I’m a professional writer. I work for blogs and the occasional magazine, and in the past I’ve written for clients who wanted website copy. My fiction has also been published, including a couple of competition prizes. Small successes, perhaps; but even these wouldn’t have happened without a strong level of writing confidence.

Since I write for a number of blogs, I often get questions from would-be writers. Something which crops up frequently is a lack of confidence. Many (surprisingly good) writers never send pieces to an editor, or agonise over every post they write on their own blog.

It doesn’t need to be that way. Good writing isn’t the preserve of a few lucky individuals – after all, none of us were born able to write! And, in the 21^st century, many stifling grammatical “rules” no longer apply. You’re free to write in your own voice and your own style … and you can enjoy it. Here’s how:

Treat Writing As a Skill

Now, I’ll admit that some people do seem to be natural-born writers, just as others have an innate talent for music or art. Writing is a skill, however – one that can be learnt. This could include

• The technicalities of writing (like where to put a comma and how to ensure subject-verb agreement). If your grasp of grammar is shaky, there are lots of books that can help.
• Writing style and fluidity. An evening class or a correspondence course, where you get feedback from a tutor, can help you to develop stylistically.
• Voice and purpose. One of the most important things to learn in writing is how to tailor a piece to an audience. This means learning how to write in different tones, from chatty to professional to motivational.

Good writers spend time learning and honing their craft, which gives them true confidence – because they know their skills are up to scratch.

Practice Regularly

If you’ve ever learnt to play an instrument, or studied a foreign language, you’ll know how important it is to practice. Even if your first attempts are faltering, you quickly get better. It’s just the same with writing: the more you write, the better you’ll become.

Writing practice could include:

• Exercises or “writing prompts” to help you get into the flow of writing regularly
• Trying out different styles, voices and tones in your writing
• Publishing pieces on a blog or forum
• Entering writing competitions (these are usually, though not exclusively, for fiction and poetry)
• Don’t be put off if your first attempts aren’t all you hoped – and don’t compare yourself to people who’ve been writing for years. Charlie Gilkey has a great post on Productive Flourishing showing how several excellent bloggers have developed confidence and flair as writers: Becoming Yourself and Growing Your Blog.

Try Using a Template

Many writers lack confidence because they’re not sure how to structure a piece. Starting at a blank page, wondering where and how to start, is unlikely to improve your spirits!

I often use a template when I write. This is usually something very simple: when I write reviews, for instance, I follow a simple structure with several subheadings so that each review has a consistent look and feel. If you adopt a similar practice for articles, essays, reports, blog posts and even emails, it’s a big confidence-booster as it reassures you that you’ve not left anything out.

So where do you find templates? I like to make my own, but you could also find an article, blog post or even a short story that you’ve enjoyed, and work out the structure – then create something which is structured in the same way. For example, you could use this post to make a very simple template:

Title

Introduction

Subheading for point one

Content for point one

Subheading for point two

Content for point two

…

Subheading for point seven

Content for point seven

Concluding line with call to action

Your First Draft Can Be Rubbish

Almost every professional writer will admit (if only secretly) that their first drafts aren’t exactly great. Earnest Hemmingway famously said:

The first draft of anything is crap.

Remember that no-one ever needs to see your first draft. If you write the dullest article in the world, if your blog post is full of typos or if it contains way too much personal information, if your short story has a paper-thin plot and ridiculous dialogue … no-one will ever know.

When you’re drafting, put away your fears of what other people will think, and just write. When I’m writing fiction, my first draft is always a very poor shadow of what I hope the finished product will be: but the point is just to get the story down. Many fiction writers work in a similar way, redrafting extensively:

Once I’ve got the first draft down on paper then I do five or six more drafts, the last two of      which will be polishing drafts. The ones in between will flesh out the characters and maybe I’ll check my research. (Colleen McCullough)

Write Quickly

If you write slowly and carefully, pondering each sentence, then you’re likely to have a crisis of confidence part-way through. Many professional writers draft astonishingly quickly: I have a tutor at my college who confesses that even basic punctuation can get left out in his rush to get draft material onto the page.

Bloggers, journalists (and ex-journalists) are often very speedy writers, used to the pressure of very tight deadlines. Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, explained on Write to Done that:

These days, I post to four different blogs without it taking large chunks of my life away: Zen     Habits, Write To Done, mnmlist.com and now Zen Family Habits. If I allowed perfection and a million other obstacles to get in my way, I’d never be able to get my ideas out there.

(Frictionless blogging: Remove the barriers to publishing)

In many cases, you’ll want to go back and do some editing – but try to make the first draft as seamless and fast as possible. Writing several pages, even if they’re not quite perfect, can be great for your confidence, as it gives you a deserved sense of accomplishment!

Are you a confident writer – or do you find yourself feeling anxious about writing? Have any tips worked well for you? What secrets would you add to this list?

