We understand that being able to write in a clear and professional style is important to your business. That is why we have developed the Business Writing Institute and the Effective Business Writing seminar. This practice-driven business writing seminar will significantly improve your ability to write in English, so that your readers will receive a clear, concise, effective message. Most professionals spend at least 15-20% of their time writing for business; emails, memos, business letters, reports and other business correspondence. Our customized approach guarantees an improvement in business communication skills that will increase your productivity, success and job satisfaction.
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Benefits of business writing training seminars:
- learn how to write a business letter
- discover the skills of writing a business letter
- learn to create clear business correspondence
- understand the difference of writing for business
- improve overall business communication
Business Writing Training: Business Writing Seminar Tutor Eaten by a Pack of Werewolves
As a business writing seminar tutor, I am seldom exposed to real danger. Usually the most challenging situation I face is having to answer questions about when to use semicolons.
But there was one occasion about six years ago when things got a little more testing than that. I had just delivered a course in Norwich and was driving home along the B1113 towards Mulbarton when I began to feel drowsy. It seemed sensible for me to pull into the side of the road and stretch my legs.
As I got out of the car I remember thinking what a beautiful summer's evening it was. For a couple of minutes I strolled down the road, feeling at one with my surroundings. Then I heard it. A blood-curdling, baying sound coming from behind me.
Turning round I was startled to see a pack of werewolves thundering towards me. I raced back to my car, but they were too fast. There must have been at least 23 of them. They surrounded me, knocked me to the ground and proceeded to tear me apart with their teeth. By the time they'd finished there was nothing left of me.
A couple of problems
You've probably noticed there are a couple of problems with this incident, which I need to address.
For a start, if I had been eaten by werewolves six years ago, how could I be writing about it now? Furthermore, aren't werewolves mythical creatures, existing only in the pages of fiction? You surely wouldn't find them on the roads of rural Norfolk.
Something is clearly wrong here, so I might as well come clean. My tale about a pack of werewolves is in fact a pack of lies. It never happened.
Three points from my business writing course
Nevertheless, it's a tale worth telling because it illustrates three crucial points from my business writing course. Let's consider them one by one.
Firstly, when you write any kind of business document, it needs to be credible. My tale clearly wasn't.
People today are highly suspicious, especially when receiving any form of business communication. If the message you are trying to convey sounds far-fetched, they won't believe you. Even if it happens to be true.
Always give your business writing a credibility check, to ensure it doesn't trigger disbelief in your readers. Be wary of anything that sounds fake or unreal. If necessary, add proof points to back up claims. Where possible give sources and citations.
Make your words seem more credible Secondly, to make your words seem more credible, try to avoid too many vague assertions. Instead, beef up your message by adding more detail.
This was one aspect of my story that might have wrong-footed some of you. By throwing in a few extra details such as, "driving home along the B1113 towards Mulbarton" and "at least 23 of them" I created the illusion that I was talking about something that had really happened.
Many copywriters use this technique to add credibility to advertising copy or direct mail sales letters. Instead of saying something vague and less than credible such as, "earn thousands of dollars a week," they will say something specific like, "earn $6,157 in just 11 days."
They do that because they know that being more specific makes their claim sound more believable.
Honesty is best
And so I come to the most critical point of all. In your business writing always aim to be honest. My story was totally dishonest, which in business writing terms is a disaster.
Wherever practical, try to level with your readers. If something relatively minor has gone wrong, don't be afraid to own up.
Your admission that not everything went perfectly, will earn you a lot of respect, and readers will trust you more. If you come clean when the news is bad, people will believe you more readily when you have good news to report.
Business writing tips
Let me make it clear, there's a lot more to business writing than what I've discussed here. However, your writing will certainly be enhanced if you follow these tips.
Just remember, in business writing honesty and credibility are vital. And if anyone asks you how you came by this advice, you know what to say. Tell them you got it from a business writing course tutor who was eaten by a pack of werewolves.
Source: Ben Morgan link
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