Whether you’re a CEO or VP of Sales, administrative assistant or customer-service rep, the Association for Creative Business Writing builds your confidence and boosts your career as it helps you get the words right. Through regular newsletters, open forums, contests, and insightful books, AFCBW delivers professional and purposeful support for everyone who writes in the workplace.

             I've just got to say how much I'm enjoying your card deck! These tips are terrific. I so love receiving
            them. I can't wait for the next one! —Diane Richwine, Instructional Designer, East Bay Area, Calif.

             
              The Association for Creative Business Writing (AFCBW) builds momentum.

These days, it's pretty easy to find all kinds of advice about writing on the Web. Trouble is, most of it's scattershot—without a plan for steady growth and momentum. AFCBW offers you the expertise of professional writers, trainers, and communication experts who can cut through the cacophony to deliver advice you can trust. You can relax knowing that you and/or your team are receiving the best information and inspiration to take your business writing to the next level.

I've taught a lot of writing seminars, and while I saw progress, I often left wondering how a lifetime of writing problems could be corrected in an hour or a day. Seminars are great, but without follow-up, the information fades like yesterday’s pop stars. That’s exactly why I founded AFCBW. I wanted to make the learning stick. I wanted everyone to have access to a "personal" writing coach to help them build confidence, creativity, and momentum.

Join the Association for Creative Business Writing now.

Join now and your annual membership starts at only $89.00.

Bonus! Win a one-hour coaching session (a $150 value). Every month, we'll select one name from the roster of that month's new members for a personal coaching session with me. You'll also receive a copy of my Red Flags Flubs—a dozen of the most common errors and missteps I see as a writing coach. Now you can easily spot them and avoid embarrassing and costly mistakes.

We're all creative
What do I mean by creative business writing? I’m not talking about creativity like a giant jolt of electricity that lights up your life once in a while (though that’s great too). I’m talking about a steady current that feeds you daily. The juice that inspires you to write a successful sales letter, a persuasive proposal, or an interesting blog. To dig a little deeper to find a more vivid verb or to think of a simile that tells your story in one colorful phrase. We've all got great ideas tucked away in those amazing brains of ours—ideas we don't even know we have! AFCBW is designed to help you tap into these fresh ideas, write about them effectively, and get the results you want.

          You have no idea how important your comments are to me regarding writing from who I am.
         Those are precious doses of fuel for me. —Jenny Capella, The Capella Group, Seattle, Wash.

Benefits of membership in the Association for Creative Business Writing include:

	Words at Work: A signed copy of my latest book, Words at Work: Powerful business writing delivers increased sales, improved results, and even a promotion or two. [Click here to learn more about Words at Work.]             Top Winner of National Best Books 2009 Awards in Writing/Publishing!
	In Other Words: 24 issues (twice a month) of AFCBW’s members-only newsletter. It's sized just right—packed with ideas about compelling writing and sharp communication skills, but not too much information to absorb before the next issue rolls around.  Read sample issue now!
	Forums: Private, friendly online discussion forums for asking questions, sharing ideas, and fostering creativity. Advice from experts and peers keeps your writing on target and in synch with your goals. (AFCBW forums are monitored to ensure that interactions are positive and supportive.)
	Find-and-Fix: Every issue of In Other Words includes a quiz of your GPS (grammar, punctuation, style) to head you in the right direction.
	Communicator’s Column: Insightful essays from the AFCBW Board of Directors and other leading communication experts.
	Writing with a Full Deck: 52 cards (one delivered weekly) to help you practice and perfect one writing issue a week. Read e-mail card now!  Read sample card (a PDF attachment to e-mail card) now!
	You Said It! AFCBW’s annual writing contest with prizes! Enter this yearly creative business writing contest from March 1 to April 30. Winners announced in May.
	Educational games, surveys, and more.

Join the Association for Creative Business Writing now.
Join now and your annual membership starts at only $89.00.

AFCBW helps you write like the professional you are. You’ll look sharp to your customers, your bosses, and your peers. To maximize your membership:

	Study Words at Work. It’s packed with tips, tools, and techniques to help you deliver powerful business writing—faster, stronger, better.
	Read the AFCBW semi-monthly newsletter, In Other Words, to learn how to make your reports, proposals, blogs—whatever you write—engaging and informative to your readers. And practice the tips and techniques on Writing With a Full Deck cards.
	Take part in AFCBW’s friendly Online Forums to get your questions answered, find solutions, and share ideas that fuel everyone’s creativity.

In Other Words Read sample issue now!

In each issue of In Other Words, we’ll cover ways you can write more effectively and creatively at work. For some tips right now, check out this informative article about creative business writing.

Other topics In Other Words explores:

	Overcome Fear of Writing (#1 issue holding people back). Learn jump-start techniques to give this problem the bum’s rush.
	Give Corporatespeak the Pink Slip. Conversational writing is in. Stuffy, convoluted writing is out. Learn how to write clear, concise copy.
	Vivid Verbs for Brilliant Results. Give boring verbs like “is, are, were” the heave-ho and start writing with verve.
	Painful Writing. One of the best ways to connect with your customers and readers is to mention issues that are "painful" for them. Salespeople know that they reach people most effectively when they tap into problems they’re facing: lost jobs, lower productivity, rude service, etc. Not selling anything? Think again. Everything we write is a sales piece.

Find-and Fix – a regular feature in In Other Words.

Find at least two errors in this sentence.

Problem:
Before attending our next meeting, each of the 12 issues on the agenda need to be reviewed.

Answer:

Before you attend our next meeting, could you please review the 12 issues on the agenda? Thanks!

Explanation:

1. Dangling participle. This is a common error that usually follows an introductory clause. Do you see how after the introductory clause “Before attending our next meeting,” no one is doing the action? Sure, the 12 issues on the agenda will be there, but they’re not doing the action.

2. Passive voice. This sentence is written in passive voice. No one is doing the action anywhere in the sentence. So add “you” or “Bob” or “Betty” plus a verb.

3. Add a little courtesy. “Please” and “thank you” go a long way.

4. Subject-verb agreement. In the first version, the verb “need” should be “needs.” The subject is “each,” not “issues,” so the verb needs to be the singular, not plural. After I reworked the sentence and wrote it in active voice, this was no longer an issue.

AFCBW Board of Directors

Meet the experts who contribute to the expertise at the Association for Creative Business Writing. Then visit their Web sites for even more help with your careers.

Matt Youngquist
Randy Siegel
Virginia McCullough
Peg Marckworth
Jenny Capella
Melody Ivory
Sandy Bjorgen

Join the Association for Creative Business Writing now.
Join now and your annual membership starts at only $89.00.

Bonus! Win a one-hour coaching session (a $150 value). Every month, we'll select one name from the roster of that month's new members. Join now for a chance to win a personal coaching session with me. You'll also receive a copy of my Red Flags Flubs—a dozen of the most common errors and missteps I see as a writing coach. Now you can easily spot them and avoid embarrassing and costly mistakes.