Posted in: writing classes

What do you want to make happen with your writing? Whether we’re talking about an email, sales materials, internal reports, training materials, or anything else, you must always ask yourself: what do you want the reader(s) to do after they’ve read the material? All too often, writers fail to think about what they're trying to accomplish. Lack of clarity on this point increases the risk that your...
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Popular expectations for “good” writing by scientists tend to be clear-cut and limited to the expository. I learned this the hard way, via my very first research report. My florid analysis returned to me deeply lined in red, topped off with a tart admonition from my mentor against “gilding the lily.” Stick to facts, I learned. Support conclusions with data and weigh the words in your conclusions...
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For most professionals, writing is a primary part of their job, even though it’s a painful task for many. The good news is that spending more time planning will enable you to streamline the process, reduce writing time, and will result in more effective documents. While planning may seem like an extra step in the process, it’s necessary to help you streamline the writing process and write more cogent,...
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US organizations with 100 or more employees spend more than $70 billion per year on training, according to Training magazine’s 2016 Training Industry Report. Yet industry analysts find that many organizations waste that money on training that is ineffective or doesn’t stick. Is the same true of writing training? After all, isn’t it more likely to be ineffective than other training because people...
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Experts make complex tasks look easy, approaching them with a grace and style that is admirable, even enviable. So, what does it take to become an expert? When you practice something repeatedly, over time you activate areas of your brain that allow those actions to become automatic. This development occurs with athletes, video gamers — and writers. Your brain on writing The brain’s ability to develop...
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