507 Writing courses in Whitstable delivered Live Online

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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

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

LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Una is a Rights Agent at Susanna Lea Associates and am starting to build a client list. She grew up in London and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in English in 2021. At university, Una was particularly interested in contemporary West African and South Asian literature. She started as an agent's assistant at SLA London in 2022 and now handles some translation rights and provides support with editorial work and submissions. Una's favourite reads always set her at ease right away and draws her in with impressive and accessible storytelling, memorable characters or an original hook. Una enjoys writing which expands her worldview, makes her laugh out loud or keeps her on her toes with its twists and turns. She welcomes submissions from debut authors and would be keen to read across a wide range of genres and styles. She is looking for literary, upmarket and book club fiction, and is always drawn to stories that explores the challenges and complexities of love and relationships in all its forms —within families, between friends or in romantic relationships. Una loves the way in which familial relationships are dissected in The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright and the impact of the local community in Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson. She is always drawn to novels with a strong sense of community, whether they are unified by geography, culture, or in other unexpected ways. Una has always loved reading international and translated fiction and welcomes submissions from authors writing contemporary fiction that engages with cultures and traditions from around the world, such as in voices of the deities in Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi or the subversive tales of Sayaka Murata. She is not looking for children’s or YA titles, science fiction or high-concept fantasy, but is open to submissions from authors writing in the speculative fiction space, and books with fantastical or otherworldly elements, be that magical realism or supernatural horror, such as Mona Awad's campus novel with a twist, Bunny. Una would also love to read more writing that engages with the natural world and reminds us of the limitations of human understanding. In non-fiction, Una enjoys books that furthers her understanding of wider societal issues — nature and the environment, culture, and little-known history. Her recent non-fiction favourites are Eve by Cat Bohannon, Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein and Unearthed by Claire Ratinon. Una 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, Una 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 7th April 2025

Join Matt Rivers in his Soul Writing for Creativity course and learn to explore your imagination and discover your natural creative voice.

Taking the twelve stages of Joseph Campbell's 'Hero's Journey' structure as a loose framework, this course offers the chance to write about themes such as risk, desire for change, resistance to change, travel, and encounters with others through a variety of prompts. There are opportunities to share your work, but no obligation.

Monthly online ekphrastic writing workshops exploring contemporary artworks for story inspiration.