Writing and Public Speaking
It seems to me there are five reasons writers choose to block themselves:
(1) You have nothing to say.
(2) You're timid about saying what you want to say.
(3) You feel you've said it before; and said it better.
(4) You've been shamed by someone who has less talent, yet the criticism is sticking to you like an egg on car's fake chrome.
(5) You're afraid to see how bad your writing really is.
So what?
Let's take these in order.
(1) I like Robert Prisig's advice in his novel, Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The protagonist's Rhetoric students couldn't seem to get started on an essay about Bozeman, Montana. So, he nudged them, by saying, "Write about one street." They balked so he went on to suggest writing about one building. Still didn't work. Okay, write about ONE BRICK in one building in Bozeman, Montana.
Having nothing to say isn't a problem. Get passionate about that fact. Hate it. Seethe with disdain, and then vent your spleen.
I was so upset by the village idiots I encountered as a coach in my daughter's sports leagues that I wrote a book about it. Gosh, it felt great to get some payback for the idiocy I withstood.
(2) Being timid is really about secretly being grandiose. Your problem is you don't know what you'll do with all the attention you're going to get from your wonderful writing. That's fear of success. Forget about it, until you're inundated with paid offers and by an adoring press.
(3) EVERYTHING has been said before, and most of us cannot avoid being somewhat derivative. There is a good chance that you'll say it differently, and better this time.
(4) The people who shame you are not comfy in their own skin. They're abusers, having themselves, been abused. Plus, they're jealous. And you're taking their opinions seriously?
(5) Poor writing is a precursor to great writing. You can always revise, but getting something on the page, NOW, is your marching order.
Go to it!
Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a top speaker, negotiation consultant, attorney, real estate broker, TV and radio commentator and the best-selling author of 12 books, including 101 THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE VOLUNTEERING TO COACH THEIR KIDS' SPORTS TEAMS. He is the creator of Nightingale-Conant's successful audio seminar: THE LAW OF LARGE NUMBERS: HOW TO MAKE SUCCESS INEVITABLE. He conducts seminars and convention presentations around the world and can be reached at: gary(at)customersatisfaction.com
His original class, "Best Practices in Negotiation," is offered at UCLA & UC Berkeley Extension and at a number of other fine universities and organizations.
