False.  We’ve all been writing for a long time—ever since we first discovered how good our red crayon looked on mommy’s dining room wallpaper. Then we picked up pens and pencils, later typewriters and computers, and our fingers worked like crazy. We were writers! Trouble was, most of us didn’t get a lot of instruction about the writing process. Writing well takes practice and patience. But it’s hard to be patient when we’ve been doing something our whole lives; we figure that by now we should have mastered it. Be gentle with yourself. Take a little time to learn the writing process, pay attention to what you write, edit it a time or two, and I guarantee you will take your writing—and your career—to the next level.

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False.  Good for you! You understand that writing well is different from just dashing something off. Writing well doesn’t have to take more time. No, it mostly takes more conscious attention to the process: Write a fast first draft, edit a time or two, then proof till it sparkles with polish and pizzazz. That’s writing that seals the deal and locks in loyalty.

Want to learn more? We offer a host of business-writing books to take your writing to the next level. For those who want to get to the top, we also offer convenient coaching packages.

False. For years, I suffered in silence. I was a bad writer, I told myself, and I had the proof: My first drafts were terrible. Abysmal, really. That’s when I read a new book: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. All those years of agonizing over my embarrassingly bad first drafts, and in an instant I was cured. Anne taught me that just about everyone writes terrible first drafts! Who knew? She gave me permission to let myself go. Now, I let the words come any way they want (a real boost to creativity) because I know I can fix them later. (Good writing is really good editing.) All you have to do is write and write. Just get your ideas down. You can always go back two, five, fifteen times and make it better with each edit. In fact, don’t even think of your first draft as writing—it falls more under the planning/organization phase than writing. Capture that jumble of thoughts so you can wrestle with it and turn it into something great.

You can learn more about the writing process (It makes so much sense once you understand it!) in my award-winning book, Words at Work. In addition, you can find out exactly what you’re doing right and where you can improve with our Assess Your Success personal writing assessments.

False. Good for you!  You already know what I had to learn the hard way. Good writing is really good editing. Get your first draft down fast so you save time for the all-important editing and proofing. That’s where the magic comes in—not in the rambling, messy first drafts that almost everyone writes.

You’re ready for the next step, the one that will take your writing—and career—to the next level. I recommend our e-book Creativity at Work: 89 ways to add verve to your verbiage—and zeroes to your paycheck.

False. We all dread the blank screen/page. Best way to overcome that fear? Just start writing. Even unwillingly is okay. Easy for me to say, I know, but over the years I learned that I’d rather start than carry around that 80-pound backpack called procrastination. Until you write those first fledgling words, you’ll be carrying this baggage with you every day, every hour, every minute. It gets heavy.

We all have lots of reasons for procrastination. Lingering voices of stern Mr. Shaw, your English teacher in the seventh grade, or that boss who scribbled red ink all over your writing without explaining why. That’s all bad background noise you need to turn off. How? Sometimes all we need is another person, someone with experience, to tell you those people didn’t know how to teach or inspire.

Okay, I’ll happily take that role. “Those people did not know how to teach or inspire. Ignore them! Trust yourself!”

And it’s a myth that good writers write fast. Ask some of the best writers in the world—writers you know and love—and they’ll tell you this just isn’t true. Don’t judge yourself by how fast—or slowly—you write. Focus instead on your perseverance and results. That’s all that matters.

False. Good for you! You understand that it’s important to just get started. At this point, you know that the quality of the words doesn’t matter. You can make it better through editing—which you have time for because you didn’t put this project off till the eleventh hour. You know that good writing is really good editing. Bad writers just stopped too soon.

False. When you write at work—whether you’re writing letters and e-mails, reports and newsletters, blogs and Web copy—think like your readers. Ask yourself, what’s in it for them? In other words, write about the benefits—not the features. Features tell only what you do, how you do it, why you think you’re the best. Benefits (and their impact) offer your readers possibilities—growing their businesses, improving their lives, achieving increased health, and so on. As you share benefits, you will naturally bring out the terrific features you offer, but with your readers in mind. I learned this lesson in a most humbling way.

During a sales course, I delivered my presentation to the class. I felt good about all the exciting features I had to offer and shared them with great enthusiasm. Afterward, the instructor said he was surprised I was still in business.”What do you mean?” I asked, my face burning red. “I’ve signed up several clients with this presentation.”His answer: “Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.”Ouch! But I never forgot his message—I needed to talk about the benefits and impact my services offered my clients, not just deliver a glowing report of the features! The same goes for writing, whether you’re writing a letter, e-mail, report, or sales piece. By the way, in today’s busy world, every document is basically a sales piece because it competes for readers’ attention and time. Grab it with benefits they’ll resonate with.One of the best ways to learn this important technique is to study how successful people do it. Our e-book Imitate to Innovate shows you how to “deconstruct” the writing of people you admire (or envy!) so you can start writing that way too. (It’s not copying—just practice.)

