Us writers love to bitch about the many people who throw money at accountants, dry wall mudders and web designers, but figure they can, and should, write everything themselves.

When they need extra help with, say, a catchy slogan, they ask their spouse, assistant, babysitter, fitness trainer, financial analyst, chimney sweep or other people they encounter in the course of their day.

"I just don't have the time," they babble breathlessly, much as I moan about not enough hours in the day to finish my backyard particle accelerator.

Just when I was running out of polite ways to mask the gagging on my end of the phone, I realized what was really happening.  It's not them. It's us. Writers are not psychic. We should be.

For people whose jobs or businesses are built on their expertise, we could save time only by peering into their brains and pulling out their ideas, then presenting them attractively on the page.

My light bulb moment

I figured this out when I was talking to Deanne Kelleher, founder and director of Kaos Group.  I had called to find out why she was such an enthusiastic reader of my first kick at my book Write Like You Talk-Only Better. I hoped this insight would help me do a better job with the second edition, which will be available soon in print and for e-readers.

A professional organizer, Deanne loves sharing her passion for imposing order on chaos, from transforming crowded cupboards to streamlining digital files. Her elephant problem is lack of time.

When I met Deanne, she was a facilitator at a small business group. Deanne and the other advisers constantly exhorted us to focus on what we do best and outsource the rest. Despite this, they all did their own writing. Imperfectly.

As Deanne says, "It's all in my head." With no hope of finding an affordable 24/7 psychic writer, they accept their fate. It is written.

Deanne's turning point

But Deanne realized something had to give after a long day of making lists with clients, taking her kids to swimming lessons and struggling to meet the deadline for her monthly online magazine. She decided to rest her eyes--just for five minutes. The next morning little Tess found her slumped over, asleep at her desk.

She vowed to change. She could not stomach missing a deadline. She hated the example she had set for her kids. She was desperate to balance her work with time to play with her family, fiancé and friends.

Naturally, Deanne sought an organized approach for writing her magazine, blog and other marketing material.

As soon as she realized the book would help her write more efficiently and effectively, the colour-coded highlighting began. She is still using the checklists and worksheets for the Organized Lifestyle Magazine and other writing.

As a result, Deanne is getting more sleep, even though business is booming.

Big bonus

She's also shaken off the ghost of her grade 10 grammar teacher, threatening damnation unless she wrote in a formal tone and obeyed all the rules. Now her writing sounds more like the sugared-up-Martha-Stewart loved by the audiences of her live presentations and television spot s.  

I am enlightened too. When experts insist on doing their own writing, I don't take it personally. Let me confess that I sometimes try my hand at graphics, spreadsheets, plastering and other do-it-yourself tasks I am not trained to perform.

I have, however, resolved to become more studious, like Deanne whose office brims with manuals and how-to books. Especially before I risk blowing up the world with that particle accelerator.