![Job ads, the safety dance, and why words matter [Friday Goodie Bag]](https://moxiebooks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Why-Words-Matter-1600x400-1920x0-c-default.webp)
Sometimes I get so many big feelings I worry that I actually will explode.
Like on Tuesday this week after my MicroBook Magic live call.
It’s structured so that my clients can send me their writing and ask for specific feedback, or ask questions.
And we do that. I go through my suggestions and thoughts and whatnot — and everyone else is welcome to offer insights, if the person is open to it.
After that, there’s time to chat and discuss and ask other questions about the writing or publishing or anything else to do with writing a book and that’s often where the real magic happens because oh my goodness I’m SO privileged to be able to work with such brilliant people.
It was insight after insight, supportive comment after supportive comment, laugh after laugh — and most of it didn’t come from me, it came from the people in the room.
Never aim to be the smartest person in the room, friend!
When the call was done I had to have a little roll around on the floor because that amount of awesome was a lot.
Anyway — find yourself a group that’ll lift you up, help you out, tell you the truth, and cheer you on.
It’s absolute gold.
My MicroBook Magicians, from the very first Season to this Season 6, are absolute magic. Every one of them. I cannot wait to read their books!
MBM isn’t running again until probably March 2025, but if you do want to write a book and you’d like my help, I’m looking for two people to join Book Coach In Your Pocket in November.
You can find out about it here:
Okay — time for the Friday Goodie Bag!
Tina Friml in London and on the internet
Last Saturday evening I got to go to London and see Tina Friml LIVE at the Bloomsbury Theatre and she was amazing and hilarious and also the most stylish person in that room.
If you haven’t seen her comedy, you should fix that immediately. She has cerebral palsy and makes it part of her act and I love her. I’m trying to resist the urge to message her and tell her I think we could be friends because that’s too weird, right?
This Reddit thread illustrating why words matter so damn much
Thank you to Sharon Hurley-Hall for this link which challenges the use of language around slavery, and how words and euphemisms are used to soften horrific acts and events.
This obviously happens a lot when talking about slavery but it also happens a lot when talking about, for instance, violence against women and girls. That shows up as passive language; something was done to us by some nebulous force. When actually, a man did that to us.
Take a look and have a read of the whole carousel — and if it makes you feel something — uncomfortable, angry, resistant, sad – maybe use it as a journalling point and figure out those feelings.
How to write a job ad
Okay there’s a lot of talk on LinkedIn (and rightly so) about the ludicrous job specs out there. Like, it’s for a social media manager but they also must be a copywriter, coder, familiar with Excel (why does everyone have to be an Excel expert tho WHY), Microsoft Office Suite (is that still a thing), best friends with Clippy the paperclip, and able to head up a taskforce to organise monthly events, plus run ads and manage the creative agency. NO. None of that. This is ridiculous.
So when I saw this brilliant job ad that simply details a day in the life of the head of engineering, I wept little tears of joy because it’s PERFECT. And also inclusive for neurodivergent people.
Hugh Jackman doing The Safety Dance just because
Honestly put on your favourite tune and dance it out. Even if people can see you. Dance with joy. Dance with as much or as little skill as you like. Balter, in fact.
Plus your creativity will get a boost because there’s nothing like moving your body to get the old neurons firing.
Tbf, if Hugh Jackman started dancing anywhere near me, I’d join in too because that man is a ray of sunshine.
Why AI doesn’t have to end badly for humanity according to Yuval Noah Harari
I heard Yuval Noah Harari on Elizabeth Day’s How to Fail podcast the other day and loved him. I have a few of his books but, I’m somewhat ashamed to say, I haven’t read them yet. That’s changing though because I loved this interview.
He had a lot of interesting and insightful and GOOD things to say about humanity in general, how we interact with each other and how we struggle to do so, and where he thinks AI might be going. Check it out here.
Bonus Halloween makeup
And because it’s Halloween, take a look at this incredible reel showing off Halloween makeup. It’s come a long way since I was a kid with my basic-bish witch’s hat or my Spiderman onesie.
Happy weekend!
Oh and wish me luck with my second ever stand up comedy set tonight 🤓🤓🤓
p.s. I’m looking for 2 people to work with me in Book Coach In Your Pocket before Christmas. Are you in?
How to work with The MicroBook Magician
Nonfiction Book Ghostwriting: Idea to book in just 20 weeks
Buy My Book: How the hell do you write a book?
VIP Book Breakthrough Day: Make a quantum leap in book progress in just one day
Book Coach In Your Pocket: Your first draft done (or all but) in just 30 days
MicroBook Magic: Write your MicroBook in just 8 weeks
Creative Playground: Write every day + get advice, support, and bonus access to my workshops! (1 week trial for £1)