Trust Me, I’m a Lawyer! – Becoming an Author*
Let me share some action I learned from lawyers that enabled me to piggy-back on their smarts and write a fab book backed by science. Have you ever wished you could win an argument, or even just keep up, with a know-it-all, of which there are many?
I worked with barristers and lawyers for 20+ years and believe me, you learn every trick in the book. They could make you think black was white on a middling day, or convince you of almost anything. I humbly thank them now because they taught mind-expanding bending like no other, and that life is all about the word ‘solving’ in any of its guises. We were never allowed to use the word ‘problem’ ooh no. They wanted answers, and fast, and often, or always. We were cultured at mind reading and shorthand of the eyes; body language tracking. When I started to write my book, this training carried me right through. Their regimented discipline tested my grit daily. I learned how to fight the good fight but appear as weak as a kitten.
I was very well paid to write A+ Grade, normal English the correct way for 20+ years and don’t choose to write like that anymore. I love writing mad English, and having fun with language and words (and tenses wherever they land). Stream of Consciousness.
Why is it that we’re all expected to write like this or like that? Oh no, you can’t write that, or you can’t say that. Who says so? Why? Why can’t we write our story our way and to hell with fitting into some stupid box that was made donkeys years ago, by someone maybe long dead? Dig deeper. It might work. It’s your story and no one else can write it the way you would. No one. If the going gets tough - that’s what editors are paid for, to help you make sense out of your own writing. Most importantly, to see your story from an independent point of view.
Let me show you how it’s done in Creating with a Bang, my book regarding an investigation of food and plants to hugely assist the body and live an easier life, saving thousands of dollars. I helped to solve shocking sickness in my own family by getting rid of parasites from our guts, lives and houses.
There were incredible friendships to be made in those legal-eagle days, us working bees pooling our dread at being fired tomorrow for one mistake laying there in the background, threatening, just in case. I still treasure these friendships based on a history of intense learning, free otherwise expensive lunches - swanning around with posh people - every so often. We were the working bees of an industry which required the physical stamina of an Olympic athlete. Working for lawyers was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time.
