WRITING IS EASYOR HOW TO FOOL YOURSELF INTO THINKING

IT REALLY IS

KATHRYN SCHNEIDER SOSBE

WARNINGS

If examples used are yours, don’t say anything. No one will know you wrote it.

Laugh at the mistakes. Some are funny. But in the end, learn from them.

Remember, when you return to work somebody will tell you, ‘No.’

Keep trying anyway.

 ”If writing seems hard,

it’s because it is hard.

It’s one of the hardest things

people do.” – William Zinsser, author of “On

Writing Well”

WE WANT OUR WRITING, LIKE SELFIES, TO SHOW OUR INNER AND OUTER BEAUTY.

IN REALITY, WE ARE SOMETIMES SURPRISED WHEN WE SEE WHAT WE HAVE CREATED.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A GREAT WRITER?

•READ

•WRITE

•OBSERVE

•CHALLENGE YOURSELF

•CHALLENGE OTHERS

•NEVER, EVER STOP TRYING

READING CAN HELP MAKE YOU A STRONGER WRITER

IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ,

YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME —

OR THE TOOLS —

TO WRITE.

SIMPLE AS THAT. 

STEPHEN KING

10 STEPS TO BECOMING A BETTER WRITER

WRITE.WRITE MORE.WRITE EVEN MORE.WRITE EVEN MORE THAN THAT.WRITE WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO.WRITE WHEN YOU DO.WRITE WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.WRITE WHEN YOU DON’T.WRITE EVERY DAY.KEEP WRITING.

BRIAN CLARK

CHALLENGE YOURSELF, OTHERS

BE ORIGINAL

BE CONSCIENTIOUS

BE EXCUSE FREE

BE PART OF A TEAM

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE – THEN FIND WAYS TO BE EVEN

BETTER

BE READY TO FAIL BUT ALWAYS GET BACK UP

NEVER, EVER STOP TRYING

WHAT IS GOOD WRITING?

READER DRIVEN

PURPOSEFUL

LOGICALLY ORGANIZED

GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT

INTERESTING

EFFECTIVE

“Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.”

Ernest Hemingway

GOOD OR BAD?

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE SUMMARY

WE ARE AMENDING THE REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE IMPORTATION OF CITRUS FRUIT TO REMOVE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE IMPORTATION OF UNSHU ORANGES FROM JAPAN. SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE REMOVING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FRUIT TO BE GROWN IN SPECIFIED CANKER-FREE EXPORT AREAS WITH BUFFER ZONES AND FOR JOINT INSPECTION IN THE GROVES AND PACKINGHOUSES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND THE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE. WE ARE ALSO CLARIFYING THAT SURFACE STERILIZATION OF THE FRUIT MUST BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR REGULATIONS. FINALLY, WE ARE REQUIRING THAT EACH SHIPMENT BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE CONTAINING AN ADDITIONAL DECLARATION STATING THAT THE FRUIT WAS GIVEN THE REQUIRED SURFACE STERILIZATION. THESE CHANGES WILL MAKE THE REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE IMPORTATION OF UNSHU ORANGES FROM JAPAN CONSISTENT WITH OUR DOMESTIC REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF CITRUS FRUIT FROM AREAS QUARANTINED BECAUSE OF CITRUS CANKER.