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Before I began to write, I didn’t fully understand the effects of the past on the present.  Instead, for years, the past appeared in my mind’s eye like faded black-and-white photographs, in which no one, especially me, seemed to be fully alive.

Growing up, I lived a double life.  On the face of it, we seemed like a normal, happy family:  My father had an important career.  We lived in nice houses and wore pretty clothes.  But all this seeming perfection was a veneer, masking the reality that my father sexually molested me, a reality never spoken aloud.

Later, as an adult, I continued to live a double life: this time as a sex addict.  Again, in public, I appeared normal, with a seemingly good marriage.  No one knew that the shiny façade hid dark secrets: I cheated on my husband.

Then I started putting words on the page.  Finally, I chose to examine my past.

In Fearless  Confessions: a Writer’s Guide to Memoir, I encourage you, and you, and you, to explore, through writing, your life, as well.  Whether your childhood was traumatic or not, whether your current life is in disarray, chances are you do have a story to tell.  Whether, say, you’re figuring out a divorce, taking notes about a recent illness, exploring the disruption caused by a parent in the military, or worrying about a visit with an estranged mother, we write memoir to better understand ourselves, as well as to bring a reader with us on our journeys.

Here are five reasons why your life will be improved by writing a memoir, by telling your own story:

One:  Memoir Helps You Understand the Past

I gain much clearer insights about my past when I write, then if I simply sit around thinking about it, in the abstract.  What was the relationship between the sex addiction and being molested by my father?  How did the past cause such emotional devastation?  I discovered the answers to these important questions through the written word.

Writing is a way to interact with—and interpret—the past.  It helps us make sense of events, whether they are traumatic, joyful, or maybe just confusing.  Writing sharpens our senses so that images and details from the past emerge in a new context, one that illuminates events for ourselves as well as for our readers.

Two:  Memoir Organizes Your Life

Just living my life day by day, I never stop long enough to question events.  There’re errands to run, meals to cook—to say nothing of emotional clutter!  Who has time to stop and think about events swirling around us?

Only when I put my everyday life on hold, so to speak, sit down at my computer and write, can I even begin to see a pattern to the rush-and-tumble of life.

Memoir writing, gathering words onto pieces of paper or on a computer, helps us shape our lives.  By discovering plot, arc, theme, and metaphor, we give our lives an organization, a frame, which they would not otherwise have.  Memoir creates a narrative, a life story.

Three:  Memoir Helps You Discover Your Life Force

Before I wrote, while I kept secrets, I didn’t feel as if I were really living my life.  I didn’t have a clear grasp as to who I was.  What, and who, was the essence of “me”?  There are thousands of other incest survivors.  How was my story different?

When writing, if I forge even one good sentence on any given day, I have discovered a kernel of emotional truth.  I feel that life force of “me,” as if it’s my pulse.  To write is to give birth to a more complete self.

There is only one of you.  Your voice is unique.  If you don’t express yourself, if you don’t fully explore who you are, that essence of you will be lost.

Four:  Memoir Helps Others to Heal

One thing I most love about writing memoir, is that it affords me the opportunity to meet many courageous people, still struggling.

For example, after I completed a reading at a library in Athens, Georgia, one woman waited until everyone else had departed.  Approaching me, she was so scared she began to cry.  She confided that I was the first person she’d told that her father had molested her.  She was too traumatized even to tell a therapist.  Why did she confide in me, trust me?  Simply because I had written my story.  Through this meeting, both of us were empowered.

Five:  Confessing, through Memoir, is Good for the Soul

Telling family secrets—any intimate secret—can be scary.  Finally, however, I reached a place where not telling the secrets was worse.  I felt heavy, weighted down.  Finally, then, it was more a relief to write my life, then ignore it.  So even though at times I felt scared or uncomfortable, I ultimately felt a sense of release and power.

In short, with every word the pain lessened.  It was as if I extracted it, one word at a time.

As you challenge yourself, you’ll feel more courageous every day. Writing memoir energizes your psyche, nourishes your soul.

Sue William Silverman is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain.  memoir, Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction (Norton), is also a Lifetime TV movie.  Her first memoir, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, won the AWP award in creative nonfiction.  She teaches at the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has appeared on such programs as The View and Anderson Cooper – 360.  Her most recent book is Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir.  Please visit www.suewilliamsilverman.com.

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Image courtesy of Hacksomia

Ahh, motivation hacks!

If you’re anything like me, you have tried dozens of motivation hacks in your life, with varying degrees of success. (Ever tried the one of spinning a dead cat around your head thirteen times in a graveyard at midnight during full moon? No? Weird, I thought everybody knew that one…)

Thankfully, your search is now over! You have reached Vlad’s Ultimate Motivation Hack Formula! (I was going to throw in a few other fancy words, like “passion” and “synergy”, but if I ever decided to trademark it, the paperwork would kill me.)

