Posted in: writing classes

People usually don’t expect to do things perfectly the first time. That’s why we invest in lessons for everything from violin to dance to cake decorating to golf. And we know we have to practice, whether that means going to the batting cage three times a week or rehearsing a sales presentation over and over. Writing is no different. It is a skill that can be mastered with practice. If you struggle...
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The myth that writing is a skill that one is either "born with" or not is inherently false. Writing can be taught; more to the point, how to write effectively can be taught. One reason that many professionals don't write well is that they simply lack the necessary tools. For instance, many workplace professionals use one or two "strategies" (outlining is a common one) when writing, even if those...
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In an article in the Information Management Journal, Dr. Richard Cox, professor of information science at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses essentials for enhancing technical writing skills for professional development and publication. Dr. Cox points out the many difficulties in professional writing today and says, “The greatest barrier preventing professionals from contributing to the professional literature...
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One of the biggest struggles for many writers is determining which is most important to focus on during the writing process: content or style. The answer is actually both. If you think about it, the content is only as strong as the style that you use to convey your message to the reader. The key to being a successful writer is being able to determine and maintain an understandable style while also including important...
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You’ve heard the old adage “practice makes perfect.” This advice applies to technical , business , and scientific writing , too. Writers who practice a little every day produce a better product. Why? Writing is a process as well as a result. Fine-tuning that process through practice leads to better writing skills and a better end product. But for scientists, engineers, and other professionals for...
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