Chapter 3
Making Your Writing Work: The Basics
In This Chapter
Tailoring your writing for today’s readers
Injecting energy into your language
Implementing elements of good design
Your writing style probably took shape in school where literary traditions and formal essays dominate. This experience may have led you to believe that subtle thoughts require complex sentences, sophisticated vocabulary and dense presentation. Perhaps you learned to write that way – or maybe you didn’t. Either way: get over it. The rules of academic writing don’t apply to the business world.
Real-world business writing is more natural, reader-friendly and easier to do than academic writing – especially after you know the basics I cover in this chapter.
Stepping into 21st Century Writing Style
In business you succeed when you achieve your goals. You need to judge business writing the same way – by whether it accomplishes what you want. What works is:
Clear and simple. Except for technical material directed ...
