Forward! 🔥 Fired Up and On Fire 🔥

Post Forward Fest Momentum and More!

Author

Laura Paisley Beck
August 25, 2024

Primary Mission: Safe Space

First of all, it is extremely important to acknowledge that not everyone is on fire in a happy way right now. I want to allow space for a moment here to send love, support, and healing to those who are struggling. Whether your home was washed away in a flood in Vermont, your home engulfed in flames out West, your people bombed in Gaza, your health devalued due to new harmful reproductive health laws, or your safety threatened due to anti-trans laws in your state, my personal celebrations are not without heartbreak and hopeful offerings to help you in any way. Let us take a moment to send extra love out to everyone.

Here’s a photo of my home office assistant, Janis Pup, performing admirably during our morning coffee and journaling time. Every home office needs a thinking bed with lots of pillows. She aligns with my Compassion and Purpose values, and we both love Love.

Talk about love, thank you for spreading it around.

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I'd like to connect you with Laura Paisley Beck. I hired her to create copy for a website. She was sensational, over-delivered, superb at communicating clearly where we're at, and celebrating milestones. She's also a book author (choose your own adventure style) and also coaches authors into writing their books - novels to business books, and is a ghostwriter too.

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Let's be clear. Talking about yourself is hard! And finding photos you of yourself, that can be a murky slog through all kinds of emotions. Even though I help others with this, I still needed professionals to help me with my About page. Thank you to Jennifer Schuman at Horizon Photography Chicago for seeing me clearly and giving me these great photos that show the different sides of me. And thank you to Laura Beck from Wa'am Writes for finding the juxtaposition of chill energy in the copy!

A full capacity “Fun Fiction Business Book Workshop” for The Forward Festival - Madison 2024, hosted at 100State. Happy participants pose with their free copy of Laura Paisley Beck’s debut novel, Licensed to Sell, an Interchangeable Action Novel©. Photo Credit: Kelly Pagac.

The Magic of A Workshop Working Well

My heart is overflowing with love after my Fun Fiction Business Book Workshop, Thursday, August 22nd, as part of Forward Festival Madison 2024. The room was packed full (note to self: limit to 12 next time) and every single participant asked me to keep offering workshops. Before I get the results from my feedback form, this is what I heard from people approaching me after the workshop:

  • The Identity Badge exercise first thing, was a great ice breaker and opening exercise. Thank you, Sarah Geinke, for the inspiration!

  • Everyone loves a little superstition in a writing prompt and my homemade fortune cookies.

  • A good writing sprint in the company of others is an excellent way to shut out the internal editor and trick yourself into writing pages of cathartic storytelling.

  • We’re all going to be burning a lot of butterflies this fall.

  • Teasider’s salty and sweet rice crispy treats are the ideal writers snack.

  • 100State is more than a co-working space, it’s a family of supportive, helpful members who jump in to help pull off the best workshop.

Fair warning: my brain is firing up all kinds of creative event ideas to continue to uplift you and support your inspiration state. Stay tuned for this same workshop running again for those who are pained they missed it, and a part two for those who asked for more. Details in the next newsletter!

Joanna Kahvedjian models her “Goddess” identity badge and creative use of the fidget/sensory options on the table I provided for the Fun Fiction Business Book Workshop. See why she would be an asset to any organization who needs great collaboration achiever to drive their generous social impact goals? She’s a total goddess and owns it.

Fiery in a Fabulous Flow!

As much as I really wanted to participate in the Magic Pride Festival again this year, when I saw it was right before five days of me signed up to pitch, present, sell, act as Table Ambassador, teach a workshop, and show up for 11 hours at Tribute to Tech, I had to take care of my health first. I love seeing all the joy and celebration in the photos from that beautiful event.

