Category Archives: Professional
The Best – and Worst – Places to Write
When it’s time to do a bit of writing that serves the purpose of satiating our more creative outlets, we often think about escaping. The thought process likely has to do with removing ourselves from the more familiar places in our lives—where we know the sort of distractions that occur—and setting up to write in…
G is for Gerund
One of my biggest causes in professional and other writing is to remove virtually all passive voice (yes, yes, there ARE some times when it is intentional and correct), so I often remove gerunds to fix sentences. However, there are other considerations with the gerund than the effort to make sentences precise and active. Here…
Effective Business Writing – Part 2
As a follow-up the Effective Business Writing post from yesterday, here are some more general concepts I took from the writing seminar. The most important question of all to ask of your writing is, “Does It Work?” This is even more important than asking if your writing is accurate. Whether or not it is perfect and…
Effective Business Writing – Part 1
A while back, I attended a writing workshop. It was mostly aimed at writing better in general. While most of the topics were points that I (and you) already know, I did take a way some worth from it. So, here are some ideas I took from the event, since they can benefit all of…
What Hunter S. Thompson Can Teach You About Powerful Writing
How many mornings do you awake and tell yourself, “My writing is good, but what I really want to know is what Hunter S. Thompson can teach me about powerful writing.” Well, it may not be a daily question (though I’m not sure why not, given his trailblazing brilliant, unique, unapologetic style), but I’ve got…
Seeing Down Writing Journey’s Road
Where do you see your writing self in 5 years? What about 10? Check out this brief (the whole blog is on saying something meaningful about writing in 140 words or less) blog post, written by my friend Shonnell, about looking down that writing road and planning.
Writing to a “General” U.S. Audience
As a follow-up to my last post, which addressed how to determine the level at which you are writing, I thought I’d give a few tips on how to write at the goal (8th Grade) reading level. Most of these points are ones you already know. So, you might consider this some form of refresher….
Originality in Professional Writing
As writers, we all want to deliver that exceptional, unparalleled line of prose, that all-unique gem that perfectly fits the situation and purpose, rewards both you and the customer, and leaves you showered with public accolades and shining with personal satisfaction. But in the professional writing ring, does unproved originality really trump tried effectiveness? That…