Workshops for writers
About Workshops for Writers
A famous American sports writer once said, “Writing is easy. You just stare at a blank sheet of paper until little drops of blood form on your forehead.” That more or less sums up how most people feel about writing, myself included. My own journey on the long road to becoming a better writer began in 1992 when I started working at the Asian Institute of Technology. As a teacher of technical writing I had the privilege of working with students and faculty from around the world. Despite the diversity in professional disciplines and linguistic backgrounds, I learned that most people have similar problems with writing and that these problems can be overcome, sometimes with surprising ease. I also learned what most professionals come to realize as they advance in their careers; that the higher you climb the more writing you have to do, but the less time you have to develop your writing skills.
I left AIT in 2000 to work with development agencies, government ministries and the private sector. I am doing much the same work - helping people get publications “off their desk and out the door”. Again, I am finding remarkable similarities in the problems organizations face on a day-to-day basis. These workshops are my way of sharing with you some of the lessons I have learned about writing and publication processes.
I want to share with you two more quotations. The first is from Samuel Johnson, a famous 18th century “man of letters” and author of the first Dictionary of the English Language. Johnson said, “What is written without effort is read without pleasure.” The second quotation is something a student said to me after a period of personal coaching. She said, “The writing wall is broken down.” That’s what I hope these workshops can do for you: help you get more out the enormous effort I know you are already putting into your writing and publications, and break down whatever personal “writing walls” are standing in your way.
