Writing

When you apply for CO status, you'll have to do a lot of writing. And there's no doubt about it: writing is hard work. If you've never done much writing, you may be tempted to give up before you start.

If you're worried about whether you can write--or if you find that you just don't know what to put down on paper--you're not alone. Experienced writers, people who write for a living, have the same problem at times. You may find it helpful to remember the following suggestions:

• Good writing is like talking. You don't have to use long words or complicated sentences. Try to write the way you talk.
• Don't worry if your first try isn't perfect. You can polish it up later. You and your counselor can go over what you've written to make sure it does its job.
• If you get stuck, don't sit at your desk worrying. Do something else. Your mind will work on the problem even when you're doing other things. Chances are when you go back you'll find that the problem wasn't so bad after all.
• Talk about your beliefs before you try to write them down--and as you're working on your application. Sometimes talking, just saying them aloud, can make your beliefs more clear to you. And that will help in preparing your application.
• Try saying your beliefs aloud to a tape recorder and then playing them back.
• Have a counselor or friend ask you questions and record the answers you give out loud. Then play them back.

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