All posts by Gina Edwards
Do Introverts Really Make Better Writers?
Admit it.
You’ve taken at least one, if not several, personality tests in your life, likely of varying veracity.
From the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (INFJ), to the Buzzfeed “Which Harry Potter Character Are You?” (Hermione), we humans love it when tests can tell us who we are.
We’re self-definition and self-improvement addicts.
So, it’s no big surprise that these days the labels of introvert and extrovert have influenced our understanding of ourselves and others.
Bringing Email Marketing to the Entrepreneurs and Authorpreneurs Among Us
Does anyone else remember when getting an email was an exciting thing?
The thought of opening up a digital screen and finding a message from someone was downright thrilling. It made the ear-cringing dial-up sounds that came before it almost worth it.
I grew up in a unique time, and not only because it was the 90’s, arguably one of the coolest decades. (Fight me on it, I dare you.)
I also say this because in my life, I have seen technology (cell phones and the internet, specifically) go from relative luxuries to absolute necessities. I didn’t grow up with a cell phone in the palm of my hand as my niece and future generations will.
Our inboxes evolved from hollow spaces containing only the AOL welcome email — along with a couple Hotmail addresses of tech-inclined buddies — into a bursting capsule of content, with everything from bills and ads to newsletters and updates, and, if you’re me, countless password reset requests.
These days, it’s actually much more novel to get a piece of real mail than a digital one.
Write What You Don’t Know – How to Learn By Writing
How many times have you heard the advice, “write what you know”?
Likely it came from a well-meaning English teacher or peer in your writing circle. If you’re going to write, the argument goes, doesn’t it make sense to stick to things already in your wheelhouse?
In a lot of cases, probably yes. I mean, no one has beaten down my door asking me to write pieces on astrophysics or history. Those endeavors would probably end with an imaginary first-person account of Galileo’s weird nighttime hobbies, or a Lifetime channel-ready screenplay called What Really Went Down with John Smith –– The Untold Pocahontas Tale.
But I digress.Continue reading
Your Facebook Feed Is What You Make of It
What does your Facebook feed say about your friends? Is it a waterfall of hilarious mannequin challenges? A cascade of political diatribes? A stream of baby photos so long you wish plastic foldout wallet inserts were still the top choice of grandpas everywhere?
It can be tempting to assume that the rolling digest of content on that familiar blue and white screen is reflective of the individuals you’ve met –– a glowing cacophony of diverse ideas, lifestyles, opinions, and let’s face it –– memes.
But the truth is, that binge of curated content actually says more about someone else.
Yes, you guessed it –– it’s you.