Go Ahead, Write Something AWFUL On a good day, awful can turn into awesome!

Over the years I have worked with many writers, at all levels–from high school students to University Professors, from small business owners to Fortune 500 executives.

Some wanted to freelance for a living, others dreamed about writing a best selling novel, and yet others HAD to write a Thesis for their Master’s degree or a Blog post for their boss.

After spending countless hours trying to encourage, cajole or pound words out of someone I accidentally came up with this … it worked EVERY time.

What I want is for you to put some words together. I am giving you my permission to make it AWFUL. It does not need to be brilliant or great. It doesn’t even need to be good. Awful is just fine. We will start from there.

There is magic in giving yourself (or someone else) the permission to write something simply AWFUL.

It is liberating.

Knowing that you are aiming at awful, means you don’t have that nasty little devil sitting on your shoulder yelling bad words about how worthless and untalented you are, into your ear.

Just write. Write something simply AWFUL. Could turn out to be your best work, just do it! — l

All you have to do is come up with something AWFUL.

The truth is, some of what I got back from my clients truly WAS awful, while other bits were totally brilliant and inspired.

Here is what‘s important about writing something that is simply AWFUL:

Awful is a starting point. You can make awful better. If you don’t have anything, you can’t make it better.

AWFUL gets YOU started. If you were staring at a blank screen, awful can get your fingers and brain functioning again.

AWFUL is liberating.

AWFUL can put a shrug in your shoulders and a grin on your face.

AWFUL helps you get stuff done.

AWFUL can produce happy results. Go ahead, give it to your boss. You may never be asked to write another blog post again … ever!

AWFUL allows you to learn and grow.

AWFUL allows your writing to get better. There is NO pressure to be perfect. You have the room and time to learn and grow.

Many of you know I am a fan of Nora Roberts. She’s written hundreds of best selling books. I found one of her very first books in a second hand bookshop. It was … awful.

Here’s another important thing about writing something AWFUL

Though you CAN work at improving it yourself, you don’t HAVE to do it alone.

When I worked with a Thesis client, I could not write it FOR him. I was able to help him structure the content. Make the information flow. I helped him present his thoughts so that they made sense.

I could NOT help him until he had some thoughts and information down on paper. It didn’t matter that it was awful, all that mattered was that we had a starting point.

He got better and better and better. He learned that you don’t need to start out as a brilliant writer, you can learn as you go. He not only got his Masters degree, but went on to write his PhD Thesis all by himself. HIGH FIVE!

If YOU need help to get from awful to better, don’t be afraid to ask.

Take a class (in person or online).

Hire a writing coach.

Hire an editor who is willing to explain and work with you.

Just keep on going … learning as you go.