I’m curious about something and I thought I’d ask the question that so many of us harbor when sitting down to write:

Am I a Real Writer?

Now that I have the Boogie Man question out of the way, I’ll offer a suggestion to get your pen moving. Start with you using your words…yes, I mean speaking…talking about what you want to write about. Sometimes finding your writing voice means that you use your speaking voice to hear what you think and to learn what to write about.

I’ve been where you are… sitting there ready to write, pen in hand and poised over your page, or staring at the blank computer screen with the cursor blinking at you expectantly…and you think that you know what you want to say…then beating yourself up with those doubting thoughts…

• who do you think you are to say that?
• see, you really don’t have any authority to be writing about that…if you did, this would be easy for you
• real writers have no problem with getting their thoughts out of their heads and on paper so you must not be a real writer

Real writers struggle with the doubting thoughts, insecurities and fear of judgment as much as anyone who puts pen to paper with the intention that someone else reads their words. 

Do you want to know a little secret?  You are a Real Writer whether your words are a few lines in a birthday card or the great American novel. When you share your thoughts with someone else in written form…you are a writer.

Now, back to that writing tip…speak your thoughts. Use a tape recorder, call yourself and record a message on your phone, or talk with a friend.

I recently helped a client create a chapter in her book by asking her questions and leading her deeper into the material she wanted to share. By brainstorming, she unleashed the material she wanted to include in the chapter. We didn’t follow an agenda or have a need to address specific bullet points.  In fact, the whole experience was a discovery session to explore the information we knew and what still needed to be discovered. 

So the next time you think you have nothing to write about when you sit down to write…get up and talk to someone. And let me know what happens!

photo credit:  Dreamstime.com