Editing Business Communications: Quick Tips

In the Business World, anyone tasked with writing Professional Communications will often find that navigating from initial draft to final document is a trek through a minefield of obstacles and challenges.

Whether it be office politics, personality conflicts, spin, or style issues, communicators must learn to tread carefully through these obstacles for they will challenge the skills, credibility, and professionalism of even the most experienced writers.

This is not to suggest that writers in Business and Industry should be careful to the extent of marginalizing their contributions. On the contrary, it means that writers must face up to the realities of producing communications that management wants and readers want to read.

The simple fact is that management seldom articulates how it wants something written or phrased. Thus, it usually falls on the writer to sort this out through the Editing Process. Of course, this process can seemingly put the writer in a no-win situation, but with planning and forethought, the task need not be so ambiguous.

That said, as you move your writing project from draft to completion, be mindful of the following:

* Organizational Politics are unavoidable, and communicators need to develop their business and political acumen in order to anticipate potential rejection with what they write and how they express it.

* Take the time to outline and draft your work. In simple terms, these steps facilitate the Creative Process and expedite the Writing Process.

* Be aware that a draft is "working" document, so be prepared for revisions and rewrites.

* Editing is arguably the most frustrating part of the writer's job, and it will tax your patience and professionalism.

* Proofreading is the final step in the Editing Process, and writers should never rely exclusively on mechanical means or the initiative of others to proof and finalize their final drafts.

* Be thorough and systematic in editing and proofing your work. There are numerous desk-top and online resources to help with this task. Refer to the previous posting on this subject as well as the Writing Tools and Reference Side Board for links to some standard editing aids.

Jack