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"Writing
is easy. All you do is stare at
a blank sheet of paper (or computer
screen) until drops of blood form
on your forehead."
-- Gene Fowler, American Journalist
 Is
this how you feel about writing? Does the thought of writing a
letter, proposal, website copy, or even a memo or email make you
suddenly realize how much you love photocopying and organizing
your drawer? It doesn't have to be that way. Business writing
doesn't have to be torture.
There
have been studies done which indicate people who write well advance
more quickly. Learning some techniques to use when confronted
with a writing project will not only lessen the pain but can also
help you with your career.
Follow
these guidelines and you will most likely feel more comfortable
and effective in writing:
Organize
your thoughts before you start. What is your purpose in writing
this piece? What information do you need to include? Figure this
out and gather what you need before you start.
Understand
your reader.Write
as if having a conversation. Give your reader the information
needed, no more, no less. Don't waste that person's time with
a lot of extra stuff that isn't applicable. At the same time,
make sure you include enough information to be understood.
Keep
it simple. Don't try to impress anyone. Remember, you're trying
to convey a message and prompt a response. Use simple, clear,
concise language that will be easy to understand. Use short words,
short sentences and short paragraphs. The reader will then be
more inclined to read your entire piece.
Edit,
edit, edit. Read through your finished piece to be sure it
conveys your message clearly. If it doesn't, you need to clarify,
reword, or rearrange. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical
errors. These will reflect badly on you, as it will imply you
don't care enough about your work to do it carefully. Also, it
will detract from your
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