Quick & Painless Business Writing

Chapter 1

Five No-Worry Reality Checks

Reality Check #1: The Response

Let’s start with the Mother of All Reality Checks—the ultimate reason you write at work. But first, answer this question: Why write at work? Don’t think about your answer—just respond from your gut. A few words will do. Ready? What’s your answer?

If you’re like most of the tens of thousands of people I’ve trained over the years, it probably was: “To communicate,” or “To send information,” or something like that. Actually, writing to communicate is the job of newspapers and magazines. People read them to get information, pass the time, sip a Mimosa on a Sunday morning, and flip through the pages of the Sunday edition.

In the business world, you write to get a response. Writing ...