Reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic – as the saying has gone – is what it’s all about. I agree, however, I am admittedly a bit more partial to the second one: writing.
I am a writer. That is how I make my living. So, I applaud a National Day on Writing, which happens to be today, and am quite willing to celebrate.
Whether it’s tapping out a quick text to your best friend, drafting an email to your long-lost cousin, writing a term paper, communicating with your legislative representative, or penning the next best-selling novel, we are all writers and do so nearly every day.
But sometimes it’s hard to start. So, to take a tip from The Sound of Music, it’s always best to start at the very beginning.
I begin by thinking about the message. What do I want to say? What do I want to convey? What is the nut of my message?
I often begin by actually speaking the message. Yes, I often will audibly say what I want to write. Other people I know have different processes – all perfectly fine if they work for them – but I almost always find that once I get the message secure in my brain and speak it, the ball is rolling and the writing just flows from there.
That is a beautiful process to me.
Do I get writer’s block? Absolutely. Do I work through it? Absolutely. But part of being a writer is knowing yourself and your unique processes and knowing how to overcome to produce an excellent written piece. Whether it’s a quick email, a press release, or the next best-seller, just press on.
Go write something today in honor of National Day on Writing!