Kent talks to author and coach Ally Fallon about the ins and outs of writing memoir. What happens when you’re not sure where to start or end your story? How do you go about the process? Ally helps us walk through the process and do so with courage and conviction.

Ally Fallon is a bestselling author and founder of Find Your Voice—a community that offers workshops, coaching, editing and support for anyone who wants to write a book. She has written and published 13 books and counting, including The Power of Writing It Down and her memoir Indestructible.

She has also coached hundreds of writers from total beginners to New York Times Bestselling authors, hosted workshops all over the country and world, and helped hundreds of thousands of people use writing as a tool for their own personal growth.

Ally is also collaborating with Donald Miller on the Write Your Story Workshop, which sounds like a blast.

The post The Power of Writing It Down with Ally Fallon appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

As writers, we spend a lot of time focusing on helping other people tell their stories. Maybe you do client work, coaching, run a writing community as I do, or interview others for a podcast, as I do as well. Even if you only write for yourself, much of your time is spent thinking about how you can help other people live a better story.

It is important, however, that we don’t forget about our own stories. Those are perhaps the easiest ones to neglect. It’s easy to downplay or even disregard the value we bring to the table, and what others can learn from our experiences.

That’s why I’m excited to feature a conversation with my friend Danielle Cook. Danielle is a writer and entrepreneur who has worked with over a hundred business owners, creatives, and thought leaders who were ready to break through the noise and speak to the heart of their ideal audience. Whether it’s crafting the book you’ve been dreaming of or writing a bio that strikes the perfect balance of passion and expertise, Danielle can take your ideas and visions that have been swirling in your head and get them down on paper.

Danielle believes that the words we use transform our lives, our businesses, and our world. She is committed to helping anyone who is ready to use their voice to break through the noise and speak to the heart.

In this conversation, Danielle shares her story and how she got involved in business and writing, what it means to own your story, and some actionable steps to writing an engaging bio that uses the magic of story to build the know, like, and trust factors that are so important in communication.

You can connect with Danielle through one of the links below:

Check out Danielle’s website.

Follow Danielle on Instagram.

Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn.

The post Danielle Cook: The Power of Owning Your Story appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

If writing is a house, each of us lives on two levels.

The ground floor is where we invite people in. We share things we think people want to hear. We say a lot of nice things, put some coffee on, and invite people to sit around the table. On the ground floor, we have the furniture arranged just so and we try to keep things spic and span.

Underneath the ground floor, there is also a basement. The basement is where we keep boxes full of the things we really want to say. But we rarely bring them out because we’re not sure how people will respond. We keep things in the dark out of fear. But it’s important to bring those things into the light.

What might some of those things be? Maybe it’s a trauma you experienced like losing someone you love or going through a divorce. Maybe it’s your controversial opinions about something. Maybe it’s telling the not-so-nice parts of your story so you can help others. Maybe it’s talking openly about your mental health issues. Who knows what it might be—it’s different for every person.

The point is that you have things to say that people might object to, things that might get you in a little trouble. It’s not that we should seek to be controversial for its own sake. Rather, the point is we should be brave and bold when the time and situation are right.

We must be smart about all this, of course. But there is a time to stop holding back and just tell it like it is. Could it be that your time has come?

Daily Question: What is it you really want to say? What is holding you back from saying it?

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There is a good chance that you know someone who has a tattoo, or you have one yourself. What is the purpose of a tattoo? It’s a way to mark your identity.

A tattoo can be a picture, a name, a date, or a symbol. Any of those images can be a reminder to yourself and the world of who you are and what is important to you.

But there is another kind of marking that can define you… scars. A scar represents past trauma or brokenness. It can be visible on your skin or stored inside your heart and mind where others cannot see it.

Your scars do not detract from your power as a writer. Instead, the opposite is true. They enhance your power.

Stephen King said, “A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the only real requirement is the ability to remember every scar.”

Don’t be afraid to let your scars show through. Those wounds are part of your story. They are giving you life lessons you could not have gotten any other way.

So don’t try to erase the scars. Rather, embrace them as a powerful part of your story.

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