This is part two of “how I write.” It is NOT part two of “how TO write.”

Everyone needs to (learn to) write in a more compelling manner. Clear, concise, compelling writing is a rarity in our world. E-mail and text messaging has helped with clear and concise, but it has taken “compelling” out of the formula.

I started last week by elaborating on the following major points:

I write like I think. I write like I talk.

I write anywhere, anytime.

I collect ideas. I collect thoughts.

When I get the idea, I stretch it.

I write from my own experience.

When I write a column or a chapter, I stick to one subject, thought or theme.

I write with authority.

I don’t “call it” anything.

I don’t care about grammar.

I do care about structure. I do care about flow.

I rely on spell-check, and keep on writing until I complete the thought.

I’m sharing my personal writing habits and methods because I believe they will help you understand writing and become a better writer. And yes, I’ll tell you how you can get both parts at the end of this column.

Here are the rest of my personal writing philosophies:

My writing voice is not PC. If I waste time with “his or her,” I lose my thought. I don’t mean to be insulting; I’m just writing in my voice. It’s how I grew up. It’s the same voice as all the early books I read, and continue to read. NOTE WELL: It’s a MESSAGE and a THOUGHT. It’s an IDEA or a STRATEGY. Not a GENDER.

I write in the male gender because I’m a male. I never mean to offend anyone. I’m trying to make points, generate new thinking and help people succeed. That advice knows no gender. Read between the pronouns, don’t get hung up on them.

I do not include myself with the reader. I separate myself from the reader with pronouns. I say “you,” “your,” “they,” “he,” “she,” “it” or “the,” NEVER “we” or “our.” I talk to the reader, but never include myself in the thought. NOT, “We all know…”; rather, “You know.”

I break the rules of traditional writing, grammar and punctuation. Teachers of grammar would not give me a passing grade. I could care less. I’ve sold a million books. How many have they sold?

I edit when I finish, but I edit better a day later. Editing is revealing. It tells you what you were thinking at the moment you wrote it. Editing a day later reveals, “What was I thinking when I wrote this?” EDITING SECRET: I read aloud when I edit. And I ask others to edit when I think I’m finished.

I end my lists with .5 rather than a whole number for 2.5 basic reasons:

1. The .5 statement at the end of each list I make is the glue that binds the rest of the list.

2. Ending this way makes me think more deeply about the subject. Think of a higher level. Here’s where I can add philosophy, humor, challenge and or a final call to action.

2.5. It makes my lists different from all other lists. It brands me and sets me apart from all other list makers (except for the few who copy me).

I love to write. This may be the biggest secret of writing with passion and clarity. I believe loving it makes the thoughts flow deeper and more consistently. I believe my love of writing makes me a more complete writer. Content becomes more relevant, and pride of authorship shows through in every sentence.

I just counted personal pronouns. The word “I” appears in this two-part column more than 90 times. A record. I avoid first-person plural (“we,” “our”) like the plague. It sucks the power out of my writing. And it drains the impact by lowering the value of the writer. When you write, you’re the authority.

Here are 5.5 things you can do to improve your skills today:

1. Just sit down and write something. Every day.

2. Save your best thoughts and ideas the second they occur. Not on a pad of paper or a diary. ON A COMPUTER, where you can re-read it, expand it and edit it.

3. Write it like you would say it.

4. Make sure your thoughts are simple, easy to understand and complete.

5. Edit early and often.

5.5. You’re writing for the reader AND yourself.

Want both parts of this article? Go to www.gitomer.com, register if you’re a first-time user, and enter the words HOW I WRITE in the GitBit Box.

Jeffrey Gitomer can be reached by phone at (704) 333-1112 or by e-mail at salesman@gitomer.com.

© 2006 Jeffrey H. Gitomer