In my search to bring you some good information about business writing, I came across a website called Bad Language (http://www.badlanguage.net/). In case you're wondering, it doesn't mean "bad language" as in curse words.
What drew my attention to that site was that there is a free e-book that you can either read online or print. It's called "30 Days to Better Business Writing." I'd like for you to visit that site and go to page 2 of the book, which is the table of contents. Look at the topics presented for each of the 30 days. Pick one that jumps out at you and go read that section. Then, report back on what section you picked (including what day number to which it corresponds). Tell us what you learned or found interesting.
I'll start!
Day 7: Analyze Bad Writing
I liked how it gave seven characteristics of bad writing. These are things that I'm going to try to stay away from doing when I write!
12 comments:
Day 15.- Use fewer words
Tip: It's easier to remove paragraphs or sentences then It is to try to try to achieve a big cut by snipping a word here or there.
In reality you don't need as many words as you think, if I get to the point being brief about my writing, I will earn from my readers their thanks and their attention.
November 11, 2009
Roxana Alvarez
Sandra H
Day 9. Write like a human being.
I like all of the tips but theres a statement made that I like even more. "Good writing is relaxed, direct and natural."
Day 5: Find the Angle
I think this is very true, the first sentence is important on how your story will turn out. This is something I need to work on.
Melissa Lobsinger
This was an interesting piece to read. It has so much valuable information for anyone who wants to become a writer. As for me I learned that shorter and to the point is better when trying to get your point across.
Angela
Day 22 - Write a Better E-mail
Hint: Don't write a person's name in e-mail until you have finished writing to avoid accidentally sending it.
Verona
I found some very interesting tips in the book on the bad language link. I learned that writing a good "lede" is a very important group of words to grab the readers attention. It is helpful to write many introductions and pick the best one out of the bunch. Once you have the reader captured inform, persuade, and engage the reader. The one of the three that i thought was the most important was to engage. Engaging the reader keeps them in suspense and reading your writing. This keeps the reader wanting more
-Angel Guerrazzi
Day 22 - Write A Better E-mail
I learned that it is important to write a clear, strong subject line as this helps people prioritize their inboxes.
Deidra.
Day 10 - Write for readability.
The key point to readability is to make text more memorable and credible.
Make the first and last sentence of each paragraph especially clear to the reader.
Lia Muth
Day 17: GET THE RIGHT TOOLS
I learned how to change the computer screen to be less distracting when writing, and some great ways to track your time while you write. Also, a tool I would have never though would be so important to writing, silence.
SHENEA WALKER
Day 19- Give Good Feedback
I like the short saying at the beginning: Feedback is the breakfast of champions.
These that I have listed are just a few of suggestions for using feedback:
1.)Read it before commenting
2.)Be specific
3.)Check sources
4.)Positive feedback helps
April S.
Day 22.- Write Better E-mail
I found some interesting recommendations I would like to share:
- A clear strong subject line helps people prioritized their inboxes.
- If a subject of an email dialogue has changed, select a new subject line, but put the old one in brackets after the new subject for continuity.
- Punctuation exists to make easier for people to make sense of what they are reading.
- Short paragraphs one or two sentences per paragraph are perfect.
- Check recipient’s name, always.
Roxana Alvarez
02/08/10
Day 3: Ask the right questions.
Key point: what’s important to the reader?
A good starting point for nay writing is Kipling’s honest serving memo. If you start with what, why, when, how, where and who, you will automatically answer the reader’s most basis questions and ground your writing in truth.
You can practice 2 exercises:
1.-Take a newspaper article and circle the answer to these questions in the text, you may spot gaps and non-answers. Pay special attention to gaps; see how many you can find.
2.-Take something from your own recent experience and write a paragraph or two describing what happened, make sure you answer each question in what you write.
Ask you complete the tasks, think how these six question affect the story, what, why, when, how, where, who.
February 15,2010
Roxana Alvarez
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