The Importance of Good Writing
Email and texting increased the need for good writing skills. They brought communication to a global scale. The experts agree. A rise in skill is needed with the rise in demand. I will gather why they say these skills are important, what I find to be good writing, and where my skills are. Why is Good Writing Important? Katherine Hanson notes in "Writing Skills: More Important Than Ever On the Job," the higher you rise in a field the more writing required. In startling contrast, roughly one third of US workers fail to meet the writing requirement of their position. The demand for these skills is so high that to train everypony would require $3.1 billion annually (Hanson n.d.). Rick Suttle's "Importance of Writing Skills in Business" clearly conveys that these skills are worth investment. The ability to communicate effectively shouldn't underestimated. It saves employees and employers time as fewer mistakes will be made and final outcomes accurate. (Suttle n.d.) What Do I Think Makes Good Writing? Good writing tells a complete story. Nothing is as annoying as finding a riveting tale only to have a plot hole or a missing ending. This is why I really enjoy the posts on TheBloggess.com. Often her stories contain speech from Victor and herself that could be stopped halfway through or only have one quote or two posted. It would still be funny and carry a decent amount of content. Instead, the author shows an entire conversation and gives a richer view. Another factor in good writing is solid examples. If something is stated to be large, how would I know how large unless an example is added in? Manageyourwriting.com is a prime example. Kenneth Davis writes in a concise style. As I delved into reading his pieces, I understood a block of text was unneeded. When an idea can easily be conveyed in a paragraph, why create an essay? I enjoyed the blog entry Davis made about Hoover's miscommunication on borders. The tale led to an insightful conclusion on clarity: "...watch your borders--not the physical margins of your printed documents, but the much more important and elusive borders between your reader's understanding and misunderstanding." (Davis 2012) The Huffington Post is a successful news blog. What are they doing right? The entries are concise but descriptive. Length doesn't determine quality. Because this blog is selective with wording, engaging works are created in digestible portions. Self Assessment & Goals: I am a student and fulfill the requirement for the position. However, I am looking to the future. I am not yet at the level needed for the job I am training for. This does not leave me discouraged because I know I have the means to improve. Several of my strengths are stable voice and tone that makes it more compelling for the reader. I can also tend to be too informal. A common pitfall is repetition in ideas and words. Also, I have been striving to improve my grammar and spelling. This skill has always been a weakened one for me. To address these weaknesses I have developed three goals. 1. To use selective wording and avoid needless repetition. 2. To strive for excellent grammar and spelling. 3. To find effective strategies that keep my tone appropriate. Parting Thoughts Advances in technology have brought the world closer. This has increased the demand for communication skills, yet the skill levels of workers have not risen as sharply. Multiple experts have strong arguments to detail the importance of these skills. My findings have led me to a similar understanding. The lack of this important skill makes it even more vital. (607)