Confident Writing

5 ways to beat the fear of hitting "send"

I've been blogging away about how to make more of an impact with our writing - when it struck me that there are times when we don't want to make an impact. When we're fearful of the impact that we'll make.  When writing to make an impact is the last thing we want to do.

This isn't writer's block as such because it's a fear that strikes when the words are already written, are all ready to send.  It's the fear of publishing.  In the digital world it's the fear of hitting "send".

This week's podcast (4 mins 49 secs) looks at what happens when those fears and anxieties strike - and ways that we can shift our focus to get unstuck again.

5 ways to beat the fear of hitting "send"

Shift your focus away from your words, away from your fears, away from all the worst things you can imagine happening.  Focus instead on:

• Your positive intention: the positive reasons why you're writing, the difference you're trying to make

• The value you're adding: take a look at the resources you're sharing, the arguments you're making, the benefits you're offering. (And if they're not clear - go back and edit till they are.  It's better for your reader - and more motivating for you.)

• The reasons why: stop for a moment and think about why you're writing. To deliver on a commitment, to move some business along, to express an idea?  Think about what would happen if you ducked out and decided not to send.

• Just one reader: you'll drive yourself crazy imagining the reactions of all possible readers.  Focus on just one - what they need to hear, how they'll benefit from what you've got to say

• What happens next: focus on the benefits of hitting "send" - the conversations you can open up, the business you can move forward (not to mention the sense of relief you'll feel once you've got this bit of writing out of the way!)

This fear of hitting "send" has happened to me on more times that I care to mention - sending off e-mails at work, publishing a blog post for the first time, issuing new pr materials, signing off the final drafts of my book...

These shifts in focus were the things that helped me through - that and running away from my desk after I hit the "send" button! It often seems easier to come back to after you've been away from your desk for a while :-)

Does this ever happen to you?  And if so, how do you get past it?

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. For more audio writing tips, check out the archive of Confident Writing podcasts.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

5 ways to fight the writing flab

Writing to make a more powerful impact means cutting out the writing flab. 

And with so many of us focusing just now on ways to shed some excess pounds, the post-Christmas diet seemed like the perfect inspiration for my first podcast of the New Year. (It's okay, it's not deadly serious, either about writing or dieting!)

5 ways to cut your writing flab (3 mins 16) suggests a writing diet based on:

• Trimming the fat - cutting out the excess words that might have crept into your writing

• Cutting the stodge - getting rid of the heavy stuff that it's hard for your readers to get through

• Filling up with nutritious words - plain, simple, everyday words are the best, but make sure they're also specific, personal, connected to your values and identity

• Using fresh ingredients - a fresh perspective, a curious frame of mind and writing with all your senses

• Snacking sensibly - finding other outlets for your extra words, like a journal, private blog or Twitter account

What else would you include in a diet to beat the writing flab?

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You can listen to the podcast by clicking the play button on the radio box, following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

For more tips on cutting the flab from your writing try 20 ways to cut your words and help to save the planet

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

5 ways to gift wrap your words

I wanted to record something with a festive twist this week, so today's podcast looks at 5 ways to gift wrap your words.

Now I wouldn't normally encourage you to think about adding unnecessary extras to your writing, but if we think of our words as something of value, something that we want to pass on with due care - well maybe we should think about how we parcel them up too.

5 ways to gift wrap your words  (3 mins 5 secs) includes:

1. Organise your parcels Our writing often goes wrong when we mix up too many different ideas or try and put too much into too small a container.  Spend some time before you start working out what goes where, and what you can keep for another time

2. Give generously Focus on the positive intention behind your writing, use positive language, don't forget to smile as you write

3. Keep the wrapping simple Okay we're not looking for elaborate twists and bows here, a nice simple, stylish finish will do - so cut out the complex fonts and colour schemes, the elaborate bullet point systems... Concentrate on a quality, error free finish

4. Make it fun to unwrap You can make your writing parcel more intriguing with a compelling headline, followed up by a punchy first paragraph to keep your readers interested as they unwrap... but then give them the chance to rip through the rest with uncluttered text, coherent structure, white space, nice short sentences.

5. Parcel it up.  When you get to the end - stop.  It's time to wrap up the parcel, to tie it up as neatly as you can - so your reader can take it away with them

Because gift wrapping isn't something you add on to make your writing look pretty - it's to help your readers make sense of your words.

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

That's my last podcast for 2007.  I'm taking the next two Wednesdays off and will be back with 5 writing tips in less than 5 minutes in early January.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Boost your writing motivation in five minutes

Why does curiosity feature in my 12 ingredients of confident writing?  One of the main reasons is that it's great for keeping us motivated and enthusiastic about writing.  And when I'm coaching people to write with more confidence we often need to look as much (if not more) at attitude and motivation as at some of the more technical writing skills.  It's also good for keeping my own motivation levels up!

This week's podcast looks at 5 ways that curiosity can kick-start our motivation - not so much for beating writer's block, more for those times when we're too jaded to write. 

