Business Writing Today

Natalie Canavor is a business writer, author, journalist and former college instructor. Throughout her successive careers as a magazine editor and public relations manager, she originated programs to help people communicate more effectively. Today she focuses on this work with practical programs for business and professional audiences, college students and writing instructors. Natalie taught advanced writing seminars for NYU’s MS program in public relations and corporate communication for six years, and created a number of courses and workshops on strategic messaging for businesspeople, professionals and entrepreneurs. Her byline as a journalist has appeared on hundreds of features and columns in newspapers including the New York Times and Newsday; a host of business and technical publications; and professional magazines such as Communication World and ASJA Magazine, published by the American Association of Journalists and Authors. For seven years, she wrote a column on better writing for the International Association of Business Communicators, read by 15,000 professionals worldwide. As a national magazine editor-in-chief, Natalie created a series of successful start-ups including Today’s Filmmaker, Videography and Technical Photography. She also served as an editor of Popular Photography. As an organizational communicator, Natalie built a 14-person PR department for New York State’s largest educational agency and counseled management on communication strategy; directed print, video, and e-media; and created communications skills training programs for school leaders. Natalie is also the author of Business Writing for Dummies, currently in its third edition, and coauthor of Workplace Genie: An Unorthodox Toolkit to Help Transform Your Work Relationships and Get the Most From Your Career, with psychotherapist Susan Dowell. She also coauthored The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing, a popular guide for businesspeople. In the wake of a new interest in poetry, her work was recently published as part of The Song in the Room: Six Women Poets. Natalie’s work has earned dozens of national and international awards for feature articles, video scripts, websites and publications. She served two terms as president of an International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) chapter, which recognized her as Communicator of the Year, and was a founding officer of IABC’s Heritage Region. Natalie is a member of the Author’s Guild and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Part I: A Structured Planning System for All Your Communication
Chapter 1: Business Writing in the Digital Age—and You
Why Employers Value Writing
How Employers See Writing
Good Writing—and You
Business Writing Redefined for the Digital Age
How to Use This Book
Writing to Accomplish Goals: Building the Foundation for Every Message
Identifying Goals on Multiple Levels
Framing Messages for the Audience
Maneuvering Generational Divides
Writing to Groups and Unknown Audiences
Chapter 3: Putting the Planning Structure to Work: Always Know What to Say
How to Decide on Best Message Content
Choosing an Organization Technique
Adopting the Right Tone
Applying the Process to Challenging Messages
Part III: Writing Techniques
Chapter 4: Good Sentences, the Right Words
Assembling Strong Sentences
Applying Readability Guidelines
Choosing the Right Words
Using Vigorous Verbs
Knowing the Clues to Wordiness
Editing: Many Ways Can Work
Chapter 5: The Whole Picture: Creating Your Best Message
Writing With Short Paragraphs
Building in Good Transitions
Avoiding Word Traps
Avoiding Tone Traps
Editing What You Write
Fielding Common Grammar Problems the Commonsense Way
Part IV: Types of Business Writing
Chapter 6: Writing E-mail and Building Your Professional Image
Use E-mail to Accomplish Goals
Apply Strategic Thinking to the Situation
Build in the Right Tone
Use E-mail to Support Internal and External Networking
Chapter 7: Writing Resumes and Cover Letters
How to Write for a Competitive Edge
Creating Resumes to Showcase Individual Skills
Customizing Cover Letters to the Job
Writing to Connect with Employers and Networks
Chapter 8: Writing Letters and Memos: They Still Count
When to Write Letters
Planning Letters that Achieve Your Goals
Strategizing Letters for Common Situations: Using Internal Memos to Build Relationships
Part V: Writing Persuasive Messages
Chapter 9: Writing to Persuade: The Tools and Techniques
Deploying The Tools of Persuasion and Advocacy
Writing Techniques for Persuasive Materials
How to Find, Shape and Tell Stories
Graphic Ideas and Guidelines for Good Presentation
Chapter 10: Writing to Persuade: Creating Successful Business Documents
Writing the Executive Summary
Preparing Effective Reports
Writing Formal and Informal Proposals
Applying for Grants
Part VI: Writing Online
Chapter 11: Writing for Websites and Online Media
How to Translate Print Writing into Online
Planning a Website and Home Page
Creating Copy for Online Media
Developing Content Ideas
Chapter 12: Blogging, Social Media and Micromedia
How Business Sees Social Media
Using Social Media to Accomplish Goals
Planning and Writing Blogs
Using Twitter Power
Creating Online Profiles
Part VII: Writing for Oral Presentation, Video and Public Relations Purposes
Chapter 13: Presenting Yourself: Write Well to Speak Well
Finding Your Own Story
Developing the Elevator Speech
Writing for Presentation and PowerPoint
Working with Video
Chapter 14: Applying Journalism and Public Relations Techniques
Writing Media Releases and Pitches
Creating Headlines and Subheads that Attract
Gathering the Right Information: Research Tips, Interviewing Techniques and Questions
How to Prepare Talking Points for Many Occasions
Applying This Book’s Techniques to Additional Media and Channels of the Unforeseeable Future
PART VI. WRITING FOR ORAL PRESENTATION
Chapter 13: Present Yourself: Write Well to Speak Well
Finding Your Personal Story
Developing Your Personal Story
What You Can Do With Metaphors
The "Elevator Speech": Why You Need It, How to Write It
If You′re a New Career Builder
Crafting Presentations and Speeches
Writing Tips for Spoken Media
Creating and Using PowerPoint Well
How to Plan and Use Effective Videos
Translating Verbal Ideas Into Visuals
Resources
Chapter 14: Putting Journalism and Public Relations Techniques to Work for You: Professional Strategies, Techniques and Tips
Reaching Your Audiences With the "New" Media Release