If you were ever to visit my home in historic Weston, you would find quite a library of books about writing.\u00a0 For many years I was a member of The Writers’ Digest and have quite an investment.<\/p>\n
Reading books about writing is not<\/strong> writing.\u00a0 Writing is writing<\/strong>.\u00a0 It takes effort. It is easier for me to curl up on my couch (with the lull of Fox News on the TV, Max and Murphy at my head and feet) and read about writing<\/strong> than drag myself over to my “writing spot” at the kitchen table where I am forced to sit up straight with lights beaming in from every direction keeping me from much-needed sleep and produce something.<\/p>\n 2. Write passionately.\u00a0 Share.<\/strong><\/p>\n You know that you know what you know.\u00a0 To know and not to do is not to know.\u00a0 To know and not to write or share could have a negative impact on your business.<\/p>\n No one ever lost business by sharing information – in fact, the opposite is true.\u00a0 I was so impressed with Mr. Todd Nordstrom<\/strong> at the Weston Town Center office meeting. He took the time to travel to Weston from his Miami Beach stomping ground (he admitted he got a little turned around – I can relate).\u00a0 He graciously shared his successful business model with the attendees who hung on his every word.<\/p>\n Even though he admitted he went to Facebook (kickin’ and screamin’), he said that one of his “friends” had posted that he was traveling to a difficult country.\u00a0 This post afforded Todd the opportunity to immediately send over a book on that particular country.<\/p>\n Even though Todd admitted he is a baby Facebook user, he is an experienced marketer and understands that Real Estate is a relationship-building industry.\u00a0 I would hope the recipient of that book sings Todd’s praises,\u00a0so that\u00a0the whole world would know – even though that WAS not Todd’s motivation for his kind deed.<\/p>\n Do you think Todd is concerned about his business taking a dip or dive since he has been “on the speaking circuit?” If he were concerned, he would have continued driving until he reached Naples and called JoAnn with an “oops, somehow I missed my turn!”<\/p>\n Writing is an opportunity to share<\/strong> what you know with your community.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Write honestly. Risk vulnerability.<\/strong><\/p>\n What I often hear in my travels as I conduct blogging sessions are the inaudible<\/strong> messages —<\/p>\n a.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I can’t write.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I don’t want to sound stupid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My kids are laughing at me as we speak.<\/p>\n d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My seventh-grade teacher gave me an “F” on my “What I Did Last Summer” essay and I have not recovered. My therapist promises that I’m almost there.<\/p>\n e.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How do I start? Where do I start?<\/p>\n A. I can’t write.<\/strong> If you can speak, you can write.\u00a0 In fact, you would do well to write like you speak so that when people meet you, they will say, “you sound just like your blog<\/a>.”\u00a0 Theresa Boardman<\/a> has made that statement.<\/p>\n After blogging sessions, some of you have approached me to write for you.\u00a0 The problem is, when people meet you, you will have to speak with a Southern accent, use stupid idiomatic expressions like “rarer than hen’s teeth” and learn how to sing Karaoke.\u00a0 Your writing must be uniquely you. Write the way you speak.\u00a0 We can help you clean up the grammar and format your piece.\u00a0 Just get your own, individual thoughts down.<\/p>\n My daughter is an educator to the deaf and hard of hearing.\u00a0 The largest stumbling block to learning is the absence of language. Until she teaches them to communicate through sign, the deaf have no language and cannot learn — let alone write.<\/p>\n Once they have learned ASL<\/a> (American Sign Language), they begin writing. I read some of their writings which\u00a0were raw and to the point.\u00a0 One thing about the children of deaf culture, they are quite literal and\u00a0brutally honest.\u00a0 They don’t care if they “sound” stupid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n B. I don’t want to sound stupid! <\/strong>My first attempt at writing:\u00a0 I composed a (mail-merged\/personalized) letter to my Singles’ Department about a trip I had taken overseas with my daughter and mother – Western High School’s Senior Trip – The Cradle of Civilization – Greece and Italy.” I was so proud of myself!\u00a0 Besides being a fun overview of a great trip, the letter actually tied in with one of our areas of study.