Writing! Love it or hate it, but you’re probably doing it. And you may even find yourself doing a whole lot more of it, now that you’re conducting far fewer (or possibly zero) face-to-face meetings with your customers and colleagues.

Many of you know that I used to teach business writing seminars. But what you might not know is that among all the topics I’ve taught (and it’s a big long list), business writing is one of my all-time favorites. Why? Because I love helping people free themselves from the stuff they find to be stressful, difficult, or just plain annoying. And writing doesn’t have to be any of those things. In fact, whether it’s an email, letter, report, term paper, or whoppingly huge grant proposal, writing can be downright fun! Don’t believe me? Trust me and read on…

Just like with every other skill on the planet, becoming a competent, proficient writer takes some basic knowledge, coupled with a whole lotta practice. So, let’s get started with some quick and easy tips to build your knowledge base (the practice part will be up to you!), and you’ll be smiling in no time while you type away at your next writing project. I’m going to cover the first three tips today, and I’ll cover the last two in Part 2 of this series.

1. Create the right mindset. Before you even begin to write, clear your mind and prepare for the job ahead. No, really. Please do this step because it’s important. Rather than thinking of your task as “writing,” think of it as “communicating.” The word “communication” comes from a Latin word, meaning “to share something in common or to make something commonly known.” And isn’t that what your goal should be when you write? No matter how much you might know about correct grammar, punctuation, or syntax, if your reader doesn’t understand what the heck you’re trying to say, you’re not really communicating. So, when you sit down to write, think of yourself as a communicator—and your “medium” at this moment just happens to be the written word. This subtle shift in your mindset will free you to express yourself without holding back. No more thinking, “I can’t write.” You know how to talk? Then you know how to write.

2. Always keep your reader(s) in mind. Here’s something interesting: in order for you to comprehend what someone has written, you needn’t really know a thing about the writer. Yes, even right now, as I write this article, knowing me personally should neither help nor hinder you as you attempt to understand my words—I’m either being clear, or I’m not.

However, when we write, it’s always in our best interest to know as much as possible about our readers. So, before you begin to compose any document—email, memo, grant proposal, or whatever—ask yourself everything you can think of (that is reasonably knowable) about your readers. For instance, who’s actually going to be reading your document? Are you writing an internal memo to your employees, or a public announcement to your customers? Do your readers already understand the subject, or do they need to be “educated?” Are they eager to read your document, or are they a captive (and possibly reluctant) audience? Emotionally speaking, how will your readers receive your message? Will they be happy? Angry? Relieved? Asking yourself all these questions (and more) will help you to correctly determine the content, as well as to set the appropriate tone, of your document.

3. Do not fear the dreaded “Writer’s Block” monster. I have to practically chant this tip to myself every time I sit down to write! So how do you slay this infamous beast? By writing. Just start writing. The very act of writing means that you’re not not writing, right? When you first start out, it doesn’t matter whether you’re being clear or eloquent or even understandable. By sitting down and typing (or handwriting, if you’re reading this in the 1700s), your brain will click into writing mode. That’s because your brain takes its cues from the environment, and if you’re sitting at your desk and “behaving” as if you’re writing, your brain “sees a picture” of where you are and what you’re doing, and voila! It cooperates. (I promise—I’m a behavioral psychologist.) Ideas come into focus, clarity prevails, and you’re on your way to writing the next great novel—or the memo about the new vacation policy. The “just do it” maxim really works in this situation.

That’s it for today. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll continue this topic with two more writing tips. See you in a few weeks, and in the meantime, get out there and do some writing! And don’t forget to smile while you’re at it.