Preaching to The Choir of Good Writing
I thought about writing to you and was wondering if I had anything useful to say. And then I thought about how so many of you just want to be writing well and confidently and QUICKLY, cos #life. So I was like, ok, let’s talk writing.
But then my fun inner critic was like, BUT YOU’RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR cos honestly, if you’re reading this, you’re already a convert to the enlightened ways of plain language and zero-bullshit-communications. You are, officially, The Choir of Good Writing. Hiyeee!
So I politely asked my inner critic to take a seat at the back (she’s way too loud today, FFS) because you know what? Choirs need to stay at the top of their game, too! Just because you and I love plain language and all the good stuff doesn’t mean we don’t need reminders, or practice, or to make sure we’re hitting the high notes right!
So my big reminder for you today is:
You need to be reminded!
We all do. You know when you learn a thing, and you’re like, whoa! That’s so cool! That’s gonna change everything! I must remember this glorious, life-changing thing!
And then you go to a meeting.
Or you take a phone call.
Or you get pissed off cos someone didn’t do something they should have and now you have to put out the fire.
Or the cat needs to go to the vet.
Or one of your punk-ass kids skipped school and now you’ve got teachers and principals and lord knows who else to deal with (I mean, I’m sure your kids aren’t little punk-asses, but, you know…)
Or, just LIFE. BAU — Business As Usual. It’s hard to remember to keep using our finely honed writing skills in between all the everythings.
What kind of reminder works for you?
We all have systems. Things that make our lives work. So if you want to keep a new skill front-of-mind, you need to build that into your systems. The nes that are already working for you.
For example, I live out of my inbox and my calendar. If it pops up in my inbox or calendar, I WILL SEE IT and my brain will pay it attention. So I can set myself reminders to pop up or emails I write myself (snoozed to pop up), saying,
“How’s your writer switch? Would you say those words out loud to another human?”
“Did you use SIFT? Did you REALLY use it? Or did you start and then got distracted and started writing instead? (Yes, I see you)”
“How are those statement or question headings coming along?”
“Are you writing like a reader?”
“Where’s the BLUF?”
Do you need a gif of my face to remind you to Shellify things? Here you go!
Do you need a meme to use as your desktop wallpaper? Or to print off and stick by your mirror? Or to passively aggressively anonymously email to the rest of the office? Here you go!
Or should I start selling WHAT WOULD SHELLY DO? T-shirts? Cos you know, if you want, I’m here for it.
Seriously though, 2 things:
1. Build some reminders into your systems.
2. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you need the school NOW and you need to use this 30% off discount code, valid for 48 hours only: REMIND30
OK and a third thing cos I can’t count: BUY MY BOOK FOR SOMEONE!!!!!!!
- Shelly out. Mmmwahh.
