Natalie Canavor - Business Writing For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Business Writing For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2017936222

ISBN 978-1-119-36900-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-36901-1 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-36903-5 (ebk)

1. Table of Contents

Writing was invented around 5,000 years ago, and the rest is well, history. Before writing evolved, people couldnt record events or anything they learned, so they had no means of sharing information other than in person. Without a way to build upon knowledge, people were limited by their own experience and what they learned from those immediately around them.

Writing changed all that. With it, human beings created civilizations. But for many millennia, the rich governing classes owned the ability to both read and write. A few culture and technology revolutions later, and now we all own those powers. With a simple click you can share an opinion with the whole world. Reach decision-makers and influencers. Create a market for a product or service, or a community of followers or friends.

One result of owning this magical power is that like Superman, youre obliged to use it! More opportunities are open to you than any of your ancestors, even your parents. But because everyone has the power, whatever your goals, competition is guaranteed. Whether youre a job applicant, a manager who wants to rise, an entrepreneur who hopes to do it your way, a professional or a specialist of any kind, writing well is todays imperative.

If youre reading this book, you already know that. But I think youll be surprised by how many more ways good writing can reward you than you now suspect. Good writers are increasingly at a premium in every industry and in every kind of enterprise. And everybody must write. Its no longer a responsibility that can be delegated to assistants or PR professionals. Nor is it a side task that most employees, entrepreneurs, or independent workers can sidestep.

Today we all stand on our own: for everyday messaging that gets the job done, builds relationships, and prevents problems. For strong reports, proposals, and marketing materials that may be make or break events. For playing a role in the online world and using websites, blogs, networking sites, and social media to our advantage.

Whenever a new communication medium emerges and we have more ways to deliver messages, the writing challenge grows. The Internet turns the worlds of journalism, marketing, public relations, advertising, and business-building upside down. Its all become democratized one big open field. The ticket is good writing backed by strategic planning, or strategy backed by writing. Properly seen, they are two sides of the same coin.

I wrote this book to give you a high-stakes tool for accomplishing your own goals and dreams. While I aim to show you how to think and write strategically, the methods are totally pragmatic. Every idea and technique is ready to use and fully demonstrated. I base everything on my own decades of trial and error as a journalist, magazine editor, corporate communications director, and consultant. The methods I show you have been field-tested in hundreds of my workshops and courses for businesspeople, public relations professionals, corporate communicators, and nonprofit leaders.

This book gives you a complete foundation for effective business writing as well as guidelines to instantly improve everything you write. I hope the following chapters inspire you to keep improving, a process I see as an endlessly rewarding quest.

Do you assume any of the following?

• Writing well is a talent youre born with or not.
• Improving poor writing is difficult.
• Good writing is defined by correct grammar and spelling rules.
• Expressing complex thought demands complex language.
• Writing dense copy with long words makes you look more intelligent and educated.
• Visual media like video and images diminishes the need for writing well.
• Reserving your best skills for important material makes sense.