Kiosk Guides for Learning

This year has been full of lessons learned and soul searching and realizing I'm an adult. It's time to take responsibility and not take the easy way out.
Nicole Richie
American TV pesonality

Writing series

Stephen Wilburs' lessons learned

 from 200 Columns on Writing

Techniques and strategies for writing:
Stephen Wilburs' reflections or blog on writing

  • Writing helps clarify your thinking:
    You don't really know what you think until you write it
  • Writing on a regular basis makes you a better writer:
    Like anything else, the more you practice, the better you get
  • Deadlines can be helpful;
    They can give you the energy and concentration you need to write
  • Length limits are good for your style:
    Eliminating wordiness improves your emphasis and impact
  • Good writing is edited writing:
    You never outgrow your need for a good editor
  • Letting your first draft "rest,"
    will help you edit it more effectively:

    Certain problems become obvious if you allow time to pass between drafting and editing
  • Some stages of writing are inefficient and sloppy:
    Accepting the imperfection of the first draft is a wonderful freedom
  • Making it fun keeps it fresh:
    As with most things, a column on business writing doesn't need to be dry and boring
  • Writing counts:
    Writing is a reflection of your personality and style,
    a statement of your professional standards.
    It counts as much as anything else you do
A digest of Stephen Wilbers' "Effective Writing" column 
as printed in the Business Section, Minneapolis Star Tribune,
Friday, February 23, 1996. Digested with permission.

Writing assignments

Writing for the "Web" | The five-paragraph essay | Essays for a literature class |
Expository essays | Persuasive essays | Position papers | Open book exams |
Essay Exams | White papers | Lab reports/scientific papers |
Research proposals | Elements of a Research Paper
Seven stages of writing assignments | "Lessons learned"