<\/p>\n When I attended our first Singles’ meeting after the letter had been mailed out, I assumed I would get praises and high fives or at least a subtle smile from across a crowded room!<\/p>\n A senior single in the group approached me and said she did not appreciate the letter, did not understand the letter and to take her off my mailing list. \u00a0She had no problem airing her complaint before this group that I had just joined.<\/p>\n I was hurt and confused.\u00a0 I went over the letter in my mind to see where I may have offended her. I allowed her to make me feel “stupid<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n The blogging arena leaves big, open doors for pickle-juiced people and their not-so-kind commentaries.\u00a0 People may call you names and threaten not to do business with you. Forge ahead . . . after all, they may be your competition, and thank God Beth moderates the comments if the public goes over the line.<\/p>\n After my negative encounter, \u00a0I approached our facilitator privately about this issue, he informed me that “Rose was in a depressed state to the point of medication, and the levity of my letter just ticked her off.” He loved the letter and asked me to head up the Department newsletter.\u00a0 I accepted.<\/p>\n Although somewhat sensitive<\/em> to Rose’s condition, I did not allow pickle-juiced attitudes and commentaries to destroy my new love —\u00a0 writing.\u00a0 Not only did I head up the Department newsletter, I wrote 25+ sketches, (many which were performed by drama groups), and a play in three acts that was written in two weeks and performed twice six weeks later.\u00a0 Seeing my play performed before my eyes and hearing my words recited by the cast<\/em> was one of the biggest delights of my entire life.<\/p>\n Imagine your being at the airport and listening to the person sitting beside you reading your post <\/strong>from his iphone<\/em> to the person sitting beside him?\u00a0 It could happen!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n C. My kids are laughing at me as we speak<\/strong>.\u00a0 You’ll be laughing when they ask you for an advance on their allowance from the closing you just attended; and yes, the client came from one of your Facts & TrendsTM<\/sup> posts.<\/p>\n D.\u00a0 My seventh-grade English teacher gave me a “F” on my “What I Did Last Summer” essay, and I have not recovered. My therapist promised me that I’m almost over it. <\/strong><\/p>\n If some teachers knew\u00a0how their\u00a0actions impacted\u00a0the entire lives of their students, they might\u00a0chose a different action.<\/em> I had the opportunity to visit with my eighth-grade English teacher at one of my high school reunions.\u00a0 Miss Sophie Theodore was one of our meanest teachers.\u00a0 Everyone feared her. When she walked through the school halls, the lockers shook.\u00a0 At our meeting I told her how proud I was to have been one of her best students and how I’ve been able to help others all through the years with English grammar because of her great teaching.\u00a0 In fact, I tutored two ladies who were failing Business English at Miami-Dade Community College in the 1980s.\u00a0 After nightly sessions with me, they passed the semester with a “B.”<\/p>\n Miss Theodore did not flinch.\u00a0 She stared at me and said, “Karen Bargery, oh, I remember you!” in snarly “pickle-juiced” fashion.\u00a0 I left quickly to join friendlier classmates.<\/p>\n Move on. You win.<\/p>\n E.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How do I start? Where do I start? <\/strong>These tie into the next law.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 4. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have fun – Write for personal value but keep your audience in mind. <\/strong><\/p>\n If you are torturing yourself, you are torturing your reader.<\/p>\n Even though I gleaned these seven laws from the book, Anybody Can Write – A Playful Approach<\/span>, by Jean Bryan, I have added my personal spin.\u00a0 If I just typed out these laws in some perfunctory manner, I would have produced a cerebral, utilitarian and functional writing. Posts beg and scream for that personal component to make it real, relevant and relatable. Blogging, which is a very important part of the social networking strata, builds community and fosters relationships.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Write anyway.\u00a0 Ignore the critic.<\/strong><\/p>\n From the time we are born until the time we die, we experience criticism.\u00a0 Constructive criticism will come from your manager or Beth Butler.\u00a0 Unless the agent in the next cubicle is your bosom buddy, I would refrain from asking him or her for editing advice.\u00a0 “I’ve just written this masterpiece post on my new $5.7 Million Dollar listing. Will you read it and let me know what you think?”