Writing the Way You Speak, page 3

What's Stopping You?, continued

In this case, it really is that simple.

I should know. As a professional writer, I make my living by writing.

There are many times I’ve had an assignment. I’ve thought I couldn’t do it, or I just didn’t want to. But I had to do it: I had said I would, the publisher was counting on me, the mortgage had to be paid, and my kids needed sneakers, and so on.

The more I thought about how much I didn’t want to do the job, or how difficult the assignment was, the less I got done. Believe you me, when I don’t want to write, I can find a million ways to procrastinate! (Some of them are even fun!)

But the less I think about things and just start doing them, the better things flow.

Of course, it helps to have a plan and a structure.

No matter how good a writer you are, you can be a better one. No matter how inexperienced at writing you are, you can learn to write.

If necessary, one word, one sentence, and one paragraph at a time. But just start writing! For some suggestions on how to kick start this process, see the “Stretch Your Brain” section at the end of this chapter.

Writing is Written Communication

“Duh!” you say. Of course writing is written communication. What else would it be? Nothing is more obvious.

But from this simple—-and self-evidently true—-premise flows an important implication.

You may not be experienced at writing, but you are certainly experienced at communicating.

Unless they are trying too hard, the fact of the matter is that most people write the way they speak.

Writing the way you speak is a good thing.

Let’s try that again! For the most part, writing the way you speak is a good thing. (It’s only not good if you don’t like the way you speak.)

See the "Stretch Your Brain" excercises at the end of this chapter to help you get started.

Continued next page

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