PJ Nunn
Ask my family. They’ll tell you speechless is not a word that ever really applies to me. I have answers for questions that are only anticipated. No. I have answers to questions that haven’t even been asked.
I’m reasonably good at what I do, and usually confident that I can handle anything unexpected that comes up in any area of my experience or expertise. I comfortably field phone calls about all sorts of things, and am equally fine when it’s time to say, “You know, I don’t really know the answer to that.”
I’m fine speaking in small groups or to large crowds, and the only reason I really need notes is to keep myself from wandering too far off the main topic or going too long. I have no qualms about a spontaneous Q & A session.
As for the written word, I’ve written more articles over the years than I can count. The same is true for research papers. I’ve tried my hand at short stories and have more finished manuscripts, both fiction and non-fiction, than I’m going to admit to here.
I write bios and promo pages that make budding authors look like geniuses and experts (maybe not as good as Jeff, but still…). I write press releases that provoke journalists to call me for a change.
So why is it, do you think, that when it’s time to blog and I see that blank page, I suddenly lock up and seem to have nothing of intelligence to say? I’m thankful you can’t see stuttering on the written page.
It happens a lot, even though it may seem the blog itself is evidence to the contrary. You just can’t see how much effort it might have taken to get here. Some are worse than others, of course, and probably none are as bad as it seems. I remember one night I woke in the wee hours with an idea, grabbed my Blackberry off my nightstand and proceeded to text it to myself in hopes that I’d be inspired to continue the train of thought the next day. I think it worked.
Some of you make it seem so easy. I love reading your blogs. And often know that’s why you’re such a great author (and many of you my clients – how lucky can I be??). But then I realize, I’m a fairly good writer myself, all things considered. So what’s up with that?
The only thing I can figure is that maybe I need the two way. Maybe I need feedback, even if it’s a little delayed. Or maybe I just have some rare, yet to be diagnosed, blog-itis or something.
In any case, I’ve managed to come up with 454 words so far. Not so bad, eh? Ok, so it’s not professional, or even brilliant, but hey. I’ve had workmen in the house all day, a barfy dog (we don’t know what she ate, but apparently she didn’t like it much), and a severe chocolate shortage. We won’t even TALK about menopause so don’t ask.
I’ll try to be brilliant next week.
Till then,
