Creativity

Are you tired of reading dry, dull, dusty writing? It may be a flyer, email, memo, advertisement, or other piece of writing that crosses your path. Certain things catch our eye--colors, movement, sounds. Words paint pictures that sell an image, an impression. In the business world, this is frequently called "branding." It's simply creating an image.

If you want to catch someone's attention, think about your intention. What do you want to be the lasting impression? What words will create that effect?

If it helps, work up a journal of comparable words and images so you'll have a resource for later.

For instance, look around you. How many shades of blue do you see? Can you describe them al distinctly so another person will know which one you're referencing. Is it clear sky blue? Close to the shore sea blue? Brand new denim blue? Worn in faded blue jeans blue?

The words you use paint a picture in the reader's mind. Even if you're writing a memo or technical manual, be mindful of the words you choose and the image they convey because the words will influence your reader.

Next time you have to write something, take a moment. Take a deep breath. Picture what you want as the outcome. Write this down so you have a clearly defined goal in mind. Then brainstorm on words that will help convey that image.

Unexpected and familiar images will pop in the reader's mind--what image do you want to convey? What words will paint the impression. Do you want broad, sweeping strokes or precise lines? Play with the words until you create the impression you want. Try writing up the piece using different images. After you've written up a coupld different forms, read them out loud. How does the piece make you feel? Is this the impression you want to convey to the reader? Why?

Be creative. Don't be afraid to put words on paper. It's not wrong or right so long as you write. Let your imagination play. Creative, fun, thought-provoking images stick in our minds. We carry them around and review them from time to time. If you want the reader to think about you or your product, make sure the image sticks, so be creative with the images and words.

Take time to play with the words and build up your journal reference of images and words. Then the next time you have soemthing to write and you want the writing to catch the reader's attention, you'll have had some practice and some words as back up.

Keep your variations. You never know when a writing or impression will work. What you write may not work for the current target audience, but that audience may change. Keep your various drafts for later reference.

Start now keeping this journal reference. The more you practice, the easier this process will be for you . . . and this process will take less time with each successive attempt.

Regardless of what you're writing, why, or for whom, the better the picture you draw, the more likely the reader will listen to your point of view. Now you've got their attention.

Organizing tasks

I’ve been reading some interesting information on people wasting time at work. Since I also teach writing classes, I'm frequently reminding students to follow the process: brainstorm, rough outline, rough draft, and then revision. Too many people jump to the end trying to have a completed paper/project without any preparation, which wastes a lot of time in the revision phase that would have been eradicated if they took a few minutes to work up a rough outline organizing ideas.

Brian Tracy writes about how to prioritize tasks in several of his business books. Taking a few minutes to list out tasks and prioritize them, especially putting the biggest or most difficult task first, allows an individual to be the most productive with one's time and energy. Minor tasks can be picked up any time during the day or put off until later, but difficult task need to be approached and finished first. I find a list of tasks makes frequent interruptions while I’m working (phone calls, kids, clients, whatever) less of an annoyance since I can go to the list and pick up the next task.

What should you do? Write a list of tasks to do for the day, week, and month. Prioritize them; find the biggest, ugliest, most time-consuming one and put it first. Is it necessary? Do it first. Break it into manageable pieces. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Do the same with your list of tasks. Give a deadline for each task. Are any time sensitive? Note that. Put it on your calendar. Better yet, back up a few days and put the task there, too, so you have “wiggle” room to complete the task.

Why list out and prioritize tasks? More work completed earlier and faster. This leads to less frustration and less stress. That means more time for you and better mental and physical health.
Take a few minutes every day to create your list. Later during the day, check where you are in your list. Re-prioritize if necessary. You’ll find you’re getting more work done faster.
Then you can really breathe easy.

Ghostwriting for CEOs

Ghostwriting someone's blog seems to be stirring up some interesting discussions. I have a question for you. How is having a ghostwriter for a blog any different than a secretary cleaning up a boss's letters, emails, or other communications? As long as there have been businesses, secretaries have been fixing errors in letters and other communications. Some bosses would simple tell the secretary to pen a letter to a particular individual and leave the specific wording to his/her discretion; meanwhile, the boss would simply read the letter before signing and make any revisions at that time. Isn't ghostwriting a CEO's blog similar? If the CEO talks to the ghostwriter about potential topics, the ghostwriter has some direction and focus for the postings, making sure to run the copies by the CEO for any necessary revision and the final copy for approval. Smart, effective CEOs hire smart, effective administrative assistants, so why not hire a creative, well-spoken ghostwriter?

How to grow success

Unfortunately we live in the fast-fix world . . . fast food, overnight delivery, etc. We want “it” now. Our society has become one of instant gratification, which means we have become increasingly impatient. Email gets us updates now instead of waiting for a response in a letter.

How does that translate to personal and business growth? We read a book and hope that through osmosis we will learn and assimilate the information. We need to keep a journal/diary with a list of goals and steps to achieve those goals. If we see the information written down as a checklist, we’re more likely to follow through and achieve those goals. Otherwise, time gets away from us.

