The Written Compass

Episode 34: Punctuation I Love

When you think of punctuation, do you roll your eyes and sigh? Do you just see it as a necessary part of writing? Whatever your views and relationship with punctuation, this episode is going to give you a new perspective! I love to think of punctuation as a road map for your readers. In this episode, I share... how periods are like stop signshow commas are like speed bumpshow semicolons are a yield sign where you stop(ish), then keep goinghow dashes are my fav, like commas on crackJoin me for a unique look at punctuation, then share this episode and your thoughts with me over on IG @shanahartman_If you are ready to stop spinning your wheels, and get on the writing train, then be sure to join us for the Write NOW 30-day writing challenge! Click HERE for all the detailsIf you want to learn more about how to keep the ideas flowing, head over to https://shanahartman.com for more resources. Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 33: What is Your Author Platform?

"I know I need to build a platform before I publish." Have you made this statement before? I had a recent client talk about this as the one thing that was keeping her from really getting into writing her book. So, I decided to create an episode that breaks down: 1. What an author platform is? 2. Myths and truths about them3. Aligned ways to connect with and grow your audience and share your book If you are ready to stop spinning your wheels, and get on the writing train, then be sure to join us for the Write NOW 30-day writing challenge! Click HERE for all the details!If you want to learn more about how to keep the ideas flowing, head over to https://shanahartman.com for more resources. Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 32: A Conversation with Dr. Kemeshia Swanson on Letters to Parents, Black Women in Literature, and the Freedom of Writing

In this episode, I am joined by my former colleague and current book editor, Dr. Kemeshia Swanson. Dr. Swanson is an amazing college professor of English, focusing on her love of literature. She and I discussed lots of different things from her early memory of writing a letter to her parents at a young age expressing her emotions after she was grounded all the way to her upcoming book that explores powerful Black female characters in literature and what their sexuality can tell us. Dr. Swanson is a university English professor, homeschooling mom, and owner of KRS Studios, where she creates amazing treats for all to enjoy. You can follow her on Instagram at @mesh_4real or follow her creative business on Facebook.If you want to learn more about how to keep the ideas flowing, head over to https://shanahartman.com for more resources. Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 31: Writing To Dismantle Oppression

I started this podcast to create a space for inspiration, education, and activation of powerful new narratives in the world of business and life from heart-centered folks just like you. Given the most recent acts of racially motivated violence on May 14, I see the importance of sharing one's voice now more than ever.In this episode, I share what I’m doing to use writing to reflect on and create the change I hope to see. I also invite others to explore their voices, and their messages… because we are a species that connects through stories. I believe that on a micro-level if we can continue to share our stories–even the ones, the thoughts the beliefs we aren’t proud of but show up for us–when we hear and connect with another human’s story, heart to heart, and we don’t just continue hearing the pale, male, stale stories of one part of the population and no longer create systems and policies that uphold that ONE lived experience, tides shift. We change. I hope this podcast is viewed as an invitation…whatever that may mean for you. If you want to learn more about how to keep the ideas flowing, head over to https://shanahartman.com for more resources. Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 30: You Are Never Out of Ideas

What do I write about? I used to get this question every time I introduced a new writing assignment to my undergraduate and graduate students. And, I always did the same thing–I paused, looked them square in the eyes, and asked with love “What do you WANT to write about?”In this episode, I share how we are never really out of ideas when we connect to ourselves and our core messages. I also share some easy places in your business and life to find idea gold: Your favorite emailsYour non-promotional social media posts Your program contentYour conversationsI also offer a quick guided closed-eye embodiment moment to get you connected to yourself and your words so you can get writing!If you want to learn more about how to keep the ideas flowing, head over to https://shanahartman.com for more resources. Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 29: Writing Challenge: How to Create Your Own

When you are a business owner, it’s sometimes difficult to come up with content day after day, email after email, post after post. The same is true when you are a business owner trying to write a book–it can feel like you are starting from ground zero. That is why I want to talk about creating your own writing challenge. In this episode, I share:why personal writing challenges are so helpfulkey set up and elements of a writing challengehow to create your own in just 3 simple stepsAnd, if you are ready to create your challenge while also receiving some loving accountability from myself and my team, then you can head over to https://shanahartman.com/thirtydaywritingchallenge to get started as soon as today! As always, leave a review for this podcast so more folks see it and receive the resources provided, and don't forget to share this episode and tag me on Instagram @shanaharman_ Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 28: Why Do You Write?