I'm sure there are more but in just five minute (and 10 seconds to be precise) I covered:

Curiosity about words: enjoying words and language, being playful and flirtatious with words

Curiosity about your own writing: spending time writing just for you, and learning from what you write

Curiosity about your readers: how well do you know your readers?  Getting to know them better, fleshing them out as real people makes the writing process more engaging and enjoyable

Curious perspective: changing your point of view and looking at things in a new light can reawaken your own interest in what you're writing about

Curiously specific: getting below the surface, being specific about what you see, hear and feel will make your writing more vivid.  It can also reawaken your senses, and make you more interested in the world round about you - which does tend to be good for the motivation...

Do you use any of these techniques to get you past that 'same old, same old' feeling?  Or do you have other tips and techniques you'd be willing to share?

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

Linked pieces:

The motivation to write
5 top tips for beating blogger's block
Who are you writing for?

Do you have a writing question you'd like me to cover in a podcast or writing tips piece?  You can let me know in the comment box below or e-mail me at joanna@confidentwriting.com

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

PS Sorry if my voice sounds a little flat in this week's podcast - it's not that I'm lacking motivation, honest, I think I'm coming down with a cold and it's amplified in the audio...

How do I structure my writing?

I was talking to a friend and former colleague about a writing workshop I'm hoping to run somewhere warm and sunny next year.  More on this to follow... but while he was excited about my plans, he indicated that a workshop a bit closer to home would be appreciated too.  I was a bit surprised because I know he thinks of writing as a task akin to watching paint dry - so I asked what he'd want me to cover.  Writing for the web is his main interest, but the question he really wants me to answer is this: "how do I structure my writing?"

I know this is a common question, challenge and frustration for writers whether you're putting pen to paper for college, business or pleasure.  I will work on a workshop in Scotland in the not too distant future, but in the meantime I've used this week's podcast (3 minutes 21 seconds) to answer the question: how do I structure my writing?

Here are five things you can do:

• Get clear on your point before you start
• Work out what state you want your readers to be in at the end
• Think about how to get your readers from where they are to where you want them to be
• Edit your writing to cut out distractions and make the path from A to B as easy as possible
• Ask yourself hard questions at the end:
  • did you make your point?
  • what state did you convey?
  • is the path from A to B as easy as possible?

What suggestions would you give in answer to the question?

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

Linked pieces:

Create a clear path through your words (podcast)
Getting clear on your point

Do you have a writing question you'd like me to cover in a podcast or writing tips piece?  You can let me know in the comment box below or e-mail me at joanna@confidentwriting.com

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

How to create rapport with your readers: pacing and leading

One of the most powerful ways we can make a connection with our readers is by creating rapport.  And one of the most effective ways we can create rapport is by pacing and leading. 

This week's podcast (3:55 mins) looks at 5 ways that we can use pacing and leading, by:

Slowing down - going too fast means we focus on our words, rather than where our readers are coming from.  Take the time to slow down before you start

Pacing current experience - getting into your readers' shoes, putting yourself into their mindset, where they're starting from

Using their words - go for plain English and simple everyday words to make it easy for your readers to make the connection (jargon and negative language can have the opposite effect)

Knowing where you're going - once you've established rapport you can start to lead your readers, but only if you know where you're going and how you're going to get there (remember clarity?)

Leading your readers - I think of it like going on a walk with someone.  Once you've paced where they're at you can start to lead them forwards through your writing - go too fast and they'll get lost and give up, go too slow and they'll be bored and frustrated

How could we add to this list - what are your favourite techniques for pacing and leading your readers?

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Related posts on writing with rapport:

Create a clear path through your words (podcast)
Writing with rapport (being real)
Writing with rapport (courting your reader)

You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Writing to say 'thank you'

The more I write, the more I realize that writing changes my state, my outlook on life, the way that I feel.  And one of the best states that you can write yourself into is gratitude, appreciation, thankfulness.

So this week's podcast, inspired by the holiday season, is a short (3:03 mins) blast through ways that we can use words and writing to express, and enjoy, a feeling of thankfulness. 

Writing to say 'thank you' looks at the importance of:

• Meaning it - because insincerity can be spotted a mile off
• Sharing it - take the time to share it, to find the words, to convey the emotion
• Naming it - find the specific words for what you're grateful for, however small (and maybe the smaller the better)
• Writing for yourself - taking the time to write down what you're grateful for - in a blog, a journal, or wherever you write for yourself - can contribute to a powerful sense of gratitude over time
• Choosing to write - people only ever regret not saying 'thank you'. Even if those two short, simple words seem inadequate they're the best thing we've got to express it - so why not take the time to do just that?

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. You can explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts here .

Some extra thanks from me this week:

I've experimented with a short musical introduction... with grateful thanks to Paul Burns for the extract I've borrowed from his Thankfulness track

Thanks to Mike DeWitt from Spooky Action for coaching me with this plain English screencast on how to use Audacity for podcasting, how to add music, and how to cut out the moments when I don't switch the 'record' button off in time :-)  I'm still experimenting, but I can see the path ahead now Mike, thank you.

