503 Writing courses in Syston delivered Live Online

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Louise Buckley has worked in publishing for well over a decade. She was inspired to enter the publishing industry after completing an MA in Creative Writing and then spent a hugely enjoyable year working as a bookseller for Waterstones, wishing that she could have a hand in publishing books. After a year working at Dorling Kindersley, she then spent almost five years working in the commercial fiction division at Pan Macmillan, where she published a mix of commercial bestsellers and award-winning authors. Most recently, she was an Associate Literary Agent at Zeno Agency Ltd. As an agent she represented a roster of commercial and literary fiction, including Anne Griffin’s When All is Said, which spent five weeks at number one in Ireland and sold into 17 territories. She is delighted to be working with Hannah at Hannah Sheppard Literary Agency. Louise is looking for:- Literary and upmarket fiction that focusses on the underdog, the repressed, the suppressed. Louise is especially interested in novels that represent working-class people or children going through difficult circumstances (think Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal or Boys Don’t Cry by FÍona Scarlett). Irish literary and book club fiction. Think Claire Keegan, Louise Kennedy or Anne Griffin. In commercial fiction she loves novels set during the Second World War, such as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christi Lefteri or The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart. Louise recently read and loved The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson and would love to see anything in the same ‘older person going on a journey’ category, a more recent The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Louise had a lot of fun publishing a ‘pet fiction’ novel as an editor (Molly and the Cat Café) and would love to find an author who can write an Alfie the Doorstep Cat/Dog. She has a soft spot for novels featuring time-travel or parallel universes, a ‘what if’ that plays around with conventions. At the literary end this would be books like Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes or This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. At the more commercial end Louise loved Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and Oona Out of Order by Martina Montimore. She also enjoys novels set in the real world but featuring a hefty dose of magic or the supernatural. They can be commercial or literary, present-day or historical. Think Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, Threadneedle by Cari Thomas, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness or The Gifts by Liz Hyder. And also cosy fantasy in the vein of Legends and Lattes or The House in the Cerulean Sea. Cosy or humorous crime. Recently, Louise absolutely loved Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans. When she was an editor Louise published the hit Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll and would love to represent incisive, intelligent suspense written by authors such as Jessica Knoll and Gillian Flynn, or something a little more subversive and blackly comic like My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. More generally, Louise would also love to see novels with a disabled protagonist or someone (like herself) who is living with an invisible disability. As an ex-primary school teacher, she also warmly welcomes submissions from teachers, especially if the submission falls into one of the other categories she has listed. Following-on from this, she enjoys reading stories that follow a ‘beating the system’ narrative. Horror. Louise is currently really enjoying the horror resurgence and would love some more horror for her list. She is looking for all types of horror from the more literary, suspenseful horror along the lines of Andrew Michael Hurley to the more commercial like Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. Louise is also a big fan of horror mash-ups, especially body transformation horror such as Nightbitch, and horror mixed with, say, vampires, in the vein of Hungerstone or The Lamb. She would also love to see some dark academia. Think If We Were Villains or In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, and is a huge fan of gothic horror, so would love to see something that’s a modern-day Shirley Jackson or Rebecca. Louise is NOT looking for: -romance -romantasy -epic, traditional fantasy -space opera -straightforward women’s fiction -children’s fiction of any kind -non-fiction Louise would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first three chapters or 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Louise is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Tuesday 18th March 2025

Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours Writing is a key method of communication for most people, and it?s one that many people struggle with. This workshop will give participants a refresher on basic writing concepts (such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and an overview of the most common business documents (such as proposals, reports, and agendas), giving you that extra edge in the workplace. 1 - Getting Started Workshop Objectives Pre-Assignment Review 2 - Working with Words Spelling Grammar Creating a Cheat Sheet 3 - Constructing Sentences Parts of a Sentence Punctuation Types of Sentences 4 - Creating Paragraphs The Basic Parts Organization Methods 5 - Writing Meeting Agendas The Basic Structure Choosing a Format Writing the Agenda 6 - Writing E-mails Addressing Your Message Grammar and Acronyms 7 - Writing Business Letters The Basic Structure Choosing a Format Writing the Letter 8 - Writing Proposals The Basic Structure Choosing a Format Writing the Proposal 9 - Writing Reports The Basic Structure Choosing a Format Writing the Report 10 - Other Types of Documents Requests for Proposals Projections Executive Summaries Business Cases 11 - Proofreading and Finishing A Proofreading Primer How Peer Review Can Help Printing and Publishing 12 - Wrapping Up Words from the Wise Additional course details: Nexus Humans Business Writing training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the Business Writing course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for Professionals desiring to be able to communicate clearly and concisely in their writing will benefit from this course. Overview Awareness of common spelling and grammar issues in business writing. Basic concepts in sentence and paragraph construction. Basic structure of agendas, email messages, business letters, business proposals, and business reports. Collaborative writing techniques, tools and best practices Tips and techniques to use when deciding the most appropriate format to use for agendas, email messages, business letters, business proposals, and business reports In this course, you will learn the essential skills needed to organize your thoughts and select the best words and phrases to clearly convey them in writing. Private classes on this topic are available. We can address your organization?s issues, time constraints, and save you money, too. Contact us to find out how. 1. Working With Words Monitoring Spelling, Grammar, and Verb Tense Creating a Reference Sheet 2. Constructing Sentences Recognizing Sentence Parts Classifying Sentence Type Increasing Readability with Punctuation 3. Creating Paragraphs The Three Basic Components Organization Methods 4. Finding Facts Identifying and Using Key Resources Fact-Finding and Information Gathering 5. Collaborative Writing Clarifying the Objective Collaborative Writing Strategies and Patterns 6. Types of Collaborative Business Writing Applying Different Construction Techniques Cut & Paste, Puzzle, Sequential Summative Integrating Construction 7. Collaborative Tools and Processes Planning and Revision Creating Outlines and Storyboards Building Team Cohesion 8. Writing Meeting Agendas Choosing an Agenda Format Structuring and Writing the Agenda 9. Writing E-Mails, Reports and Proposals Addressing Your Message Using Proper Grammar and Defining Acronyms Structuring, Formatting, and Writing Your Report Additional course details: Nexus Humans Writing for the Business Professional training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the Writing for the Business Professional course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.

Aspiring author? We know how frustrating it can be to have a brilliant story idea but feel stuck on where to start. The blank page can be intimidating, and finding the time and confidence to write can seem impossible. This Two-Day Creative Writing Workshop is designed specifically for beginners like you, ready to turn your novel dreams into reality! 🚀✍️

