Individual Coaching

Worktalk customizes all training materials. Your examples and exercises will be drawn directly from writing samples that you send to us. Many firms charge hefty fees for customization; we include it in our reasonable rates. The training takes on added relevance as participants see "live" work being edited before their eyes.

The Core Business Writing Workshop consists of four half-day modules. The two-day format allows one half-day for each module and offers plenty of time for practice exercises and customization. Together, the four modules cover the full range of information necessary to become a clear, concise writer. Multiple group exercises also build the sense of camaraderie as well as teamwork as participants learn to work together to generate high-quality writing. We strongly recommend this format, as it allows more time for questions, practice and discussion. It also contains a comprehensive module on grammar and punctuation.

Module One: Shaping Your Message

Cut Your Writing Time in Half
- Get the big picture first. Learn about the three stages of writing and the Three P’s: Purpose, Person, and Point. You’ll see how the “Three P’s Process” will enable you to jump-start any writing project and ensure that you are targeting your readers.

Patterns of Organization
- The organization and structure of your document flow from its purpose. We’ll cover six core organizational patterns and see how and when to apply them.
- You’ll also make sure that you include all relevant information and organize it logically.
The Organic Outline Brings Your Document to Life
- Learn the key distinction between organizing and writing. The Organic Outline process will enable you to get the right structure for your document the first time you outline it, and will ensure that your document fulfills its purpose.
Make Your Reader Act by Using Strategic “Structuring”
- Learn how you can make your point just through the way your structure your document. This persuasive structuring approach adds a powerful tool to your writing arsenal.

Module Two: Mechanics of Writing – Grammar and Punctuation Refresher

Do You Cringe At the Thought of Writing?
- You’ll learn specific techniques to help you overcome the potentially crippling experiences of writer's block and procrastination.
The Easy Truths Behind Scary Grammatical Terms
- You will refresh your memory about parts of speech, parts of sentences, basic rules about words such as which and that, pronoun usage and reference, sequencing verb tenses and other elements of basic grammar.

Avoid Embarrassing Grammar Errors
- You’ll learn to identify and repair dangling modifiers, run-on and incomplete sentences, and other grammatical blunders.

Never Feel Nervous About Punctuation Again
- How do you use that semi-colon, anyway? You’ll learn the four functions of punctuation and how to use the right punctuation marks at the right time.

Module Three: The Craft of Writing

Make Your Sentences Pack Power
- The essential sentence is the North Star of every sentence. You will learn to find it and use it to craft powerful sentences. You’ll also learn the ideal sentence length to ensure maximal readability.

Ten Ways Professional Writers Keep Their Writing Interesting

These ten key ideas will guide you in writing clearly, concisely and powerfully in plain English. Examples and practice exercises will make each principle easy to understand.

Avoid Sounding “Cold” or Impersonal
- Learn about the sentence structures and word choices that can make the difference between a warm, friendly tone and an impersonal one.

Module Four: Looking Again

“Murder Your Darlings”: Learn the Secrets of Professional Editors
- “Writing is rewriting what has already been rewritten.” Much of your document’s success depends on how effectively you edit your early drafts. Here you will learn three secrets to professional-level editing. You’ll learn to identify grammar errors, eliminate verbal clutter, spot logical errors and omissions, and smooth out the tone of your work.
Don’t Show Up With Ketchup On Your Shirt
- The format and presentation of your document are part of its success. Learn three formatting secrets that will help your message reach your reader. See how headings and sub-heads guide your reader through your document.
Editing for Others With No Hard Feelings
- “The strongest urge in human beings is not love and it is not hate. It is one person’s desire to change another’s copy.” This section offers basic ground rules that people can use when assigning writing to others and editing one another’s work.

Core Business Writing Seminar

This one-day program gives an overview of the writing process.

Overcoming Fear of Writing

Identifying and overcoming signs of panic and writer’s block.

Three Stages of Writing

The three stages of writing are: Getting Ready, which should take 30 to 40% of total project time; Writing the First Draft, which should take 15 to 20% of the time, and Revising, which should take the remainder of the project time.

Three Ps

Purpose, Person and Point: These three elements of the document must be clear before any effective writing can be done. Clarifying these factors in advance can cut total writing time in half. We will look at examples of documents with various purposes and audiences and learn how to analyze them. Participants will write out the Three Ps for an individual in-class project.

Basic Principles of Organization

Participants will learn three key principles in structuring their documents.

Put your main point first.

Put your main point last if the reader will resist your message.

Restate all requests at the end.

Finding the Essential Sentence

The core noun and verb, or subject and predicate, are crucial to the structure of even the most complex sentence. Learning to untangle them helps writers simplify unwieldy sentences.

