Mark Hanen

“One word. Just one word. You stick to that and the rest falls into place.”

ONE - Discover Your Keyword

But, what is the one word?

Curly: [He smiles.] That’s what you have to find out.”

That one word “you have to find out” is called your keyword. Knowing what you want to say, and knowing how to say it, starts with discovering this essential word.

Your keyword is not the same as your subject. Your keyword is the word that unlocks your subject and all of your other words and ideas. It expresses the idea that lies at the heart of your writing. Your keyword propels your writing forward.

Having run out of excuses not to write, you sit at your desk or kitchen table when someone asks, “What are you writing

about?” You hastily reply, “luxury yachts,” or “Jennifer Aniston,” or “marriage.”

However, yachts, actresses, and marriage are subjects, not keywords.

Thinking about a subject, your mind is full of words and ideas that dance and swirl in your brain like wind-blown autumn leaves.

For example, if your subject is mutual funds, an overwhelming wealth of information presents itself. But once you discover that your keyword is risk, you have found your way forward. Similarly, marriage is a vast subject, but after determining that your keyword is thoughtfulness, you have discovered your focal point.