Legal Writing and Drafting Skills Why Attend There is a misconception that legal writing and legal drafting is the same but there is a substantial difference between the two. While legal writing typically deals with persuasive documents such as court briefs and legal letters, legal drafting involves creating documents such as contracts. They are both equally important in legal practice.  Legal writing is an important skill needed in every practice area of law. Words are used to advocate, inform, persuade and instruct. Are you giving the right impression? Are your clients receiving the right message? This course focuses on clear legal writing for a global audience. Effective communication with English speaking lawyers is about more than simply words. It entails understanding the unique way these speakers think and approach the legal, political, and business world. Did you know that most international commercial agreements are drafted in English, irrespective of the nationality of the contracting parties. Drafting contract skills is ideal for lawyers working in English as a foreign language who need to draft, explain or interpret contract clauses written in English. During the course, delegates will look at a wide variety of commercial agreements through to practical drafting sessions. This course will help participants to draft confidently and effectively in English regardless of the governing law. This is a practical course with many exercises and examples in order to achieve an interactive and stimulating outcome. The course's activities involve the production of typical work-place legal documents. Course Methodology The course consists of group discussions as well as individual and team tasks. There will be writing practice throughout the exercises. Course Objectives By the end of the course, participants will be able to: Apply plain English style of writing to all legal documents Recognize the need for legal clarity in different types of legal documents: legal letters, emails, memorandum and opinions Apply good legal writing practice Demonstrate the register of legal writing Correct common mistakes in legal writing Dispense and deal with pitfalls and issues relating to the use of legal jargon Proofread effectively Target Audience This course is for lawyers, legal secretaries, commercial managers, contract managers and anyone who must draft, amend or update contracts, legal letters and legal opinion. The course is suitable for non-native English speakers looking for a better understanding of English legal terms. Target Competencies Drafting letters Proofreading Writing in plain English Understanding legal terms Legal writing practice Note The Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department has introduced a Continuing Legal Professional Development (CLPD) programme to legal consultants authorised to practice through a licensed firm in the Emirate of Dubai. We are proud to announce that the Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department has accredited EMG Associates as a CLPD provider. In addition, all our legal programmes have been approved. Legal Drafting Signs of a well drafted contract: The simple rules! The language of drafting: Will v Shall v Must Identifying the legal formalities for a binding contract Structure and formation of a commercial contract: follow the formula and you won't go wrong The importance of Boilerplate clauses: No waiver Notices Assignment v Novation Governing v Jurisdiction Force majeure - are we covered for viruses (covid19)? Dispute resolution clause: Litigation v Arbitration v Mediation The preliminary documents in international transaction - using Heads of Terms effectively Vague words and expressions in commercial contracts- know the pitfalls! Best endeavors v All reasonable endeavors v reasonable endeavors Overview of cross border contracts: Distribution v Joint venture v Agency agreements Share Purchase Agreements Warranties and indemnities Allocating risks and liabilities between the buyer and seller Negotiating warranties from a Share Purchase Agreement Plain English in Legal Correspondence Good legal writing practice Moving from legalese to Plain English Unnecessary archaic and meaningless phrases Collocations Importance of collocations in legal writing Pitfalls and issues relating to the use of legal jargon in legal writing Writing short emails Writing long emails Writing formal emails Writing A Legal Letter Layout of a letter Body of a letter Putting a letter together The register of letter writing Typical sentences in legal letters The letter writing clinic: looking at the ten most common problems Rewriting letters Rewriting informal sentences to modern alternatives Correcting common mistakes in letter writing Legal Writing Troubleshooting The problem of English idioms Rephrasing English idioms Easily confused words Cutting unnecessary words Use of consistent terminology Ambiguity: how to avoid it Vagueness: how to avoid it Misuse of preposition in dates Problem words Constantly litigated words Rewriting sentences to remove gender specific language

Arabic Legal Writing and Drafting Skills Why Attend This course focuses on clear legal writing in Arabic. Effective communication with lawyers is about more than simply words. It entails understanding the unique way lawyers think and approach the legal, political, and business world. During this Arabic course, a number of legal documents are discussed, including drafting contracts, letters, policies and company bylaws. Participants also look at a wide variety of commercial agreements during practical drafting sessions. This course helps participants to draft confidently and effectively in Arabic regardless of the governing law. Course Methodology The course consists of group discussions as well as individual and team tasks. There will be writing practice throughout the exercises. Course Objectives By the end of the course, participants will be able to: Apply a plain Arabic style of writing to all legal documents Recognize the need for legal clarity in different types of legal documents: legal letters, emails, memorandum and opinions Apply good legal writing practice Use best practice techniques to write contracts, letters, policies and company bylaws Correct common mistakes in legal writing Address and deal with challenges and issues relating to the use of legal jargon Proofread effectively Target Audience The course is suitable for Arabic speakers looking for a better understanding of how to write Arabic legal documents. This course is for lawyers, legal secretaries, commercial managers, contract managers, HR executives and managers, purchasing managers, tender executives and anyone who must draft, amend or update contracts, legal letters and company policies and bylaws.  Target Competencies Drafting letters, policies, company bylaws and contracts Proofreading Writing in plain Arabic Understanding legal terms Legal writing practice Note The Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department has introduced a Continuing Legal Professional Development (CLPD) programme to legal consultants authorised to practice through a licensed firm in the Emirate of Dubai. We are proud to announce that the Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department has accredited EMG Associates as a CLPD provider. In addition, all our legal programmes have been approved. Basic legal writing concepts and contract drafting The various types of legal documents Tips in writing bilingual legal documents Signs of a well drafted contract; the simple rules! The language of drafting Identifying the legal formalities for a binding contract Structure and formation of a commercial contract: following the formula The importance of Boilerplate clauses Plain Arabic in legal correspondence and writing a legal letter Good legal writing practice Pitfalls and issues relating to the use of legal jargon in legal writing Writing different types of emails Layout of a letter Body of a letter Putting a letter together Typical sentences in legal letters The letter writing clinic: looking at the ten most common problems Writing a legal policy or company bylaw and legal writing troubleshooting Layout of a policy or bylaw Body of a policy or bylaw How to write the best policy or bylaw Understanding the principles of legal interpretation The four defects that affect legal writing Use of consistent terminology Easily confused words How courts react to legal writing and what to expect

Writing Clear Business Communication: In-House Training This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. Effective writing seldom, if ever, 'magically materializes' on the spot. In reality, it is most often the product of planning, writing, and rewriting. This is why writing is called a process; it must go through a series of steps before it is clear and complete. This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. However, the ability to communicate in the written word, for whatever purpose, is an important part of our working and personal lives and can have a direct impact on our ability to persuade, gain commitment or agreement and enhance understanding. Good writing sounds like talking on paper, which is why this program is focused on getting the message across and achieving the desired results using the 'keep it simple and direct' approach. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Write effective e-mails, letters, memos, and reports Clearly articulate the message Achieve desired results from correspondence Organize content for maximum impact Format for enhanced understanding Choose the appropriate communication medium for each document Revise documents to increase clarity and impact Foundations Concepts Business writing as a form of professional communication How business writing compares to other forms of writing Characteristics of good business writing Challenges with business writing The Project Environment Business writing in the project environment The concept of art, science, and optics of business writing Art Economy Precision Action Music Personality Science Purpose, simple, compound, and complex sentence structures Techniques to engage the reader Point of view: tone, attitude, and humor Organization: opening, body, and closing Support and coherence Optics Visual optics Sound optics Feel optics Effective optics Efficient optics Email Formal vs. informal emails Suggestions for improving email communication Instant and text messaging Reports Common types of reports created Formatting of reports Guidelines for meeting minutes Contracts Types of contracts Common agreements Procurement documents Templates, Forms, and Checklists Templates Forms Checklists Other Formatting Good Documentation Practices Good documentation practices Data integrity in business communication

LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, ADULT FICTION / NON-FICTION Kesia Lupo joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2024 after 11 years working across the publishing industry. She started out as an editorial assistant at Pan Macmillan London in 2013, transitioning to children’s fiction in 2015 when she moved to Chicken House (a UK imprint of Scholastic), where she worked her way up from junior to senior editor. Here she acquired and edited bestselling, internationally successful and prize-winning fiction for middle grade (MG) and YA readers. In 2023 she transitioned over to the US and agenting, working with the Bindery Agency before finding a home with DMLA. At DMLA, Kesia is building a list leaning 60/40 towards MG and YA fiction, with the rest consisting of adult fiction and a smattering of adult non-fiction. She is especially, but not exclusively, interested in underrepresented voices, whether BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, disabled writers or other identities not listed here. Across all age-groups, she’s seeking: Fantasy/Science Fiction: High fantasy, low fantasy, cosy fantasy. Particularly interested in fantasy and SF inspired by underrepresented cultures with unique world-building. Romantasy is fine but the fantasy elements MUST be strong! Horror: Psychological and paranormal horror in particular but will consider slashers. Kesia loves gothic horror and is not generally fazed by gory content. Thrillers: Upmarket thrillers with a unique spin. Loves plot twists! Historical: Open to everything with a strong hook and informed by excellent research. Would love to find non-Eurocentric historical fiction. For adult fiction only, she’s seeking: Bookclub/women’s fiction: Voice-driven, high-concept novels across these categories. Romance: Upmarket romance with a great one-line pitch. Happy with spice. For adult non-fiction, she’s interested in accessible political, cultural or historical topics with broad appeal. Please don’t self-reject – if you are unsure about whether your story might be a good fit, Kesia would rather see it. In one single word document, Kesia would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first three chapters or 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document, whichever is shorter. (In addition to the paid sessions, Kesia is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 17th March 2025