I’m not just going to throw a simple technique at you. Oh no. We’re going to dig deeper into the STRATEGY of motivation. And from there, I will help you build the ultimate Motivation Hack that works for YOU personally!

Okay, ready?

Why do you need a motivation hack anyway?

Let’s face it. If you’re looking for a motivation hack, that means there’s something you feel you HAVE TO do, or SHOULD DO, but you don’t feel like doing it.

Pause for a moment and think about it. It’s so obvious you probably never even considered it. And yet it holds the key to motivation.

When I was a kid I used to jump out of bed at 6 am on the weekend, all excited. Why? Because the morning cartoons were on! And yet during weekdays, I would be hard pressed to drag myself out of bed by 7:30.

Notice something? During the week, I HAD TO get up. On the weekend, I WANTED TO get up!

So if you’re looking for a motivation hack, that means you don’t really WANT TO do something. You logically know you SHOULD be doing it, but your emotions tell you otherwise. You associate pain with doing it.

In a moment, I will share the Ultimate Motivation Hack with you. But first, there’s one more thing you need to understand. It might even shatter your model of reality. I’m going to show you why bribing yourself is directly COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE as far as motivation goes!

Why bribing yourself doesn’t work:

Let’s say you have some writing that you want to get finished. But you don’t feel like doing it. So what would most people immediately do? Bribe themselves! They decide to stick it out, and then reward themselves with a cold beer or a chocolate bar or any other kind of reward.

Nooooo! That absolutely KILLS motivation in the long term!

“But it works!” I hear you say.

Well, yes and no. Bribing yourself might get the task done this time. But it also associates even more pain to doing the task, because you now see it as this annoying painful thing you need to get through to get your reward. The next time you want to do the same task, it will be even harder to get motivated.

Through bribing, you don’t get yourself to the point where you WANT to do something. You only reinforce the notion that it’s something you HAVE TO suffer through to get a reward.

Remember when I told you it’s all about what you WANT TO do vs. what you HAVE TO do? It’s a deep principle. Remember it every time you struggle with motivation.

Okay, now let’s move on to the grand finale! How to build your own motivation hack for every situation!

The Ultimate Motivation Hack

Hold this in mind – you want to get to the point where you WANT TO do the task.

The best way I found was… to make the task itself FUN!

Like this one time, I had to sweep the living room floor. I spent hours procrastinating and thinking up excuses for not doing it. Then I stopped myself! I realized I was procrastinating because sweeping the floor was bloody boring! (i.e. painful). So I thought about how to make it fun for myself, and I came up with a solution! I decided to make it more challenging!

I stood on one leg, lifted the other one up while bending my body forward (forming a T-shape) and swept the floor like that, hopping around on one leg! (I also started talking in weird voices and eventually fell over from laughing at myself.)

Don’t take yourself too seriously . In fact, making a fool of yourself is a great way to start enjoying the task again.

A couple of months back, I started really strugging with writing. It became a painful chore, and I even thought of quitting blogging. But when I stopped myself and thought deeply about the problem, I realized I simply started taking myself too seriously! I had built up a readership, and I started caring about what they thought. (As in, “What would they think of me if I wrote this silly stuff?”)

Then I realized it doesn’t matter. If somebody doesn’t like my writing style, they’re free to stop reading. Being myself is more important than impressing strangers. And once I realized that, and stop censoring myself, the floodgates opened! Writing became easy again, because I was having FUN while doing it! (Plus, I got a lot more positive responses from readers!)

So if you want to build a motivation hack for yourself, just remember: It’s about making the task FUN.

You can make it more challenging, or more silly, or more ridiculous (I had a friend in high school who hated how formal the essays had to be. One day he decided to instead make it AS FORMAL AS POSSIBLE, using incredibly long convoluted sentences and fancy words, to see if the teacher caught on to the irony. She never did…)

I’m not going to give you “the one hack”. Because no one technique works for every person in every situation.

Instead, I will let YOU create hacks that work for YOU in each particular situation! Based on the principles I shared in this post, you can create your own motivation hack for every situation. And THAT is the Ultimate Motivation Hack.

Vlad Dolezal is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain. Check out Vlad’s blog Fun Life Development for more fun and exciting personal development tips. He’s even got a few posts waiting there especially for you!

The other day, having just typed an email to a customer, my mouse cursor hovered over the send button. But something didn’t feel quite right. Re-reading the email, I stopped at the following sentence:

“I should be able to get this to you in the next 24 hours”.

This is a fairly standard sentence, but on this particular occasion the word “should” caught my attention. Was this the best word I could use? Did it even matter?

