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News Thu Sep 20 2012
The Business of Writing
by Lara Levitan
StoryStudio Chicago has been in the crucial business of making Chicagoans better writers since 2003. Recently, the Studio added business writing courses, including a ten-week certificate program, to its repertoire.
The Business Writing Certificate program is all about teaching students to improve writing in the context of business--whatever a given student's business might be. Divided into three courses, the Certificate program includes Business Writing Fundamentals (six weeks beginning October 2), Grammar and Punctuation Boot Camp (three weeks beginning November 13), and Enhancing Your Relationship Building Skills (one session on December 13).
Business Writing Fundamentals is designed for anyone who writes at work, whether it's marketing materials, reports, proposals, newsletters, blog posts, performance evaluations, even Tweets. Unlike standard business writing classes, however, the StoryStudio model uses creative- and journalistic-writing techniques to aid in the process.
The program will help an artist--writer, visual, or otherwise--market his or her own material more effectively. If you're into self publishing chap books, but don't have the skills to market you're stuff, chances are fewer eyes will see your work no matter how good it is.
"The rules are taught in a lighthearted manner," says instructor Leslie Keros, a writer and editor who has worked at the University of Chicago Press and the American Bar Association. "Students receive plenty of hands-on experience, with exercises to help them not only remember the rules, but also learn when it's OK to bend them."
Lots of us freelancers and small business people spend a lot of time in coffee shops and staring at social media platforms to get some modicum of social interaction throughout the day. The Enhancing Your Relationship Building Skills portion of the program is meant to ready students for productive social interaction (networking!) in a one-night session.
The Business Writing Certificate program begins October 2. Register online or by phone at 773-477-7710.
(Photo Credit to Susan NYC via Creative Commons)
