Thank you for visiting The Writing Coach Blog. I want this to be a forum for learning how to improve your everyday writing as well as to discover how to shape your career.

Why Do We Dread Writing?

People often tell me they hate writing in business world. Most of dread reading and writing emails, performance evaluations, proposals and so forth. Why? Most of us, myself included, learned bad writing habits in school and college. I remember using tons of passive voice, clunky phrases, and, of course, creative fonts to stretch a 10-page paper to 15. I mistakenly believed that verbose, complicated language made me look sophisticated. My twenty years working in the real world has shown me quite the opposite. Clear, concise writing is the true sign of expertise and, most important of all, respects the reader’s time and intelligence.

Because We Don’t Take the Time to Think

When I first starting working, I thought writing fast was the key to success. Bang out that report ASAP. Do a quick spell-check, then zap it to my boss. It was only after my first boss butchered said reports with his pen that I learned the value of taking time to think about the purpose of my writing. I discovered that taking this pause, giving myself to think about why I was writing caused my drafts not to look at the Red Sea.

Questions to Ask Before Writing

  • Who is your audience? Your boss? A new client? Do you need to introduce yourself the reader?
  • Is this the right audience? Does that report really need to go to the entire department?
  • Why are you writing? Demonstrate your expertise to your professor? Warn you boss that the company is about to lose a major client? Launch a new HR Policy? Invite your colleagues to a brainstorm?
  • What do you want the audience to do after reading your work? Most of us write because we want to convince somebody to do something. Writing in the professional setting isn’t a journey of discovery. People are busy. Get to the point. I shouldn’t have to wade through a three-paragraph email to learn that I need to ask the IT folks to install a new accounting program on my computer.
  • How familiar is your audience with the topic? Is this the first time of your audience hearing about this topic? Do you need to spell out your acronyms?

Want to Learn More?

Please email me at nextchaptercoachllc@gmail.com to learn more about my approach to improving your writing and career choices. You can also reach me at 703 745 5773. Welcomeintroduction, writing coach