Learn how at our writing-process Master Class — March 21-25
While we talk a lot about what to write — More stories! Fewer words! Shorter sentences! — we don’t focus so much on how.
Writing is hard because we weren’t taught how to write. Instead, we were taught how to edit: how to spell, punctuate and use the right grammar.
“I learned more about communications writing in two days than all of my previous trainings over the past seven years combined.”
— Christine Rochelle, content manager, iCIMS
Read more rave reviews
But there is a how to writing. In fact, following a few simple steps in the right order can help you come up with fresher, more creative ideas. It can also help you write better, easier and faster.
Writing-process workshop agenda
In our How to Write Better, Easier & Faster Master Class, you’ll learn how to:
1. Work with — not against — your brain.
Learn a six-step writing process (you’re probably skipping the most important step!) that will help you:
- Save writing time
- Come up with great ideas
- Avoid writer’s block, procrastination and same-old stuff
Invest your writing time in the steps of the process where it will do the most good. You’re probably currently spending most of your time where it will do the least good, according to national standards.
2. Go beyond Just the facts, Ma’am.
Are you still making readers’ eyes glaze over by packing your story with all of the W’s and the H? Learn to interview for story and other colorful details that actually engage readers. And find out about three types of research to use to triple your chances of finding the kinds of data and details that draw readers in and move them to act.
Plus, this approach will help you stop committing creative incest. As with actual incest, the product of creative incest just keeps getting dumber and dumber and dumber with each generation.
“I often feel like I need to sit down and squeeze the orange until either my hand goes numb or the orange is completely negated of juice. This concept gives me permission to move around, to walk away, and to still accomplish what I want to do without the pain and suffering.”
— Jenny Holmes, public relations & communications specialist, Sourcewell
3. Edit before you write.
William Zinsser was wrong.
If you’re writing eight pages for every three you use, you’re just torching your time. Might as well run $100 bills through the shredder. Instead, learn a simple trick you can use to hit your word count — first time, every time.
4. Write while you’re doing the dishes…
… or taking a shower, or driving home from the brainstorming session. Find out how to make not doing anything at all one of the most productive steps of the writing process.
5. Write. Really write.
I’m not talking about that kind of writing where you hunt for the right word; peck it out; shuffle through your notes looking for some lost quote; then head to the vending machines for the third time in 15 minutes, hoping that when you come back you might — just might — think of something to say.
Instead, in this workshop, you’ll learn to experience the joy of what creativity experts call “flow” — when your fingers fly across the keyboard to keep up with all of the brilliant words pouring out of your head.
Most communicators have never experienced this creativity and productivity high. In fact, most communicators have never actually written. They’ve typed. They’ve moved notes around in Word documents. But they’ve never actually written.
6. Spend less time obsessing over word choice.
Stop frittering away your life worrying about grammar and punctuation. Instead, put your time where it will do you the most good: in developing your argument.
Master the writing process
Would you like to make more money with your writing and ideas? Knock out dazzling drafts in half the time? Find more joy in your work? Create stories you’re extremely proud of?
If so, please join me at our How to Write Better, Easier & Faster writing workshop.
“It was incredibly insightful. I thought my writing was good at the time, but now I have so many ideas for how to make it better!”
— Ann Hyland, chief communications officer, Heartland Consumers Power District
Learn more
- Class overview and detailed agenda
- About our corporate communication trainer
- About our public workshops
Location & logistics
Join us via Zoom and LinkedIn from noon to 2 p.m. Central on:
- March 21: Writing Process; Prewriting
- March 22: Build a Solid Structure
- March 23: Freewriting
- March 24: Rewriting
- March 25: Live coaching session; Model the Masters
Can’t make a date? You’ll have on-demand access to the online workshop until April 25.
Fees
- Silver (workshop only): $1,195
- Gold (Silver + $320.50 worth of learning tools — Cut Through the Clutter, Think Like a Reader, Think Outside the Pyramid, Block Busters): $1,295
- Platinum (Gold +$297 subscription to Rev Up Readership): $1,395
- Diamond (Platinum +$750 private coaching session with Ann): $1,795
Please learn about our discounts, cancellation policy and more in our FAQ.
“Absolutely the best money I’ve ever spent. I learned more about writing for my audience from Ann in one day than I have in any other seminar.”
— Carie Behounek, marketing communications coordinator, COPIC Companies
Save up to $100 with our group discounts.