And thanks to all of you for your continued support, encouragement, readership, contributions and comments.  For those of you lucky enough to have a holiday this week - enjoy :-)

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Are you plugged in to your writing?

Before you can connect with your readers you need to make sure you've got a good connection to your own writing.

One of the things that comes up time and again when I'm coaching people is some kind of disconnect that's crept in between the person who's doing the writing and the words that they produce.

This week's audio show (4:57) looks at five things you can do to plug in to your writing, by connecting back to:

Your own words: use plain simple language, everyday words, and substitute your own words for other people's - especially if your writing is strewn with jargon and business cliches

Your reader: focus on just one person that you're writing for, it'll help you to make the connection

Your expectations: we often go wrong when we're trying too hard - to write like someone else, to model a particular writing style.  Watch out for times when you're saying 'I must' 'I should' 'I have to' - they can all damage the natural connection you have with your words

Your intention: one way to get round those 'musts' and 'shoulds' is to focus on your positive intention.  By focusing on the intention rather the words you'll reboot your motivation - and might just find that your writing helps to make the connection for you

Your state: be aware of the state that you're in before you start to write, and look for ways to switch to a more positive one.  If you find that tricky, cycle through the tips here - use your own words, focus on one reader that you want to connect with, watch your self-talk and the burden of expectations, and focus on your positive intention.

It'll help you plug back in to the power of your own words.

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You can listen to the podcast by following this link or going to my gcast page. 

To tune in to more writing tips, explore the archive of Confident Writing podcasts.

If you think you've got disconnected from your own writing - and want to plug back in - a writing coach can help.  Find out how to work with me here.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Hospitable writing: 5 ways to engage your readers

One of the things I enjoy most about working as a writing coach is the chance to immerse myself in other people's writing: to learn their expressions, their words, their turns of phrase, to get familiar with the things that trip them up and the things that they're spectacularly good at - often without realizing so. And when I see something that works I enjoy figuring out what made it an interesting and enjoyable read, so I can learn from it, and then pass that learning on. 

Two of my clients delighted me with some draft pieces in the course of the last week, examples of what I would describe as engaging writing.  Somehow or another they'd managed to switch off their critics (and whether that's a negative boss or a fearsome inner editor we all have a critic in one shape or another) and write a light, enjoyable and engaging piece.  They had found a way to be most hospitable writers - and I wanted to pick out the how.  To learn for myself, to feed back to them, and to share with you in this week's podcast.

Engaging your readers (2 mins 47) talks you through 5 things you can do to be a hospitable writer:

Invite your readers in: make it easy for your readers to join you, start somewhere interesting, don't take forever getting ready

Don't forget to turn up: be present in your own writing, include your personal take on things

Be hospitable: Make it easy for your readers to zip through your writing with a clear structure and signposts, and plain simple language

Offer some refreshments: give your readers something to take away - information, facts, humour... delivered with with a refreshing, light touch

Let them get away again: don't witter on, make it easy for your readers to beat a hasty retreat.  Stop when you're done and quit while you're ahead (and it's probably sooner than you think)

Thanks for the inspiration guys - and the refreshment!

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With the last point in mind this week's recording is under three minutes... You can listen to it by following this link or going to my gcast page.

Related posts:
How to be a hospitable writer
Writing with hospitality: leaving space for your reader to be

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Drop your writing disguise this Halloween

Halloween's a day for costumes and masks, for tricks and disguises.  But without wanting to be a party pooper - when it comes to your writing it's better to drop the disguise.

Dropping your writing disguise is the theme for this week's  podcast (4 mins 09 secs).

Tune in for 5 Halloween-inspired steps to clear, authentic writing:

Take off the mask - it's great for rapport

Leave the costume behind - don't pretend to be someone you're not

Don't trick your readers - transparency counts

Don't cloak your writing - cut and edit excess words and visual clutter to reveal the power of your unadorned message

Don't wait for the witching hour - don't wait for the perfect conditions before you start to write.  It's more fun to get started and learn as you go

A commitment to clear and authentic writing is enough to get you started: to say what you mean and mean what you say.  That way you can party on with your writing not just for one night - but throughout the year....

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You can tune in to the show by following this link, or playing (or downloading) it from my GCast page.  If you want to make sure you don't miss future episodes you can also subscribe to the Confident Writing podcast feed.

This show is the final contribution to the October series on writing with clarity - subscribe to the feed for next month's writing fest, on writing to establish a powerful connection.

I'm still thinking about how to capture the learning points from writing with clarity.  You can read the summary page here - but I'm thinking something a little more creative is called for.  Inspiration struck this morning - but I've still to experiment with the possibilities.  Will keep you posted.

Probably not an e-book though - as I'm still smiling at the results of the last one on writing with authenticity: The Courage to Hear Yourself Sing.  Click the link to download your own free copy.

Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count

Photo credit: Flickr