Anyone Can Write...Right?

Good writing conveys a message as it is intended to be understood. I worked in cryptology in the Navy. I had to recognize activities and analyze their significance, and—and this is a critical “and”—report that information to people who made decisions both critical and mundane based on my reports.

Your company probably isn’t involved with cryptology. However, you have to communicate accurately and understandably to a variety of individuals and audiences. If you don’t, serious things may happen. Even if a single miscommunication doesn’t damage your interests seriously, a series of small, seemingly insignificant miscommunications can wreak havoc on your operations and directly affect your work and profitability.

What Do You Write?

This is just a wild guess, but most companies, non-profits, and government agencies produce some, if not all, of these communication products:

• Policies & Procedures—Your staff and officers must understand your company’s policies and procedures. Otherwise, chaos may result. If yours is a publicly-traded corporation, federal law (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) places special importance on these documents.
• Marketing Materials—How do you induce potential clients to look your way if your marketing materials—your brochures, product sheets, Web site, and so forth—are not well designed and written?
• Proposals—Your proposals should move clients to buy your products and services or, for non-profits, pave the way for agencies to help with funding…unless the recipients cannot understand what you're trying to say or what you say doesn’t correspond to the recipient’s requirements.
• Product Guides—You may wind up spending more for customer service if buyers don’t understand the user and administration guides you provide for your products. Worse, the quality of your guides may cost your customers time and money as they try to figure out how to use your products.

What Value Does Writing Bring?

First, let’s consider some thoughts about writing from two who definitely knew:

Easy reading is damn hard writing.—Nathaniel Hawthorne
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.—Mark Twain

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