Writing

Writing Projects

At Words at Work we’ve worked on the full spectrum of business documents, or very close to it. Some times we write them from scratch, other times we edit existing content and then write to fill in the gaps. Writing projects have included:

• Articles
• Annual reports
• Brochures
• Business letters
• Business plans
• Communication plans
• Community information collateral
• Funding or grant applications
• Instructions
• Investor proposals
• Manuals
• Marketing collateral
• Medical reports
• Minutes
• News releases
• Policies and procedures
• Presentations (strategic and informational)
• Proposals
• Requests for proposal
• Reports (technical reports, research reports, board reports)
• Scripts
• Strategic plans
• Website copy

Clients we’ve worked for:

Prince Rupert Airport Authority, Pacific Northwest LNG, Nova Bio Rubber, SMIT Marine, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Math Help Services, Okanagan Intervention Pain Clinics, Opera Kelowna, MDG Engineering, Power ‘n Passion, and Seaquest Explorations, among others.

Presentations

We help clients develop exceptional presentations. Each includes a clear message, engaging visuals, and a strong call to action.

Project example: Airport infrastructure

Project Objective

To secure funding for a large refurbishment project

Project Tasks

• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation with a maximum of 12 slides to be delivered to authorities by the board’s chair.
• Persuade authorities of the project’s urgency.
• Present the business case for the project.
• Demonstrate community and financial benefits.
• Prepare a two-page summary document to accompany the presentation.

Project Outcome

The project received unanimous support, funding was secured, and the project is nearing completion.

Education Materials 

Project: Natural sciences and physical education materials for a Montessori organization

Description

The project involved writing about 600 pages of new material and editing about 700 pages of existing material, including background information, student activities, charts, tables, and graphics.

Project tasks

• Translate complex technical concepts into engaging language, accessible for non-scientists.
• Apply plain language principles.
• Follow and contribute to an extensive in-house style guide.
• