1. Think about something that just happened to you — either positive or negative.An experience in a store. Something at work. A family incident orcelebration. And before you begin to write, picture it in your mind.

2. Make an outline of what happened using short bullet points from beginning to end. After you’ve completed the outline — write one more sentence about each point.

2.5 Let someone else read it. Begin to talk about it, and you’llsee that the conversation leads to additional thoughts and ideas. Toomany writers think they have to write alone. It’s true that you need tocreate the dialog — but others can help you with the ideas and thethoughts. The secret is don’t be afraid of criticism — look at it as alearning opportunity.

Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The Little Red Book of Selling and The Little Red Book of Sales Answers.President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runsannual sales meetings, and conducts Internet training programs on salesand customer service at www.trainone.com. He can be reached at704/333-1112 or e-mail to salesman@gitomer.com