by Michael Strickland
“Of all the arts in which the wise excel, nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well.” – André Breton, French writer (1896–1996)
Professional writing is writing for reward or as a profession, or writing to a standard and style demanded by a particular profession. It involves the use of clear language to convey information in a way that is easily understood by the intended audience, and may be focused on information, persuasion or to stimulate debate.
Imagine that you are constructing a commercial building, an airplane or even a skyscraper. You might have some complex blueprints. Nonetheless, before construction begins, you need to develop a solid foundation and form a structurally sound framework. Even the most creative and ambitious designs will fail without these two essentials.
Professional writing follows a similar process. Whether you are writing a national address for a CEO or an important memo to colleagues, you will be unable to communicate your message if your style is not structurally sound.
A professional writer may be freelance, or employed in an occupation where a professional writing standard is a prerequisite, such as journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations or technical writing. While not necessarily the practitioner's primary profession, professional writing skills are essential in many other fields such as law, medicine, business, engineering, and social work.
I explore these ideas in my latest
Write Like a Pro column in the
Idaho Press Tribune.
Please share your suggestions for developing a professional writing style.