Hurley Write, Inc. specializes in developing technical, business, and scientific writing training courses for a variety of industries, including biotech, pharma, life sciences, government, computer, and engineering (see our client list for more information).

Rather than focusing on outdated writing myths or grammar, our customized writing classes provide your staff with tools they need to to communicate scientific, technical, or business information precisely and concisely.

Because we understand the kind of knowledge and information that writers need to create useful and effective documents, and the multiple and often complex writing tasks your staff faces, we ensure that our writing classes address those needs.

Our writing series begins with "cornerstone" modules, general modules that introduce concepts of audience, purpose, critical thinking, and organization. We build upon these with more specialized modules that lay a solid foundation of writing knowledge. Our courses arm your staff with the tools they need to write competently, regardless of the writing task.

Of course, because we understand that good writing takes time and doesn't come easily to many people, we also provide individual coaching and lots of written feedback that asks writers to focus on the choices they have when writing, thereby encouraging critical thinking and good decision-making. Finally, our classes are taught by professionals with experience in the field, ensuring you of the best quality modules that meet your needs.

What You Will Learn

Because we take writing very seriously, but also understand the chore that it is for some, we ensure that our courses focus on tools, rather than rules. What this means is that your staff will learn how to make good choices when writing, without having to read their grammar book!

Because our courses are based on critical thinking, they focus on allowing writers to use their common sense and intellect when writing. This empowers writers to consider the function of their writing, and make good choices through careful analysis.

Research shows that a critical thinking approach (rather than using a grammar-based approach), helps writers think more clearly about their writing, and has been shown to make writers more productive, less hesitant about writing, and better able to write effective documents.

Cornerstone Classes

These cornerstone classes lay the foundation for many of the other modules. While these classes are optional, participants are encouraged to take them as they allow for a greater understanding of the concepts discussed in other, more specialized classes.

• Writing Fundamentals: This module focuses on the basic elements of writing, including analyzing audience and purpose, to ensure that the message meets the needs and use requirements of the audience. Additional emphasis is on helping participants create the desired company and personal image, or "ethos," through the writing.

• Organizing the Message: This module focuses on helping develop useful organizing strategies, including creating holistic and traditional outlines, understanding classical methods of argument, and using headings and subheadings.

• Creating Accessibility: Cues, both visual and textual, are the focus of this module. Using white space, appropriate fonts, and document design to ensure that documents are accessible and easy-to-read are the major concepts discussed.

• Critical Thinking: A crucial but often overlooked element of writing is being able to "think outside the box." This class helps writers overcome writing blocks using exercises that ask them to flex their creative writing muscle.

• Editing and Proofreading: While editing and proofreading are essential processes in writing, many writers either confuse them or focus too much or too little on another. This class provides practical techniques on performing the two actions, and helps writers learn to use both as pathways to more effective writing.

Foundation Classes

This next "layer" of classes builds on the cornerstone classes and are designed to teach participants the basics of writing everyday and more general kinds of documents:

• Writing Emails and Memos
• Writing Letters
• Writing Proposals
• Writing Reports
• Writing Minutes

Specialized Classes

Our specialized classes complete the building as they provide your staff with tools they need to write specific kinds of documents. These include

• Writing Standard Operating Procedures
• Writing Instructions
• Writing Deviation Reports
• Using Charts, Graphs, and Tables
• Preparing Conference Presentations
• Writing Validation Reports
• Writing User Reports
• Writing Scientific Reports
• Writing Queries
• Writing Follow-up Letters
• Writing Assessments
• Writing Newsletters and Marketing Material

We can use any of these classes to create a series of effective writing modules guaranteed to make your staff more effective and efficient.

Scientific Writing and Technical Writing Series

If your staff requires more intensive training in any one area, we also offer customized onsite and online courses in technical, business, and scientific writing. Offered both online and onsite, these series give participants intensive writing training, and provide individual coaching and professional feedback on their written documents.

For more information about these modules, please contact us.