[The latest in our series of Q&A discussions on successful writing in the business realm with recipients of JD Supra's 2016 Readers' Choice award:]

...just do it. Don’t wait for the right time, the right moment, or to get inspired. Just get your butt in that chair and do it.

Tom Fox is our top compliance writer at JD Supra. He is founder of Houston-based law firm Tom Fox Law focussing on FCPA and global anti-corruption compliance, investigations, mitigation, and litigation. He’s a prolific writer of both print and blogs including The FCPA Blog and FCPA Compliance & Ethics. Although he came to blogging through an unusual life event, he has learned much and gained much from the experience. He says there’s no mystery to it, really—you just need to do it.

JD Supra: Why did you decide to write?

Tom: After I left my corporate job I decided to race bicycles. I admired Lance Armstrong and had decided that that’s what I wanted to do with my life. Then, the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2009, I was hit by a Hummer and that ended my cycling career. All of a sudden, all I had on my hands was time. I realized I needed to go back to work and decided to explore the world of social media. I knew I wanted to show how do you do compliance inside a corporation, so I decided to be the nuts and bolts guy. That’s when I began tweeting and blogging. 

 I find ideas in newspapers, magazines, books, rock-n-roll concerts, sporting events, popular people...

What is your writing process? 

I usually cut about 2-3 three articles out of the newspaper a day and put them in a folder for article ideas. I find ideas in newspapers, magazines, books, rock-n-roll concerts, sporting events, popular people—I’m never at a loss for something to write about. I have a library of books about compliance and every now and then when I don’t have anything to write about, I drop a book on the floor and whatever page it opens to, that’s what I write about. 

I write every day, usually in the mornings, about 10 blog posts a week for my various blogs. The first year I was just doing three blog posts a week. That second year I made a commitment to do it daily. Once I did that it’s become so much easier, I just made it part of my work day. I also try to theme my posts—last week it was Shakespeare. I’ve written posts on Jefferson Airplane, David Bowie, and Prince themes. 

What were your expectations for writing when your first began? 

I had no expectations when I first began. I literally opened the door and walked into a place I’ve never been. I discovered that I could have a worldwide practice literally from home. Within six months I had clients all over the world that I’d never met or been to their office. Blogging showed me the great power of social media and all for free. 

What inspires you to write?

Getting inspired to write is not really a problem for me and now I have an outlet so I can do it as much as I want.

What is the value in writing?

For me, I love it. I get to do what I love. Anytime you have to say something to someone, you have to learn about it. So I love that too. I decided I wanted to be the compliance evangelist to people, corporations, governments. I wanted to evangelize them about the benefits of compliance. That’s what I’m trying to do.

How do you benefit from your writing? 

I get to do what I love. Professionally, I get to be a subject matter expert. When I write something about compliance that’s broader, JD Supra distributes it to a wider audience than just my blog. It gives me an audience interested in my subject matter.

There’s not one piece of writing or social media that got me work. It’s always a combination of reading a tweet and then they go to the article, or read an article and then they go to my website. I can tell you it works, I just can’t tell you how it works.

Write from the heart, whatever you passion is...

What advice do you have for writers just starting out? 

Write from the heart, whatever you passion is. It’s often hard for lawyers at first because we’re all taught to write like a lawyer. It took time for me to learn to not use legal writing and write more casual. Also, the more niche you have the better off you’ll be. 

But really, just do it. Don’t wait for the right time, the right moment, or to get inspired. Just get your butt in that chair and do it. That’s the trouble with most people, they don’t think they have anything to say but there are people out there that want to hear what you have to say.

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[Tom was recognized as a top author in the compliance category of JD Supra's 2016 Readers' Choice awards. Follow his writing, videos, and podcasts here.]