Part One - Planning

• Essential steps in planning with PACIFIC: purpose, audience, content, ideas, form and individual contribution. This includes:

• Defining your purpose
• Putting yourself in your readers’ shoes
• Using a mindmap to decide content
• Developing ideas and finding an angle
• Creating a reader-friendly structure
• What you can bring to the mix

• Elements of a feature – from intro to ‘outro’ via background, quotes, case studies, key paragraph, background, word pictures and signposts
• What’s in an intro – how to hook your readers
• Step-by-step guide to creating a structured outline
• Using quotes
• Getting started
• Overcoming writer’s block

Part Two - Writing

• Dealing with an editor and a sub-editor
• Writing a pitch (optional)
• Identifying a good style
• Ten ways to make your writing strong, including:

• Cutting jargon and ‘insider speak’
• Using everyday English
• Using an appropriate tone
• Cutting ‘dead wood’
• Using the active voice
• Writing lists and sidebars
• How to keep it short and simple

• Common errors: commonly confused words

• Making technical information more accessible
• Online resources for reference
• Practice

Part Three - Editing

• Editing strategies: how to re-read more effectively
• Three steps to successful editing
• Commonly confused words
• Proofreading: common errors of grammar, punctuation and use of English
• Practice

Methodology
Our training methods are based on research that shows how adults learn best. This includes showing respect for their experience and expertise – and encouraging them to share problems and solutions.

We believe people learn most from doing not listening, so each learning point is consolidated with practical exercises and participants are encouraged to explain how they will apply these new skills in their work. Participants also create a personal action plan, to help them to focus on how they will use the techniques they have learned.

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