Get excited about it - Capture your idea - Focus

Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Get excited about it
Capture your idea
Focus

Now, in order to capture an idea, it helps if you actually like the idea (or are fascinated by it, at least).

But even if you’re forced to write on assignment — and you absolutely hate the idea — try to find an angle to connect with.

The most effective writing is captivating. You know the kind. Where you can just tell — you can almost feel — the writer really loves what he’s writing about.

Think about the last time you were in a conversation with a friend, and you got excited. Maybe you were telling a story, or anticipating something, or reliving a great moment you shared.

Did you stand there like two cardboard statues? Of course not! You bounced around, waving your arms — laughing — the pitch of your voice going all over the place.

Why? Because you were excited! You had a passion for the idea, and you were enjoying sharing it with your friend.

Good writing works exactly the same way.

Take my writing, for example. Is there a life in it? (Jeez, now that I mention it, I sure hope so!) I can’t stay excited the whole time — we’d both get worn out!

But you can still sense it, can’t you? That I’m excited about this FAST System?

Well, you can also sense when I get bored. Know how? It’s when you get bored, too!

See, how you feel about your topic comes across to the reader. Every time. So start on the right foot.

Pick topics and ideas that are meaningful to you. Ideas you enjoy. And then get excited about them! The stronger your connection to it, the more powerful your writing will become.

Don’t just snatch up any old idea (or worse — the first one that comes to mind)! Take some time to consider how you feel about it. C’mon, life is short! You should do what you want to do. You should write what you want to write.

You’ll write better, too. Even a homework assignment (I used to hate those) can be fun — if you infuse yourself into it. Bring your own passion to the assignment, and you’ll fly through it.

I don’t think they taught that in school. Pity.