While living on my farm, I learned many things about business writing by observing nature. I learned that there is a season for everything: a time to plan, a time to work, a time to rest, and a time to reap the rewards of all that effort. Sounds like the writing process to me.

And I discovered that business writing is more like picking blackberries than huckleberries. Huckleberries, heavy bunches hanging low in August, fall into your bucket with the slightest nudge. Every now and then that happens with writing—the words just tumble out. But more often, writing is like picking blackberries—thorny patches keeping your ideas just out of reach. But keep stretching, and you’ll get to the good stuff. Like that cobbler cooling on the windowsill.

Those rough patches, what some people call writing blocks, usually boil down to fear. Fear of getting it “wrong.” Fear of not finishing. Fear of finishing. And there’s nothing unusual about that. Everyone feels (some more often than others) that fear of a blank screen or empty pad of paper.

Fear makes us think we have no interest in writing. Coaching clients tell me they hate to write, but later I find that they’re afraid to write because someone—their boss, client, or even that ornery editor in their own head—is standing by to criticize. This makes them freeze, procrastinate, even clean their offices before they write. But when that fear is lifted, when people understand how important writing is to their careers and that everyone can learn to write, incredible things happen.

Acknowledging this fear of writing is one of the fastest ways to overcome it. (Once people realize they’re not alone, I see them change in as little as one hour.) Become aware of the critics inside and out. Stop fretting that people might pick your writing apart. Sure, some may do that. Those same people can also find fault with a warm, sunny day in December. Ignore them. Non carborundum illegitimus. Don’t let the bastards wear you down.

There are lots of ways to overcome your fear of business writing. For starters, recognize the following three myths as just that—false ideas that hold you back.

Myth No. 1: Good writers are fast writers.
Ask some of the best writers in the world—writers you know and love—and they’ll tell you this just isn’t true. Don’t judge yourself by how fast—or slowly—you write. Focus instead on your perseverance and results. That’s all that matters.

Myth No. 2:  Good writers write great first drafts.
Ditto above. Oh sure, every now and then someone comes along who’s a Mozart with words, but most of us need time. I spent years ashamed of my first drafts. Then I read Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. She set me straight.

Myth No. 3:  Good writers don’t need to edit.
No, just the opposite. Bad writers stopped too soon—in other words, they didn’t edit enough. This is key to overcoming any lingering fears of writing. Good writing is really good editing. Just get it down—you can always make it better later. And the need to edit does not mean you didn’t get it right. I know hundreds of professional writers who edit 10, 20, even 30 times before they’re ready to share their work with the world.

Stop telling yourself you’re not good enough—or that you don’t have what it takes. Everyone can be a good writer with a little practice. Like I just said, “Bad writers just stopped too soon!”

What writing hang-ups still hold you back? Once you recognize them, you’re ready to work on them or even ignore them.

Let me help you overcome any lingering fears of business writing. My books Words at Work and Overcome Your Fear of Writing are good places to start. Or one-on-one business writing coaching—just a session or two can put your fears to rest.

I took a break from business writing the other day and walked my dog, Carly, around the neighborhood. As I turned a corner, I was delighted to see pink flowers cascading from a balcony. And just as quickly, I felt disappointment—even disdain—when I realized they were plastic. The color was bright, the flowers looked (almost) real, and yet I felt duped.

And that’s how I feel about all the outsourced blogs and articles people send out today. To me (and I would bet many readers), their submissions seem plastic compared to a passionate comment or a personal reflection.

In my work as a writing coach, I often meet people who have deep-seated fears of writing. I know these are real issues, but I wonder if, when they outsource their writing, they’re doing themselves any favors with prefab postings.

They’re not, according to marketing expert Marcia Yudkin. “Don’t outsource writing. People want to read articles with personality as well as content,” she writes. “Readers respond to your unique set of attitudes and information, which rarely comes across from a hired writer. And definitely don’t post lousy articles that are little more than keywords strung together in minimally interesting sentences. This just clogs the Internet with junk and wastes everyone’s time.” (Read her entire article here.)

Instead of all that plastic writing, I love to see people blossom into their own style and fresh voice. And here’s the irony: When people do take time to craft a personal blog or article, they stand out. And isn’t that what those blogs and articles are all about in the first place?

If this scenario sounds familiar, here are some tips to help you overcome any lingering fears of writing, speed up your writing process, and most importantly, tap into your own amazing creativity:

1. Write your first draft fast. Super fast. Set a timer for just 10 minutes; you’ll be amazed at what you create. That’s a key word—create—because when you write fast, you also tap into more creativity. Now if you’re pressed for time, turn this draft over to someone to fine-tune. Your stamp is on it, your thoughts are captured. The piece will be yours.
2. Quit worrying about the quality of your first draft. Almost everyone writes terrible first drafts. That’s just part of the writing process.
3. Brainstorm every chance you get. Not only when a writing project looms but when you need a boost or want to create something new. Whether you use free-writing, mind-mapping, or list-making, mine your mind to discover the gold just beneath the surface.
4. Stop looking over your shoulder. Write like you and sound like you. Sure, it’s good to improve, and we learn by observing others. But that can paralyze you too. Just be you. It’s a wonderful thing to be.

What makes you want to job out business writing projects? Why have a blog if it’s really not yours?

Need a writing tune-up? Here’s a great opportunity for you and everyone in your office to refresh your GPS: grammar, punctuation, and style. I’ll be teaching two 90-minute webinars for People-OnTheGo. These are lively and informative webinars at a special price–only $19.95 for both sessions. Check out more about the webinar and then register with the special price. I hope to see you there!

Have you noticed that 800-pound gorilla in your office? You know, the one that hovers in the corner, breathing its stale breath across just about every desk. Most people keep their heads down, not wanting to make eye contact with this killer—killer of sales, deals, promotions, and respect.

That behemoth is also known as bad business writing. Not many people want to face this hairy, scary creature—it just seems too big to tackle. But honestly, the solution is simpler than you may think. (And ignoring it can prove disastrous!)

Recent articles in newspapers and trade magazines lament how e-mail and texting have strangled our ability to produce effective business writing. And to some extent, that’s true. But the problem has been around much longer and goes even deeper. I believe the root of bad business writing stems from a misunderstanding of the writing process.

Why didn’t we learn this in school?
That’s what students and clients often ask me. I’m not sure why, but somehow we came away with the idea that writing is a compendium of grammar rules we keep vaguely in mind as we string words together. But the writing process is much more organic than that. It includes an understanding that in order to produce a polished piece, for example, we must allow ourselves to write a dreadful first draft—something most of my students think is a waste of time, a sign of their inability to write, or both.

I understand. I used to feel that way too. Then Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird, cured me in an instant when I read her chapter entitled “Sh**ty First Drafts. Click! Just like that I turned off that ornery voice in my head. She gave me permission to write those awful early drafts and taught me that they are simply the means of getting my thoughts down so I can make them better later. Which brings up another misunderstood tenet of the writing process: editing. (More on that next time.)

Start today!
Do you worry about your first draft not being perfect? Let me be your Anne Lamott and assure you that 99 percent of great writers, writers you admire, start with dreadful first drafts. Those lousy drafts are your best work at that moment. They are the best anyone can do in that early phase of the writing process.

OK, now try to write your first drafts fast. When you do, you’ll:

1. Have more time to edit (because good writing is really good editing).
2. Tap into more creativity. (That’s how the brain works!)

So, write those fast—and dreadful—first drafts, knowing that you’re off to a great start. That’s your first step in making friends with that 800-pound gorilla—and increasing your sales, deals, promotions, and respect.