<\/p>\n Beware the external critic.<\/em><\/p>\n “You rang, ssssssssssssire?” Gemini sneers, as he peers over your shoulder. He laughs.\u00a0 He mocks.\u00a0 He slaps his knee.<\/p>\n Gemini is a product of your environment.\u00a0 He was not born with you, but at some point in your education, you allowed him to affix his slimey, green body to your shoulder.\u00a0 It is difficult to kill him completely; however, you can put heavy, gray packing tape on his mouth.<\/p>\n Beware the internal critic.<\/em><\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Write often.<\/strong><\/p>\n Being a folk singer from the 70s, I learned early that practice makes excellence<\/em>.\u00a0 At the age of 17, I was singing in supper clubs hoping to become the next Linda Ronstadtt, Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell.\u00a0 I would lock myself in my bedroom\/music studio for hours while I picked out each chord, rehearsed every phrase, and memorized all the vocal notes.\u00a0 My mother would bang on the stairway. “Get down here; the fried chicken’s getting’ cold.”\u00a0 Back then I didn’t care about fried chicken the way I care about it today.\u00a0 I wanted to master the song and polish my performance.<\/p>\n Learning songs came from my struggle with\u00a0my music,\u00a0my guitar, my voice and the lyrical way the words flow.<\/p>\n Writing a post comes from my struggle with ideas, personal experience, teaching analogies, research, instructional information, and the lyrical way the words flow.<\/p>\n I strive to:<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Write often.\u00a0 Pick an exact time and day(s).<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Write in the same place if I can.\u00a0 I write best at my kitchen table writing spot which is not too comfortable so that I focus.\u00a0 Otherwise, I become blocked.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Read the post aloud to hear the rhythm of the words.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make writing a priority.\u00a0 Leave the housework and yard work to\u00a0my imaginary\u00a0maid or the landscaper.\u00a0 If I waited until “everything’s perfect and all’s right with the world,” I would never have time to do anything, much less write.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get up, take a break, and give myself a deadline.\u00a0 Write the 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hint to my Facebook friends that I am in the midst of composing something compelling and life-changing.<\/p>\n ___________________________________<\/p>\n Whether your current topic is the market, your listing, or a community event, the post forces you to do the research, read other posts, and evolve into an online expert.\u00a0 You are both student and teacher.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0 Write with conviction. <\/strong><\/p>\n I remember attending a Real Estate seminar where the speaker said that he never understood why Realtors invested in the stock market before they invested (if at all) in their own industry. He committed to buying three properties a year.<\/p>\n After that, I talked my mother into several different investments.\u00a0 Even though the path has been difficult at times, I still stand on\u00a0my conviction and would recommend that anyone looking to invest would strongly consider Real Estate.<\/p>\n Conviction is assurance<\/strong>. Conviction is passion<\/strong>. \u00a0Creativity<\/strong> is the child of passion.<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Write with conviction and the creativity will arrive on its own.\u00a0 You do not have to summon it.<\/p>\n On a piece of paper, draw a circle in the middle and put the address of your listing.\u00a0 Draw lines out from that circle to the different rooms.\u00a0 Draw lines and circles out from those circles until you have exhausted your circles or run out of paper. Write as quickly as you can without thinking.\u00a0 Just write. This is known as “bubble” thinking.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Look at your listing from a different angle:<\/p>\n When my daughter Melody was in fourth grade, she had a presentation project where she had to tell all the places where missionary had traveled and worked throughout China. At the time, Wrinkles the Puppet, was a very popular toy, and Melody owned several.\u00a0 Wrinkles the Puppet was a Char Pei dog, and Char Pei dogs are from . . . .you guessed it, China.\u00a0 I gave Melody an idea about doing the presentation from the dog’s perspective. (Now whether the missionary had a dog, remains to be seen.)<\/p>\n She wrote the script, drew a map of China with the highlighted travel points and glued the map to the back of my only cookie sheet.\u00a0 A refrigerator magnet became the moveable object for the map.