"Business Writing Checklist"

info.dooasia.com

Homepage | Add to Favorites

Related Links

Informative Articles

10 Secrets to Writing Grants that Get Funded
1. Understand the needs of the grantors. Behind every foundation grant is a philosophy, intention or basic principal. These principles not only determine how grants are funded, if you pay attention, they will also tell you how to approach the...

Good Writing
Good writing is like sex. Two people are involved – the writer and the reader. Bad sex usually satisfies only one person, most preferably, the writer – the person who leads. Good sex not only satisfies both people, it pleasures them. So, like...

Writing and Walking - Beating Writer's Block
Writing and walking are a seemingly odd mix of topics for an article, but they go well together. Particularly if you write during breaks in your walk. Writing Journals Whether you are writing articles or the great American novel, you will...

Writing as a Gift
What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding gift? I asked Kristin, my bridesmaid and person-who-was-married. I mean, what kinds of things do brides give their grooms? I was thinking of hiring someone to clean the house before we left for...

Writing Benefit-Driven Web Copy – 4 Steps to More Sales
You've identified the benefits you offer your customers, but how do you turn a list of benefits into engaging web copy which converts visitors into customers? Recently I wrote an article explaining how to identify the benefits you offer your...

"Business Writing Checklist"

You're ready to do it. You've accepted an assignment from your
boss, agreed to put together a sales presentation, or were asked
to write a report about last week's meeting results. Where do
you begin? Before you venture off into the land of writing for
your job, be prepared with the items on this checklist.

1. Adjust your attitude. Writing doesn't have to be like drawing
blood. In fact, many times in business writing, much of the work
is already done for you. Your job may be as simple as rewording
or organizing information that you already have.

2. Quiet. No matter how much you like your music or AM radio
talk show it is best to work in a quiet spot. Even if you work
in a noisy place like a newsroom or a cube farm, reduce the
amount of noise around you so you can concentrate better. Wear
earplugs if it helps you!

3. Your thinking cap! Colored markers, pencils, or a large easel
pad may help you with brainstorming. Or, you may find it easier
to work with a team first to generate ideas and then have one
person write the first draft. Whatever works for you, make sure
your brain is in creative mode, not editing/criticism mode.
Creativity comes first; editing and refining later.

4. Eliminate distractions.

Turn off the phone, close your office door, and don't check your
email every 10 seconds. Have your assistant tell everyone you're
in a meeting and you can't see him or her unless they're dying.
For at least 1 hour, work with no interruptions.

5. Computer, pen, scratchpad, or other tools you like.

You may prefer writing longhand; it can help you connect with
your thoughts and emotions. Or, you may be quicker at typing
directly on the computer. Either way, don't expect a perfect
draft the first time. You will be scribbling a lot (or cutting
and pasting) at first.

6. Contact names and phone numbers, etc.

Be sure you have handy a list of people you might need to talk
with to verify information. For example, if you are writing an
article for your company newsletter, you may need quotes from
the CEO.

7.

Dictionary and Thesaurus. The ones that come with the word
processor are not sufficient. Get yourself some good old
fashioned books, or a dictionary hesaurus on CD.

8. Company style guide. Some companies are very strict about
their internal or external communications. They may have rules
about style (different accepted spellings, for example) so that
everybody who reads your company's literature or correspondence
receives a consistent message about your company. You may lose
credibility with your readers if everything sounds like it came
from XYZ Corporation, except the letter you are writing.

9. The right atmosphere. If your office doesn't cut it, find a
better place. The library may work. A conference room might
provide more space for you to pace as you're dictating your
masterpiece. If you're writing about your company's
manufacturing plant, it might help you to actually be there
while you're writing.

10. Writing is rewriting. Remember that nobody, even
Shakespeare, gets it on the first try. Your first draft is
exactly that - a rough copy, a sketch. Think of it as the
equivalent of a doodle when artists paint. They don't start with
the canvas - and neither should you. Unlike many other jobs, in
writing, it's okay to make mistakes as you go along. Your final
draft will be vastly different from the few sentence fragments
you begin with.

Using the checklist items will set you up for a successful
writing session. Have on hand as many of these items as you can
each and every time you sit down to write something -- whether
it's a letter to your customers or an annual report. By keeping
all the tools you need in one place, your writing session will
go smoother and will be easier on your stress level than without
them.

About the Author

Linda Elizabeth Alexander is a business writer and marketing
consultant based in Longmont, Colorado, USA. Improve your
writing skills at work! Subscribe to her FREE ezine. Write to
the Point at lalexander@write2thepointcom.com or visit
http://www.write2thepointcom.com/articles.html.

Writing.Com: Writers, Writing, Poetry, Creative Writing, Fiction ...

An online community dedicated to fostering writing skills. With a free membership anyone may read, write, rate, and review works.

www.writing.com

Welcome to Writing-World.com!

Writing articles and resources. Tips about how to become a better writer, get published and find writing markets. From Moira Allen.

www.writing-world.com

Guide to Grammar and Writing

The Guide to Grammar and Writing contains scores of digital handouts on grammar and English usage, over 170 computer-graded quizzes, recommendations on ...

grammar.ccc.commnet.edu

Purdue University's Online Writing Lab - The OWL Family of Sites

Writing lab and resources. Email newsletter available.

owl.english.purdue.edu

OWL at Purdue University: General Writing Concerns Handouts

This page contains important links to the writing: planning/writing/revising aspects of the OWL website.

owl.english.purdue.edu

Writing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The original Mesopotamian writing system was initially derived from a system of ... If it is deemed to be a written language, writing in China will predate ...

en.wikipedia.org

Writing.org - Advice for Freelance Writers

Articles to help you launch a freelance writing career, from a former literary agent and PLAYBOY editor.

www.writing.org

Writing HTML

More than just an HTML reference, this is a structured approach for learning how to create web pages, designed by specialists in learning at the Maricopa ...

www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu

National Novel Writing Month - National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world.

www.nanowrimo.org

Poynter Online

Apply by Dec. 11 Reporting and Writing the Untold Stories Apply by Dec. 11 ... Reporting & Writing for Multi-Platform Newsrooms. Apply by Jan. 10 ...

www.poynter.org

Pages tagged with "writing" on del.icio.us

This short online course provides a practical introduction to writing fiction. During the course you will be expected to write two short pieces for ...