Professional Writing

Blogging: My New Favorite Pastime

picture of a blog — “Living SILsationally” blog

Blogging: My New Favorite Pastime

By Silvia Pettway

Blogging has become a very close companion of mine over the past few years. As an English major whose entire academic career has been consumed with formal essays and 10-12 page research papers, I can admit that it is refreshing to write and research certain interests of mine that do not revolve around passing a class.

Blogging has given me the freedom to not only explore and write about other avenues that interest me, but it has also given me the ability to reach other individuals that have similar hobbies, ideas and interests as I do.

What is blogging and how did it become so widely regarded as another outlet for writers, journalists and pretty much anybody who has something to say? I see blogging as an open diary, where you get to express yourself without the limits of privacy.

As a lifestyle blogger, I can honestly say that I truly don’t know how the concept of blogging turned into something so massive in the world of media, but this new medium has influenced millions of individuals around the world. There are many different genres of blogging that can pique anyone’s interest. Lifestyle, travel, fashion, politics, beauty and the news are just a few of the outlets that welcome the style of blogging.

I believe for any writer, it is important to reserve time each day to simply write. It doesn’t have to be a profound piece of work, nor does it have to be something small. Writing anything encourages the creative flow and allows us to release the thoughts that have consumed our minds throughout the day. I try to post on my lifestyle blog, “Living SILsationally” as often as I can. And when I can’t post, I at least write ideas that I would like to explore on my blog.

Technology has undoubtedly taken over our world in every aspect. Blogging is proof of this. In 2008, the news blogging journal, the Guardian released an article about “The World’s 50 most powerful blogs” and at the top of this list was the widely popular political blog journal the Huffington Post.

Before illustrating the highlights of the Huffington Post, the authors of the article describe how bloggers are typically seen as the underdogs in comparison to mainstream media.

Hearing news on television has a profoundly different effect than reading a blogger’s latest post that gives their opinion of what the news has reported. Blogging garners emotions and expresses thought; most of the time, their followers agree with how they feel. This makes sense because in order for a blog site to have followers, there has to be a similarity in interest, or else the followers would not visit the site.

In the professional writing world, there isn’t much room for expressing emotions, and opinionated thoughts conflict with the facts that news brings. So blogging is a great way for writers in the professional world to talk about about the interests that they love without the rules and regulations that limit their writing and ideas.

An advantage to blogging is that it can become a stepping stone for journalists to advance in their careers as professional writers. The Next Web writes about Shane Evans, the Deputy editor of Goal.com, a soccer blog. Evans states that “in today’s information-based society, where everything is at your fingertips […] people are basically teaching themselves how to be journalists. Gone are the days when you need a degree to show how credible you are as a writer. If your blog gets a ton of hits and you have thousands of followers on Twitter, you get taken seriously.”

Of course, there are many ways for an individual to express themselves, but I believe that blogging allows more room for connecting with others, which is great for us introverts that have a difficult time opening up our lives to others.

Blogging creates opportunities for networking in the professional field as well, which is an especially important asset for professional writers. With blogging, the viewers of your blog get to see more of your personality become vividly expressed. If the right potential employer views your blog and enjoys what they see, then they may be more willing to welcome you on board as a member of the staff.

The progression of this new form of media is exciting and unique for the world of writers. I know I’ve certainly enjoyed writing as SILsationally as I can.

In the Flow: Navigating the Changing World of Professional Writing

student working at desktop — Student working at a desktop

In the Flow: Navigating the Changing World of Professional Writing

By Theodore Rowe

At first glance, the differences between the New York Times and Buzzfeed are evident: one has the appearance of a serious publication with headlines referring to events of international political theater; the other entertains with allusions to pop culture and memes. But are the two really that far apart?

Buzzfeed now has a team of journalists that interview high-level politicians—including the President—while breaking stories before more traditional sources. Meanwhile, the New York Times has sniped some of Buzzfeed’s reporting strategies, as readers can now find “listicles” integrated into older sections of the paper.

