be a better writer
DESCRIPTION
Selected slides from my writing improvement seminar.TRANSCRIPT
Be a Better WriterBe a Better WriterImproving Written
Workplace Communication
3/1/2010 Be A Better Writer 1
3/1/2010 Be A Better Writer 2
“Make thyself a craftsman in speech, and thereby thou shall gain the upper hand.”
–Egyptian tomb inscription
The Value of Writing WellThe Value of Writing Well
The Value of Writing WellThe Value of Writing Wello Writing is a "marker" for people who are
more intelligent, more promotable and more valuable*
o An Office Team survey of 150 senior executives showed that 84% said it takes just 1 or 2 typos to remove a candidate from consideration for a job
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*National Commission on Writing
Be A Better Writer3/1/2010
The Pain of Poor WritingThe Pain of Poor Writing
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“… Amy asked that you be sent the attached checklist so that you can avail yourself of impertinent information regarding the engagement of a speaker.”
Be A Better Writer3/1/2010
How Good a Writer Are You?How Good a Writer Are You?o What kind of impression are you making?o Could you recognize your shortcomings as
a writer?
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What We’ll CoverWhat We’ll Covero The Four C’s
◦Correct◦Concise◦Compelling◦Clear
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What We’ll CoverWhat We’ll Covero If you didn’t learn it in elementary school
… you won’t learn it todayo If you have the fundamentals,
you WILL be a better writer
HELP!
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3/1/2010 Be A Better Writer 8
Correct:Correct:The Write WordThe Write Word
The Meaning Aludes MeThe Meaning Aludes Meo When you use a word, make sure it’s the
right word
My wife had a difficult delivery. They had to seduce labor.
9Be A Better Writer3/1/2010
The Meaning Aludes MeThe Meaning Aludes Meo When you use a word, make sure it’s the
right word
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Let’s conjugate at the baggage claim.You can’t rest on your morals.We need to be translucent with our customers.
Be A Better Writer3/1/2010
The Meaning Aludes MeThe Meaning Aludes Meo There’s no excuse for using the wrong
word
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Correct: Correct: ProofreadingProofreading
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Proofreading TechniquesProofreading Techniqueso Self-checks
◦Read out loud◦Print and read it with a finger◦Put it away and check it later◦Read it backwards
o Have someone else read it
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“WGBH TV, your favorite pubic television station”
Be A Better Writer3/1/2010
Concise Concise
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Less is MoreLess is More
"There's not much to be said about the period except that most writers don't reach it soon enough.”
William Zinser
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Less is MoreLess is Moreo Continual partial
attentiono Your writing has to
compete with other sources of information
o Say less … communicate more
Less is MoreLess is Moreo Houdini’s secret
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Less is MoreLess is More
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210,000 Copies 14 Million Copies
CompellingCompelling
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Writing Style Writing Style o The combination of word choice, sentence
structure and other factors◦Differs with audiences, format and purpose
o We’ll just touch on a few elements
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Stay ActiveStay Active
o Write in the active voice◦The subject does something to the object
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Russ drank a beer. The car burns oil.The dog ate my homework.
Stay ActiveStay Active
o Write in the active voiceo Active writing is:
◦Shorter◦More direct◦More interesting ◦More easily understood
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Clear Clear
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The Communications PlanThe Communications Plano Audience:
Who is the reader?o Objective:
What do you want the reader to know, feel or do?
o Messages: What are the key points you want to communicate?
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The inverted pyramidThe inverted pyramid
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Most important point
Supporting point
Supporting point
Supporting point
Supporting point
Supporting point
ResourcesResources
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ResourcesResources
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ResourcesResources
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The Value of Writing WellThe Value of Writing Wello Customers and clients evaluate you and
your firm, in part, based on your written communication skills
o Good writing conveys an image of professionalism and competence
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Be a Better Be a Better Business WriterBusiness Writer
Improving Written Workplace Communication
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