David J. Pollay's Blog

My 3rd Secret to Writing

If you want to write your book, column, blog post, newsletter, or company proposal, wake up early enough every day so that you can write something before you have to get on with other priorities. 

 

Don’t wait until the phone calls start coming in, the emails start arriving, and the texts start flying.  If you wait until later in the day, you may be too distracted or too tired to be creative.

 

Ideally, you want to squeeze in thirty to sixty minutes of writing—or as much time as you can put in—before your day really gets underway.

 

Writing near the start of your day will make a positive difference in your life on a number of levels.

1.    Every day it will affirm that you are a writer.

2.    Every day it will give you a sense of accomplishment.

3.    Every day it will improve your writing and confidence.

4.    Every day it will keep your writing project activated in your mind, consciously and unconsciously.  You’ll be surprised how many ideas will come to you later in the day when you're doing something completely unrelated.

5.    Every day it will move you closer to accomplishing your writing project.

 

As always, try this idea out and let me know how it works for you.

I’m rooting for you!

 

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  You can find out more about The Law of the Garbage Truck here.

Advice Must Come with Sincerity and Expertise – Stephanie’s an Example

When I look for personal advice from people, I look for a number of things. 

 

Top among them is sincerity and expertise.

I want to know my advisors have my best interests in mind.  

I want to know that they really care about helping me. 

And I want to know that they have experience, knowledge, and skill in the domain I need help. 

 

 
   

Stephanie Gunning is one of those people.

 

After I wrote my book, The Law of the Garbage Truck, and before I signed with Sterling Publishing, I called in Stephanie for advice.  I wanted to look for ways I could improve my book. 

 

Stephanie pointed out where I could clarify passages or expand my treatment of a subject or cut material to make my message stronger.  Stephanie had the expertise, and my success mattered to her.  She gave the advice, and it was up to me to make the changes.  I listened, made the changes, and strengthened my book. 

 

Now, Stephanie is helping even more people.  This time it’s with her own book, You Are A Spirit, written with Kayhan Ghodsi.  It just came out last week.  I bought my copy the day it was available.  If you’re interested in spirituality and improving the quality of your life, pick up a copy.  

 

Think about the people you rely on. 

 

Who are the people

who are giving

you advice

these days? 

 

Make sure they’re the best, and make sure that they care.

 

 

 If you’re here for the first time, welcome!

You can sign up for my newsletter.

 

You can find out more about The Law of the Garbage Truck here.

  

 

 

My 2nd Secret to Writing

I told you my first secret to writing.  Here's the second. 

Before you start writing your book, article, blog post, newsletter, or company memo, get a blank sheet of paper and a pen.  Pause for a moment … and close your eyes (optional). Choose the first subject that comes to mind.  Lock it in.  Then, start writing about it as fast as you can without stopping.  Don't edit what you write.  Don't re-read it.  Just let whatever comes out, come out.

  Here's what happens for me.  It awakens my senses.  It's like stretching before you exercise.  This process has helped me kick-start the writing of my columns and portions of my book.

  And here's the bonus.  Sometimes you actually write something you can use in a column, a blog, or a newsletter.

  Most importantly, your warm-up writing clears the way for you to start your "real" writing confidently.

  Try it out, and let me know how it works for you. 

I'm David J. Pollay.  I wrote The Law of the Garbage Truck to help people become happier and make the world a better place. 

My 1st Secret to Writing

Writing intimidates most people.

I want to change that.

So, I’m going to share with you what I do.

Here’s my first secret:  Read a little each day before you start writing.

I spend ten to fifteen minutes reading a book—usually unrelated to my work—that inspires me in some way, intellectually or emotionally.  If I'm having a particularly difficult time awakening my creativity, I'll read a little longer to jump-start the flow I need in order to write well. 

Try it for yourself, and let me know how it goes.