\u00a0 As Wrinkles the Puppet woofed about his owner’s travels, Melody would move the magnet accordingly.<\/p>\n The kids loved it.\u00a0 The teacher loved it and requested that she\u00a0perform for the other fourth grade classes. It was a hit!<\/p>\n Hopefully, you won’t be writing about your listing from the dog’s perspective<\/strong>, but if you allow your mind to wander, you may come up with a fresh, new marketing angle.<\/p>\n If your listing has historical significance, imagine what the historical figure (original owner or famous person who lived in the same time the home was built) would think about the up-to-date renovations — a time machine effect.<\/p>\n Write down all the senses and tell your reader what they will experience as a result of being in this home, what they will see, hear, touch, taste and smell.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Weave all the amenities into a narrative.\u00a0 Your reader might be in the middle of Memphis and wonder if a bidet is just another word for a “fancy foot washer.”\u00a0 This may call for a link.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Start with a quote<\/a> that suits your post.\u00a0 It is much easier to springboard off someone else’s wonderful words of wisdom.\u00a0 This encourages mind-linking – the known to the unknown.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Start with metaphors and similes.\u00a0 We’re back in English class and I am feeling the icy stare\u00a0 . . .<\/p>\n Example of Simile – using the words “as” or “like”:\u00a0 “Like a lilting butterfly, the setting sun lit the hand-painted, floral mural adorning the walls of the little girl’s bedroom . . .”<\/p>\n That was a little over the top, but you get my drift.<\/p>\n Example of a Metaphor – “This lushly landscaped outdoor Garden of Eden beckons you to dine in the moonlight . . . “<\/p>\n A writer is an artist<\/strong> who uses words to paint pictures for his reader.\u00a0 If you write, “in the evening enjoy your Chicago-brick fireplace while you sip your . . . . .”<\/p>\n Please don’t write coffee.\u00a0 Have you been to Starbucks lately?\u00a0 There are so many combinations of coffees and teas, we could not even mention them all here.<\/p>\n “. . .sip your steamy, frothy, chocolate mocha latte.”<\/strong> Did you hear<\/strong> the rhythm?\u00a0 Can you see<\/strong> the latte?\u00a0 Your audience wants to go with you.\u00a0 Their pom poms are out.\u00a0 Like peppy, young Dolphin cheerleaders at the Super Bowl, your readers are your fans and are rooting for you.\u00a0 Let them get lost in your post. They are sitting in front of that fireplace with the air-conditioner set\u00a0to 55 degrees, watching the Super Bowl on their 52″ high def television set, “sipping\u00a0a steamy, frothy, chocolate mocha latte.”<\/p>\n Your audience will not only go with you, they will want to stay with you\u00a0or at least\u00a0visit you often.\u00a0 Your readers are waiting for you to lead. Regardless of how you feel, commit your ideas to paper. Regardless of how you feel — write it anyway.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.myewm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wiki\/Image:Eustache_Le_Sueur_002.jpg\")
<\/a>How often have I driven home from one of our offices and my muse<\/a> strikes?\u00a0 The moment someone cuts in front of me, the ideas vanish along with my religion. I should keep a small tape recorder handy or leave myself a phone message — and then commit the ideas to paper.\u00a0 Form and shape will come.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.myewm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/files\/2008\/11\/worm_growling_sm_clr_st.gif\")
<\/a>The internal critic is someone I have named “Gemini Critic.”\u00a0 You read your post over and over.\u00a0 You put in one word.\u00a0 You take out the same word twenty minutes later.\u00a0 You say, “Gemini, will I ever get this to right?”<\/p>\n![\"ImageChef.com](\"http:\/\/cdn-img1.imagechef.com\/w\/081102\/sampe64e5e3eaec558e1.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/counters.gigya.com\/wildfire\/IMP\/CXNID=2000002.4NXC\/bT*xJmx*PTEyMjU2NzYwNzc1OTMmcHQ9MTIyNTY3NjA5ODg3NSZwPTExOTMxJmQ9c3RhbmRhcmQmZz*xJnQ9Jm89M2Q3MjNhZGJhYmZkNDZiZDlkOTJhMzkxZjU3YmQ1OGM=.gif\")
deadline on the refrigerator – the place I go when it’s time to take a break.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.myewm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/files\/2008\/11\/promo_salted.jpg\")
<\/a> Can you smell <\/strong>the chocolate? Can you feel<\/strong> the steam? Can you feel <\/strong>the froth as it sits on the top of your lip? Can you taste<\/strong> the mocha?\u00a0 One word picture and I have traveled through every one of your senses.<\/p>\n
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