I recently undertook a noteworthy exercise. On my Facebook status, I posted, "Like this and I'll say something nice about you."
Admittedly, I was a little nervous at first, fearing that I might not be able to come up with things to say. But then the likes started rolling in, and I found I had no troubles.
And I'll tell you what. I had FUN. I was energized. I loved the exercise, and I loved the opportunity to write nice responses to and about my friends.
A few days later, a couple of my friends complimented my writing in that status, saying that they didn't think they could have written compliments so well. Confused about why they might think that, I read back over what I'd done. And really, I have to say, it was good. But I can tell you right now that it wasn't good because I'm a writer. Anyone could have written it well. Even those afraid of writing.
Want to know my secret? I told the truth.
Yep. That's the dirty heart of it. The key to good writing. The truth. Whether you're writing a presentation, an essay for a class, an email to a coworker, or a fictional short story or novel, the best way to write it well is to tell the truth--about your message, about your feelings, about the character. Tell the truth, and the words will come, no matter how hard it is to share. Avoid the truth, and the words get stuck.
Gut-check yourself next time you struggle with writing something. Are you telling the whole truth? Do you know the whole truth? If you answer "no" to either of those questions, you know what you need to change. And once you do, the words--and the writing--should come much easier.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous at first, fearing that I might not be able to come up with things to say. But then the likes started rolling in, and I found I had no troubles.
And I'll tell you what. I had FUN. I was energized. I loved the exercise, and I loved the opportunity to write nice responses to and about my friends.
A few days later, a couple of my friends complimented my writing in that status, saying that they didn't think they could have written compliments so well. Confused about why they might think that, I read back over what I'd done. And really, I have to say, it was good. But I can tell you right now that it wasn't good because I'm a writer. Anyone could have written it well. Even those afraid of writing.
Want to know my secret? I told the truth.
Yep. That's the dirty heart of it. The key to good writing. The truth. Whether you're writing a presentation, an essay for a class, an email to a coworker, or a fictional short story or novel, the best way to write it well is to tell the truth--about your message, about your feelings, about the character. Tell the truth, and the words will come, no matter how hard it is to share. Avoid the truth, and the words get stuck.
Gut-check yourself next time you struggle with writing something. Are you telling the whole truth? Do you know the whole truth? If you answer "no" to either of those questions, you know what you need to change. And once you do, the words--and the writing--should come much easier.
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