Sticky Communication

What’s scary is the effect on spelling among our youth.  No longer do we go to the dictionary to learn the correct spelling. Instead what sounds closest to the word we need is typed. If the red squiggly line does show up, we just right click on it and pick whatever word looks like it will work, never mind the definition or meaning we are trying to convey.

The point of this is simple: if you want your writing to appear professional, it must be professional.  Not everyone is a writer, but anyone can learn to write.  Some hints and suggestions for professional writing follow.  They are not laws etched in stone, but guidelines to help your appear professional to your clients.

• Buy a dictionary, bookmark a dictionary website  or use the tools in your word processing software. The majority of them are free and they help with spelling and word usage.
• Buy a thesaurus, use a thesaurus website or your tools. These are also free to use and provide a plethora of alternative words for the same old tired ones we use daily.
• Read good, professional writing. If you are reading good writing, you will soon improve your own writing.  A good writer probably reads more than she writes.
• Just write.  Get an idea of what you want to write about and just let the words flow. Don’t worry about errors or voice. Just get the words on paper.
• Edit, Edit, Edit.  Did I mention edit?  Once you have written all, or the majority, of a piece, read it.  Walk away for a time then return and read it.  The walking away gets what we have just written out of our heads and when we read it later we are more apt to catch errors.
• Enjoy yourself.  Writing, like no other medium, allows us to express ourselves fully and plainly.  So many other art forms exist in the esoteric and we must strive to interpret the artist’s meaning.  Writers have the ability to plainly and bluntly say what we mean.  Enjoy that and express yourself.

Writing is not a difficult task if you are prepared for it.  If you approach writing as some daunting task you must do for a certain reason, then it will be more difficult.

If you approach writing with the mindset of expressing yourself in a professional manner on a specific topic, you will find it goes much easier.  The best advice I ever received was, “Write about what you know, leave everything else to others.”  Now get out there, enjoy yourself, and then write a story about it.

Megan Totka is the Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She specializes in small business tips and resources. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and facilitates connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide. Megan also writes about common-sense business best practices, from finding printing services to hiring accountants.

Thanks for the photo, Javier.