Have you ever sat starring at a blank screen, deadline looming and no words would come? You get so caught up in creating a master piece that you can't think of the first word.

My son, eleventh grader, was struggling with an essay last week because the teacher told him he needed to write at a 10th/11th grade vocabulary level. He was so focused on the vocabulary he totally missed the point of the essay - to share a view point about a particular topic.

I told him - just get your thoughts down on the page, don't worry about grammar or vocabulary, but focus on the heart of the message. You can always go back and exchange words for more challenging vocabulary to meet the reading level requirements.

The same in business - just start writing out your thoughts - you can refine and craft the communication later, but chances are your first free flow writing will include the main point of the message and isn't that what you want to get across?

I found a free website for basic writing classes - one on crafting a great business letter. But what I like about the site is a daily writing tip. Today's tip is:

It sometimes helps to write your introduction last - it's much easier once you know what you've actually written. Also, it's faster to write this way because you don't agonize for hours over how to start!

Looking for a free online writing class, check out The Writing Lab at Purdue.

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer