Over the next few weeks, I will talk about how to get started quickly and easily with your business writing. This week, my focus is on The Strategic Business Writing Blueprint.

Generally, a blueprint should follow these steps:

• Identify
  • The piece (specifically).
    • Example: one-screen email
  • The reader (by name)
  • Example: Mr. John Doe
  • The writer’s action
  • Example: informing him
  • The content
    • Example: of the Compensation Committee meeting Tuesday, October 23 in Conference Room B

• Develop a focus and strategy
  • “I am going to write a _________ to _________, _________ him/her/them”
    • Example : I am going to write a one-screen email to John Doe , informing him of the Compensation Committee meeting Tuesday, October 23 in Conference Room B.
• Then,
  • Plan for results
    • Example :
      • he will know about the meeting
      • he will have the date, time, location
      • he will know what the meeting is to be about, and who needs to be there
  • Decide on tone
    • Example: objective
  • Develop content
    • List the content, based on the reader’s need and use for the information, and your purpose for writing.
    •  Example:
      • date
      • time
      • location
      • purpose of meeting
      • who is to be there

I hope that you’ve found the Strategic Business Writing Blueprint to be helpful! My next post will discuss why the Blueprint is useful.

Gail Tycer offers business writing workshops and presentations; executive coaching, consulting, writing, and editing services. Call Gail at 503/292-9681, or email gail@gailtycer.com to learn more.

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Gail Tycer