If you’re like a lot of people, you hate to write. You may not mind talking to people, explaining what you want or need. But writing? No thanks.
For some reason, as soon as you click the “Create Email” button, or open Word and hit “File > New”, your mind goes to Tahiti. On strike. Gone fishin’.
If you work — in an office, on a sales floor, or a construction site, wherever — you have to communicate with other people. Customers, co-workers, everybody. You not only need to understand what they’re saying, you have to tell them what you want or need. In person, or in writing. Or (probably) both.
If you work in an office, you have to read and write emails, memos, letters and other routine business correspondence. Perhaps you’re also responsible for drafting proposals and reports. Or communicating with customers, clients and coworkers.
Like many of my clients, maybe you own a small business. Or you work in a marketing or corporate communications department. If so, you need to write specialized messages. For example, persuasive advertising copy, informative brochures, accurate product specifications, sales letters, customer newsletters, news releases, PowerPoint presentations and a variety of other sales material (sometimes called collateral).
CEOs, top managers, consultants, professionals and other so-called “knowledge workers” must frequently demonstrate “the vision thing” by penning speeches, white papers, reports and trade journal articles.
How about you? What do you have to write? How do you do it? How do you face the Big Nasty Fear that lives on the blank page? Please share your tips, tricks and other means of coping.
A few of my best articles on marketing and communications are here on my web site. Take a look. Maybe they’ll help. I’d love to hear your feedback. Thanks!
And of course, if your company needs a good writer to create some of those important communications materials, drop me a note. (OK, end of shameless plug.)