Page 23 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking

and think, “If they did it, so can I.”

Format at the end. Things like bolding, italicizing, and setting margins can be
distractions from what matters most. You’ll end up having to redo a lot of the

formatting, anyway.

Writing well isn’t magic. Even large parts of the most superb award-winning

books have been perfunctory or even mechanical. Sometimes simply following
the steps will get you to the end. You don’t always need inspiration. Sometimes

you simply need to sit down, do it, and stop worrying.

2.2 Getting Started

For some people, the hardest part of writing is the blank page, that looming,

scary place where nothing seems to be happening, and nothing in your head
seems good enough to put down.

2.2.1 WRITE FOR THE CORRECT AUDIENCE

I once worked with a young person who couldn’t write light, fun emails for

clients because he was still stuck in the university essay mode. Everything came
out in a formal tone. I’ve also seen new students who should know better send

very casual emails to their professors, completely lacking in even the simplest of
composition niceties, such as capital letters, punctuation, or even “please” and

“thank you.” Don’t be the person who doesn’t recognize when it is the right time
for formal versus informal language! Match the tone and register of your

audience.

2.2.2 OPENING SENTENCES CAN BE HARD, BUT THEY
DON’T HAVE TO BE

If you’re having trouble putting down your first words, try these ideas. They can
also break up writers’ block.