Five Key Principles of Good Writing

Beginning with the value of writing with verbs and ranging through the importance of simplifying your sentences, participants will learn five vital principles to keep your writing crisp and clear. Training exercises are drawn from participants’ writing samples.

Writing the Quick First Draft.

The function of the first draft is to create something to revise. Participants will draft their personal project, keeping in mind the writing principles they have just learned.

Three Editing Tools

Professional editors know that they need to put work aside before they try to revise it. They also know that reading aloud is one of the main ways to make sure that their eyes are not deceiving them. These are just two of the important editing tools you will learn. After discussing these editing principles, participants will edit their projects and share their results with the group.

Extensive classroom discussion enables participants to embody each element of the training before moving on to the next point. Training exercises are drawn from “live” work submitted in participants’ writing samples.

Technical Writing

This course draws on elements of the Core training, linking them to the specific challenges of technical writing. It is for people who work in technical fields such as engineering, computer science, or financial areas that require them to use specialized language. This course teaches them how to make their ideas understandable to readers who are not familiar with their field.

In addition to the material in the Core training, you will learn how to avoid using jargon and explain complex ideas in simple language, how to decide how much technical information to include, how to write an executive summary, how to use graphs and diagrams to get your message across, and how to make sure that your reader understands the value of the technical work you do.

The Technical Writing training adds one half-day to the Core program.

Advanced Course in Shaping Your Message: Writing Long Documents

Very long and/or complex documents pose special challenges to writers. These projects must be planned more carefully and scheduled in order to make sure that all necessary information is included and that the structure remains strong throughout the document. This half-day is meant to augment the Core program. It gives you the skills you need in order to plan, schedule and execute a long document, whether it is an extensive proposal, a thesis or dissertation, a procedures manual or a book. The course also includes guides for assigning portions of a large writing project to different writers.

Smart Email

Emails are careening through cyber-space at an ever-increasing pace. This training will help you make sure that your emails are read and understood. You will learn the ten key principles of smart email writing. During the course, you will learn the three mistakes to always avoid and find out how to see an email from your reader’s point of view, to convey your point clearly, to control the tone of your email and to make sure that you are using email appropriately.

This module can be added to the Core or Technical Writing training program or it can stand alone as a two-hour presentation.

Writing Successful Business Letters

Writing business letters is an art form. Here we will cull out the elements of the Core program that pertain most to business correspondence, identify basic categories and structures of business letters, and learn how to apply this knowledge to producing powerful, clear, effective business letters.

This module can be added to the Core or Technical Writing training program or it can stand alone as a two-hour presentation.

Refresher Course for Graduates of Core Program

Over time, people need reinforcement of the skills they gain in training programs. This course is designed for those who have taken Worktalk’s Core program within 12 to 18 months. Course content is largely determined by the results of a customized assessment process. We determine which areas are most in need of review and tailor the course to your organization’s ongoing communication needs and goals.

Individual Coaching

Imagine having the writing coach all to yourself for an hour so you can ask all the questions you want. This service might be appropriate for an executive or senior employee who does not feel comfortable attending a group seminar, someone who does an unusual kind of writing, or an employee who needs extra personal attention.

Coaching is available in person, by phone, or by a combination of phone and e-mail. Private coaching offers the highest possible level of customization.

Customized Programs

Worktalk develops training programs that meet your specific objectives. We will talk with you about your organization’s strategic and training goals and design a program that will meet them.

What Our Clients Say

Elizabeth has provided several business writing seminars for the staff and partners of our firm. Accountants are not always great writers, but Elizabeth was patient and helpful. She gave us practical, real-world guidance and empowered us to communicate better. Elizabeth's in-depth knowledge of the English language, grammar and business writing protocol, combined with her engaging manner make her an excellent instructor.

Jenny Bolsky, CPA
Miller, Kaplan, Arase

Liz definitely helped me become a better writer. Since I began working with her, my writing has become clearer, more concise, and more readable. She helped me identify and overcome some negative writing habits. As an attorney, it is vital that I make my points concisely to judges, clients and other attorneys. Liz kept pressing me to reach higher levels of readability. I apply her advice every day and it has definitely made me a better attorney.

Richard A. Luftman, Associate Attorney Venable LLP

For anyone looking to hone their writing skills, and who would like help from an expert writer, teacher, and coach, I couldn't recommend Elizabeth Danziger highly enough. Liz has helped me - so far - in writing one book, and has guided me through some of the crucial elements of writing with skill and ease. Working with her has been a pleasure, and she has been very effective in nudging me into new territory.

Most importantly, with her help my writing has improved tremendously. This has made it possible for me to accomplish some important goals, and to consider projects that would have been outside of my ability before.

Joel F. Wade, Ph.D.

Author of Mastering Happiness and The San People of the Kalahari

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