High Voltage Wizard of Words

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

When I think of today’s spotlight the word spitfire comes to mind, followed quickly by fireworks – especially those rockety ones that flare brightly before dashing across the sky.

Her brilliance is magnetic, attracting the likes of Danielle LaPorte, Marie Forleo and Hiro Boga.

But that’s not why I follow her.

I follow her for her wit…

Wifi-atus

Wifi + hiatus = Wifi-atus. A media-free respite, to restore your offline equilibrium. Unplug. Go “ahh”ffline.

and humour…

Hypocrispy

A vegan restaurant that (shamefully) serves a side of extra-crispy, maple-glazed, apple-cured bacon with every dish.

and smarts…

Check out her post 100 Alternatives to “So Whadda Ya Do?” Especially love #100 – Who are you becoming?

and her belief, “No one on earth can do what you do, in precisely the way that you do it.”

With delight that she’s here to share her genius…Alexandra Franzen!

1.  Why are you here?

To trigger giggles, bust out witticisms, and remind people that their skills are exceptional—and worthy of self-promotion.

2. What is your future self calling for?

A charming studio apartment in Paris. Or maybe Edinburgh.

3. How do you honour that calling?

Oh wait, you meant something loftier than a European pied-à-terre! Let’s see …

To flip back to your second question, I think my future self is calling for S.P.A.C.E. When I’m overbooked and overextended, I feel creatively cramped. I contract. I get fearful. I feel un-generous. But when I pro-actively build open space / free time / playtime into my daily flow, nuthin’ but good times (and incredible opportunities) come pouring my way.

So, to honor the call for space, I’m constantly re-evaluating my client load, my relationship to social media and email, and my pro bono commitments. Carving out space is an active daily practice—because the universe likes to clutter things up. It’s tricky like that!

4. What is both effortless and life-giving to you?

Playing with words. Making things rhyme. Shortening, chopping, editing and synthesizing. Concision is sexy!

5.  What do you do better than anyone else?

I’ve been told that my star-shaped chocolate-chip cookies are beyond compare.

6. What is extraordinary about your work?

Being able to clearly articulate your skills, products and services is incredibly powerful—both for your business growth, and your self-confidence. So many of my clients struggle with “finding the right words,” and being able to serve those words to them—on a silver, sparkly platter—is a joy and a privilege.

{Note from me: Do you see why I follow???}

7. What is guaranteed to inspire you?

Flipping through a striking, serene design magazine, like Wallpaper, I.D. or Dwell. My writing style is very much informed by contemporary architecture, interior spaces and product design—perhaps more so than literature!

8. What will your epitaph say if you’ve lived life on your terms?

“Against you I will fling myself, unvanquished and unyielding, O Death!”

Oh wait – Virginia Woolf already took that one. Snap.

How about:

Plant my body next to Oscar Wilde, much obliged.

And go kiss someone cute, while you’re still alive.

A promotional writer with a keen eye for words that woo, Alexandra pens webcopy for branding and marketing agencies like Red Slice and d.trio, wrangles communications for pro-bloggers and cranks out bios and pitch letters for quirky entrepreneurs. She’s been lauded as “Spock, but with a sense of humor. And better hair,” and was once pronounced “a unicorn, in human disguise.”

You can find her blogging about style and savvy self-promotion at

Connect with Alex

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