Writing Essentials Program

Follow Cindy's journey through the Writing Essentials Program

Good writing isn't just snazzy style or mastery of mechanics; it's a combination of both. A writer takes his readers on a journey. The writing of a good writer makes the journey is smooth and free of boulders and other impediments. An average or poor writer leaves chasms in his path, and the reader sometimes loses her way. Both a good writer and an average writer should be working on the craft and improving her trail master abilities.

The Writing Essentials Program helps you become a journey master, leading your readers effortlessly through meaning. The Writing Essentials Program combines a concentration on sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation with a focus on improving your writing style. One goes with the other.

Yet, in the end, it's even more than that. It's all about the experience, your own journey through writing.

So why is the journey sometimes such a struggle? Difficulty in writing can be a result of many things:

• A shaky grasp of grammar
• Not understanding how punctuation is used
• Confusion over sentence structure
• Lack of smooth flow in writing
• No voice
• Not practicing the craft enough

The good news is that these things can be learned, clarified and developed. The Writing Essentials Program unlocks the mystery, immerses you in words, and helps you get more comfortable with writing. For those who are already competent journey masters, the Writing Essentials Program hones their skills even more. Some of the things you'll do in the Writing Essentials Program:

• You'll look at individual words in a sentence, seeing their power, and understand why certain words go with others.
• You'll diagram sentences and get a visual representation of how words and pieces of sentences fit together.
• You'll observe how other writers convey meaning and impact and see how they do it and why they've chosen a word, sentence structure, form, type of conclusion, and other elements of style.
• You'll play with writing, getting a feel for the role of journey master and becoming more confident in your own journey.

Here are landmarks you'll pass along the way...

First, you learn about mechanics and style. Second, you practice both. Your trainer holds you accountable and gives you the time and space to practice writing. When you practice something consistently, you become better at it. The Writing Essentials Program gives you the structure and the writing exercises to practice writing. In addition, your trainer evaluates and comments on each piece of writing so that you see where the path has twisted back upon itself and where it's straight and clear.

This isn't just about grammar, mechanics, and style, however. In the Writing Essentials Program, you'll also study the craft of writing. If you have a new interest, say playing the piano, what do you do? You study it, you observe what master pianists do, and you start looking at the world around you through a filter of your new interest. That's what the Writing Essentials Program does; it gives you several filters to use. It gets you thinking about writing. You study what other writers do. You think about words and how they're used, all around you, from newspaper articles to verbal dialogue. You become aware of the writing style and techniques in the writing you read.You begin to look at writing in a completely different way.

As you travel through the 24-week Writing Essentials Program, you will:

• Receive one-on-one coaching with time to work on your writing issues, outside of homework.
• Enjoy individual attention and small-group participation in a safe environment, giving you the security to stretch and take risks in your writing.
• You'll add your own notes, reminders, and ideas to our 127-page Writing Essentials Notebook, creating a guidebook that you'll refer to again and again during your journey through this class and beyond.
• Complete over 74 writing exercises, practicing and refining your skills in all aspects of writing.

Once you understand the how's and why's of grammar, you won't struggle with word choice or placement, singular and plural agreement, or awkward word choice.

Once you understand the how's and why's of style, you won't struggle with how to start and end a piece or how to say what you want to say.

Once you understand the craft of writing, you'll embrace the role of writer and journey master.

Begin your journey here...

Learn more through our FAQ	Follow Cindy's journey through the Writing Essentials Program	Apply to the Writing Essentials Program

The Corporate Version

We've adapted our Writing Essentials Program for corporations and organizations. Please contact us for information on delivering a customized version to your corporation.

Praise for the Writing Essentials Program

Writing is a crucial element in my VA business. It is something that clients will ask me to assist them with either in editing or actually writing for them. So, when Dawn Goldberg created Write Well U and offered the Writing Essentials program, I knew it was something I had to make a priority.

Dawn’s program isn’t for everyone, and yet every executive should take it. This program starts with the basics so you have a strong foundational understanding of sentence structures and punctuations. Then it moves quickly from there into style. The parts of the class are seamless, and before you know it, you’re writing in your own voice and with great understanding!

Thank you, Dawn, for creating Write Well U and its various programs that are geared to the professional who is serious about their personal and professional growth. ~ Antonette Artiz, Virtual Details, Waldorf, Maryland

It is two weeks into the course and I am amazed at how much I have learnt already. On a personal note, writing has brought back so much joy into my life that I have forgotten how cathartic it is. Thank you, Dawn. I look forward to the next 5 months! ~ Petra Boucher, United Kingdom

I am much more aware of how, and what, I write. Prior to this class, I really struggled with getting anything down on paper. Now, I have the confidence, and tools, to be able to write when I need to. The grammar piece of the class is a necessary piece, and it helped me to strengthen those muscles again. I loved the different areas we delved into and then had to write using those techniques. I also enjoyed the book by Roy Peter Clark. This book is staying on my desk! ~ Cindy Hillsey, Virtual Partnering, Kentwood, Michigan

I've always been amazed by Dawn's mastery with words. It's no surprise, then, that I'm dazzled by her brilliance in what she's created with the Writing Essentials Program. I've seen people embarrassed by their lack of knowledge, understanding, and ability blossom in her program. Dawn's deftness with language, her passion in sharing that, and the super program she's created allow her to support participants in creating solid foundations for the writing they'll do for the rest of their lives! ~ Stacy Brice, President and Chief Visionary Officer, AssistU, Cockeysville, Maryland