I knew why I had chosen this particular word; I wanted to convey that I expected to have the work done within 24 hours, but there was a possibility I wouldn’t. So there was a rational reason for my choice, but in that moment I also came to see that using the word “should” could have potentially negative and unintentional consequences.

Ted Rogers, the Canadian Communications mogul who recently passed away, once noted: “It’s funny, the difference between success and failure often is very little.” It seems to me that one of these “little things” is the language we use to communicate. Here’s why:

Committing Ourselves

When I typed the word “should”, I effectively gave myself an excuse for not completing the request within 24 hours. Yes, it makes sense to do this in some circumstances. However, by doing this it also meant I would be less likely to complete the request within 24 hours. After all, was I making any commitment? Saying I should have something finished within 24 hours means it could be done in 48, 72 or 1,000 hours and I still would have kept my word.

I would like to note here that it is extremely important not to break your promises, and therefore you should be careful not commit to something you can’t do. But I think it is also extremely important not to give yourself a free ride by never making firm commitments and/ or never setting deadlines to complete work.

Let’s consider an alternative to using the word “should” (note: this is what I actually sent):

“I will get this to you in 24 hours”

The important word here, of course, is “will”. By using this word, I committed myself to getting this request done by a particular deadline. And guess what? I did.

Now, you may not be too interested in whether or not I got something done for a customer . But consider for a moment your own goals. Do ever find yourself saying “I want to get fit”. Or, “I should go to the gym”. Such statements are usually wishful thinking. It is only when you fully commit to something – which starts by saying something like “I will…” or I must…” – that it becomes a priority and receives your focused attention.

Trust from Others

There is a good chance that to get where you want to go in life you will need the help of other people. I mention this because the language you use when communicating with other people influences how they perceive you, and therefore how they treat you.

The word “should” is a hedge because maybe you will get the work done, but maybe you won’t…. This does little to give your clients, co-workers, boss or whoever it is you are dealing with confidence in you.

Strong vs Weak Language

The following are some examples of words that are generally strong and weak:

Once again, there are times when it is appropriate to use the words I have listed above as weak. My suggestion is simply to be conscious of your choice of such words, and then consider using a stronger alternative. By using strong language, you commit yourself to taking action and gain a greater level of trust from people you deal with.

Final Thoughts

There is a common saying that actions speak louder than words. I agree. But I also believe, as Obama once responded to his critics, that words do matter. If you can get your actions and language in alignment then you will be all the more closer to success (whatever “success” means to you).

What do you think? Does the language we use really contribute to success or failure? And if so, do you have any examples of words and phrases to use or avoid?

About the writer: Peter Clemens is Editor of Pick The Brain. If you enjoyed this article, you may like to visit his personal blog The Change Blog or follow him on Twitter.

But while they’re screaming at you and telling you why they want you to buy it, they’re sending an even stronger message with the words they’re not saying. The fine print may say “results not typical” or “these are paid actors,” but they sure don’t want you to see that, lest it destroy the perfect illusion they’re trying to create.

They’re not trying to help people understand the pros and cons of the product so they can figure out if the product is right for them. Instead, they’re trying to just cram it down everyone’s throats and pressure people into buying.

We’ve all seen this, and we all despise it. Even in one-way media like television, communication is still meant to be a two-way street. The problem is essentially that they’re talking AT people instead of talking WITH them. But is it possible we’re doing similar things without realizing it?

It Starts With The Other Person

When we’re having a conversation with someone, we often have things on our mind that we’re eager to share. That’s fine. But more important than our interest in talking is the other person’s interest in listening. It’s easy to get so caught up in recounting our latest adventure, that we don’t even notice that the person we’re talking to isn’t interested, or they don’t have time to talk, or they don’t understand something.

So start by focusing on the other person. What kind of mood are they in? If it looks like something is bothering them, maybe they have something they need to share before you describe the vacation you just came back from. If they’re avoiding eye contact, turning away, or even looking at their watch, that’s a sign that for whatever reason, they’re not ready to listen to you. Don’t force them.

Don’t just keep talking and talking, but involve the other person. When watching a formal presentation you may have to hold all your questions for the end, but you don’t need to have such a rule in normal conversation. Pause once in a while to hear what they have to say. It should be back and forth, not one-way.

When You’re Selling Something

We all have pretty sensitive sales pitch detectors that go off whenever someone wants to sell us something. Sell is a four-letter word, but it’s not inherently a bad thing. And we all do it. Asking for a favor, asking for a raise, asking for a date–it’s all selling.

Whenever you want someone to do something, it’s extremely important to communicate in a natural, non-sales pitchy way. If you think about it, people usually do a good job of asking someone to marry them. No one goes up to a stranger and says “Are you ready to change your life? If you’re SERIOUS about living the life you’ve always wanted, you’ll need to MARRY ME NOW before this exclusive offer expires!”