False. Good for you! You already appreciate that your readers need to understand how your product/services benefit them and the impact those benefits can have on their lives. You write to them, not at them. You respect their time and their questioning minds, especially that question that every reader is asking: “What’s in it for me?” You’re savvy enough to show them.

Want to learn more about how to do this in your own writing? My award-winning book Words at Work devotes an entire chapter to this technique. Or check out our e-book Imitate to Innovate packed with examples of how to use this career-changing technique.

False. Ah, mistakes and complaints. We tend to think the worst when they happen, but take heart. Research shows that when a complaint or mistake is handled effectively, a great bond is forged and customers actually feel more loyal than they did before the mishap! For those of us who aren’t perfect, this is a wonderful piece of news!

Now for the bad news: These days, online reviews such as Yelp, Twitter, Facebook, among others, travel at lightning speed with grievances—both fair and unfair. Surveys show that bad reviews outnumber good news by a ratio of 200:1.

So how do you write an effective apology or resolution to a complaint? First, accept responsibility for the problem. Not blame—this is an important distinction. No need to get in an argument with your customer/client. Besides, you may have done nothing wrong. Forget the adage “The customer is always right.” I prefer “The customer is always the customer.”

With that in mind, consider these factors when you write back to resolve the issue:

• Listen. Pay attention and don’t interrupt. Don’t take it personally. Consider the information as market research. Whether you agree or not, this feedback represents customers’ perceptions.
• Keep it cool. Make sure your tone sounds empathic and sincere (more difficult in writing because you don’t have facial expressions and tone of voice to convey your feelings). If you notice thinly veiled sarcasm or snarkiness in your writing, count to 10 again.
• Now, say you’re sorry they had a bad experience. That’s not accepting blame, just good customer relations.
• Ask how you can make things better—and/or explain what you can do to make things right.
• Follow up—especially by phone or in person. At this point, verbal communication works best.

Every e-mail (or snail mail) needs to be written and edited to ensure you are writing to your readers, not at them. Think about their problems and find the solution.

To take your writing—and career—to the next level, sign up (upper right) for our popular (and free!) newsletter, Tips, Tools & Tricks of the Trade. You’ll also receive a free webinar and notices about other free webinars.

False. Good for you! You know how to treat your clients/customers with the respect they need. It’s not always easy. I don’t like the expression “The customer is always right”—they’re not. But this variation hits the mark: “The customer is always the customer.” Keep up the great work!

Ready to take your career to the top? Sign up (upper right) for our popular (and free!) newsletter, Tips, Tools & Tricks of the Trade. You’ll also receive a free webinar and notices about other free webinars. Or take advantage of our coaching packages. When we work together, you’ll quickly take your writing—and career—to the next level.

False. Here’s the truth: You have so many ideas inside that marvelous brain of yours, you couldn’t get to them all in a lifetime! Seriously, our brains are working at different levels to come up with brilliant ideas and solutions. Trouble is, we’re too busy texting and tweeting to hear them. We don’t pause long enough to discover these ideas.

Try Genius Generator to tap into yours. It’s easy. This brainstorming technique is the perfect antidote to fear, dread, ennui, or whatever is holding you back. It’s my favorite brainstorming technique for writing because it helps straighten out the tangle of ideas in your head—and the dearth of ideas too, as it explores all those ideas that are just waiting for their debut.

Just set a timer and write without stopping for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the length/depth of what you’re writing. As your pen moves or your fingers click the keyboard, don’t stop! That’s the key to the success of this technique. Keep writing no matter what. It’s okay to fill in with scribbles or “I’m writing about [your subject].” Just keep writing—anything, though gently try to stay on track. When you do, something wonderful happens. That critical editor inside your head gets quieter with each tick of the timer. He steps aside and makes room for inspiration to strike.

When the timer goes off, take another minute to circle the good stuff. Sure, there’s lots of chaff, but it’s not a waste. It provided the stepping stones to the important points. Now, prioritize those key points in the order you want to present them. There! You’ve got what I call an organic outline in less than 20 minutes.

For more details on this technique, check out Words at Work (pages 40-47) or Creativity at Work: 89 ways to add verve to your verbiage—and zeroes to your paycheck. Or sign up for a free 20-minute telephone consultation, and I’ll show you how it works.

False. Good for you! You value your brain and understand that it’s working on various levels to come up with solutions and creative ideas. The key is to tap into them, and brainstorming techniques are an excellent way to do that. (And sleeping on problems is too.) I love the technique I call Genius Generator for writers, but whatever brainstorming technique you’re using, keep it up!

For more details on this technique, check out Words at Work (pages 40-47) or Creativity at Work: 89 ways to add verve to your verbiage—and zeroes to your paycheck. Or sign up for a free 20-minute telephone consultation, and I’ll show you how it works.

6 False – You’re a savvy writer. Keep up the great work!

4-5 False – You’re poised to take your writing to the next level. With a little work, you can stand out.

2-3 False – Study all the answers to this quiz and in the process you’ll double your writing effectiveness. Then just keep practicing.

0-1 False - You can do it! So many of us never learned the writing process. Once you understand how to write, you’ll start writing like the professional you are.

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