| So you want to publish articles and write letters | | | | write your first sentence based on what you |
| for your niche but have no idea how to word | | | | want to say first. Again, you can edit it later if it's |
| things? | | | | not catchy enough. |
| You want to learn how to effectively explain | | | | 5. Shattered concentration. You're cat is sick. |
| something or make a sale but can't think clearly? | | | | Yoususpect your mate is cheating on you. Your |
| Even the best writers get something we like to | | | | electricitymight be turned off any second. You |
| refer to as "Writer's Block". Writer's Block is the | | | | have a crush onthe local UPS deliveryman. You |
| inability to effectively communicate thoughts into | | | | have a dinner partyplanned for your in-laws. You . |
| words or sentences due to the portrayal of the | | | | . . Need I say more. |
| following characteristics: | | | | How can you possibly concentrate with all this |
| 1. Perfectionism. You must absolutely produce | | | | mentalclutter? |
| amasterpiece of literature straight off in the | | | | If you can't concentrate, don't write. Come back |
| firstdraft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete | | | | later when the time is right. The important thing |
| failure. | | | | to remember is to get your thoughts on paper as |
| This is a common mistake among those with little | | | | soon as you have them. Carry sticky notes |
| experience. You want to be a great writer? All | | | | around or do whatever you need to do to |
| writers started somewhere; and they didn't | | | | remember your inspiration; but write when you |
| create a masterpiece on the first try (or else | | | | "feel it" and don't write when it feels forced. |
| they'd STILL be working on it). | | | | 6. Procrastination. It's your favorite hobby. It'syour |
| 2. Editing instead of composing. There's | | | | soul mate. It?s the reason you've knitted 60argyle |
| yourmonkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling | | | | sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your |
| as soonas you type "I was born?," no, not that, | | | | garageworkshop. It's the reason you never run |
| that's wrong! | | | | out of Brie. |
| That's stupid! Correct correct correct correct? | | | | If you have to procrastinate then maybe you |
| Over-thinking is easy to indulge in when you have | | | | aren't even into what you supposedly want to |
| not unleashed your inner-ability to type the flow | | | | write in the first place. I'm talking about business in |
| of your thoughts. Compose first; edit later. | | | | these articles, not college term papers. You should |
| 3. Self-consciousness. How can you think, let | | | | WANT to write on your subject. Procrastination |
| alonewrite, when all you can manage to do is pry | | | | shouldn't be a factor; if it is, get a new product. |
| thefingers of writer's block away from your | | | | Ok; I've summed up the main constraints of |
| throat enoughso you can gasp in a few shallow | | | | writer's block. Do your best to overcome your |
| breaths? You're notfocusing on what you're trying | | | | insecurity of your own abilities. Anybody can |
| to write, you're focusingon those gnarly fingers | | | | write; you just have to WANT to write. The rest |
| around your windpipe. | | | | takes care of itself. |
| Stop thinking about what other people will think. In | | | | The real difference between great and mediocre |
| fact, stop thinking about anything at all. Find | | | | writers is that the great writer can accept |
| something you love, learn it, and express yourself. | | | | writer's block and effectively rid of the constraints |
| Try it out! | | | | listed above. He can freely type without |
| 4. Can't get started. It's always the first | | | | over-analyzing his sentences or how he words |
| sentencethat's the hardest. As writers, we all | | | | things until the letter is typed and ready for |
| know how | | | | editing. |
| EXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It | | | | So you want to be a great writer? Get a love for |
| must bebrilliant! It must be unique! It must hook | | | | what you are writing, schedule some tentative |
| yourreaders from the start! There's no way we | | | | time frames to write within (so you get it done), |
| can getinto writing the piece until we get past | | | | and write when you feel it; not when you have |
| thisimpossible first sentence. | | | | to. |
| Don't try to impress or shock your audience. Just | | | | |