News no longer exists in its own sphere, separated from the sorts of entertaining articles sought by those online.

Additionally, the Internet, encompassing a larger network of social media, blogs, and so on, encourages massive amounts of competition between who receives attention.

What does this influx of new media mean for professional writers? Is the contemporary field of writing favorable for the professional writer and, if not, how do they push back?

Professional writing obviously extends into a number of various areas, but this essay will focus on a specific company’s “voice” in order to express an ideal. Not only do differing businesses require a variety of voices, the brand itself may necessitate numerous voices within the organization.

Thus, professional writers should expect to create a specific voice depending on what is being written. For instance, an article regarding a new restaurant near a promoted apartment complex can be more playful if the restaurant is family-friendly as opposed to something more elegant, assuming the restaurant is of a higher quality.

The example is unambiguous, but imagine juggling varying social strata in a single article. Think of the overarching audience: who is the key reader? From there, attempt to either localize or highlight details depending on the article. Buzzfeed must connect to a larger audience, so the target articles attempt to include a massive group of people via pop culture, social issues, etc. An article for a company’s blog does well to include communal elements of the surrounding city.

Attempts to frame a particular voice for a blog can run into issues of authorial erasure. The issue comes from churning out material that does not have a sense of personality behind it. These days, websites like Buzzfeed are so popularized that they merit parodies, thus a sense of individuality is unique in carrying a brand. Obviously guidelines must be adhered to, but an injection of humor by the author, even if it seems like “too much,” can be good.

Working on your own interests manifests a more interesting article, while also signaling that you have a voice that is unique from the company guidelines. A strong voice is as necessary as experience in establishing credentials to show employers.

Maneuvering from one writing job to another is a daunting task. Professional writers should expect to assume any position that is offered. Careers in journalism have become much more fluid than they used to be, meaning that one might be hired to write material that engages a multitude of audiences. Thus, the professional writer should be sensitive to contemporary political events with the ability to engagage culturally or with an adaptation to the latest technology.

Finally, professional writers should not feel restricted by the free-form world of writing jobs that exist. I do not necessarily think that jumping between assignments from different companies is pragmatic—instead, this constant freelance maneuvering is more a means of survival.

However, the sorts of shifts one must make in order to put food on the table allows for a specific working of style in developing a unique, professional voice.

Companies are attempting to brand themselves now more so than ever; language helps develop the company’s ideology.

There might exist a greater question of morality for the professional writer: when language holds such persuasive power (perhaps more intimately on an individual-to-individual basis than ever before), how should it be aligned and how should it be used?

Writing in the Scientific Community

writing scientific formulas — Image courtesy of Adobe Stock

Writing in the Scientific Community

By Stephanie Thomas

Science writing is a field of journalism that aims to communicate the world of science through forms of popular media such as blogs, magazines and journals. Science writing is broad and can cover topics ranging from genetics, to artificial intelligence, to environmentalism.

Writing of this type is dynamic and multifaceted, and most writers are specialized in a specific field. Whether it’s producing a trade publication or a technical journal, this kind of writing is essential to society because it helps translate abstract and complex findings into lay terms for the general public.

When we think about writing, most of us don’t immediately jump to science writing. Instead, we think about writing blogs, articles, grants, business documents or presentations. But science writing can involve these types of writing, too. The science writer (like any other) must find their niche—be it public, academic or business-oriented.

But there is a totally different facet of science writing: scientific writing. Scientific writing is different because it is a strict form of technical writing performed by scientists for their peers in the world of academic research. Its rules on grammar, format and structure are strictly enforced. For example, every scientific paper has to have a minimum of five main sections: abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion. However, many scientists tend to struggle with this stage of their work.

Why? Because they’re not writers. And often enough, their papers are filled with complex terminology and technical jargon. Scientists struggle with writing because they aren’t taught how to communicate complex theoretical findings into everyday language.