No, they build up the relationship over time, understand the other person’s needs, and show that there’s a good fit between them. And that same kind of thing, usually on a smaller scale, is what we need to do whenever we want someone to do anything.

Sometimes I get an email from someone asking if I want to advertise on their site, promote their product, etc. These emails almost always sound like canned sales pitches, and I’m sure they’re just sending out a form letter to everyone. But no one wants to be treated like just another prospect.
You don’t expect to withdraw money from the bank before you first make a deposit. And you shouldn’t expect to grab someone’s interest before you get to know them. Otherwise, you’re just another ad screaming at them. Why should they care? How will they benefit? They can’t know unless you’re willing to be a real person to them.

It’s just the golden rule, you know. Treat people how you’d like to be treated. And you’d like for people to talk WITH you, not AT you.

About the writer: Hunter Nuttall wants you to stop sucking and live a life of abundance. Visit his site to learn how to improve your life and your income.

12 and ½ Writing Rules from AllPosters.com.

Everything on there is good advice for any writer, especially those working on pieces of fiction. It also looks great on the wall of your office or den – it’s currently replacing my rather battered poster of Johnny Depp…

So what exactly do these rules mean, and how can you use them to make you a better writer? This is my take on it – I expect everyone who owns this poster has a slightly different opinion!

1. If you write every day, you get better at writing every day.

This is common – and good – advice that lots of published authors offer. Stephen King, for instance, suggests that aspiring writers should write a minimum of 1,000 words a day. Many people, myself included, find that it’s easier to make something a daily habit rather than a “not quite daily” habit: I’ve written about this one in How to Write Every Day (And Why You Should)

2. If it’s boring to you, it’s boring to your reader

When I was doing NaNoWriMo last year, I found myself churning out sentences, paragraphs and scenes just to hit my wordcount for the day – what I was writing didn’t always interest me much. If you find yourself struggling to write because you’re bored, stop! No-one’s going to want to read it.

This goes for bloggers too. I was having difficulties writing articles during the pre-launch stage for my new blog, Alpha Student. The posts I was attempting were the same sort of advice that students read everywhere. I realized that if it was boring me, it wouldn’t be much fun for potential readers – so I rewrote all the pieces I’d produced, putting much more “heart” into them and writing from personal experience.

3. Get a writing routine and stick with it

For me, this rule goes hand-in-hand with writing every day. If I’m not in a routine, it’s hard to fit writing in. When I worked full-time, I woke up early every morning to write before work – then wrote until dinner-time in the evening. That was the routine that worked for me.

It doesn’t matter what time of day you write, or where you write – but you’ll probably find it easiest to knuckle down and get on with writing when you’re consistent about it.

4. Poetry does NOT have to rhyme. Poetry does not NOT have to rhyme.

I’m not a poet (yet – my Creative Writing MA is going to involve producing some poetry!) so for me, this rule is about not having preconceptions about what’s “right”. A blog post can be four thousand words long if you want: just look at Steve Pavlina’s success. A short story can be six words: Hemingway’s “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

If you are a poet, John Hewitt over at PoeWar ran a great series in September on 30 Poems in 30 Days – he goes through lots of different forms for poems, and offers tips on poetry submissions, competitions and much more.

5. Resist stereotypes, in real life and in your writing.

As a writer, whether of fiction or non fiction, you need to be alert to learning new things and meeting new people. That means avoiding stereotypes that block you from being open to the world.

And in your writing, be careful not to stereotype. Flat, boring characters are ones where the author has been lazy: the beautiful, dim blonde, the teenage thug, the computer nerd. Twist the stereotypes around and create characters who are real, full, human beings.

6. Writers read. Writers read a lot. Writers read all the time.

Stephen King suggests that writers should read for four to six hours a day. While that’s probably impractical for most of us, it’s still hugely important for writers to read. I’m always shocked when a fellow writer confesses that they don’t read, or claims not to have time to read.

If you write novels, you need to know what other authors in your genre are doing (read the classics too – there’s a reason they’ve endured so long). If you write blog posts, you should be aware of what other bloggers are working on. And if you’re a freelance writer, you can use examples of exceptional writing to inspire you and help you improve your own ability.

7. Make lists of your favorite words and books and places and things.

My younger brother used to collect unusual pub names in a book; a list like this could be a great resource for a fantasy or comedy author. I like to jot down words that I particularly like in the back of my notebook – “sinuous” and “eclectic” are two of my favorites; I love the way they sound and the way they look on the page.

Making a list is also a great way to spark off ideas, and combining elements from two separate lists can often be a good prompt for a piece of fiction.

8. There doesn’t always have to be a moral to the story.

This rule is slightly unsettling for me, as I like my fiction to have a strong theme. I think, though, it means that we shouldn’t try to ram a moral down readers’ throats. Tony Price, the vicar at my childhood church, is a wonderful storyteller, and often uses stories in place of a sermon – especially at Christmas, Easter or Family services. He talks about “trusting the story” – leaving people to take their own meaning from it, rather than telling them what it’s supposed to mean.