Writing Clear Business Communication: Virtual In-House Training This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. Effective writing seldom, if ever, 'magically materializes' on the spot. In reality, it is most often the product of planning, writing, and rewriting. This is why writing is called a process; it must go through a series of steps before it is clear and complete. This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. However, the ability to communicate in the written word, for whatever purpose, is an important part of our working and personal lives and can have a direct impact on our ability to persuade, gain commitment or agreement and enhance understanding. Good writing sounds like talking on paper, which is why this program is focused on getting the message across and achieving the desired results using the 'keep it simple and direct' approach. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Write effective e-mails, letters, memos, and reports Clearly articulate the message Achieve desired results from correspondence Organize content for maximum impact Format for enhanced understanding Choose the appropriate communication medium for each document Revise documents to increase clarity and impact Foundations Concepts Business writing as a form of professional communication How business writing compares to other forms of writing Characteristics of good business writing Challenges with business writing The Project Environment Business writing in the project environment The concept of art, science, and optics of business writing Art Economy Precision Action Music Personality Science Purpose, simple, compound, and complex sentence structures Techniques to engage the reader Point of view: tone, attitude, and humor Organization: opening, body, and closing Support and coherence Optics Visual optics Sound optics Feel optics Effective optics Efficient optics Email Formal vs. informal emails Suggestions for improving email communication Instant and text messaging Reports Common types of reports created Formatting of reports Guidelines for meeting minutes Contracts Types of contracts Common agreements Procurement documents Templates, Forms, and Checklists Templates Forms Checklists Other Formatting Good Documentation Practices Good documentation practices Data integrity in business communication

Writing Clear Business Communication (Virtual) Effective writing seldom, if ever, 'magically materializes' on the spot. In reality, it is most often the product of planning, writing, and rewriting. This is why writing is called a process; it must go through a series of steps before it is clear and complete. This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. However, the ability to communicate in the written word, for whatever purpose, is an important part of our working and personal lives and can have a direct impact on our ability to persuade, gain commitment or agreement and enhance understanding. Good writing sounds like talking on paper, which is why this program is focused on getting the message across and achieving the desired results using the 'keep it simple and direct' approach. What You Will Learn You'll learn how to: Plan and prioritize each day's activities in a more efficient, productive manner Establish strategies to execute priorities and overcome procrastination Understand how to make trade-offs when faced with fire drills How to set and communicate boundary conditions Getting Started Introductions Course orientation Participants' expectations Foundation Concepts Exercise: A day in your life Resources to implement change o Mind-set o Tool-set o Skill-set What is your time really worth? The dynamics of procrastination The myth of multi-tasking Brain Rules - how to optimize your efficiency Organization and Prioritization Time management best practices Goal setting Exercise: Identifying your priorities The importance of organization Time management framework Prioritizing time Time Management Techniques Tips for managing time Nine ways to overcome procrastination The STING technique Managing your time o Handling unplanned urgencies o Dealing with information overload Delegation and managing others' time Creating your personal action plan