Hey everyone! Last night I wrapped up my very first live group call with my new Skool community! So I thought a quick recap might give some other community owners here the empowerment they need to get started with live calls too! It was a great turnout! We had 24 members join, who came prepared with thoughtful questions, contagious energy and a genuine passion for improving their craft. It was a privilege to connect with many of my newer students, and I’m thrilled to see the friendships already being formed within the community. We are quite spread across the globe, so it took some coordination to find a suitable time, but we made it work—opting for 9 PM Sydney time, where I’m based :) I'm an Elite Writing Coach, so our call centred around tackling some of the core challenges aspiring writers face, and I noticed many of my students could relate to one another's struggles. Interesting! It was powerful to see how similar roadblocks can now be used for me to create more value within my community. Beyond the technical writing questions, it was great to have some enriching conversations and get to know everyone a bit more personally. I’m looking forward to hosting a 2nd call and have a few ideas on topics already. I made sure to record this one, so I can post the replay in the community for those who couldn’t attend! (hot tip!) Anyone else recently hosted their first Skool community call? Cheers, Shani

Looking back at my journey as a Wall-Street journal editor turned full time course creator close to a decade ago. I often think about the unique path that led me to creating my Elite Writing courses... When I first started designing courses, I had no idea what to expect. With a bit of explosive growth, i soon was teaching 500,000+ students on Udemy and over 1 million across other platforms combined, it has been a humbling experience. One of the most surprising lessons I learned was that the simplest content often had the most profound impact. In the early days, I packed my teaching with complex theories, thinking that would add value. But while some degree of theory is necessary, a good teacher focuses on delivering the insights that will resonate most with students. Often, those were the most straightforward, practical tips. This style of teaching has won be 76,500+ highly rated testimonials. Which most of you will know, testimonials are very helpful for courses/communities. The lesson? Focus on clarity, authenticity, and providing real-world solutions. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to create something impactful.

Having taught over 1 million students across platforms like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning, (and now Skool) I've seen firsthand what separates a successful course from one that simply gathers digital dust. The trick? Understand your students' needs before you start building your curriculum. When I created my flagship writing courses, I focused on the exact struggles aspiring writers face. How could I give them more clarity? Better yet, how could I give my students that 'a-ha' moment. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, I broke down concepts into easily digestible lessons. That clarity not only helped students grasp complex ideas but also built trust. And trust is everything in education. Whether you’re creating a course, a community post, or a simple blog, put your audience at the heart of your work. Remember, your content's success is directly linked to how well you can serve your readers/listeners/viewers.

You know when you have an awesome idea for a post to your community… But then somewhere along the way, your writing gets a bit... tangled? Here's a quick tip from my time as a Wall Street Journal editor: simplicity is power. The more you strip away excess words, the clearer your message becomes. When I write my posts, (including this one). I try to eliminate anything that doesn’t add value. Get your ideas down first, then remove the clutter. If you struggle to make posts that harness engagement or truly resonate with your audience, your probably not cutting through the noise!

Received feedback on your Skool posts or course content? That’s gold right there… When I first started teaching online, I realised that student feedback was the key to growth. The 76,000+ reviews I’ve gathered in my time, weren’t just numbers—they were a roadmap to improving my courses. In The Elite Writing Academy, I make it a point to invite feedback and suggestions. Not only does it show members that their input is valued, but it also helps me refine the content to meet their needs better. Seek feedback in your community!!!