Trust your stories. And trust your readers to draw their own conclusions about good and evil, right and wrong – without you making your own views explicit.

9. Always bring your notebook. Always bring a spare pen.

This is another piece of advice that I’m sure all aspiring writers will have heard time and time again from the professionals: carry a notebook everywhere. Ideas come at odd moments (I get a lot of mine whilst walking) – and ideas vanish just as easily. Get in the habit of keeping a writers’ notebook to record your thoughts.

10. Go for walks. Dance. Pull weeds. Do the dishes. Write about it.

You don’t need to take this rule literally. It means that you should write about the everyday things, the normal things, the little details that make life real. It also means you should write about your own experiences. Good fiction is often about normal life, acutely observed.

(Just keep the “If it’s boring to you” rule in mind…)

11. Don’t settle on just one style. Try something new!

If you’re convinced that you’re destined to write great literary fiction, you might never find out that you have a talent for light-hearted columns. If you think you can only write novels, you might never win a short story competition with a sharp twist-in-the-tale piece.

Don’t convince yourself that you can only write in one particular style or genre: keep experimenting. I was certain that I wanted to be a fiction writer before I began blogging – and realized how much I love writing non-fiction too. (And I’ve found I can write blog posts in a factual style, a personal style, even a humorous style.)

12. Learn to tell both sides of the story

Have you ever read a story where the good guys were perfect and the bad guys were despicable? Unless you were a kid at the time, it probably bored you. There’s two sides to every story, and very few people are “evil” just because they want to be. Make your villains dark grey, not black, and give their point of view too.

If you’re writing non-fiction, try giving the “for” and “against” of a topic – even if you yourself come down firmly on one side. Darren Rowse on Problogger did this with Why Should You Join a Blog Network? and Why You Shouldn’t Join a Blog Network.

12 ½. Stop looking at this poster. Write something!

You can read writing advice all day – believe me, I have – but in the end, you have to sit down and put those words onto paper.

(If you have trouble with this, try the I Should be Writing podcast for regular inspiration and encouragement.)

Which of these rules work well for you? Do you have any of your own to add to the list?

Written by Ali, who runs the blog Alpha Student: helping students get the most out of university.

In the popular productivity bible, Getting Things Done, Dave Allen suggests writing everything down on a notepad so you won’t forget.  The purpose, according to Allen, is to take the burden off your memory.  While I think this is important, it only touches on one of the reasons to write things down.

Writing Keeps You Aware

Writing focuses your thinking.  When you write something down, you aren’t just creating a paper record, you’re changing the way you think about it.  Writing down a goal changes a whim into a conviction.  Writing down your expenses changes excessive spending from a bad habit to a conscious choice.  Writing down your idea turns a vague suggestion into a clear concept.

Writing is like an upgrade to your thinking.  In the normal flow of thought, you can’t edit typos and make adjustments.  If you get distracted, it can be hard to return to your place.  And since your short term memory is only about 5-9 items long, you can’t think over more complex ideas.

When you start writing things down, you have an upgraded level of thinking about them.  Writing things down makes you more aware of opportunities and problems, like a temporary boost to your IQ.

The Virtue Isn’t in a Record

Over half the things I write down, I never look at again.  For the other half, about three quarters of those, I’ll only look at once or twice, usually briefly.  Only a small amount of the things I write down are needed for keeping records I’ll look at repeatedly.

If you’re stuck in the record-keeping mindset, writing everything down won’t make sense.  It just doesn’t seem practical to write down every idea, expense, meal or to-do item. But, if you appreciate the role writing plays in keeping you focused, you can see why it is valuable, even if you throw away the writing soon afterwards.

What Should I Write Down?

Obviously you can’t write down everything.  You can’t write down everything said in a conversation.  Writing down everything you eat or everything you do can eat up a lot of time.  Writing is valuable because it forces you to focus, so writing down everything would ruin the purpose.

You should write down anything you feel needs more clarity.  If your finances aren’t doing well and you want more clarity, start writing down everything you spend money on and all of your income.  If your studying habits need work, start writing down when you study, what you studied and for how long.  If you keep getting distracted on important goals, write them down too.

Writing is sort of a universal productivity tool.  It can focus your thinking in just about anything, so using it frequently is a good way to stay focused.  Even something as simple as writing down when you procrastinate can be enough to stop it.

Where Do You Need to Focus?

If something is important and worth getting done, it is probably worth writing down.  Ask yourself what things could use more focus in your life.  Writing isn’t an instant cure that will immediately make you more productive.  But it makes you far more aware of what needs to be done and how well you are doing it.