At least with the First Friday Book Synopsis (http://www.karlkrayer.com/), folks get a monthly reminder to do better now. For personal growth, it would be better if folks walked out of the FFBS meeting with a list of action items–things to do at work or in their personal life based on the information presented that morning. Then folks could effectively use the material rather than think “one day, maybe, I should.”

We can't grow a garden overnight. We must first plant seeds, nurture and weed, and then reap the fruits of our labor. This takes time and focused intentions.

Seduction and the Argument paper

An argument paper is all about showing readers a viewpoint they may not have considered before. The purpose is not necessarily to change the readers’ mind about the topic so much as to have them look at this point of view, realize that it is a valid perspective, that they may want to review the information.

The best way to convince someone of another side is to be clear and specific. The narrower the thesis, the easier it is to prove. Additionally, the more specific in each argument point, or claim, the easier it’ll be to have the reader “buy” that point and then the next one and the next.

How do we convince someone of our point?

Let’s look at something most folks want to do with a persuasive voice—seduction. Put aside trying to get a job (cover letter and resume) or validating a political point. Most folks would like to persuade someone to go home with them.

So how do we do that?

To seduce a person, especially a woman, seduction must begin with the mind. This requires words.

Try going up to a prospective “target” and tell him/her, “I want to bed you. Come home with me now.” Although the direct approach may be refreshing to some people, most folks would find this candor a bit offensive.

Try a different approach: paint a picture. The more descriptive, sensory details, then the more enticing and alluring the perspective. The person will be more inclined to stay a little longer and see what else is to come.

Trying telling the person the following: “I would like to run my fingers through your hair and let my finger tips lightly trace along the side of your face, down your neck, and along the top of your shoulder. I’d like to have my lips hover over your skin on your neck, lightly press against your skin, then hover just above, letting my lips feels the heat from your skin. Then I’d let my lips gently graze your neck, down to where your neck meets your shoulder, letting my lips, warm and soft, kiss your skin.”

To which technique would you succumb? Which would keep you closer to see what’s next?

Now try this technique with an argument topic.

You’re trying to convince people that convicted pedophiles should be mandated to live in very specific locations instead of the distance regulation (not allowed to live within 1000 feet of a school, park, or day care).

The writer could simply stick to an ethical (ethos) argument: Pedophiles prey on children and should not live where they have easy access and view of children.

However, using some emotional appeal (pathos) may add some depth and dimension to the argument: Pedophiles should be required to live in specified areas only. Keeping them from living in a particular radius from where children frequent does not stop them from visiting those areas. A pedophile can still sit at a park or near a school and watch the children play, bending over to pick up toys, running and tumbling, climbing on the equipment, swinging their chubby legs while crossing the monkey bars or kicking their legs while swinging. The pedophile can sit and watch the childen’s round cheeks and broad smiles, listen to their easy laughter and high-pitched squeals. He can dream of taking one home, holding that innocence, trying to lay claim to the sweetness the child exudes.

Which argument would convince you to review pedophiles and zoning regulations?

The more specific and descriptive the writer paints the picture, the more likely the reader will look closer at the topic, spending some time to ponder the point. This technique makes a more convincing argument than straight facts.

Plethora of business books

People learn in different ways. Howard Gardner has written several books on multiple intelligences, and people may play to their strengths, learn the way they were forced to in school or feel left out.

Various business books (written in fictional/fable format or fact-driven format) appeal to different kinds of learners. Stories usually employ visual stimuli, and the majority of people are visual learners; therefore, stories appeal to them. However, folks need to have options; they need to have opportunities to find the style that best suits them and the way they process information.

Since I teach learners of various age groups and backgrounds, I have found multiple approaches to material give learners the opportunity to get the information the way they need. The analytical folks will skip to the end of a story to find the posted moral, like one would find with Aesop’s fables. Visual folks will look for pie charts and graphs. Musical folks will “listen” to the book and see if the information “sounds” true. Tactile learners will need to “feel” the information, work it with their own hands, and experience it.

If the information in the various business books weren’t valid, they wouldn’t be selling–unless they have amazing marketing people. Folks need to find the style of book that works for them, but they should also be aware that the people with whom they work may learn in a different way and may need the information presented in a format that best appeals to them.

After the storm . . .

After the brainstorm come clear skies . . . at least one can hope, right?

After you have generated ideas about your purpose and ideas to explain that purpose, your paper should look like a bloody mess. This unorganized randomness may bother you; however, this part is like cleaning out your garage. Once everything is down on paper, you can decide what to keep, what to discard, and what ideas group together.

Do not ever throw these ideas out since you may need them later for a different project or later on in this project. Since you don't want regrets or wasted time, keep all brainstorming sessions with your notes on projects--at least until the project is completed. Then you can keep the final product and toss the notes that lead to its completion.

At this stage, you can either get a clean sheet of paper to group ideas or use a different colored pen to circle what you want to keep and draw lines between connected ideas. This is similar to mind mapping where you have a main circle in the center (hub) of the page and spokes out from the hub are related ideas. . . . like this: o--O--o.

