Seminar Outline

Part I: Basics

Getting Started

• Understanding the qualities of powerful writing
• Overcoming page fright

Understanding the Basic Steps to Effective Writing

• Preparing
• Organizing
• Writing
• Editing
• Reviewing

Organizing Your Message

• Learning the art of bottom-lining
• Using different means to arrange ideas in a logical order

Formatting Ideas to Clarify Your Message

• Creating interesting headlines
• Using chunking to organize your thoughts
• Employing visuals to give the big picture fast
• Tying thoughts together with transitions

Choosing the Right Words

• Building your business vocabulary
• Avoiding slang, jargon, and clichés
• Recognizing frequently confused words
• Eliminating clutter and unnecessary words
• Using the right voice
• Deleting vague words and pretentious language

Getting it Right: The Basics of Grammar and Spelling

• Reviewing the basics of speech
• Reviewing sentence and sentence patterns
• Reviewing punctuation and punctuation style
• Reviewing capitalization, abbreviations, and numbers
• Grappling with the seven deadly sins of grammar
• Spotting easily misspelled words and forming plurals

Editing Your Work

• Editing for content and layout
• Editing for grammar
• Editing for clarity
• Editing for conciseness
• Editing for style

Part II: Application

Writing E-mail

• Etiquette (dos and don'ts)
• Getting attention with your e-mails
• Composing clear-to-the-point messages

Writing Effective Business Letters

• Understanding the business letter format
• Developing style in business letters
• Producing the business letter

Reviewing sample business letters

• Goodwill or PR letters
• Inquiry letters
• Request letters
• Refusal letters

Responding to Complaints

• Accepting the complainant's claim
• Refusing the complainant's claim
• Suggesting a compromise

Writing Sales Letters

• Using the proper formula: six steps to great sales letters

Writing Business Proposals

• Understanding the characteristics of a winning proposal