business writing: write today

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Mind Manager

Stuck writing that presentation or report? Maybe you’re procrastinating, and feeling guilty about it.

Here’s a tip - use a mind map.

Mind maps use both your left brain logical side, and your right brain creative side: they’re fun. As you doodle your map, you’ll get new ideas and will make new connections. Before you know it, your presentation or report will write itself.

I’ve been a copywriter and author for many years. Whenever I start a new project, I create a mind map. I’ve been known to create mind maps on paper napkins, the back of receipts, index cards and on sticky notes. I also use Mind Manager, a great software tool.

A mind map frees you, because there’s no way you can do a mind map “wrong.”

In addition to kickstarting business writing chores, a mind map also lets you edit more effectively after you’ve written: it lets you see where you’re missing information, and what information you can use as an introduction, the body of the piece, and in the conclusion.

Mind mapping is a great skill - it will make you more productive, more creative, and will ensure that you look forward to writing tasks you used to dread.

Go on - try mind mapping a project that’s currently got you stumped. You’ll be amazed and thrilled at the effect.

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Technorati Tags: mind maps, business writing, brainstorming, structure

How fast do you read? Speed reading is becoming a vital skill for business people. You may have hundreds of emails and documents to read in a single day.

Although you can take a speed reading course to help you to get through more material more quickly, you can do a lot to improve your skill at speed reading with some practice.

Here are some speed reading techniques to help you to read faster:

* When you’re reading on the computer screen, take in as much as possible on the screen at a glance. Read the headline and sub-headlines to estimate whether it’s worth reading the Web page with more attention;

* When you’re reading a paper publication, use the same technique - move your eyes as little as possible, and keep reading forward, don’t look back on the page;

* If you subvocalize - that is, read silently aloud, forming the words in your mind - try to break this habit by reading faster. Force yourself to read at a higher speed. Put the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth to stop yourself subvocalizing.

Speed reading is a skill that you can develop: just push yourself to read a little faster than you do right now. It’s uncomfortable, but within a few days, you will find that you’ve established a new comfort zone. Within a month, you’ll be saving a hour or more a day, just by pushing yourself to read more quickly.

Technorati Tags: speed reading, speed reading techniques, business

I receive questions every week about what writing copy involves, so I’ve developed New Copywriter Tips.

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If you’re interested in developing copywriting skills, enjoy the report and tips.

Technorati Tags: business writing, copywriting, tips

Technorati Tags: copywriting