Add one word…and things change.
When you say you can’t do something…add the word now.
It’s amazing what you can learn to do if you try.
Try now.
Writing
What kind of pen did Shakespeare use?
Who cares?
Writing instruments aren’t remembered. The words you write with them are…sometimes.
If you are waiting for the best pen, pencil, or computer before you write your great work…stop fooling yourself. It does not matter.
Only the words count.
Write.
Encouragement from Twitter (yes, Twitter!)
A tweet appeared today from C.L. Fornari, a well-known writer and podcast host…who happens to be an expert in gardening. Many people know her as The Garden Lady. Her tweet included a very encouraging section that said…
Writers get started or continue for many different reasons. C.L. saw a need and filled it. My own beginning (as described in Dumb Is Good) is a bit different. They both illustrate a simple fact…if you do nothing, nothing will happen. If you write and submit there are endless possibilities.
Write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! […and submit.]
“Typing” a book…
Almost forty years ago I wrote a book about wedding photography. It took about a year to write. Today, it probably would have been finished in 30 days. Yes, days.
The problem back then was that I was using a typewriter. With a typewriter I had to be very careful about what I said. Making a mistake was a big deal. Eliminating or changing a word, sentence, or paragraph was a nightmare. I remember retyping a page or worse yet retyping a chapter…because of an edit I made.
It doesn’t matter what computer you’ve got or what word processor you use…making a change is really easy today.
Trying vs. Procrastination
Many writers have a bad habit. They write and then look at what they write…for an hour, day, week, month, year, and sometimes decades. Being the expert critic that they think they are they “know” that it’s just not ready or just not good enough. Maybe. Maybe it’s just procrastination.
Trying to get your work published should be an integral part of writing. Trying is much more productive than procrastination. There’s probably a study that proves it.
Are you in the minority?
“If you’re looking for a job, being able to write makes you part of a special minority.“
— Seth Godin
There are many minorities. In business, one of the worst to be in is the group of people who can’t write.
The good part is that if you are in this minority you have a huge advantage over the others.
If you can’t write…learn how starting today.
If you can write…take advantage of it. People will notice.
Here are six tips that will help you improve your writing.
1. Spelling counts for emails, memos, tweets, everything!
2. Before you send it read it over again.
3. Be brief. Other will appreciate it.
4. Avoid using lines like “I’m going to tell you….” Just say it.
5. Keep away from jargon so everybody knows what you are talking about.
6. Before you send it read it over again. [I know, it’s important enough to repeat!]