Idea Generator

Video: Article Writer's Block? Try an idea catcher!

Video: My favourite idea catchers

P.S. Thanks to Rita Cartwright who wrote a helpful reply to the New Coach Connection group about changing the embed settings in YouTube.

Defining a perfect article opener

I was listening to a silly radio ad about winter tires the other day, and it reminded me of a very common (but sometimes forgotten) article opener - the definition.

A definition is helpful when you're using a phrase your readers may not be familiar with (as I defined the term plain language in this blog post), but it's also an interesting way to start any article.

Often we use the same words over and over again and start making assumptions about what they mean, and how they apply to us. So try giving your readers the gift of a fresh perspective on a well-used term.

Here are some definitions that might be interesting to explore:

• Career coaches: Teamwork, reward, motivation, development

• Life coaches: Vision, balance, boundary, happiness 

• Parenting coaches: Discipline, love, need, model

• Business coaches: Sell, service, alignment, success

• Spiritual coaches: Faith, surrender, meaning, awe

Writing prompt: Head over to Merriam-Webster or another online dictionary and look up the formal definitions of the terms you use most often in your coaching conversations. Explore alternate or deeper meanings that could spark some insight for your readers. You can also check out these other 10 article openers.

Write from the headlines: Rude people

Last week, Toronto's public transit system started cracking down on rude riders. That got me thinking about the many ways that coaches can help us in our encounters with rude people.

• Career coaches: Are you the victim of workplace bullying?

• Life coaches: Five important lessons that rude people are here to teach you

• Parenting coaches: How to deal with the rude behavior of other people's children

• Business coaches: Are rude customers still always right?

• Spiritual coaches: How to lovingly detach from the rudeness of others

Writing prompt: Use one of these article titles as a springboard to a topic that is custom-made for your own audience. I'd love to hear your take on it - you can post a link to your article as a comment below. Please, and thank you.

Write from the headlines: Surprise them with a song

Wow - check out our Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, playing the piano and singing. He looks almost animated (almost), and he can actually carry a tune quite nicely. It helps that it's a Beatles tune - turns out we're both big fans.

Watching this video got me thinking about how immediately engaged I was because of the surprise element of this story. How could a well-timed surprise help your readers and coaching clients?

• Career coaches: 5 ways to get noticed in the workplace

• Life coaches: Could you pull off a "George Costanza"?

• Money coaches: How to prepare for these top 5 most predictable expenses that always surprise you

• Parenting coaches: Surprise your children with one of these fun, free day trip ideas

• Business coaches: Surprise your staff by catching them doing something well

• Marketing coaches: How to surprise your readers without losing trust

Writing prompt: Use one of these topics for your next article, or think of a surprise of your own!

Article marketing: What once was old is new again

In response to my birthday request for article marketing questions, one reader asked:

How can I feel like what I'm contributing is fresh and new?

Great question, and one that I hear a lot. The truth is, much of what we're writing about may have been said before, in one form or another. So why bother saying it again? Here's why:

1. It's still new to someone. What you think is obvious may still be new to someone who is not as far along the path as you are. It might be an extremely helpful insight to them and they will be grateful to for you telling them. Writing prompt: When you look at it with a beginner's mind, what is fresh and new about this topic?

2. You are a unique and special person. No one else has had your life experiences, successes, failures, triumphs, challenges or lessons. If you are a member of your target market, then telling a story is a great way to put your own slant on any message that you share. Writing prompt: Can you make a connection between something that happened in your life and what you are writing about?  

3. Your readers are unique. Hopefully you've chosen a niche market and you know enough about them to write what they want to read. Writing prompt: When you look at it through the lens of their particular problems, what do you think they need to know about the tool, resource, strategy or theory that you're writing about?

4.  You have a unique connection with your readers. They relate to how you express yourself and your ideas. In fact, some of them are so precisely tuned in to the frequency that you transmit from that they simply cannot hear this message from anyone but you. Writing prompt: How can you deepen that connection with your readers and continue to deliver what they have liked about you?

5. Articles are ideas in progress. Your ideas will develop and ripen over time. You may repeat yourself or even contradict yourself (I know I have!), as you look for new and better ways to explain your ideas and help your readers. Give yourself permission to grow as a writer and as a tribe leader.  Writing prompt: How have your ideas and knowledge developed, and have you kept your readers up to date?

So if you want your articles to be fresh, try to express your uniqueness and that of your readers. Tap into your passion for the topic, your desire to help, and your willingness to challenge old ideas (even your own) and give them a new spin.

