Hi fellow writers, and over the summer I’m revamping Community Building Basics on Udemy, which has been more in demand than I anticipated. But it was very basic… and now I am to make it much more fully basic!

The existing course is quite analytical, it asks 12 core questions about your prospective community building, but there’s not much in there about the emotional and creative apsects of communities. So I’m making a much fuller participative journal for all students, and so far we’ve covered: defining moments in your past and community building, your personal values and community, value in the community commons, and – next up – is your community wanted?

While I’m writing this material, a close writer friend reminded me of how important it is to revisit our values, ever so often. They got very fed up in their professional job, to the extent that they were getting ill and had little energy. Rather than fight for better conditions, they impulsively gave in their notice, and took a service role to meet their short term money needs. In a corner – and understandably – they’ d forgotten how their workplace fulfilled some of their top values. They said ruefully, the service experience was teaching them a lot about themselves…and what was important to them.

Anyway, this tale has a happy ending as they are now back writing in their favourite sector, and vowing to remember their top values next time they are tempted to take an impulsive decision.

So if it’s summer where you are, and you’re taking a lovely break, as you lie on your lounger or hike up that mountain, then maybe take a moment or two to remind yourself of your top values and recharge your writing mojo!