Learning to Write
I am not the kind who likes to write in a neat and structured way because simply put, my mind churns out my thoughts too quickly for my fingers to keep up with. As a result, I end up rambling all over the place. Do you ever feel that way?
That’s okay, you are not alone.
If you can’t keep it short, at least keep it simple.
One thing I am starting to discover that helps me improve my writing is to create a five-point draft. It is very simple.
- Introduction
- Your First Point
- Your Second Point
- Your Third Point
- Summary
Think about it for a minute with me here. When someone asks you to list the finer points of what you just read, how many fingers are you holding up?
If you can’t think of five points, at the very least, you should be able to think of three. That’s the minimum target you should be achieving for.
Open up the door!!!
This is what the introduction is for. Have you ever found yourself in a middle of a conversation that grabbed your attention because you are interested in the topic?
That instant second you find yourself interested, that’s how you know where to start. No one likes a moron who does not know what he or she is talking about. However, people do appreciate it when you know at least something about what you are talking about.
If You can’t MASTER it, at least be competent!!!
You are obviously listening to the conversation but you would like to participate. As Drucker once explained, there are “different assumptions” so don’t block yourself from making your point.
Take the time to listen, read, and learn what you talk about. It is okay to make your own assumption about the topic as long as you back it up.
That is what your first point, your second point, and your third point is for.
Send them home!!!
That’s it. You can keep droning on as much as you want but if you want them to keep coming back for more then shut the heck up and send them home. Summarize your three points so that you look and sound at the least competent on the topic of what you are talking about.
- There is plenty of topics to talk about.
- There are plenty of points to talk about.
- There is plenty of time to talk about them.
ESPECIALLY if you write about them on your blog.
Thought of something else?
Then start over again, write about something new, repeat the process, tie in the finer points with your other posts and you got a conversation going on all over the place.
Your posts may be rambling here and there and everywhere but at least, you kept it simple, neat, and structured.
Tell me, what tricks do you use to learn how to write?
