Writer's Bill of Rights

The writer has the right
1. To ask questions to explore the audience, the purpose, and pertinent content.
2. To think and plan before writing a sentence.
3. To draft out of order and rearrange later.
4. To use punctuation to guide the reader's understanding, sentence by sentence.
5. To add transitions to plot a logical progression of thoughts.
6. To use spell check and a collegiate-size, hardcopy dictionary.
7. To use grammar check and a style guide, such as William Sabin's Gregg Manual of Style.
8. To read aloud to hear the word choices, flow, and tone.
9. To ask a trusted reader to give feedback.
10. To revise and rewrite to satisfaction or perfection, as time and task warrant.
Furthermore, these rights assist the writer in fulfilling the writer's duty: making the reader's job of reading, comprehending, thinking--and maybe, even, agreeing--easy.

2015 Written Communications Tip

To avoid Writer's Block, jump into the middle of your topic to develop your points. Write through the conclusion, and then return to the introduction. In the opening, connect your reader's interests, needs, and wants to the topic and your purpose. Make sure you tell your reader what you want your reader to know (information), understand (education and development), believe (ethics and values), feel (human connection), and do (action).