"Lynda is an inspirational teacher and coach who captivates her audience."   

                                    - Catherine Allan, Medina, Wash.

Compelling Corporate Communications©   

business-writing seminars are based on time-tested journalistic tools and techniques that teach your employees how to make their communications flow.  That means letters that get read, documents that are easy to understand, and papers that persuade. Whether they're writing sales letters or e-mail, newsletters or reports, they'll learn how to make them come alive. 

For individuals, one-on-one coaching uses the same techniques--and delivers the same exciting results.

Just for You  

Each seminar is customized for your needs.  If your employees write more proposals than reports, more e-mail than letters, that's what we'll focus on.  Students work on real-life examples so they can go seamlessly from seminar lessons to everyday practices.  

A modern dilemma

From time to time, almost everyone needs a refresher course on how to write well, while some have never grasped good writing techniques.  According to a recent Seattle Post-Intelligencer article, the Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1999—are particularly unprepared.  It seems that the technology (especially spell- and grammar-check) has made them “less familiar with writing and math skills than employers once took for granted" and “lacking … basic literary skills.”  And according to a recent report from The National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools, and Colleges, only one-third or fewer of new employees "possess writing skills that companies value."

Too often today, our writing is like the literary equivalent of fast food: slapped together, full of fat, and hard to digest.  But when your employees learn and apply journalistic tools and techniques to their writing, they will know how to organize information creatively (no tedious outlines!); cut the fat (editing tips and tricks); and write in a clear, conversational style that makes people want to read your documents. Finally, they’ll learn to write endings that keep your message in mind long after it's been read. 

Learn to write like a pro—from a pro

I bring 25 years of journalism experience to my seminars.  I’ve written scores of brochures, newsletters, and other marketing collateral for national companies and organizations such as DuPont, Georgia Institute of Technology, Software Solutions, and Investment Training Institute. I’ve authored three books, and I’m published in dozens of newspapers and magazines, including Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, Law & Politics, Association Management, Restaurants USA, Southern Living and Washingtonian, as well as online at washingtonpost.com and beliefnet.com.

Get the results you need

Whether you need sales letters or e-mail, newsletters or reports, or any other corporate collateral, your employees will learn how to make them come alive. Call today to discuss how these seminars can help you enjoy improved marketing materials, business correspondence and company image.

Compelling Corporate Communications© curriculum includes:

Writing Know-How: Five things to know before you begin.

1. Know your office protocol - play by the rules.
2. Know your audience - use the right tone.
3. Know your purpose - stay focused.
4. Know your subject - cover all the facts.

5. Know your limitations - use the right format.

Six Cs of Strong Communication: Good    writing is:

1. Conversational  (engaging)         
2. Clear (no jargon)
3. Concise  (edit and edit again)
4. Creative  (attention-getting)
5. Courteous  (professional)

6. Complete  (organized and edited)

Seven Essentials of Structure 

1. Inverted pyramid for organization          
2. Strong lead to grab readers’ attention
3. Solid middle full of facts
4. Headlines and subheads
5. Sidebars and sidekicks
6. Variety of sentence structures

7. Ending with impact

Eight Tips for Effective E-mail

1. Start with an interesting subject line
2. Keep the tone professional—not too casual
3. Use a standard letter format
4. Get to the point!
5. Make it easy to read
6. Adopt the 10% rule
7. Write an ending with impact

8. Edit and proofread

Nine No-Nos

1. Negative wording       6. Dangling participles
2. Passive voice             7. Cacophony of voices
3. Nonparallel structure   8. Let's all agree
4. Offensive language     9. More punctuation

5. Misplaced modifiers        mistakes

Ten Embarrassing Errors—and how to avoid them

1. Good & Well                 6. Who & Whom
2. Lay & Lie                      7. Their & They're
3. Who & That                  8. Further & Farther
4. That & Which                9. Fewer & Less

5. It's & Its                       10. Affect & Effect

Eleven Easy Ways to Write Stronger and Faster

1.     Read voraciously       7. Take a walk

2.     Brain dump               8. Proof for goofs

3.     Write to the reader   9. Pages easy to read

4.     Cut & Paste              10. Read aloud for flow

5.     Plug in transitions      11. Sleep on it

6.  Know your grammar