The first time I started writing out exactly what I needed to do, I finished three times as much work.  When I started writing out my goals, I was able to focus on them far more than when they were just in my head.  I’ve also found writing down my expenses, how I use my time or what I eat to increase my awareness of any problems.

If there is a part of your life that is unknown, inconsistent or in poor shape, you should consider writing more down about it.  Write down ideas and make records while you’re working on it, and spend time writing your thoughts when you’re taking a break.  If you can keep writing for a few weeks, it can reveal solutions to problems you didn’t even realize you had before.

I suggest committing yourself to writing something down for at least a month.  Writing isn’t a natural habit, we weren’t born with the skill and it’s one of the first pieces of technology we had developed.  As a result, if you don’t commit to continuing it for a few weeks, you probably will return to relying only on your short-term memory.  Thinking is good, but writing plus thinking is even better.

Don’t try to write down everything.  Pick just a handful of things you want to keep your focus on.  And if you’re planning on making a commitment to write, you will probably want to write that down too.

“Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” – Gene Fowler

Perhaps this is a sentiment that all writers can share to some extent. However, writing doesn’t have to be a tortuous experience akin to banging your head against a wall. Frustration rarely helps our writing; good writing is perfectly compatible with efficient and reasonably quick writing. If you would like to become a fast and efficient writer, the following are 10 suggestions that have the potential to dramatically increase your productivity.

Clear Mind

Writing is a creative exercise which benefits from having a clear mind. If your mind is cluttered with distracting thoughts you will struggle to write effectively and fluently. When writing you need to concentrate on nothing else other than the subject of your writing. This requires a combination of one-pointedness and concentration; only if we can absorb ourselves into writing will we be most productive. How can we write anything meaningful if 50% of our thoughts are worrying about miscellaneous events in our lives? To cultivate a clear mind, it is helpful to set aside certain times just for writing – then, during this time, be disciplined about keeping your mind free of distracting thoughts.

Start Somewhere

Often when we write the first sentence can prove to be the most challenging. It is also by far the most important because it will determine whether people keep reading or not. For this reason it is common for a writer to become overly concerned about getting the ‘perfect’ start to an article. The problem is that aiming for perfection becomes a block to writing anything. If you are struggling to begin, start anywhere – even in the middle. Once you have written several paragraphs it may become more obvious how you can best start the article.

Accumulate Ideas

As you go about your day, try to accumulate ideas for articles in your mind. You can use this time to consider various titles for your articles and to recall relevant anecdotes. Keep a notebook for ideas. I find that an article becomes quite easy to write if I have:

• A good title
• 7 key points / paragraphs.
• I know the subject relatively well.
• Write from Experience / Knowledge

Having written on many different topics, I know how difficult it can be to write on a topic you know little about. Also, if you are writing on new topics, it can be hard to be original and offer something unique. Stick to what you know and are able to write knowledgeably about. If you need to research articles, wait until you have developed a good background in the subject before starting to write.

Practise the Art of Writing

There is no secret formula for writing effectively. Like any activity, practise will enable you to get better. It is important to be able to get into a flow of writing; for example, many suggest it is advisable to write quickly but then be willing to throw out the bad. Ernest Hemingway was a great believer in writing and then being willing to toss out 90% of what he wrote. This might not sound very productive, but it can help because you are free to write without worrying about perfection.

Write in Unlikely Situations

Travelling on a train or even at a airport can give us several spare hours. These can often be very productive times for writing – because we have little else better to do. Don’t imagine that writing has to involve retreating to a Himalayan cave. If you wait for the perfect environment you will wait in vain.

Positive Attitude

Related to a clear mind is the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. Here, a positive attitude really involves avoiding negativity. Sometimes as writers we can easily become discouraged and feel our writing is not good enough. When we have a fear of failure or feeling of unworthiness, it is hard to do anything worthwhile. Our worries act like a subconscious break on the flow of our writing. We don’t need to have an excessively positive attitude, it is sufficient just to abandon negative sentiments.

A Working Environment

It is important to find an environment suitable for writing. Avoid noisy and cluttered places. The less distractions you have the better chance you will have of being able to concentrate. If you write from home, try to create a space where you will not be continually interrupted. A simple “Do Not Disturb” sign can do wonders for your productivity.

Music / Silence

To gain fresh inspiration, it is good to write in different surroundings. Finding a good cafe can make a welcome change; the only drawback of writing in public places is the background noise which can be distracting. Using an MP3 player can drown out the background sound; however, you have to be careful you don’t let the music distract you. I went through a period of going to cafes with my laptop and listening to my favourite playlists; I was really enjoying the music, but I hardly managed to write anything. If you do listen to music, make sure you choose something fairly ‘neutral’. If music doesn’t work you can always try noise cancelling headphones.

