organization | Writing with Clarity

Coherent, Engaging Writing Requires Planning

Mar 11, 2015 | Effective Writing

Whether you are a business professional writing a detailed memo or an author writing a book, you need a sense of direction. Ha Jin, an award-winning novelist, says that when he plans a book, he creates an outline that includes the beginning, the chapters, the major...

Getting Off to a Strong Start: Summary Paragraphs Engage Readers

Apr 5, 2013 | Effective Writing

Summary paragraphs are helpful to readers, but while many people have heard of them, few people actually write them. In an email of several paragraphs, a formal memo, or a report, the opening paragraph should give the reader a window into what the entire memo is...

Know What You Want to Say

Jul 21, 2011 | Effective Writing

A major flaw in writing is that the message is not focused on one idea. A writer has an abundance of information but does not consider what he or she wants to accomplish and does not ask important questions about the audience. High-quality writing takes time. When...