Association for Creative Business Writing

The Association for Creative Business Writing celebrates the creativity in everyone, offering online and on-site support and inspiration that deliver improved writing—and results—in the workplace.  The association offers coaching, seminars, newsletters, and online forums to help everyone from C-level to entry level achieve increased sales, improved productivity, and even a promotion or two.

Given the quick-and-dirty electronic communications so popular today, some might wonder, “Why bother with writing skills?”  And, sure, those dashed off messages are fine for casual situations, says Association for Creative Business Writing founder and award-winning author, Lynda McDaniel. But what about that important sales proposal, white paper, report, or blog?  

“Texts and tweets have their place; they’re fun and fast,” McDaniel says. “But when you need an impressive report or persuasive proposal, powerful business writing makes a big difference.”  

McDaniel received the top award from National BEST BOOKS 2009 Awards in the category of writing/publishing for her latest book, Words at Work: Powerful business writing delivers increased sales, improved results, and even a promotion or two.  Awards are sponsored by USA Book News based in Los Angeles.

“Writing is one of the most accessible—yet overlooked—tools for getting a job and keeping a job,” McDaniel says.  “We’re all writing more at work these days.  In today’s economy, people need to set themselves apart from the pack.  Good writing is one of easiest ways to achieve that.”

The association is so affordable—offering both a free membership and a mentorship tier that averages less than 25 cents a day. McDaniel designed it that way to reach as many as possible because she knows how much writing can help them achieve success. And members can learn through regular, reinforced workshops and motivational exercises in the privacy of their office or home at their own pace—even with a busy schedule.

“Seminars and workshops are great, but without repeated follow-up, the information fades like yesterday’s pop stars,” McDaniel explains. “Our association offers just the right amount of information in weekly increments. Through a steady stream in instruction and inspiration, we make the learning stick.”

“It’s like having a personal writing coach.”
That’s what a client recently said when she learned the benefits the association offers. Members receive regular coaching on time-saving, results-improving techniques such as:

1. Write your first draft fast. Just get it down. You can make it better later. This speeds up the writing process and makes room for creativity.

2. Write TO your readers, not AT them. Craft your message to help solve a problem or show the benefits you offer.

3. Break it up—with numbers, bullets or white space. People just delete big, boring blocks of copy.

As much as McDaniel wants to see better writing in the workplace, she’s after something deeper. She wants to help people tap into their creativity.

“We’ve got vast resources in our brains just waiting to be unleashed,” she explains. “Writing can help us get to those ideas—ideas we don’t even know we have. I’m a big fan of the research Jonah Lehrer writes about in The New Yorker and his latest book,
How We Decide. And I believe this is the very kind of mental calisthenics we need to
turn around our economic downturn. The mission statement for AFCBW reads, ‘Celebrating the creativity in everyone; offering support and inspiration that yields improved writing—and results—in the workplace.’  I’m committed to this.”