For example, if you are planning an event, you may have the name/type of the event in the center. Then you would have sent out one line to a circle for budget, another for invitations/guests, another for decorations/theme, another for presentation/speakers, another for food, and another for staff. You may need more later or related to each of the topic points listed. However, this format will allow you the opportunity to see what you need to do and review. You can work up a checklist for each of these sections and a person delegated to head each part.

Once you have the items and ideas organized, you can see what you're missing, if you're missing anything. This step will give you a chance to step back and review what you need to do without your head being muddled with ideas and no clear direction. Once you have the ideas organized, you can then work up a rough outline that will keep you focused as you put together your document.

The Writing Process: Brainstorming

To begin the writing process, the writer first whould have a goal in mind. Think about your written communication like a road trip. Would you jump in your car right now and just drive, without supplies and without direction? That seems rather silly, right? This haphazard attitude is often used by people when writing.

First, get an idea in your mind as to what you hope to accomplish. Having your destination in mind helps plot your path. Then you won't be distracted by by extraneous materials. Those other items may be wonderful, but are they really going to help move your reader on the designated path to reach the intended destination? If not, put that data aside for another time, a more appropriate setting or sommunication.

For example, if you are plot a drive from Dallas to Houston, TX, you only going to talk about the sights and cities between Dallas and Houston. Colorado, El Paso, New Orleans, and Niagara Falls may be lovely places to visit; however, that information is irrelevant in telling a person how to move from Dallas to Houston. You will only want to talk about potential rest stops, sights to see along the way, and possible warnings, like not picking up hitchhikers by the prison in Huntsville and the towering statue of Sam Houston in the Piney Woods region. These details are relevant for a new driver to the area. Your job is to navigate the new driver through unfamiliar territory so he/she safely arrives at the designated destination.

How do you do this? Brainstorm first. Think of all the items and words that covey your message. Write everything down. Do not discard anything at this point. Like a storm that has rain falling indiscriminately, your ideas should fall indiscriminately on the paper. No judgments yet. You can sort through the ideas later.

Take 2-10 minutes to write down everything you can about the topic, your intended goal, and your intended audience. Once this material is on paper and out of your head, you will have an easier time assessing the material and determine relevance and organization.

Why write clearly?

Many times, folks think they can just sit down and crank out something and hope for the best. However, miscommunications and loss of customers happen here.

Your job as a writer is to communicate your message efficiently and effectively. If you slap something together and hope for the best, what message are you really sending? That the customers don't deserve your best work and full attention? That you're too busy to proofread your own work? If you cannot take the time to write a good message (e-mail, flyer, report, etc.), what does that say about your work ethic? Are you going to be so sloppy on other aspects of the project? Misspelled or missing words or awakward wording or fuzzy logic will not impress a customer to do business with you.

Take the time to work the process. Work on the written communication in small (short time frame) stages. Before you know it, that little extra time will create a well-worded document that will impress your customer (client, boss, employee, or others).

View your communication like a country drive. The organization and development (details, analysis, examples) are like the scenery and weather. This is where you want your customers to focus. However, they will have problems seeing the scenery if they are jostled around with bad grammar and mechanics (fragments, run-on sentences, misspelled words, and other errors). Your grammar should be like the rood--so smooth it goes unnoticed.

If you take the time to write clear, effective communications, your customers will give you the time of day . . . and the project.

Write the Right Words

According to Proverbs, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Brian Tracy takes this to discuss a personal vision of the future and directing where a business grows and operates.

Individuals must have a vision when they write--usually called the purpose. What are you writing? Why? What is your goal? Are you informing, persuading, illustrating? What do you hope to accomplish? Once you have the intended outcome in mind, then you can start creating your piece. Much like an artist must have an idea (physical or emotional) for the creative piece before touching the medium, you should have an intended outcome before you put pen to paper and use this vision as you work through your draft.

Later, once you have a rough draft, you will want to work on a revision: re-vision your piece. Look over what you wrote. Do those words convey the meaning you have in your head? Could those words be misinterpreted? How? By whom? Are there better, more efficient words?

Think of the word "blue." Now look around you. How many shades of blue are there in your vicinity? Words have shades of meaning. Use a dictionary or thesaurus to check your words. Work crossword puzzles and read items outside your field to see how words can have different meanings. Especially if your intended audience operates outside your field, make sure you understand how people in that field use that word.

Your job is to communicate effectively and efficiently. Use simple direct language. No one wants to read pages when three lines will suffice. Get to your point. Be care of the words used so the reader understands your point quickly.

Emails are short and to the point. Business letters have more room for explanation. Advertising quickly sells a point.

Next time you sit down to write, envision your purpose, your voice, and your audience. Write your draft. Then re-vision, become the reader, check your words.

Taking a few moments in this writing stage will save you time later having to explain yourself and your words. You don't want to lose a prospective client or partner or job simply because you weren't clear or you offended with the mis-use of a word.

If your business (personal or professional) is important, so should all your communications. Have a clear vision and take time to re-vision.