Your most powerful marketing tools are your voice and your stories.

It’s time to learn how to use them.

You’re already writing, blogging, and creating content to market your solo business, but you feel like your messages fall on deaf ears.

If your marketing isn’t getting the response you want (and let’s face it — need), one of the things you’ll want to work on is your storytelling.

Are you using metaphors and themes in a way that helps your reader connect with you, heart-to-heart?

Are you speaking and writing from that place that only you can? Your voice matters. And when you’ve aligned your voice with your branding, you’ll find yourself much better situated to tell a compelling story and engage your audience.

Join me for a virtual half-day workshop and walk away with a pantry of new creative tools, inspiration, and a handful of personal starter stories to use in crafting your next blog post, newsletter, presentation, or sales page.

You’ll learn the art of finding and expressing YOUR stories in a creative way.

Next Live Workshop: Saturday, May 30, 2015

Story Lab is one part learning, one part doing, via creative exercises designed to help you discover and write the meaningful narratives — in your voice — that your marketing needs to succeed.

You’ll get loads of inspiration and leave the class with jumping off points to your big and small stories — starting with metaphors and bite-sized details.

Your life experiences are rich with tidbits that can act as analogies for teaching something valuable to your audience. Layers of meaning and emotion that — when used with care — help you convey your marketing messages in a way that’s uniquely yours.

Story Lab is for you if…

…you want to understand the difference between showing and telling.

…you’d like to grok how to apply story structure to your business writing and presentations.

…you’d like some new ways “in” to your stories (how to find them, connect the dots, and share just what’s necessary to grab your audience’s attention).

…you could use some guidance in finding and using metaphors and analogies (so you stay aligned to your brand and make your writing relevant to your ideal clients).

…you want to write more often, but you’re not sure how to create something different from your competitors.

…you’d like to find your unique voice — that part of you that accurately reflects all of who you truly are.

Story Lab is appropriate for all levels of writers, from beginners to those with more experience.

Whether you’re new to the creative process or just looking for additional tools to use in writing your nonfiction articles and business blog posts, this workshop will help you create more engaging content.

When we’re done, you’ll have a list of story ideas to serve as “jumping-off points” for additional writing, as well as solid tips and resources for further study and practice.

Storytelling: Easier Said than Done?

Creating good content (blog posts, newsletters, web copy and more) can feel overwhelming — even to those who write for a living.

You’re already wearing 23 hats as it is. Now you’ve got to be a storyteller, too?

That means finding an interesting story to tell, deciding which details to include and which to leave out, and structuring it in a way that keeps your audience leaning forward for more.

You’d love for your newsletters to resonate with your subscribers. You crave loyal readers for your blog posts — those who feel a spark, a recognition, a sense of surprise or a sense of “me too” when they read your words.

I want that for you, too.

Here’s the truth: Your stories and your voice are two things that nobody can take from you.

They’re your best tools for creating a stand-out brand and connecting with your tribe.

Let’s make sure you know how to use them.

About The Workshop

First will start with some explanations of storytelling structure, story types, open and closed loops, and other interesting tools.

Then, we’ll use fun writing and brainstorming exercises to help you discover your life’s “teachable or meaningful moments” and how to convey them in compelling and engaging ways via stories.

This unique process is fun, accessible, and amazingly effective. Story Lab empowers you to connect to your voice, your creativity, and begin sharing those with confidence.

Next (Virtual) Workshop: Saturday, May 30, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., PST

Can’t make the live call? No problem. Everyone who registers will get a recording.

Content & Structure

• Three hours of creative writing exercises interspersed with Q&A and short spurts of writing time, so you can practice what you’re learning in real-time.
• Workbook with Story Lab resources, examples, and worksheets, so you have all the reference materials you need to take your learning further when we’re done.
• Access to the Story Lab online community (hosted on Facebook), so you can connect with your fellow biz writers and storytellers, share your ideas and challenges, and get feedback from the group. We’ll be doing a whole slew of sharing, giving and getting feedback, and supporting each other for at least a month following the workshop.
• Optional add-on: Professional editorial feedback on your work (details below), so you have a clear idea of where your strengths and weaknesses are and how to close any gaps in your storytelling.

Logistics

What you need to participate: An email address and a phone line (either a cell phone or landline anywhere in the world; call-in numbers will be available for more than 50 countries, including Canard, UK, and Australia).

The Story Lab workbook will be sent to you by email the week before class (or later if you register closer to the day of class).

The class will be held via telephone. You’ll receive instructions for joining the conference call the week before class. (It’ll be easy!)

Registration

Story Lab Workshop Only: $197 Save 50% Beta Price: $97

Story Lab Workshop + Feedback: $297 Save 50% Beta Price: $145

Add some professional editorial feedback  for just $48 (normally, $100). I’ll read one piece of your writing up to 1200 words) and provide you with detailed, line-by-line suggestions. I’m constructive, yet kind. You’ll get clear ideas of how to improve on your work and create something truly compelling for your readers.

NOTE: The email address associated with your PayPal information is the one I’ll use to contact you. If you prefer to use a different address, please tell me in the “notes to seller” during check-out. After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Paypal. If you don’t receive it, please contact me: tea@storybistro.com

About Your Facilitator

I’m a poet and creative writer trapped in the body of a marketing coach. I love stories and metaphors and their ability to connect us to each other at the heart-level.

My business-focused blog posts and articles have been published in a wide variety of online publications. I’m also the author of “Attract and Feed a Hungry Crowd,” and the editor of “30 Ways to Bloom Your Online Relationships.”

My goal is to bring more creativity to the business writing space and help folks just like you own your unique voice and stories.