How Do You Write From Your Soul?

We've all read the piece of writing, whether it's a sales page or an email, that lies flat, that seems as if an intelligent monkey in a room with a typewriter could have randomly come up with that particular combination of words - words that make sense, but no soul to the writing. It's that writing from the soul that piques the reader's interest, and, better yet, keeps her enthralled and wanting more-and doing what you want her to be doing (click the link, buy the product, sign up...)

"Great," you say, "but how does one actually write from the soul? It's hard to do that all the time."

It's actually only hard if we're not in touch with what we're trying to get across. Even if you're writing nonfiction, you have purpose, you have a reason for writing. You have something to say that's important enough for you to decide to go through all this hoopla to actually write it down.

THAT's where the soul comes in. Write from your soul, and your readers will be pulled into your writing and your message.

How do you get in touch with your soul?

1. Listen. Sometimes this means you have to sit quietly. (I know - it's hard.) Let your soul be heard. Let your soul speak to you. What does she want to say? What's so important that she has to have you write the words? Why? Why? Why?

2. Pay attention to your beacons. What is it that motivates you? What's important to you? For some people, it might be the idea of healing the world, helping others find their authentic voice, entertaining through fiction.... What are your beacons? Keep those in mind as you write from your soul.

3. Write everything you hear. Don't worry about what you're writing, if it's good enough, if it's SOUL-ful enough. Get it all down. You can go back later and rearrange, bridge, connect, make sure it flows, add, subtract. But right now, don't censor your soul.

4. Put away fear and vulnerability. Let your soul's words come out. Again, you can always refine later. Right now, do the deep listening and write it all. You can always choose later not to include something. But letting it all come out now allows your soul to have a voice and for you to have plenty of material from which to craft your writing piece.

5. Commit to just writing. Forget about each and every step and how you have to research this, make sure you include that, etc. You can can investigate and look deeply later. Right now, you're just letting your soul speak.

When you let your soul be heard, your writing is that much better. Your audience can tell when you're really passionate about something or if you're holding back to play it safe. Leave playing safe behind and dive into your soul.