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE SUMMARYTHE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) AMENDS ITS ADJUDICATION REGULATIONS AND THE APPEALS REGULATIONS AND RULES OF PRACTICE OF THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS (BOARD) TO REQUIRE THAT ALL CLAIMS GOVERNED BY VA'S ADJUDICATION REGULATIONS BE FILED ON STANDARD FORMS PRESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY, REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF CLAIM OR POSTURE IN WHICH THE CLAIM ARISES. THIS RULEMAKING ALSO ELIMINATES THE CONSTRUCTIVE RECEIPT OF VA REPORTS OF HOSPITALIZATION OR EXAMINATION AND OTHER MEDICAL RECORDS AS INFORMAL CLAIMS FOR INCREASE OR TO REOPEN WHILE RETAINING THE RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE ASSIGNMENT FOR AWARDS FOR CLAIMS FOR INCREASE WHICH ARE FILED ON A STANDARD FORM WITHIN 1 YEAR OF SUCH HOSPITALIZATION, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT. THIS FINAL RULE ALSO IMPLEMENTS THE CONCEPT OF AN INTENT TO FILE A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS, WHICH OPERATES SIMILARLY TO THE CURRENT INFORMAL CLAIM PROCESS, BUT REQUIRES THAT THE SUBMISSION ESTABLISHING A CLAIMANT'S EFFECTIVE DATE OF BENEFITS MUST BE RECEIVED IN ONE OF THREE SPECIFIED FORMATS. FINALLY, THESE AMENDMENTS WILL PROVIDE THAT VA WILL ACCEPT AN EXPRESSION OF DISSATISFACTION OR DISAGREEMENT WITH AN ADJUDICATIVE DETERMINATION BY THE AGENCY OF ORIGINAL JURISDICTION(AOJ) AS A NOTICE OF DISAGREEMENT (NOD) ONLY IF IT IS SUBMITTED ON A STANDARDIZED FORM PROVIDED BY VA FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPEALING THE DECISION, IN CASES WHERE SUCH A FORM IS PROVIDED. ALTHOUGH A STANDARDIZED NOD FORM WILL ONLY INITIALLY BE PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH DECISIONS ON COMPENSATION CLAIMS, VA MAY REQUIRE A STANDARD NOD FORM FOR ANY TYPE OF CLAIM FOR VA BENEFITS IF, IN THE FUTURE, IT DEVELOPS AND PROVIDES A STANDARDIZED NOD FORM FOR A PARTICULAR BENEFIT. THE PURPOSE OF THESE AMENDMENTS IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND TIMELINESS OF THE PROCESSING OF VETERANS' CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS BY STANDARDIZING THE CLAIMS AND APPEALS PROCESSES THROUGH THE USE OF FORMS.

The purpose of these amendments is to improve the quality and timeliness of the processing of veterans' claims for benefits by standardizing the claims and appeals processes through the use of forms.

OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

TARP HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO UNPRECEDENTED OVERSIGHT SINCE ITS INCEPTION. THE EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008 (EESA) GAVE OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY TO FOUR SEPARATE ENTITIES: THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OVERSIGHT BOARD (FINSOB); THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO); THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TARP (SIGTARP); AND THE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT PANEL (COP), WHICH CEASED OPERATIONS ON APRIL 3, 2011, AS REQUIRED BY EESA. 

TREASURY COOPERATES WITH EACH OVERSIGHT BODY'S EFFORTS TO REVIEW TARP PROGRAMS AND TO PRODUCE PERIODIC AUDITS AND REPORTS. ON AVERAGE, TREASURY RESPONDS TO APPROXIMATELY 84 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION PER MONTH (MORE THAN 4 PER BUSINESS DAY) BY THESE ENTITIES. AS OF MAY 31, 2012, TREASURY HAS RESPONDED TO 100 REPORTS FROM GAO, COP, AND SIGTARP; AND TREASURY HAS PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST 35 CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON TARP. INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, THE WORK PERFORMED BY TARP'S OVERSIGHT BODIES HAS MADE AND CONTINUES TO MAKE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENING  AND TRANSPARENCY OF TARP PROGRAMS. TREASURY WELCOMES THIS OVERSIGHT AND, TO DATE, HAS ADOPTED 154 RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THESE OVERSIGHT BODIES. 

WRITING IS A MULTI-STEP PROCESS

“Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.”