Don't write and cook! Use an idea catcher instead (a lesson from Linda's kitchen)

A wise woman (OK, it was my Mom) once told me that if I didn't want my omelet to be runny, I could stick the frying pan into the oven on a low heat for a couple of minutes so the eggs will set. It works like a charm, and the only challenge was getting used to handling my frying pan with oven mitts. I'd never used it inside the oven before, so it didn't come naturally. I had quite a few mishaps but most of them very quick. (Ouch, that's hot! Let's just pull that hand away, shall we?).

This morning I was blessed with an Einstein hair situation, where ideas were flowing to me so quickly I could barely catch them all. I had already scribbled out several notes to myself, and had even started a worksheet for a new "Write From the Headlines" post.

It was that post that I was continuing to compose, in my head, while I stood in the kitchen  putting the finishing touches on my breakfast plate. I looked over at the stove and noticed the frying pan handle was sticking out - uh oh, better turn that in so I don't knock it when I go by, safety first, after all...OUCH, THAT'S HOT! LET'S JUST PULL THAT HAND AWAY, SHALL WE? Yikes.

The lesson from Linda's kitchen? I need to keep that idea catcher close and keep scribbling. I need to take a time out from other tasks to give it my full attention, so that I can then let go of it and trust I will remember the gist of the idea when I go back to it later.

Composing an article in my head takes up precious bandwidth and I obviously don't have any to spare when there are hot frying pan handles around.

Writing prompt: Where do you get most of your spontaneous ideas for articles or blog posts? Do you have idea catchers handy in those places? Have you ever had a mishap when you were thinking about an article or business idea and not quite paying attention to what the rest of your body was doing? Your stories are welcome below. Please? It would really make me feel better.

Write from the headlines: Do incentives work in coaching?

Governments around the world have implemented incentive programs to stimulate the economy and protect the environment.  I'm proud that my own City of Toronto took a stand for the environment this Spring with a by-law that forces us to think twice before we use plastic bags.

When I saw CAA magazine's Fall 2009 cover story, "Renovation Nation" about Canada's home renovation credit, it got me thinking about how incentives work to motivate people - or do they? Here are some topic ideas to explore this question with your own coaching niche:

• Career coaches: Top 5 reasons to move on from a job that is not working

• Life coaches: Top 10 healthy rewards for accomplishing a goal

• Money coaches: How government incentives can help you to save money and improve your life

• Parenting coaches: Positive reinforcement strategies for peaceful parenting

• Business coaches: How incentive-based payment is a win-win for everyone on your team

• Marketing coaches: Top 5 ways to use bonuses and time-limited offers as incentives for sales

Writing prompt: Whether you want to get your readers thinking about how to create or implement incentive programs, or you want to motivate them to take action with an incentive program of your own, how will you write about this topic in your newsletter or blog? Please comment below and let me know!

Write from the headlines: Flash your feathers

In honour of Caribana weekend here in Toronto, the theme for today's writing prompts is "flash your feathers."

• Career coaches: 5 ways to broadcast your accomplishments without bragging

• Life coaches: 5 ways to celebrate your strengths

• Money coaches: The 5 things you should never scrimp on

• Parenting coaches: 5 ways to build up your child's self-esteem

• Business coaches: 5 missed opportunities to reinforce your brand

• Marketing coaches: 5 tasteful ways to use client testimonials

Writing prompt: Use one of these titles as a jumping off point for an article or blog post, or simply type the phrase "Flash your feathers!" at the top of a page and see where it takes you.

When it's time to get personal with your writing

Your readers want to know that you're a real person, beyond your business and the products and services that you offer. After all, how can you help them with their life if you don't seem to have one? (Notes to self: (1) Get a life (2) Write more Personal Updates posts.)

The opening section of your ezine is the perfect place to give your readers a glimpse into your personality and maybe even your personal life. But what if you don't want to get too personal? Some people just aren't comfortable posting pictures and details about their family or pets. 

You know I'm not one of them! Here's a recent picture of my beautiful girl Chyna, surrounded by some of her favourite things:

For some personal topic suggestions, it's Plinky to the rescue! According to their website, "Plinky makes it easy for you to create inspired content. Every day we provide a prompt (i.e., a question or challenge) and you answer. We make it simple to add rich media and share your answers on Facebook, Twitter and blogs."

CEO and founder Jason Shellen used to work at a little place called Google, so I'm sure he knows a thing or two about what makes a good web application.

There's also a whole other world of social networking at Plinky. While I've answered one question so far, I haven't gotten into the community aspect of the site (I'm having too much fun in Twitter!).

Writing prompt: If you're looking for ways to get more personal (but not TOO personal) in your writing, give Plinky's writing prompts a try.