Forward Fest in Madison, WI, is an incredible week full of powerful super connecting, brave brain workouts, and savvy sponging. It’s no wonder that this weekend, most of us attendees and presenters were popping vitamins and sleeping in to reflect on the whirlwind of amazingness. I’m not exaggerating. Let’s put it this way. I’m the most extroverted, energetic writer you’ll ever meet. I was worn out. And my brain continues dumping pages of notes and insights in my bullet journal. Here is a small list of takeaways worthy of noting:

  • Entrepreneurs of all types were excited to hear about an adult version of a choose your own adventure book that was written with humor about the sales and business world. (I sold a lot of books)

  • My Mission Magnetosphere pitch was good at the MERLIN Mentors Pitch and Replay event. I had educated, researched answers for all the questions and I exposed both Inclusion Ignorance and younger generation Inclusion Advocacy (with empathic head nods that told me I was on the right rack).

  • Human imagination, connection, and collaboration is more imperative than ever as we learn to use Ai as an administrative tool. We simply cannot replace the essential brain functions and heartfelt impact that only human-to-human interaction manifests. Thank you, Heather Dean, MJ Reiners, and Hollie Hollister, for your Stand Up to Ai event.

MaryJane Connor of MJC Marketing and Laura Paisley Beck of Wa’am Writes, posing with their collage art they made at the Monroe Street Arts Center. MaryJane was kind enough to hire me to write her About Me web copy. I’m returning the favor for my new website. Photo Credit: Cary Zawlocki.

  • We need creative play and the arts to develop and further develop life skills, at all ages. For this reason, we need to allocate funding the arts in our budgets. It’s just the right humanitarian thing to do since Wisconsin is at the bottom of the list for supporting the arts.

  • Collaboration and Connection are Key! Ai is simply a tool. Human brains and hearts need to continue connecting dots and creating.

  • Doing good, especially when there is an aligned mission involved, is good business. Thank you for showing the way, Delta Beer Labs! I’m sad that I was not able to make it to the Books to Prisoners event. I promise to reach out to them about donating books.

  • People think I’m great at workshops and need to teach more. Who knew? I’m so stoked about this, by the way. And Women in Tech is just one of the organizations that’s interested in getting me in the schedule.

  • Gaming is connecting a lot of youth and entrepreneurs. And some creative game developers want to turn my book into a game. 🥹 Thank you, Naomi of GitGud Gaming for a terrific Tribute to Tech!

    • Small personal note: I discovered a love for VR Beat Saber!

  • Also, sparkles help feel magical throughout the week. And yes, I am on 🔥 FIRE 🔥 and loving it!

Wa’am Writes’ table at the vendor gallery of Badger Startup Summit on opening day of The Forward Festival 2024, Madison, WI, in the Discovery Building. Sold quite a few Licensed to Sell books. A shoutout to 100State for their awesome support and to Minuteman Press of Fitchburg for their incredible work on my banner and bookmarks.

This is Just the Beginning! MORE EVENTS TO CONNECT US!

Thank you for skimming down this far. Here’s a checklist of inspiration for our fabulous future together:

Think about it. You or your business might have a strategic or cultural imperative to consider publishing an Interchangeable Action Novel© to illustrate the many benefits and disadvantages of stakeholders making different decisions in your industry/realm. It’s incredibility empowering to hear all the reasons why connections are considering hiring me to ghostwrite their useful IAN to drive home their message in a creative format.

All the Love & Gratitude

Sarah Geinke of Riset Resiliency, Diana Pastrana of Defyne, and Laura Paisley Beck of Wa’am Writes, backstage at the Sylvee, happy and inspired to educate more clients.

Thank you! You are so beautiful and intelligent and supportive and I love that about you! Let’s keep this inspiration fire stoked and light up the world with warm, positive social impact. Let’s take this little moment to feel the gratitude for where we are, and the enthusiasm for going forward. And if you can, find a little space in your heart to support someone who needs it.

Love and warm rainbow regards,

Laura Paisley Beck, Super Hero for Super Heroes

PS- Small note: I will be unplugged, September 3rd - September 8th, camping, canoeing, and waking up to owls cooing over my tent. 🏕️