Most scientific publications aren’t written with the average reader in mind. Furthermore, this writing is sometimes difficult for other scientists to read. When researchers want to go further with their work (and publish their findings), professional writing skills become incredibly valuable.

The most brilliant of findings can be swept under the rug if they are not communicated properly. All science tends to build on previous findings—and effective reporting is a key component in this process.

Many research results and scientific breakthroughs simply aren’t made accessible for the general public. Often, this is because of ineffective writing and the lack of proper translation. Cue the science-savvy writer.

Familiarizing Yourself with the Broader Contexts

Most professional writers are uninformed about this writing style and the opportunities therein. Why don’t we hear more about the possibilities for professional writers in these areas of science? Why isn’t anyone talking about the communication issues going on in small academic research circles?

Well, it’s because the majority of people in these environments don’t leave these circles. There is a huge gap between them and the public. And it’s up to writers of a certain breed to help close it.

While the overall goal of scientific writing is to communicate precise scientific findings and figures, good writing is still evident. Papers that follow a narrative structure and are interesting to read have a greater chance of being shared outside of academic circles and reaching the rest of society. Good science is worthless if it’s not communicated properly.

If you’re interested in science journalism, the nice thing about getting involved is that it’s quite egalitarian. Most publications accept open submissions for article ideas. Search through the websites for “submission guidelines” or even contact editors directly.

If you want to get a feel for how academic writing works in the world of science, start by reading science blogs in your area of interest. Follow your favorite writers and familiarize yourself with their citations and sources. Or do your own research. Most interesting articles have abstracts available online and are easily located.

Many professional writers have gone on to specialize in writing and editing for scientists within a specific field—such as medicine, psychology, astrophysics or ecology. Writers who work with (and within) scientific communities help bridge the divide between the world of scientific discovery and the general public.

A specialized science writer can cover a range of topics within their specific field of interest. For instance, as an environmental writer you could can write on alternative theories for climate change education. Or, write an article on the psychological benefits of urban forest projects. You could even help popularize new innovations created to aid endangered populations.

Writing in the sciences readily ties in to a vast landscape of sociopolitical issues. It is the vehicle by which new information, theories and findings are incorporated into society. The best science writers are tough, informed critics who never forget the greater importance of their task. Just as with any writing, science writing is diverse and expansive. It’s all about finding your niche.

How Do Professional Writers Impact Our Entertainment?

How Do Professional Writers Impact Our Entertainment?

By Brett Hurst

Professional writers have been influencing the public for a long time. Journalists and bloggers encourage people to either participate in or skip out on what they are reviewing. Whether you’re reading a book or restaurant review, critics use professional writing to persuade and motivate society.

Let’s say there is a movie out in theaters that you’re interested in, but you don’t want to pay the ridiculous ticket prices for a film that might not be worth it. What are your options? You can go to many professional outlets to read movie reviews. Some of these outlets include the New York Times and Rotten Tomatoes.

Movies that are nominated for awards, like the Oscars, have higher ratings than sequels to certain genres of movies, like horror and comedy. Professional writers know exactly what to say about the film to either make their audience love or hate it.

Even if people don’t go directly to the New York Times or Rotten Tomatoes, they still come in contact with some form of professional writing review. Usually, during the trailer for a movie, a line of commentary might be included in an effort to persuade viewers to watch the film.

Even though what your friends say on social media is not considered professional writing, it still influences the decision to watch the movie. Your best friend could post their thoughts on a movie, which might dissuade you from watching the film. A person can completely disagree with what a film critic says about a movie, but will still be influenced by what their friends are saying on social media.

How do professional writers engage their audiences? There is a pattern with every film review that professional writers tend to follow. The review usually opens with an introduction of what the movie is about and who the director is. Then, the critic will either praise the film or vilify it.

Throughout the review, the writer comments on the actors and the content of the movie. Is it fresh? Has it already been done? What are its strengths? How can the film improve? The answers to these questions are ultimately what make up a review, which is what inspires a person to decide to watch it. Of course, everyone will have their own opinion about the movies they watch, but critics are not here to tell you how to feel.

