No time to write? Five questions to jump-start your word processor
Q. How do I find time to write? I'm busy all day -- and when
I make some time, the phone rings or someone needs to see me
right away.
A. Five questions to get started.
1. What's happening in the rest of your life? Are you
chronically late? Waking up exhausted? Feeling out of
control? Some people have gotten so accustomed to feeling
pressured they need to learn a whole new concept of creating
space in their lives to do what they want.
2. Why do you want to write? Do you have room in your life
for everything but writing? Maybe you don't want to write!
Writing can be the most powerful tool in your marketing
arsenal -- but chances are you can find ways to succeed by
hiring a writer and promoting your service in creative,
non-writing ways.
3. Have you bought into the myth, "Good writing takes time?"
Think of each piece of writing as an email you are writing
to a good friend. You might need to combine two or three
short emails to make up a single article or a few dozen to
make up an ebook. As you get time during the day, dash off
an email to yourself or a very trusted friend. Don't edit or
censor your work.
When you're in a good mood, arm yourself with your favorite
beverage. A piece of chocolate is okay, too, if you're not
allergic. A cat in your lap will discourage frequent breaks.
Turn on your favorite music. Now -- look over what you have
written. Fix typos and spelling errors. Cut out as many
words as possible; short is almost always better.
4. Which half of the Odd Couple do you resemble? Following
their divorces, the excessively tidy Felix moves in with the
proudly sloppy Oscar. Most of us tend to relate to one or
the other. If you are a Felix, you have to learn to let go.
Send out your work when you are eighty percent satisfied and
move on.
Oscars have to learn to hang on. Sit on your work a few days
-- even weeks. Remember that your potential customers and
clients include some Felixes.
5. Are you forcing yourself to choose a topic you think you
"should" write about?
Take your topic off its pedestal and write from the heart.
What topics get your juices flowing? Are you so happy, angry
or frustrated that you want to jump up and down? Use that
energy to create an idea and transform that idea into an
article.
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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and
consultant, who specializes in career/business challenges
faced by midlife, mid-career professionals .
Your Next Move Ezine: Read one each week and watch
your choices grow!
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.cathygoodwin.com
http://www.makewritingpay.com
Contact: mailto:[email protected]
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