John
Mercer
Writing
Skills
 
Home
Guidelines
Services
Clients
 Background
e-mail

Managing the Writing of Others  

Description A program to hone the editorial skills of those who oversee employees' writing.
Audience Those who oversee others' business writing and who have considerable experience in business writing.
Class Time 6 hours
Class frequency Variable: one, two, or three days; six hours in total.
Outside work Assigned pre-course readings in Writing at Work by John Mercer and in The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White
Approach

Several weeks before the program begins, the instructor receives samples edited by the participant. The instructor uses these samples to design the program. At the same time, the instructor gives reading assignments to the participants.

The classroom approach is collegial and open.

Class size 9 maximum
Outcome

After the program, the participants should be able to distribute writing assignments more clearly as delegated work, should be able to call for change in the work without rewriting it themselves, should be able to produce a richer vocabulary of assistance, and should be better coaches to bring along the writing of their subordinates.

This course is a good way to solve a major business problem and a way to reacquaint senior people with the fundamental ideas of not only writing skills but also of delegation.

Home