Critics are here to help people for many reasons. One main reason is to help people decide whether they want to watch the film or not. Their work is a friendly suggestion along with helpful tips. In the end, it may be useful if you just read one review for a movie that you are going to see. It may help you in ways that you never thought of.

Aside from professional writers creating movie reviews, they also tap into the world of literature, music and food. Some questions that all critics share include: How does their review make an impact? What are some of the things that professional writers use to help to create an overall trend? What are the things that people look for in their entertainment?

Based on a Twitter poll that asked: “Do you read reviews on movies before you watch them,” ten people voted no, and two people voted yes. One reason why people may be hesitant to read reviews is because they are often subjective.

Even though there is a lack of attention that people give to critics, it is always good to know that they are available for the public to use. Occasionally, it can be beneficial to check out a review—it may help you save money and skip out on a movie that is not worth a trip to the theater.

Finding Your Niche: Hidden Careers for Professional Writers

girl with thought bubbles — Finding your niche

By Elizabeth Slatsky

Professional writing brings game-changing opportunities to English majors. PW classes equip students to take the skills they learned in their literature and creative writing classes and bend them to match a certain career field that is right for them.

Almost every organization needs writers. Because of the wonderful flexibility of professional writing, there are numerous jobs out there for a writer who is willing to branch out into other fields of study. You simply has to find where your fit in; you have to find your unique niche.

What do I mean by finding your unique niche? People are usually interested in a wide range of different topics and skills. Your niche is a place where writing and another interest intersect to form a career that will be the perfect match for you. Below I have provided three job examples. Each is different, yet they all incorporate English into other experiences and interests.

Customer Experience Manager

Did you enjoy working as a barista at a local coffee shop in college? Do you have a thing for customer service? Toby’s Estate [now Partners Coffee], a coffee shop located in Brooklyn, New York, is looking for a Customer Experience Manger. These managers take care of the overall experience of customers as well as the staff. Toby’s Estate’s job ad mentions that these managers do a variety of different jobs including handling “complaints and customer feedback” and organizing “social media requirements for Marketing and tak[ing] photos.” A previous job you enjoyed in a certain field is just one way to lead to a future career.

English assignments prepare students to appeal to multiple audiences since professors often have different standards and preferences. Professional Writing is no exception and, in fact, exemplifies this ability. Regarding the example above, someone who has worked in a coffee shop or a similar environment can combine the variety of skills they learned on the job with their college experience to get a job that is just right for them.

Advertising Art Director

Do you enjoy art and writing? Advertising Art Directors channel their artistic side as well as the different skills gained from four years of writing experience. Amazon’s job advertisement requested a portfolio that “demonstrates big, campaignable thinking that can extend into any medium.”

An English major who is experienced in different forms of art would have the perfect portfolio for this job. This career is an example of someone who might take a hobby or a minor in a specific field and turn it into something they can do for the rest of their life.

Though English classes give students a general idea of how to appeal to different audiences, professional writing classes provide students with a more precise understanding of editorial concepts. For instance, Digital Document Design, a class at UAB, focuses on developing documents and learning programs. Additionally, someone talented in art or graphic design would find themselves better prepared for such fields.

Communications Director

Are you passionate about a nonprofit organization? Active in your faith community? Then something similar to a Communications Director at Ingleside Baptist Church in Georgia could be an option. A communications director is in charge of all the organization’s communications with those outside of their organization. This could be on social media or through emails. The job ad stated having a passion for their ministry and possessing “excellent written and verbal communication skills” was important. This is an example of how to channel a passion for a certain belief or nonprofit into a potential career.

Community outreach can be as competitive as marketing a product to a specific group of people. Good writers are needed to create successful content that will appeal to the church’s intended audience. However, these organizations also need people passionate and knowledgeable about their work to f ill these positions. Here is where a writer interested in the organization’s work could shine in a job application.

These are only a few of the possibilities for English majors. So go explore the internet! Your dream job could be right under your nose.

