Fundamentals of Business Writing

5Step III: Write Your Draft

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Convert your outline to a first draft efficiently and effectively.

• Write individual sections of documents in no more than 15 to 30 minutes.

• Write well-constructed paragraphs.

• Write more easily by writing-as-you-speak in the first draft.

Imagine yourself writing in comfortable clothes, not in a top hat and tails or in an evening gown.

OLD ATTITUDES

Writing is hard work. It’s difficult knowing where to begin, how to proceed, and when to stop fussing over a document.

Writing is also scary because readers can be critical of everything: the message, ...