Ernest Hemingway

1 2 3

6 5 4

7 8 9

DECIDE TOPIC

RESEARCH TOPIC

ORGANIZE NOTES

WRITE FIRST DRAFT

READ DRAFTREVISE DRAFT

EDIT DRAFT FINAL PROOF PUBLISH

BEFORE YOU WRITE

• DETERMINE YOUR PURPOSE

• DETERMINE YOUR AUDIENCE

• GATHER PERTINENT FACTS

• INTERVIEW SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

• GATHER VISUALS

• ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES – DARE I SAY OUTLINE?

THE CASE FOR OUTLINES

OR

ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES TO FIT YOUR STYLE

• KNOW THE ELEMENTS OF YOUR PRODUCT. WILL THERE BE CHAPTERS, SECTIONS, HEADERS, ETC.?

• WHAT WILL ELEMENTS INCLUDE?

• WHAT IS IN THE BODY, WHAT IS AN APPENDIX?

• WHAT WILL BE A GRAPHIC OR PHOTOGRAPH?

VISUAL OUTLINES – MIND MAPPING

START WRITING• RELAX – LOWER YOUR STANDARDS

FOR THE FIRST DRAFT

• AVOID INTERRUPTIONS

• SET GOALS

• DON’T ALWAYS START WITH THE OPENING PARAGRAPH, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OR FORWARD.

• CONSIDER WRITING A SECTION AT A TIME. DURING REVISIONS YOU CAN WORK TO CONNECT THOSE SECTIONS

• DISPENSE WITH THE NOTION THAT IT MUST BE PERFECT

TRY THESE TIPS8 GOOD WRITING PRACTICES BY NEIL GAIMAN (EDITED)• WRITE.• PUT ONE WORD AFTER ANOTHER. FIND THE RIGHT WORD, PUT IT DOWN.• FINISH WHAT YOU'RE WRITING. WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO FINISH

IT, FINISH IT.• PUT IT ASIDE. READ IT PRETENDING YOU’VE NEVER READ IT BEFORE.

SHOW IT TO FRIENDS WHOSE OPINION YOU RESPECT AND WHO LIKE THE KIND OF THING THAT THIS IS.

• REMEMBER: WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU SOMETHING’S WRONG OR DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM, THEY ARE ALMOST ALWAYS RIGHT. WHEN THEY TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT, THEY ARE ALMOST ALWAYS WRONG.

• FIX IT. REMEMBER THAT, SOONER OR LATER, BEFORE IT EVER REACHES PERFECTION, YOU WILL HAVE TO LET IT GO AND MOVE ON AND START TO WRITE THE NEXT THING. PERFECTION IS LIKE CHASING THE HORIZON. KEEP MOVING.

• LAUGH AT YOUR OWN JOKES.WRITING PRACTICES ADDENDUM BY KATHRYN SOSBE• TRY WRITING WITHOUT NOTES FIRST. THE IMPORTANT IDEAS WILL COME

OUT FIRST – OR BAD ONES WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED• VISUALIZE YOUR PROSE. TAKE PHOTOS. DRAW PICTURES. DO AN

INTERPRETIVE DANCE.• YOU ARE NOT WRITING FOR YOUR BOSS OR CONGRESS. YOU ARE

WRITING FOR THE PUBLIC – UNLESS YOU ARE ONLY WRITING FOR YOUR BOSS OR CONGRESS.

• STOP MAKING EXCUSES. • STOP EXPECTING OTHERS TO FIX EVERYTHING.

REVISETAKE A BREAK: GIVE YOUR WRITING AND BRAIN BREATHING ROOM. FRESH AIR IS BEST.CHOOSE YOUR METHOD: ONSCREEN OR PRINTED PAPER – BUT ALWAYS READ ITCONCENTRATE: FIND A QUIET SPACE OR SLIP ON HEADPHONESTAKE YOUR TIME: RUSHING MEANSMISSED ERRORSCHECK FOR:• FLOW• CLARITY• MESSAGE• LOGIC

SEND DOCUMENT TO GROUP/SUPERVISOR INPUT. KEEP VERSIONS.KEEP WHAT WORKS.

