Techniques that Smart Communicators Use to Grow and Prosper

If you want to learn how to communicate better or improve your writing style and quality, here are some activities that if performed often and widely can help provide all the creative juices you need to eventually create your best works.

• Never forget that one of the most effective ways to learn how to write easily is to simply read often and widely. Sure, absolutely do keep writing - ideally something new every day. Write about topics that interest you, anger you, motivate and inspire you, however, do continue to read as well. For many writers, regular reading often comes easily, since a love of reading can provide the initial driving force that forms the desire to write.
• While reading to relax, I also suggest you devote some reading time to what I refer to as "active reading". When you read in such a way that you're also taking special note of how the writing has been crafted, in addition to reading about the topic, you're also developing your writing "muscle" too. "Active reading" is a form of writing research.
• Take notes. If during your "active reading" sessions, your attentions is drawn to a writing style or method that makes a particularly significant impression upon you, find out why this particular sequence affects you. The real value in completing this activity is that if you as an "active reader-writer" with an analytical eye have taken note of the sequence, then others too are almost certainly enthralled. Strive to understand the construction of the piece and record what the author did to achieve this particular effect. Then you'll have a model or template from which to create your own versions later.
• Also, consider the analogy / story of the stonemason while trying to split a large rock. Blow after blow he rained down upon that rock yet still it would not break. However, our wise stonemason possessed "insider" knowledge so did not give up. He knew that eventually the rock must break. And break it did: after many blows, aching muscles and the sometimes overwhelming desire to simply stop and perhaps choose another "easier" rock tomorrow. Key tip: the single blow that appeared to break the rock could not have split the rock on its own; only through the accumulated weakening power of all the previous blows combined with the final blow did the rock break. So it often is with writing, speaking and presenting. Sometimes, achieving the level of success you crave can take longer than you may at first expect. Therefore, do all you can to develop patience and persistence. Those two traits combined create a form of power that is unstoppable.
• Do keep hammering away while you learn, develop and perfect your own skills of writing, speaking, presenting or website development.
• Never give up. Keep interested in what you're doing. Connect with other, like-minded individuals to give and receive encouragement and share experiences.
• Make the business of writing, speaking, presenting and website content creation fun.