Be Committed

To write well you need to be fully committed to your writing. It doesn’t work to write tentatively, worrying about whether it will be good enough. Be bold and committed. When you write, concentrate on writing and don’t do anything else. By giving writing your 100% attention you are guaranteed to boost your productivity. For example, if you are a blogger, try writing away from the internet and the temptations of mindless surfing.

Tejvan writes for several blogs including Net Writing, a site which features tips for writers and bloggers. Netwriting has a variety of articles focused on productivity, suggestions for improving writing and also general blogging tips.

I’ve created Write To Done as a way to share some of what I’ve learned as a writer, with new (and experienced) writers looking to improve their craft and their art.

For those of you who’ve enjoyed popular PickTheBrain writing posts like George Orwell’s Rules for Effective Writing and How to Write Something Worth Reading, this site will be right up your alley.

Check it out!

Have you ever told yourself that a particular book is important but you find yourself rereading the pages just to understand the material? It’s difficult to pay attention to material written in a formal tone (like most textbooks) even though you may want to understand it. The problem is you’re fighting against your brain – the most sophisticated computer ever created.

Neuroscience has discovered that our brains remember things that it thinks are important. And our brains think conversations are important and should be remembered. Especially funny or emotional conversations.

Conversational writing causes your brain to wake-up and pay attention. Your brain thinks it’s in a real conversation, even though you’re reading text on a page. If you’re developing learning content, teaching or helping your child study for a test – use a conversation. Your reader’s brain will thank you for it.

For a majority of the writing you may do, a conversational tone will go a long way in getting your point across while holding your reader’s attention. Here’s a few tips to help:

1. Write using a conversational tone. Your brain thinks it’s in a real conversation when reading material written in a conversational tone. What happens during a conversation? Your brain pays attention and your remember more of the material. Researchers aren’t sure exactly why it works, but you can read more about it in e-learning and the Science of Instruction. Their research shows your brain pays attention to conversations and improves your ability to remember the topic. I guess, if you’re involved in a conversation your brain thinks it may have to respond to that conversation and should pay attention.
2. Your tone tells a lot about you. Here’s something to think about. If you’re using formal language in a lecture, article or book, are you more concerned about you and how you sound to the audience? Or are you truly concerned about your audience and what they’re going to get out of your presentation. If you’re truly concerned about your readers, then use a conversational tone and help them learn your material. It’s all about your readers and not about you, the author.
3. Write the way you talk. Yes, ignore what you may have learned about writing and write the way you talk to help your readers understand your material. What this really means is to write in a direct and friendly manner – it’s more appealing (especially to your brain) than formal writing.
4. Use the Readability Index Calculator to improve the understandability of your writing. This calculator implements the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease criteria for determining how easy a passage is to read. Magazines such as the Reader’s Digest are more easily read and score higher on the test (65), while other magazines have dramatically lower scores and are difficult to read. Most paragraphs in this post scored about around a 45 – not bad, but maybe I need to loosen up a bit. I’m not gong to discuss the specifics of the Reading Ease criteria, but suggest using it as a quick verification of the level of your writing.
5. It’s ok to use contractions. Contrary to what you may have learned, it’s ok to use contractions – you’ll grab your reader’s attention and engage their brain without them even knowing it.
6. “And” and “But” can be used at the beginning of a sentence. But that’s not what you’ve been taught, is it? When we talk we occasionally start sentences with ‘and’ and ‘but’. If you want your writing to sound authentic, the you should do the same.
7. Pass the “read out loud” test. If you’re unsure about your writing, then read it out loud to yourself. If it doesn’t sound right, then change it. Reading your writing out loud gives it new meaning and will prevent your brain from filling in any gaps between words.
8. Don’t use jargon, buzzwords or obscure words. If you’re really concerned about your readers, don’t use words that show off your intelligence. Your writing is all about the reader and not about you.
9. Remain organized and don’t ramble. Conversational writing does not give you permission to write like you’re sending a text message or to ramble using long sentences. In fact, I probably reached a limit in my previous sentence, but I wanted to make a point. Your writing will still need to be well organized and have thoughts that flow together.

There is a time and place for formal writing – maybe you’re creating a reference work or you may be involved with a team of writers and need a consistent tone or style. Certainly contracts and legal documents should not be written in a conversational tone.

You also don’t want to overdo it with the conversational tone. You’ll loose your readers with to much jargon or conversation speak. Take this for example:

“Hi there, are you ready for your first lesson in calculus? Well, ok, lets put on our math hats, get a calculator, some graph paper and lets get started!”

There’s a lot of clutter in my example and many words that don’t add value to the sentence. A better approach would be:

“Some graph paper and a calculator is all that’s needed for your first lesson in calculus”

Clean, precise, but conversational. You can almost hear my voice as I talk to you through my writing.

If you’re looking to improve your writing, grab your reader’s attention and appeal to their brains, then use a conversational tone – your reader’s will love you for it.