Harness the Business Writing Process

by Paul Lima

Part of the Workshop in a Book series. Do you want to be a more effective and efficient business writer? If so, this comprehensive 'how-to' business writing book is for you.This comprehensive business writing book: - introduces you to the writing process - shows you how to eliminate the blank page before you write - shows you how to (and why to) capture attention, maintain interest, and influence attitude - before you ask for action - helps you quickly outline and write short messages - helps you structure and outline long documents and write them in short, manageable chunks - helps you define (and start with) your purpose - includes sample e-mails, letters, proposals and reports - includes a number of editing and proofreading hints and tips

Genres: Nonfiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2009

About the author

Paul Lima has worked as a professional writer since 1980. In 1993, he started a freelance writing business and has covered technology and business issues for the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Profit, Time Canada, CBC.ca, and many other periodicals and websites. For corporate clients, Paul writes case studies, media releases and promotional copy and conducts business writing and media interview preparation training seminars. He also conducts freelance writing and business writing e-courses.

Reviews

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads.

Harness the Business Writing Process is an excellent reference tool for anyone who wants to improve their business writing skills. Topics covered included writing emails, letters, proposals, reports, media releases, and web content. The book is written as a workshop, with many examples and exercises. The author even gives his email address for feedback for the many writing exercises that he provides. The book is clear, concise, and easy to follow.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to refine their writing skills.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.

Author Paul Lima's introductory book on business writing establishes a casual tone appropriate for the "Workshop in a Book" series of which it is a member. This style defines Harness the Business Writing Process more as a conversation than a rule book, but then Lima is not trying to make it one.

Instead, in the first half he establishes basic principles and moves on to more detailed descriptions as he provides frequent exercises to assist the reader. He then devotes most of the second half to applying these concepts to particular document types, e.g. media releases, executive summaries, and writing for the web.

Lima builds upon his foundation throughout these examples, bringing in new concepts when he feels they become necessary, while occasionally taking time to devote a later chapter to a style point in lieu of a document. This helps refocus the reader while also establishing additional concepts that are quickly applied in the follow-on chapters.

It's not a perfect work. The Collaboration and Revision chapter, perhaps to avoid discouraging the reader, appears too late. And Lima frequently makes use of an asterisk (*) notation (usually implies a note in my experience) however no follow-up or explanation is made for the marks.

Ultimately, this book would best be used as part of preparing to write, before one puts words to a page. Lima emphasizes the preparation aspect of writing and, as a reference, one could use the book to orient themselves before commencing their research, not so much as a look-up while one is actually writing.

Still, if one doesn't mind Lima occasionally reminding you that you'll have to make some decisions on your own, it's worth having on hand.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Do you want to write more effectively and efficiently?’

Business writing always has a purpose: how can you be sure that your purpose is clearly understood, and that readers know what action is required of them? It isn’t always easy to organise thoughts into words, to order them logically and to convey a clear message.

One of the best ways to write effectively is to distinguish process from content. But how? And why is it important to organise your thoughts before you start?

The book is based on a business-writing course that Mr Lima teaches online for University of Toronto continuing education students and for private students and corporate clients. The book aims to help those who are looking to:

• Become more effective writers;
• Write more efficiently;
• Organise their thoughts before they write;
• Make points clearly and concisely; and
• Get readers to take clearly defined actions.

The book does this in a structured way which also includes exercises which enable you to practice the techniques and skills covered. It’s a practical rather than theoretical guide.
There are a number of different books available on effective writing. This particular book provides guidance for those seeking to improve their business writing skills regardless of the form the writing takes, including: eMail messages; business proposals; media releases; letters; reports and writing for the web.

While this book would be particularly helpful to someone about to embark on business-related writing, it would also be useful to those seeking to hone already established skills.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skimmed major parts of the book because, as the title states, it is for business writing. I have come to enjoy and learn from the first few chapters on writing that I hope to utilize in writing my senior thesis this semester. I have never been a good writer and feel that this book helped me a little. Other than the chapters that I fully took in, the others did not pertain to my situation but helped me in seeing a new way to write professional e-mails and reports. I hope that what I learned from this book will help me in the long run. Author: I was very impressed in the slightly sarcastic playful tone the author wrote to get me into the book. It made the book, which seems boring, more entertaining. Thank you goodreads.com for letting me read it through your giveaway.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt like it took me *ages* to read this whole book, but I did enjoy it. Lima is clearly a gifted teacher of English, and I generally found his instructions to be clear.

The one thing that irritated me while reading this book was that there were no spaces left between words and dashes. For example, "You will still follow the writing process-that's crucial to becoming an effective writer-when you use the W5 e-mail writing shortcut." I found this style difficult to read and I thought it interrupted the otherwise easy flow.

I won a copy of this book on Goodreads.com.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This (like all of Paul's books) is a great resource for writers and anyone who needs to write for their work. Paul's own writing is frank, straight-forward, and often very funny. Excellent stuff.