Zero Writing Skills?

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So many people talk about how they hate to write, then they’ll proceed to say they have "zero writing skills". Are you one of those people? Do you know someone who professes that they can’t even write a simple “thank you” note?

If you can read and spell- you can write. Stop telling yourself that you will never be able to write – you are holding your self back. Saying that you “can’t write” is another way of saying – “ I don’t want to take the time to learn how to write well” or at least that is what I hear every time someone makes this statement. Writing is a task that is infiltrated in almost every job position you will have. Having exceptional writing skills will take you further into your career than you may think.

If you feel that you have zero writing skills there is a way to turn that situation around. Here are some ideas:

• Take a creative writing class. Many libraries, schools, arts centers offer writing classes. My advice is to sign up for one so that you can learn some key tips to writing well.
• Get a writing tutor – I have more than one friend who has met privately with a writing coach to sharpen their skills. A few months of an hour a week can make a big difference in getting you on track. It’s a great investment in yourself.
• Read books on business writing and do the exercises in them.
• Sign up for a series of webinars on the basics of writing.
• Find a friend who loves to write and ask them how they became a good writer.
• Chances are anyone who loves to write will tell you that it isn’t as easy as it looks. I know people who take up to four hours to write a 250-word blog but they do it. Why? Because they are proud of the finished product. Once they are published they feel they have shared something of value with the world.

One of my college professors said that there are three things you must do well in this life to succeed: read, write and speak. In fact, the college I attended lowered the highest achievable grade from an A+ to a C-  whenever a piece of work contained an incomplete sentence. In college I thought that was unfair but now it’s clear they were just preparing us for the real world. It’s possible to reduce your chances of advancing in your career by staying stuck in the spot of having zero writing skills.