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Basic Writing Tips Some Controversial, All Correct
As a previous article (Making Better Word Choices 4 Examples) explained, writers can take steps to prevent simple, and common, errors from degrading their writing. Five areas of writing that cause authors problems are discussed in this article....
Business Writing Skills I: What Do You Want To Say?
Many web entrepreneurs are unfamiliar with business writing. In truth, concise writing will build your business because you will better connect with customers and prospects. In this five-part series, the author will teach you how to make your web...
Creative Writing Tips - Does The Name You Chose Suit Your Character?
How do you choose a name? Do you put down the first name that pops into your mind? Initially thats what I used to do, until someone pointed out to me that there are a few things to take into consideration when choosing a name
1. You Have To...
Online Writing and Beyond: Writers Will Lead the Content Revolution
Introduction It is often thrown around loosely on the web that "Content is king." If content is king, then what is a content writer? Unfortunately, we are not yet royalty. We're never paid as well or considered as skilled as a web designer or...
Writing the Recipe
This article may be published freely, in print and online, as long as the byline and resource box at the end are included as written. Thank you. Writing the Recipe (c)2003 Pam White It sounds simple. Sell your family recipes for money. Gather up...
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PUT IT IN WRITING!
Ever been asked to 'Put it in Writing.'? Sure, you have. Did
you immediately go to your desk and effortlessly record your
thoughts and suggestions? Or, perhaps, you struggled and
anguished? For most folks, producing useful, credible and
appropriate written communication requires careful thought.
Those folks are wise. Written communication is an excellent
opportunity to showcase your communication skills. Writing
something down not only clarifies an issue, it tends to gives
the idea longevity, and, sometimes, a life of its own. Write
carefully!
Written communication can be a double-edged sword, can't it?
Well done, it can positively influence your career. Poorly,
quickly or thoughtlessly done, it can work against you
repeatedly. In a way, it IS written in stone. There it sits
for everyone to see...and revisit.
Caution: Avoid putting negative information in writing!
Absolutely do not put negative information in writing unless
it is accurately supported by verifiable fact.
If you want or need to convey your opinion or perception, do
so orally. Say it, rather than write it. Things have a
tendency to be scrutinized much more closely when they are in
writing. Folks look for inaccuracies and 'fodder for blame' in
written communication. Written words scribed in the heat of
the moment can sit in someone's files and become inadvertent
weapons for years to come. A negative written communication
can become a time bomb just waiting for the wrong person to
detonate it. In 'Getting Promoted', Harry E. Chambers says:
"Enemies created in writing tend to have long life spans." Be
careful.
There are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind before you
put pen to paper or allow your fingers to touch those keys.
Sure, the important thing is the message itself, however, how
that message is conveyed is a message in itself! Grammar
counts. Poor grammar detracts from the message. You do not
want anything to get in the way of your important message, do
you? Your computer may be a help as it suggests grammatical
changes, but, it is not infallible. You need the skills to
catch errors. You know
that your spell checker is limited
otherwise it would not have left this poem intact:
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marcs four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin Knot Sea.
Eye strikes a key
And type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye has run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My checker tolled me sew.
(borrowed from
www.virginiawater.co.uk/webnews/webnewsapr00.html Thanks.)
Make your writing concise. No one has the time or desire to
read a novel about your topic. "Just the facts, Ma'am." That's
what's needed. Quality, not quantity, is best. Winston
Churchill is reported to have said to an aide placing a
three-inch-high report on his desk, "That report, by its very
size, demands that it will never be read." Be sure to read
what you write before you send it. No one needs an exercise in
endurance to capture your point.
Take every opportunity to put positive information in writing.
Thank and congratulate folks. Report on all successes, major
and minor. Recommend solutions. Provide updates. When you've
got something good to say, Harry Chambers says: "Insure
accuracy, provide proof when available or necessary, and
distribute the communication as widely as possible." Being the
author of good news can put your name in a positive light when
promotion time arrives, too! This has got to be good!
Write as you speak and speak thoughtfully. This is the best
guideline for written communication at work.
About the Author
Dr. Shaler speaks to thousands of people each year giving them
and their organizations The OKs to SUCCEED!" --the
Optimization Keys to lift their sights and elevate results
from acceptable to EXCEPTIONAL. She is the author of
'Optimize Your Day! Practical Wisdom for Optimal Living. Her
book as well as her free ezines are available from her
website, www.OptimizeLifeNow.com
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Purdue University's Online Writing Lab - The OWL Family of Sites |
| Writing lab and resources. Email newsletter available. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 ... |
| del.icio.us |
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| BBC Get Writing |
| The BBC's online resource for writing drama and comedy for television, radio and film. |
| www.bbc.co.uk |
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| TOC About Writing |
| Menu of articles on writing written by professional SF/F writers. |
| www.sfwa.org |
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| 11 Rules of Writing -- a concise guide to important grammar ... |
| A concise guide to some of the most frequently violated rules of writing, punctuation, and grammar. |
| www.junketstudies.com |
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| NAEP Writing Subject Area |
| NAEP assesses student performance in writing periodically in grades 4, 8, and 12 for the nation, and in grades 4 and 8 for the states. |
| nces.ed.gov |
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| Writing: See what people are saying right now on Technorati |
| See all blog posts tagged with writing on Technorati. |
| www.technorati.com |
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| IPL Teenspace: A+ Research & Writing |
| Includes step-by-step instructions on researching and writing, how to find information online and offline, as well as links to useful resources. |
| www.ipl.org |
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| Dictionary.com: Writing Resources |
| Free online English dictionary and reference guide. List of sites writers can use. |
| dictionary.reference.com |
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| WritingFix: Home of Interactive Writing Prompts and 6 Trait ... |
| Daily and interactive writing prompts. |
| www.writingfix.com |
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| Advice on Academic Writing |
| Includes articles on critical reading, planning, researching, style and editing, grammar and punctuation. |
| www.utoronto.ca |
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