I just got an email from a colleague's partner in another part of the country.  I must be on his list, and today I happened to see one of his broadcast emails come through - it caught my attention.  The headline was compelling and I did not quite recognize the name in the from column.  I had just enough time to be curious.  I'm glad I opened it, because the contents of that email has given me good fodder for today's blog post.

Be careful with your writing, it says more about you and your personal brand than you think...

To me, there's nothing worse than writing that doesn't flow.  Growing up and going to school I think I had a hard time concentrating, and staying focused on my work.  When I could concentrate, though, the stuff I really liked to read was the stuff that flowed.  The stuff that felt like it was speaking to me.

I have no formal training as a writer.  A couple of really good English teachers along the way, and a trip through graduate school got me going.  Now I write to live.  Literally, I do.  The process really helps me live my life.  It has become part of me, like breathing.  Because if I stop.  Well, you know what happens when you stop breathing...

There is one question I ask myself as I type every sentence, and then read the piece back to myself.  "How does this sound?"  If it sounds good and feels like it flows, then I know I've done a good job.  If it sounds and feels the same as if I had just explained it to you verbally, than I know I'm good.  That's what works for me.  Does it always go perfectly?  Absolutely not.

Over the years I've developed a pretty good knack for nailing stuff pretty well on a first draft.  I'm grateful for this gift.  And that is really what my blogging is really all about.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but remember, it better sound good.  This goes for your email broadcasts too.  People don't expect them to be perfect, but it they don't flow, and I have to work too hard to read them -  look out.  I may be pointing out your errors on this blog some day.

The email I received today contained a very good underlying client success story.  Unfortunately it was lost amidst the muck and mire of bad writing, bad punctuation, and bad proof-reading.  Read your writing back to yourself out loud before you send it out.  This will tell you a lot.  It was obvious with the email I received today that this was not done.  If it had been, I'm pretty sure I would have received a more polished finished product.

Everything I write isn't perfect either, especially when I'm working fast to get an email broadcast or blog post out.  But man oh man, don't let your stuff contain the stuff I read this morning.  Fragment sentences?  Punctuation in the wrong place?  Run-on sentences that start with one thought and end with a completely different one?  Please, watch yourselves.

Many of us are working with highly educated folks.  If you want them to read your stuff, and for that stuff to reflect well on you, make sure it flows.  The world, and your personal brand online will ALL be better as a result.

Now, I'm going to let this one sit, re-read it after a cup of coffee and then send it along to you.  I would love to know what you think.  You can leave your comments below...

John