Alumni Spotlight: Sydnei Wheat

Sydnei Wheat and her colleagues — Sydnei Wheat (right) and her colleagues

Alumni Spotlight: Sydnei Wheat

By Danielle Ivey

UAB alumna Sydnei Wheat was a Professional Writing student at UAB. She was the first winner of the Outstanding Professional Writing Student Award in 2016, for her research paper concerning the visual representations of transgender women.

Sydnei specifically covered Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner, magazine covers (and articles) and how both visuals and narratives can perpetuate longstanding racial myths and discourse surrounding women. After her internship with Good Grit Magazine and during her time at UAB, she has gone on to the University of West Georgia to work as a Library Assistant in their research library.

MEMORANDUM recently caught up with Sydnei (pictured above), to learn about her experiences.

Why did you choose Professional Writing, and what were your favorite experiences as a Professional Writing Student?

Honestly, my initial decision to go into Professional Writing stemmed largely from wanting increased job opportunities than actual interest in the concentration. I was previously in Creative Writing—from my freshman to mid-junior years—and while I loved the courses and the various prose, short stories and poems that I wrote (I did after all, aspire to be a writer/editor), it just didn’t feel like it was enough for me.

After taking all the classes in the concentration and engaging in so much awesome interdisciplinary work, I fell in love with the major. Coding websites, filming and editing videos, designing promotional/advertising materials, even studying the human psyche and how Professional Writers have a hand in influencing all of that and still getting to write? To me, it was the best major ever!

What was your goal after graduation? How did you prepare for starting out in the professional world?

I always (and still do) want to be a book editor, but opportunities in the book publishing industry in Birmingham are slim to none. But the magazine publishing industry is thriving in Birmingham. And so in order to gain hands-on experience, Dr. Ryan—who is the Internship Director for the English department—set me up with a magazine editorial internship.

While I did enjoy my time at Good Grit Magazine along with learning about how magazines work, my love for books and working with them didn’t go away. I decided to continue to pursue a career in which I could work around books whether through librarianship or publishing. If I’m lucky I might even be able to do both!

Honestly, I think the best way to prepare for the real world is to not put your eggs all into one basket. Meaning: always have another career option for yourself. I have always wanted to be a book editor, but I also knew that that might not be as feasible a dream as I wanted it to be.

When I got a student job on campus in the research library in my junior year, I fell in love with the environment and knew that librarianship could be another option for me. I’m happy to say that with my new job I am now on the track to further advance that dream with a MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Science) education that will be fully paid for.

The Professional Writing concentration and the English major itself was a natural precursor to library and information studies. Dissemination of information is the main foundation of both fields and I find that they complement each other well. I even wrote an article on it for the digital MEMORANDUM site.

Tell me a little bit about the job that you have now: what is your role, what do you like the most about your job, and what are the most difficult parts of your job?

I just recently accepted a job offer from the University of West Georgia to work as a Library Assistant in their research library. In fact, as I’m writing this, I’ll be completing my first official week at my new job!

I work in the circulation department, so the most difficult part of my job is actually talking to people, because that’s not my strong point. But the other employees are patient with me and answer all of my questions even if I asked them a thousand times already.

What I like most about my job is the fact that I’m surrounded by so much information and I can actually use my academic/research skills and knowledge to help patrons locate items and even make suggestions on reading or reference materials.

From Bar to Brewery: Alumni Interview with Jay Haywood

By Lexi Waldon

Jay Haywood, a graduate from UAB with a BA in English-Professional Writing, has built his career by maneuvering through the restaurant and bar business since the day he graduated high school. He made his way from restaurant gigs and bar-backing jobs to becoming a Sales Representative for Cahaba Brewery here in Birmingham.

Because there are only two members on the sales team for this swiftly growing company, Jay’s responsibilities lie beyond those of a typical sales rep. With his service industry experience and his professional writing skills, Jay proved himself to be pretty useful to a newly established brewery in a town where many competitors have already made their mark. To learn more about Jay and his line of work, MEMORANDUM met up with him on his own turf.

