I've been thinking about space. No, not the planets and stars and rocketships kind of space - the kind of space that is still and quiet and natural and fresh and light. Space to breathe. Space to think. Space to BE instead of DO. I'm 49 now, and I used to kick myself for just how FREAKING OFTEN I have to relearn things. I think I'm starting to be convinced now that that's just the way of life. Swings and roundabouts. Seasons for everything. Highs and lows. And now this - the relearning that we need to do again and again and again, because some things just don't stick. Space is one of those thi ..read more

Kia ora e tai mā - hey lovelies! As humans we're built to be aware of risk, and to always be working towards a next thing. Unfortunately that means it doesn't come naturally to us to think about how far we've come. As we get closer to the end of the year (like, seriously, it's hurtling towards us like a Great Dane puppy on crack), I'm gathering evidence of how far I've come. Why? So I don't get caught up in the busy-busy, hustle-hustle, tick-things-off-the-list, hold-on-for-dear-life-with-white-knuckles to get to Christmas... I want to cruise into summer productive and joyful. Grateful and ref ..read more

Just a couple of super language-geeky writer-gurl updates... Drumroll please ... ? ? ? First, The Plain Language Act has been passed into law! That's right, government agencies are now REQUIRED BY LAW to communicate to the public using plain language (see? I've been telling you for years that this wasn't just some weird shit that Shelly made up!). It's taken over 12 years since the bill was first brought up, but it's now been passed into law. Hallelujah, and f*uck off National MP Simeon Brown who wants to repeal it. I mean, umm, what? So you DON'T want to be accountable to communicate cl ..read more

I’ve been thinking about your writing — I mean, it’s probably how we met, right? So today I just have a few quick tips for when you need to write something and you’re stuck. Leeeeshgoooo! It’s a mind game Getting started on that doc or email is really all in your head. So let’s hack our brains, by: Lying to ourselves and pretending we’re not really going to start when we actually are Diving into the procrastination and the emotional regulation (or lack of, ouch) that’s underlying it Just turning to some tried and tested tools that will help you get started Let’s lie to ourselves OK, s ..read more

Let’s talk about love. Not the warm fuzzy, twinkly-eyed, twitterpated, things getting moist kind of love. Not the kind that’s a FEELING. The kind that’s ACTION. I think I was a teenager when I learned this concept — that love is an action, not an emotion. Loving is something you choose to do — not a feeling that can just come and go. And so, by some time in my 20s I remember committing to myself that when I say “I love you,” what I really mean is “I commit to acting in loving ways towards you,” not, “I feel nice things for you.” Parents understand this. We generally don’t stop loving our kids ..read more

You know that fun little voice inside that says really mean things to you? Geez your arse looks huge. Why would anyone listen to you? You’re not good enough. Don’t smile or everyone will see your ugly teeth. Yeah, that one. Let’s deal to that fucker today. Everyone’s got an inner critic It’s a fact. Every single one of us has a little voice inside that barrages us with criticism and negativity. For some of us, it’s constant and debilitating. For others, it’s more occasional — an irritating distraction that comes and goes. But for all of us, it’s there. Mumbling, shouting, needling. Gahdamn ..read more

With Bettina Tornatora Shelly has been one of New Zealand top trainers in business and technical writing for nearly a decade. Her brand is all about joy and badassery and her work is so much more than writing an email or report in plain language. She supports people to find their authentic and most powerful voice. She is a Mum and a grandmother and has had a journey with her body. Today she is fit and strong and in a healthy body but still has a shitty relationship with food. The journey for Shelly was she was the youngest of 4 sisters and her Mum worried about weight and had sisters were all ..read more

I thought about writing to you and was wondering if I had anything useful to say. And then I thought about how so many of you just want to be writing well and confidently and QUICKLY, cos #life. So I was like, ok, let’s talk writing. But then my fun inner critic was like, BUT YOU’RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR cos honestly, if you’re reading this, you’re already a convert to the enlightened ways of plain language and zero-bullshit-communications. You are, officially, The Choir of Good Writing. Hiyeee! So I politely asked my inner critic to take a seat at the back (she’s way too loud today, FFS) be ..read more

I was feeling sorry for myself as I lay in bed this morning. It was because we had a rough day in our whānau yesterday, and today I wanted to be excited to start telling the world about my new book. But I'm just so tired and raw. So I lay in bed working myself towards a pre-5am start with a non-stop 3 days ahead and reconciling myself to the fact that it would be ok for my book to go on sale today without any kind of announcement. And then I realised. Yesterday's family drama? It's the PERFECT way for me to tell you about this book, and here's why: My daughter is a TOTAL BADASS. And I a ..read more

Forget all the advice about how to write GOOD! Let’s write a shitty document! (in 7 easy steps…) Step 1: Remember, this is ALL ABOUT YOU! You’re the writer. You get to decide what they need to hear. Too bad if it’s long, they’ll just have to read it. That’s their job. Too long sounds like a them problem, not a you problem, amiright?? Step 2: If people are using it, so should you. I mean, if they’re going forward with their plans to implement facilitating reciprocal contingencies and authoritatively architect cross-platform methodologies, so can you, dammit! And while you’re at it, you should ..read more