Would you like to know a winning formula on how to make money on the Web from writing articles? Here’s how I do it: I write an article, create 4-5 versions of it, and sell it for use by others in my same profession. In fact, just that one part of my business generates enough income to fully support myself comfortably. Just about anyone in any profession or business can copy this formula.

The idea is you just have to get started and do the writing. If you are struggling, you can get help.  What is the most important is you have to decide and begin to do it.

In order to be a successful and effective communicator, you’ve GOT to be a highly effective listener.  As a leader, LISTENING skills are MORE IMPORTANT than your speaking or writing skills …. No question

1. Quiet your mind and make a space for you to listen.
2. Resist the need to be in charge of the conversation.
3. Listen for ideas and central themes. A great listener should be able to mine at least one great great idea from every conversation.
4. Pay attention only to content, not delivery. Teach yourself to focus on what a speaker is saying and keep the message above the manner or method that the message is being delivered in at the time.
5. Be engaged and engaging. Use your skills to keep alert and aware of the conversation so you do not tune out the speaker.
6. Avoid getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions. It’s easy to assume that you know the rest of a sentence or message after hearing the beginning. Much of the time we are formulating our come-backs in our minds before someone has completed their full sentence. Get the whole message then respond.
7. Take notes if you are in an environment that will allow you to do that. This way you can stay engaged and the benefits are it will also enhance your memory, recollection skills, sharpen your reception, understanding and retention of the information.
8. Concentrate and resist distraction. Internal as well as external things going on around you.
9. Summarize the message being received. Chunk down the ideas into smaller bits of information you can apply to what you could use in your life.
10. Control your emotions. Learn your emotional triggers and be alert. Try not to take what you are hearing personally unless, of course, it is content that impacts you directly and was meant to be directed to you personally.
11. Stretch and exercise your mind. I have heard it said that the mind can only take on and comprehend one new thought a day.
12. Be an active listener. Practice, practice,practice.

Then take what you are hearing or have heard and begin to see how you can use it to write or improve your writing.

Since writing is another form of speaking, learning to listen will give you a place to start to improve your skills as a  writer.

Most businesses could use a hand with writing about their business so they can share it with their customers.

Think outside the normal writing  you might think of and add your ability to  their need to write about what they want to communicate with others.  Most people freeze up when it comes to writing and you can help them get un-thawed.

Why not find someone to help? You get to practice (don’t tell them that) and they get to benefit.

Everyone needs encouragement when it comes to writing and communicating with others. Help out while you are in the learning process.

It takes action, so it is important to get started and do what you can as often as you can. There are many resources in the resource section that you see in the navigation bar. Everything from grammar to editing. There really is no excuse for not getting started now on that writing project you want to do.

I have heard it said that someone who is competing in a race will sometimes trip on a moonbeam at the end of the race and not be the winner. Those invisible moonbeams are everywhere in our lives so watch for them to be sure they do not trip you up on your goal to write.

If you are active in a sport, you could write about the history of the sport, how it has changed over the years, why you enjoy it, about the other fans of the sport and some of their reasons for enjoying the sport.

There is just a wealth of information about why you enjoy the sport and got started in participating actively or from the stands as you are watching others and cheering them on.

Let others know why they might enjoy the sport also and where they might be able to learn to do the sport or participate in being a fan of the sport.

From every angle you could tell about this topic so get your writing tools ready to go and get started on sharing with others. It will increase your skills at writing and being able to communicate the details about the topic so others can understand the sport and then can decide if they can share in your passion for the sport.

I remember hearing that the hot dog eating champion won again by eating over 50 hot dogs on buns in just a very short time.  Wow, I wonder how that competition got started? Now there is a story!

From eating competitions to parades in all of that activity, there are things to write about. So get those writing instruments out and enjoy jotting down the details of your favorite holiday and the things that make it special to you.

We are always looking for a good story, and who knows, maybe your favorite will become a favorite of others as well.

Find a subject or topic you like and write a short article about why your view of the world is the one everyone should follow. This type of writing will give you a debate perspective and your objective with that is to convince your audience that your perspective is correct and they should change their mind.

Then, for fun, see if you can write about why this perspective is wrong and people should not follow it.

You can learn a great deal while doing this type of writing and in sharing both sides of the subject matter.  See where points from each side could be put together to form a new way of looking at life and creating a new perspective that would work better for anyone who might want to accept the combined perspective.

As usual, have fun and keep your writing interesting to you as well as to your reader.

It would be fun to take a topic and look back to see how it was communicated say 5 years ago, 10 years ago and contrast that with today. Who knew we would have email rather than regular mail and how that has changed our lives or just being able to use the internet to share information with others around the world.

I’m just as happy riding across country in a car rather than on a horse, for  example. Can’t imagine not having some of these conveniences in my life.  How about you?

Finding a few minutes to practice will add amazing skill to your ability to communicate easily with your writing.