Want to become a better writer… and beyond?

Maybe you…

• Need inspiration creating copy, content & comms for your business or work.
• Want a space to share any creations, ramblings, or musings you’re dying to put down on paper.
• Hope for a little help every now and then to write a bloody beautifully worded email in your search for justice against piss-poor customer service, or similar.

Basically, if it involves words and your ongoing improvement in wielding them, I might just have the community for you.

Come and join me in TeamGDI (The GodDamnInspiration. I named it after myself…)

Of course, feel free to stop reading and close this tab right now if you wish, because if you’re anything like me, the thought of another fucking membership or community completely drains you of all your bodily essences – and not in a good way. Communities are everywhere, and much like opinions, arseholes, and a pretty severe addiction to vanity metric dopamine, everybody seems to have one.

Who is this community for?

Everyone is welcome in TeamGDI, but if after you’ve dropped me a message I don’t feel it’s the best way for you to spend your £48 each month (leave at any time, by the way), I won’t waste your time or money by signing you up. In reality, ‘everyone’ means all those who want (or need) to do a bit of writing, but who would also like some inspiration, feedback, support, innovation, and accountability with their words in order to get better at writing them.

On the one hand, TeamGDI is for people who love writing and might be quite good at it but want to get better, but similarly, it’s also for people who hate writing but know they need to get better at it/do more of it for the sake of driving their business or venture forward. You don’t have to be a business owner, though. You may work for someone else (hey, they might pay for your membership as part of your CPD), or you may not even have work-related interests for joining at all. Maybe you’re a budding freelance writer, columnist, or author! (Ooooh did I mention I have a book out…?)

Let’s face it, joining The GodDamnInspiration is a great way to work with me… without the hassle and cost of actually having to work with me. Sound like a good option?

How it started…

Back when lockdown was all the rage, TeamGDI became my lovely little membership community, where people of all walks of life (and business) could find a place to become better writers. Four years on, whatever your skill, confidence, or purpose for writing, TeamGDI continues to offer people just like you a space to thrive in some truly great company.

How it’s going…

As we head into 2025, we still have a good few Original GDI-ers (OGDI) who have been here since the start, or who may have left at some point and come back later on because the door is always open like that. But trust me, people are welcomed so quickly and so warmly into TeamGDI, that if you jumped, hopped, or even flounced onto one of our weekly Zoom calls or weekly co-working sessions, you’d think everyone (including yourself) had been there forever. It’s really bloody nice like that, I have to say.

Disclaimer…

If you’re loving the sound of joining this membership community but you’re looking for guest experts, a bank of resources, and buzzword ‘masterminds’, you’re out of luck in TeamGDI. That’s not what this group is. Undeniably, the most wonderful resource in this group… is the people themselves. Good sports, with good advice, and a good sense of humour. No better people, if you ask me.

Whilst in the past the open spaces in TeamGDI have been filled up quickly and quietly by people who perhaps already have me and my work on their radar, I thought it would be a good idea to get something written down about what the TeamGDI community is, how it can help you to become a better writer, and why now might be the perfect time for you to join us.

The Platform…

TeamGDI is hosted on Mighty Networks, where among many other things, you can securely upload your own writing (blogs, articles, stories, post ideas, emails, pages, etc) for constructive feedback from other members in the group (including myself, obviously). What annoys me about other paid memberships, is that there are almost always restrictions on what you can share – and when. Not in TeamGDI, my friends. If you want to promote your latest venture, or submit copy for review ten times a day – do it. Just know that if you’re all take and no give, people will quickly get the measure of you, and the enthusiasm to help you will drop quicker than Magic Mike’s joggers on a Saturday night in Florida.

There are loads of spaces on the platform to chat and GIF (is that a verb?) with other members of the community whenever you like about whatever you like. Kids, mental health, freelancing, projects, difficult clients, tax, DIY, holidays, parents… whatever. I can’t say I was impressed when a sodding ‘Recipes’ thread was suggested back in 2022, but after I indulged in my mini rant about this “turning into fucking MumsNet“, I was over-ruled, and I now know more about mid-range slow-cookers and the versatility of a beetroot than I ever thought I’d need to know. Of course, if there are any threads or conversations that don’t keep your vessel alight, you don’t have to go anywhere near them. Joy!

The spaces are simple to use, safe, and a superb way for members to get to know everyone and support each other in things that are in no way limited to writing. No WhatsApp groups to worry about, and no Facebook groups to fuck about with, either. Set your own notifications and preferences, and just dip into the relevant and interesting bits where you can give, take, or ideally do both. Bliss.

The Process…

Every single week, I lead a group call over Zoom. Open to all, no obligation. Obviously we’ll focus on writing support if that’s what you need, but we can talk about all the other stuff, too. The little things and the big issues. Everyone is encouraged to say what they think and talk about what matters to them. I want diversity of thought in TeamGDI, so although people have common bonds and shared values, it’s not an echo echo echo chamber. We need to be able to have a laugh, speak freely, and respect different perspectives. Everyone gets the chance to voice up on calls, but if you want to come along and just listen, that’s cool, too.

We also have a weekly online co-working space, where we can log on and get our writing done. Cameras ideally on, mics definitely off. Perfect for accountability, motivation, and when you’re feeling a bit lonely.

No sessions are ever recorded on Zoom, so you can communicate freely and in the moment to be understood and to share. At the risk of sounding like a serial killer, you’re safe, here…

The People…

You never know who you’re going to meet in this group who you could end up partnering, working, or becoming mates with in the future. Or blocking, obviously…

In TeamGDI, there’s no VIP option. Everyone inside gets the same good stuff as everybody else, and the doors are always open (even if you may have to wait a little while to get inside whilst we find you a comfy spot). Yes, the price will go up over time, but once you’re in, your rate never changes. And if you leave for any reason? You can always come back. So many people come back after leaving for a little while to focus on other things. Apparently that’s the sign of a really solid cult. Well done, me.

The number of members in the group hovers at roughly 30. Unless something significant happens, my plan has always been to keep the door open to welcome new people, personalities, and perspectives into the group. I want to keep it big enough to serve as a substantial community, but I’m also wanting to keep an eye on the number to make sure we can stay small and focussed enough to make sure that everyone feels like they have a place, knows they are a key part of something, and always has their voice heard.

The GodDamnInspiration… Every time I think I can do something to shape it, streamline it, or sharpen it for the benefit of my lovely members to help them become better writers (and beyond) in this amazing community, that’s exactly what I do.

My next idea? To add YOU!

So. Are you in for 2025?

Pssssst – Already in TeamGDI and looking to quit?