Jay began his journey in Columbus, Georgia where he began working various restaurant jobs after high school. At the age of 24, he decided to move to Birmingham and begin his college career at UAB.

With a major in Secondary Education and a concentration in English, he found himself enrolled in a few Professional Writing courses and became increasingly involved with the program. After establishing a relationship with one of his professors within the PW program, he decided to shift directions and begin working towards a degree in Professional Writing.

While earning his degree, he continued working restaurant jobs to stay afloat—all the while making connections and building long-lasting professional relationships.

During the beginning of his senior year at UAB, an old friend from a previous job called him up and asked if he’d be interested in running the bar at a new brewery in town—Cahaba Brewery. This put Jay’s foot in the door of a fresh company with a quickly increasing demand.

For the remainder of his time in school and the beginnings of his time at Cahaba, he began to push the company to host events and create an online presence for itself. Once the company realized the impact of social media in today’s society, its presence became imperative. The company saw the need for this and Jay saw the opportunity to fulfill it, so he began curating online content and creating a social media following for the brand.

As the online following grew, so did the sales, thus creating a new job position for Jay as a sales representative and professional social media guru.

Jay plans events, books bands and food trucks, posts on Facebook and Instagram, updates the website, writes press releases and coordinates with distributors and graphic designers to make sure the concept of the brand remains intact.

Jay calls sales meetings, meets clients, coordinates donations for non-profit events and hosts tastings at restaurants in the state. He’s the guy shaking your hand at the end of a meeting, the guy sitting behind the computer screen booking the band for the next event and the person making sure the food truck shows up for “Good Lil’ Wednesday,” a charity fundraiser Cahaba hosts every Wednesday night for a local nonprofit organization.

He stays in contact with those who drink the beer and makes sure that the people creating it understand how crucial it is to keep Cahaba Blonde in stock. He reaches out to the other breweries and restaurants in town, making sure not to host any specials on the same night as them.

When asked how he stays in the know with the community and the customers, he says, “Because most of my work is done outside of these walls, I get to experience the people of our brand and feel more connected to our customers. It feels very close knit that way.”

Because Jay is still fairly new to this position, he is eager to learn more and create more. He is always thinking of new ways to engage with the community, whether it be through planning new events, promoting a new beer on social media or helping a nonprofit put on an event of their own. These things not only drive customers directly to the Brewery itself, but allow the personality of the brand to be experienced, which is one of Jay’s priorities when it comes to his work.

Swing by Cahaba to see how professional writing and beer can come together to form a unique and exciting career.

Marketing Yourself as a Writer

man working at a computer — Image courtesy of Adobe Stock

Marketing Yourself as a Writer

By Wallace Golding

There exists a common misconception in society regarding the utility of humanity degrees—particularly those in English. They are often seen as archaic and inflexible. As students of the English language, however, professional writers know this could not be further from the truth. English majors are curators and creators well-versed in all things content, design, and project management.

Nevertheless, some sort of disconnect continues to persist between what professional writers believe their degree to be—versatile and flexible—and what employers perceive it to be. As experts in written and visual communication, professional writing students already have an advantage, but there are certain steps that even the most seasoned expert should adopt in order to excel in the competitive job search arena.

There is a generally accepted rule that all professional writers believe to be true: never label yourself as a “professional writer.” Even if this is exactly what you are, this is too broad a term to include on your résumé. With the countless industries that professional writers can end up in, it is important that you cater to the specific industry to which you are applying.

Employers are looking for some sort of expertise beyond document design, typography and rhetorical analysis. That is why it is vital that you focus on the fields you would like to find a career in. So, if you are searching to start a new job with a marketing agency, your title should be something along the lines of “marketing specialist” rather than the relatively nondescript “professional writer.”

As experts in curating content, professional writers understand the importance of branding and maintaining the appropriate image. This should be no different at the personal level either. Create your identity; find one that is recognizable, original, and consistent. CocaCola is identifiable thanks to its cursive-lettered logo and high-contrast colors. Create a design and use the same elements across everything that may be sent to a future employer. This includes business cards, résumés, letterhead, and other printed materials.

