Communication Skills Tip: Business Writing as Unusual

I started writing journals at the young age of 10. I have been writing consistently since that time and have books upon books documenting many experiences from my life. As a journal writer, I did not feel any pressure to revise my entries. But when I became a songwriter in my late twenties, I learned the value of rewriting and editing my work. When I used to write songs, I was most productive while walking down the streets of Manhattan—a million sounds around me; people bumping into me left and right; and abstract thoughts and images easy for me to grasp. I would create the melody and the first verse of the song all at once while walking. It was only when I got back to my desk and put my pen to paper (yes, this was before the mighty computer) that I became stuck. The question became, “How can I take my initial impulse to write and transform the beginning into something whole?” There were never easy answers to my creative writing process. As I became a more proficient writer, I developed tools that revolved around the revision phase. This allowed me to pour my ideas onto the page without self-criticism. Once I had all my thoughts down, I could reorganize, reconstruct and revamp all that needed improvement. The same has been true of my business writing ever since I became an entrepreneur more than 15 years ago. In Lanartco’s Tip of the Week April 23, 2009, I mentioned the importance of spending at least 50% of your time editing your writing. It may sound like a lot, but for any of you out there who follow this suggestion, you know that it is essential to being an effective writer. Some strategies that have always helped me have been reading out loud to myself or asking for someone else’s opinion. I think it is important to be open to constructive criticism in order to gain perspective on our written thoughts. If you are ready to spend the time necessary to get the results you deserve, start editing your business writing with greater attention to detail. To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com