Okay. I’ll be honest.
This sentence isn’t great.
Neither is this sentence.
Why? Because I have writer’s block.
Every author needs inspiration. Including you.
You might not think of yourself as an author, but you are.
If you’ve ever written an email, or a LinkedIn profile, or blog post, or birthday card… You are an author.
We live in a distracted and cluttered world. When you fascinate your reader, your ideas earn the attention they deserve.
These inspirations helped me as I struggled to finish my new book, Fascinate. More on that later.
Now I want to inspire you to make words that make a difference.
In my studies inside companies such as AT&T, I found that the ability to communicate is now the single most important factor for success.
Verbs prompt action. Use more verbs writing¾ and in your life. Less thinking. More doing.
It’s easy to become so perfectionistic that you freeze. Writing can become downward spiral of typing and deleting. That’s okay. Know when to give yourself permission to not over-think every word.
Write as you speak, so your words are authentically yours. Be colloquial. Or be precise. Be whoever you naturally are, but then be it on purpose.
5. There’s a reason it’s called a breakthrough. You have to actually BREAK THROUGH something. (Click to tweet!)
Just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.
Some of us love to write, some don’t. All of us are busy. Yet get off autopilot. It’s worth the effort. You could incorporate a memorable quote, or provocative statistic. Me, I love weird colloquial expressions. (Yee-haw!)
Writing doesn’t just live in books. It lives in birthday cards and love letters. It lives in the little yellow post-it note that tells someone you’re thinking of them. You don’t have to be an “author” to write words that matter.
Your message must battle against endless distractions in order to stand out. Your message can’t do it alone. You two are a team.
The more fully you live, the more fully you’ll write. Live a life filled with experiences and passions and people that inspire you to inspire your reader.
INSPIRED TO WRITE? START RIGHT HERE!
Share a comment about your writing… Tell us what you love or loathe about communicating through writing.
Thanks, Sally ... I got to see you share many years ago, at Screenwriters Expo 5, in L.A., and have remained inspired by your energy and by your writing since. I LOVE to write, though I will admit - just about every time I click the POST or SEND button, right afterwards, I have this (momentary) terror. Did I say the right thing? Did I say too much? Did I offend anybody? Will they like what I have written? Keep up the good words, Sally! I love to encourage others, and I love the way you encourage us. Thank you ...
So. Needed. This.
Thanks Sally! You soooooo Rock!!!
I am a professional writer so it's difficult to write for pleasure, even though I do enjoy it. Your tips have inspired me. Thanks.
"Finished beats perfect" really resonated with me. I loathe letting go of writing before I feel it's "done". I am learning to trust my teammates to help take the bones and refine it til release. Yes, it's difficult for me. (The Victor)
Hi Sally,
Your writing on this is so.. timely because I am in the middle of writing 2 books. One for my client and one is my own, so I was in the middle of a distraction, wondering my next word, and I decided to check my email, and then found yours. So thank you fort his sharing. The universe has a perfect way to show you the way at the most perfect time.
Sally,
"How the world sees you "is so powerful ; I will get any words you put to paper! You have changed my paradigm! Thank you!
I appreciate this because I often find myself removing (deleting) the colloquialisms in search of the perfect word. The perfect word is whatever I would say if a person were standing right in front of me. Thanks for the reminder to be authentic all around.
Words, the speaking of them, the hearing of them and the writing of them shape my experience and the experience of those I am hear to serve. Is it any surprise that the gift of your 9 tips showed up on the very same day I decided that I must write SOMETHING every day. That the time is now and the perfection is secondary to beginning. What a delightful surprise to have instructions land in my inbox to give me the very fun boost toward that goal. Smiling and fascinated by the beauty and miraculous design of this world!
what i luv about communicating through writing...
...the Soul weight of the written word. there is magic and mystery there.
something of the energy of the word itself sits with the brain/soul + tends towards something Lovely and wholly undreamed of... Magic.
Point 1 and 4 resonated with me the most. I've started a book that hasn't gone very far because I'm "busy" but deep down I know that's just an excuse. Perhaps, new experiences would fuel new words.
Thanks Sally; you truly fascinate!