SELF EDIT

TAKE A BREAK: GIVE YOUR WRITING AND BRAIN BREATHING ROOM. FRESH AIR IS BEST.CHOOSE YOUR METHOD: ONSCREEN OR PRINTED PAPER – BUT ALWAYS READ ITCONCENTRATE: FIND A QUIET SPACE OR SLIP ON HEADPHONESTAKE YOUR TIME: RUSHING MEANSMISSED ERRORSCHECK FOR:• FLOW• CLARITY• MESSAGE• LOGIC

SEND DOCUMENT TO GROUP/SUPERVISOR FOR THEIR EDITS. KEEP VERSIONS.

PROOFREAD

AFTER CONSIDERING GROUP EDITS AND MAKING REVISIONS BASED ON INPUT, IT’S TIME TO PROOFREAD:

CHECK:• SPELLING• FACTS• TITLES• REFERENCES• CONSISTENCY IN DESIGN

DO IT AT LEAST TWICE

TIP: READ BACKWARDS STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM. FORCES YOUR EYE AND BRAIN TO SLOW DOWN

EDITING OTHERS

• READ, DON’T SCAN, ONCE WITHOUT EDITING

• BEGIN EDITS ON SECOND READ

• BE KIND YET DIRECT

• OFFER SPECIFIC ADVICE, NOT CRITICISM OR QUESTIONS

• WRITER VOICE OR BAD WRITING? CHOOSE SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE

WRITING EMAILS, PART 1• SUBJECT LINE: MAKE ME WANT TO OPEN IT.

DON’T WRITE: CIO SECURITY NEWS. SAY WHAT YOU MEAN: YOUR COMPUTER ACCESS WILL END SOON

• TO: EXPECTED TO TAKE ACTION.

• CC: NOT EXPECTED TAKE ACTION UNLESS THEY DESIRE. HOT TIP: NEVER WRITE THE NAME OF THE RECIPIENTS UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE WRITTEN AND EDITED YOUR EMAIL.

• BCC: USE TO PREVENT EMAIL BOOMERANG. ADD THE NOTE “DO NOT FORWARD – YOU ARE PART OF A GROUP EMAIL.” DO NOT SAY, “SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK.”

• ATTACHMENTS: DON’T DO IT UNLESS IMPERATIVE.

WRITING EMAILS, PART 2• BODY OF MESSAGE:

• GET TO THE MAIN POINT IN THE FIRST OR SECOND SENTENCE; DON’T WASTE THE RECIPIENTS TIME

• DON’T USE ALL CAPS OR ALL LOWER CASE. WRITE PROFESSIONALLY

• YOU ARE SENDING EMAIL, NOT TEXT. SPELL CORRECTLY

• CONSIDER BULLET POINTS

• CONSIDER LANGUAGE

• MIND YOUR MANNERS

• CONSIDER NOT SENDING THE EMAIL

• NEVER REPLY UNLESS YOU SAY SOMETHING OF VALUE

• END YOUR EMAIL WITH AN APPROPRIATE SIGNATURE VOID OF PHOTOS OF YOURSELF, QUOTES OR CUTE SAYINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR JOB, UNNECESSARY ART OR GRAPHICS

People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.

Andrew Carnegie

WRITING AND EDITING RESOURCES ONLINE

• WWW.DAILYWRITINGTIPS.COM/

• WWW.QUICKANDDIRTYTIPS.COM/

• WWW.QUICKANDDIRTYTIPS.COM/GRAMMAR-GIRL

• WWW.PLAINLANGUAGE.GOV/

• WWW.POYNTER.ORG/CATEGORY/HOW-TOS/

• VISUAL.MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM/

RECOMMENDED READING

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE

CONTACT INFORMATION:

KGSOSBE@FS.FED.US

KATHRYN.SOSBE@GMAIL.COM