I know, you already do plenty of writing for work. You should write more.
Love it or loathe it, writing more (and getting better at it) is good for you and good for your practice. In fact, if I were making a list of essential skills for attorneys, writing would at or very near the top.
Here are 7 reasons:
- You learn things. Writers are readers. In reading deeply in your discipline, and broadly outside of it, you accumulate knowledge. That knowledge makes you better at spotting issues and finding solutions. It helps you understand other people and relate to them. It makes you more well-rounded, interesting, and likable.
- You find out what you think. Writing forces you to clarify your thoughts and priorities. Clarity leads to better decisions; better decisions leads to better outcomes.
- Writing more makes you a better writer. You get better at asking questions, doing research, and sorting information. You get better at the mechanics of writing. You get better at communicating your ideas and persuading others to your cause.
- Writing makes you a better speaker. Writing helps you consolidate, organize, and present your ideas. You develop a better ear for words and become a better story teller. Not surprisingly, speaking more makes you a better writer.
- Writing helps you meet new people. You can approach other experts, to interview them, invite them to do a guest post for your blog or an article for your newsletter. Through them, you can meet other people you would like to know.
- Writing helps you build your practice. The more you write, the better you get at showing people what you do and how you can help them. The more articles, posts, reports, and other documents you create and distribute, the more opportunities there are for clients to find you.
- Writing more helps you become a better attorney. For all of the above reasons.
To get better at writing, write something every day. A journal is a good place to start.
If you don’t know what to write, open a blank page, set a timer for 15 minutes, and write whatever comes. Keep your hand moving (or fingers typing) and don’t stop until the timer sounds. If nothing comes, write about how you don’t know what to write, but keep going.
Write something every day and your writing will improve. So will your thinking. So will you.
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