Why Is Business Writing So Bad?

This is a post about the poor state of writing in business, and how some of it comes from how we’re taught in school. I say this because aside from my day job, Internet startup, and new son, I also teach a section of business writing at my alma mater, Drew University in New Jersey.
Doing [...]

How to Revise an Email So That People Will Read It

“People think that the first draft is the big event and that revision is cleaning up afterward. But the first draft is really setting up the chairs, tables, and cups, and revision isn’t cleaning up after the party, it is the party.”
“All first drafts are terrible. I don’t care if you’re Hemingway.”
“What comes out unfiltered [...]

David Silverman’s Worst Boss Ever

The following is David Silverman’s imagined manifesto for terrible bosses everywhere. It is excerpted with permission from The Start-Up Diaries.
1. Change your mind. Change it several times a day. When reviewing a report, be sure to make comments that run counter to previous ones. Leave the employees guessing. It keeps them alert.
2. Be sure your [...]