Communicate with Clarity

I can write loads and loads of words for you. I mean I can literally sit down at the keyboard and fill pages for you. I write whatever you need, for which ever audience we’re targeting.

I was that annoying kid in Year 12 exams.

It’s two hours into a three-hour exam. Other kids are staring out the window, chewing the end of a pen. Others have their heads on the desk, looking like they’re asleep.

Well, hmmm…I’m the one with my hand in the air asking for more paper to write on.

There’s more I need to say to answer the question.

Luckily as I went on to write for work, I learnt those words can be as short or as long as we need. If you check out my blog you’ll see I value – and edit – for simplicity and clarity.

It took me a while though to realise that I might be a bit odd; that not everyone else finds getting the words out easy. There were little clues along the way. Clues which told me, maybe, just maybe, this whole writing thing was something I had which could help.

Clue 1

When I was pretty new to the public service, the surprise and delight in my branch manager’s voice when she walked across the floor to ask me if I had written the speech in her hand. The surprise was because I hadn’t written any public service speeches before, and the delight was because she didn’t have to edit it. It was good to go.

Clue 2

The lovely email from the editor at the publishing house for my first book. She was thrilled with my manuscript draft. There was very little for her to edit, and that makes an editor happy! (The five stars from the notoriously difficult San Francisco Book Review for a later book was also really nice too.)

Clue 3

When I told my former boss, I was leaving she described me in two simple sentences. The two things which meant so much to her in managing a busy organisation. She said, “You can write. And you can make decisions.”

So I listened to what I was being told. I’m here to get those words out for you.

Work Terms

Australian-based, which means I work while you sleep!