Just as you should use your personality in creating an individual brand, you should also use it to create and maintain a personal website and portfolio. There is no better way to showcase what you are capable of than by showing what you have done in the past. If you are an expert in Adobe Creative Cloud programs, prove it with design and document layout work you have done in the past. If you want to dive into the world of technical writing, use documents that you have created either while in school or during internships.

Applications to some jobs may require that prior work be submitted, so keeping your best samples in one place will make this a much easier, more streamlined process. Include your website URL on your business card, résumé and letterhead so that employers can find their way to your work on their own. Additionally, employers may log on to view your work even if they are not requiring you to submit examples of prior work, which can give you an advantage over other applicants.

The most important aspect of marketing yourself as a professional writer, however, is to value industry experience over everything else. Considering the way humanities degrees are viewed, especially in the highly technical fields professional writers often enter, it is important to acquire tangible, résumé-worthy experience before you enter the job market. This can be acheived via numerous methods including internships, paid work, freelancing or even volunteering your expertise to organizations, companies and individuals.

More specifically, it is important that you obtain experience that is relevant to your desired industry. A student interested in pursuing a career in marketing may gain some valuable skills by spending the summer at a biotech firm writing technical documents, but they might benefit more from working at an advertising agency or in the marketing department of a large corporation. Simply put, the experience gained for this student is not bad experience, per se, but it may not be relevant.

Regardless of how they perceive an English degree, employers have been slow to adopt the idea professional writers are, in all actuality, very versatile and flexible. By properly marketing yourself and taking steps like the ones above, however, you can be on your way to that dream job in no time.

Rhetoric and Discourse in Professional Writing

stack of English textbooks — English textbooks

By Jessica Robbins

When it comes to discussing controversial issues, it can be challenging to talk to someone with whom we disagree. It is even harder to write about these issues because we don’t know how our words will be perceived. If our language is hostile and unsympathetic to opposing opinions, it is likely that some readers will become frustrated or simply stop reading. This is a problem for writers because those who disagree with us are often the very people we want our message to reach.

As creators of nonfiction, professional writers face a unique disadvantage when it comes to tackling contentious topics. While a creative writer has the luxury of disguising their ideas inside metaphor and literary critics can conveniently mask their opinions behind literary critique, professional writers must discuss controversial situations openly.

At some point, professional writers are faced with a difficult question: How can I communicate my beliefs in a way that is considerate of those who feel the exact opposite?

This question may have no simple answer, but there are certainly steps we can take to ensure that our ideas are at least heard. According to Dr. Bruce McComiskey, the director of the professional writing program, finding common ground is the most important step when engaging in any type of discourse. Expressing interest in a shared concern is always the best place to start because it lets the other party know that you understand why they would be upset about a particular issue.

Dr. McComiskey goes on to say that it is never a good idea to start with your own personal view if it directly opposes someone else’s. Establishing an element of connection is necessary to make sure that no one feels immediately excluded. We must communicate that we know and understand the other side’s argument before we move forward with the conversation.

The next step in this process is, of course, addressing the issue itself. This is a delicate process for writers, considering the other party is absent at the time the argument is being made. It can be hard to decide exactly when and where a particular idea, phrase, sentence or choice of wording is going to discourage a reader. Therefore, we must be vigilantly to ensure that our argument never comes across as condescending toward a specific belief or ideology.

Keeping condescension out of our work can often pose a challenge. It is impossible to predict exactly how every word will be received, but there are precautions that writers can take to reach the largest audience possible. According to McComiskey, one of the rhetorical devices that individuals use far too frequently is the passive voice. It removes the controversy in a lot of ways, he says, but it does not move the conversation forward, which defeats the purpose of writing about these subjects in the first place. McComiskey says: “If the goal is to offend, then offend.”