I LOVE writing. I LOVE teaching. I LOVE being an embodied writing coach. Why do you write or love writing? Asking yourself "why" can be a very powerful tool when it comes to tackling the writing of your book. Trust me when I say that the "why" is the fuel to your writing flame. In this episode, I'm going to share a simple exercise you can do to really suss out the "why" behind your writing. After you enjoy the episode, be sure to leave a review and share on Instagram, tagging me @shanahartman_. As always, my team and are ready to support you in your next steps to bring your why behind writing to fruition in your powerful book. Head to https://shanahartman.com/schedule to schedule a call today! Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 27: Performative Writing vs Embodied Writing

We’ve all heard the phrase stop “shoulding” on yourself. Ya know, it’s the idea that we need to check in with and let go of the “shoulds” we might be following. As a biz owner this might show up as “I should be posting 3 times per day. I should email my list 2 times per week. I should have 100 people sign up for my free offer in order to enroll 4 people in my paid offer.” and so onOften these shoulds have good intentions, right? They aren’t meant to cause us harm or stress us out, but they do. Especially when it comes to writing. And that’s what I want to focus on today: the shoulds of writing or what I call performative writing vs what I support others in which is embodied writing. Be sure to leave a review on this one, share it on Instagram and tag me @shanahartman_, and let me know what you think! I can't wait to hear from you! If you are ready to embody your words, I want you to hop on a call with my team to discuss how we can support you in doing just that! Head to https://shanahartman.com/schedule to get on a call today! Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 26: A Conversation about Canned Writing

In this episode, I am joined by two of the writing coaches who serve our clients in our "This is the Year I Write My Book" program: Drs. Jeanie Reynolds and Cindy Urbanski. We have been talking and writing about writing for over a decade together, and we are excited to share a topic that recently got us riled up: canned writing. Canned writing, or template writing, is not new. Many a writing teacher or coach has had good intentions by offering fill-in-the-blank guides and templates in an attempt to make writing easier. However, as we discuss in this episode, our experience is that this kind of thinking actually silences our writing voices instead of lifting them up. Be sure to leave a review on this one, share it on Instagram, and tag me @shanahartman_, as I'm sure you will have lots to say! Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 25: How to Turn Anything Into a Book

You've heard me talk before about how there's not one business owner that I know who does not write in some way, shape, or form. Recently I was reminded of this when I met an amazing business strategist, and she was delivering a workshop that had a beautiful workbook that accompanied the workshop. This workbook was 20-30 pages long. It was beautiful, it was well-formatted, and it had some great tools in it. I quickly realized that she could turn that workbook into a book! So, in today's episode of The Written Compass, I want to talk about how you can turn anything from your business into a book.The key to doing so is understanding each of the following in the current form/genre of your writing and figuring out what this looks like for a book:1. Your approach as a writer2. Your audience3. Your purposeI'm excited to share, so grab a notebook and dive in. We are now enrolling for our spring class of "This is the Year I Write My Book" signature embodied writing program. If you have been wishing and waiting for a sign that NOW is the time to finally write (or finish) your book, then this is IT! Head to https://shanahartman.com/thisistheyeariwritemybook for all the details and to grab your special seat today! Be sure to follow more fun tips and stories about embodied writing by following me on Instagram @shanahartman_ and TikTok @shanahartman_ If you are loving The Written Compass Podcast, be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode so we can help each other change the book publishing narrative to include more diverse voices because we need to hear from more folks just like you! Shoutout to the amazing team at The Mesh for supporting and producing this podcast. Shana Hartman is a Ph.D. turned embodied writing coach. Her 15+ years of experience as an English professor informs her work now as the CEO of Synergy Wellness, a multifaceted company that serves her local community of Shelby, NC through massage and BodyMind Coaching, and Synergy supports others virtually through coaching programs focused on using the wisdom of the body as a guide for creating an abundant life. Her favorite way to listen and get embodied is through writing! She is most known for supporting heart-centered business owners in getting their amazing messages out into the world in a powerful book. When not coaching and working with her clients, she can be found hanging with her family of five in her 1924 home in Shelby or exploring a new city with her hubby, Jeff. Connect with Shana on Instagram @shanahartman_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.