The other day I came across a business site and saw this: “…we help you acheive…” Oh.No.They.Didn’t. Yes, they did. The classic, ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’, blunder, which left me wondering: If they don’t bother with a simple spell check, what else will be missed?

I will stop here and acknowledge we all make mistakes. I have caught a typo the odd time AFTER I’ve sent a first draft through to a client. It happens – no one is perfect. But while perfection may be a lofty goal, there are ways to ensure the copy you put out there is as clean and polished as Thanksgiving silverware.

1. Get with the program: If you don’t have your word processing program set on automatic spell check mode, go do it now. Email programs also offer a spell check before sending option. Use it. You’ll be glad you did. Now while these programs can’t, and won’t, catch everything, they’re the first line defense against erroneous spelling.
2. Backwards is better: An amazing copy editor I used to work with shared this trick: read everything you’ve written backwards. It’s a lot easier to miss spelling mistakes when you’ve become intimate with your copy. But reading it backwards forces you to slow down and concentrate on the words, which highlights those sneaky errors.
3. Find a copy buddy: Have someone whose writing skills you trust read over your copy. This is especially critical if it’s print copy, which as many of us have experienced, is expensive and time consuming to fix.
4. Don’t go it alone: While I like how convenient and lightweight the online dictionaries are, I never write without my well-loved hardcover version nearby. Either way, dictionaries exist to make life easier for writers. So use them.

Disclaimer: If you find an error in this blog post, please remember how I said no one is perfect.

Writing isn’t always easy. Even for those who do it for a living. We’ve all sat down in front of a blank piece of paper or computer screen and wondered, “Now what?”

Being able to write well is a valuable skill, regardless if it’s for business, a personal blog or website, or a thank-you card to your child’s teacher. Great writing earns respect and gets results. However, the first step to great writing is making sure the page doesn’t stay blank for too long.

The advice I give to those suffering from so-called “writer’s block” is not novel, but it is simple: just start writing. There is no magic formula, and I guarantee even the great writers have had their fair share of writer’s block. It can be uncomfortable to get words down, but it’s much easier to work off a draft (even if only in point form) than a blank page.

When I need to write without a clear sense of direction, I start small. I title the piece and jot down anything and everything that comes to mind. I don’t worry about structure, tone, or length. I shelve the editor in my brain and focus instead on brainstorming. It’s only once the ideas are exhausted, and I have a fresh cup of coffee in hand, that I start adding structure.

You should also be prepared for writing inspiration at the most inopportune moments, like at 3 a.m., or in line at the grocery store. Writers are always writing – even if only in their heads. I always carry a notebook with me, and I’ve been known to sleep with pen and paper beside my pillow.

Finally, figure out where you write best. For me, it’s with a lot of background noise. A crowded coffee shop makes my fingers fly across the keyboard, but a quiet room is guaranteed to dampen my creativity.

Sometimes I have to scrap the first draft and start over. Occasionally, I’ll end up with sixteen drafts before I get a finished piece I’m happy with. Remember, no one is judging you on your drafts. The most important thing I’ve learned as a writer is that the only antidote to writer’s block, is to write.

Go figure.