It is important to say what you want to instead of tiptoeing around it. The reality of the situation remains that a conversation cannot take place if we never speak candidly about issues that have the potential to offend.

Arguably the most significant aspect of respectful, persuasive writing is keep opinions out of places they don’t belong. We should all listen more than we speak. For writers, this means frequent research as it relates to our topics of discussion. We need to understand the conversation from all angles before we present an opinion. Additionally, examining existing discourse can help us decide what works and what doesn’t when approaching sensitive subjects.

Writing about emotive issues is no easy task. It requires transparency, vulnerability, open-mindedness and, usually, a consent to have your own beliefs criticized. Identifying and establishing some element of common ground is the most important step we can take in these written conversations. Everyone deserves to feel respected and included, regardless of their beliefs.

Writers should always keep the opposing party in mind in order to reach the largest audience possible and communicate that we are listening as much or more than we are talking. Keeping the conversation open ensures that we are actively seeking a solution to these issues and not simply fighting to get our own way.

Keys to Successful Writing

woman writing on clipboard — Image courtesy of Adobe Stock

By Mary J. Doss

According to the UAB Writing Center, “punctuation can make an enormous difference in the meaning of whatever it is you’re writing.” Improper punctuation can result in miscommunication, misrepresentation or worse. Do you know anyone who was denied employment because they used incorrect punctuation? That’s what could happen if you apply for a writing position with grammatical errors.

When you speak to someone face-to-face, you have the opportunity to clarify or restate your intention—this is not the case with writing. For the most part, you are not present when someone reads your work, which means that clarity is absolutely essential. A misplaced comma or period could alter the entire meaning of your sentence. For example, if you write “Don’t stop” instead of “Don’t, stop,” you might end up saying the opposite of what you intended.

The Importance of Punctuation by The Write Corner shows how punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence. If you write “He was bitten by a dog which hurt him” or “He was bitten by a dog, which hurt him,” the meaning becomes unclear and the sentence could become misleading. The comma after “dog” changes the meaning of the sentence. The first statement means the dog hurt him, whereas the second sentence means the bite hurt him.

Improper punctuation can damage well-intentioned writing. The most commonly used punctuation marks in writing are periods, commas, exclamation marks and question marks. In the wrong place, an innocuous comma has the power to mislead your reader, whether that is your professor or your client.

Sometimes we forget to use the correct punctuation, which means that we must take extra care when writing for someone else’s eyes. Make sure to indicate where you want your reader to slow down, to pause, and to stop.

Between 1984 and 1992, I had the opportunity to work in the Word Processing Department for the Army. We were assigned to read, properly punctuate and occasionally rewrite sentences. Everything we read had to be perfect because we were editing training material for the soldiers. This is just one context of many in which professional writing has to be perfect.

If you are looking for a writing career, look no further. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a resource which offers many types of occupations. The handbook reads, “What Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts Do.” The job description went on to say, “These workers are often responsible for editing interviews and other recordings to create a cohesive story and for writing and recording voiceovers that provide the audience with the facts of the story.”

If you are considering becoming an editor, then you must be prepared to use punctuation correctly. The handbook’s description says editors typically do the following:

Read content and correct spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
Rewrite text to make it easier for readers to understand.

Punctuation is of the utmost importance for freelancers, who often work alone and must proofread their own work. Since they write for different companies, the text must be edited to reflect the tone for each. Freelancers must therefore be careful when rereading their content to ensure it comes across properly.

Professional Writing courses prepare students for the real world of writing. Be careful, read and reread everything you write. Knowing how to punctuate correctly is essential for anyone pursuing employment as a professional writer. Former UAB Professional Writing student, Olalekan A. Dada, shares his experience in Professional Writing. Olalekan says, “Writers are needed in a variety of fields, from engineering to the tech industry.”

A few careers that involve high levels of linguistic accuracy can be found at nonprofit organizations, publishing companies, manufacturing plants, medical institutions and legal offices. With that being said, you should always be willing to write well—no matter which path you decide to take.