If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- What’s the secret to writing business emails that actually get a response instead of being buried in an inbox?
- Did you know that most professionals make one critical mistake in their reports that prevents decision-makers from taking action?
- What if you could master a simple technique to make your writing twice as clear while spending half the time on it?
Listen to Writing That Works — Free Audiobook
Loading player...
Key Takeaways from Writing That Works
- Discover how to dramatically improve your business writing by prioritizing short sentences, avoiding confusing jargon, and using specific data instead of vague generalizations.
- Master the art of writing compelling emails and letters by crafting attention-grabbing subject lines, cutting irrelevant fluff, and explicitly stating the required action.
- Learn how to deliver focused presentations by anchoring them to a memorable theme, using descriptive headlines for charts, and engaging your audience with unexpected questions.
- Find out how to craft captivating speeches that skip the tangents, hit the most important points immediately, and sound completely natural by reading your drafts out loud.
- Understand the secret to creating persuasive business plans and reports by structuring them as a pyramid-like argument that logically builds toward a clear recommendation.
Learning Tools
Reinforce what you learned from Writing That Works
Mind Map
Writing That Works
Foundations of Effective Writing+
Emails and Letters+
Presentations and Speeches+
Plans and Reports+
Persuasion and Funding+
Direct Mail Marketing+
Resumes and Cover Letters+
Editing and Formatting+
Gender-Neutral Language+
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 10
How should you handle jargon and technical language in business writing?
Question 2 of 10
What is the recommended etiquette for assigning action items in an email?
Question 3 of 10
According to the text, what is the most effective way to label graphs and charts in a presentation?
Question 4 of 10
How should a persuasive business plan be structured to compel action?
Question 5 of 10
When writing a proposal to ask for funding, what must you include in the first two paragraphs?
Question 6 of 10
Which section of a direct-mail marketing letter is often the most read and should be used to hook the reader?
Question 7 of 10
What is the best way to conclude a cover letter for a job application?
Question 8 of 10
When formatting your final draft for an inviting reading experience, how does the book recommend adding emphasis to text?
Question 9 of 10
What is the author's primary recommended solution for avoiding problematic gendered pronouns like a default 'he'?
Question 10 of 10
Why is it important to use specific claims (like 'student enrollment tripled to 210') rather than generalizations?
Writing That Works — Full Chapter Overview
- 1Recommendation
- 2The core of effective business writing is simplicity and accuracy.
- 3Craft great letters, for email and snail mail, using a few simple helpful tricks.
- 4Deliver your message with structured, focused presentations and compelling speeches.
- 5Move people to action with clear plans and reports.
- 6Address your reader’s desires and worries in order to effectively sell ideas and secure funding.
- 7Make old-fashioned mail work for you.
- 8Get your dream job with a well-crafted résumé and cover letter.
- 9Edit and format your final piece for an inviting reading experience.
Writing That Works Summary & Overview
Writing That Works (1981) is the definitive guide to business writing. These blinks are full of advice on how to write clear, compelling and succinct business communications, covering everything from quarterly reports to presentations, emails and even resumes.
Who Should Listen to Writing That Works?
- Marketers and advertisers at all levels
- Students of business, marketing and advertising
- Entrepreneurs looking for tips on effective business writing
Books Similar to Writing That Works
Readers who enjoyed this also liked these titles.
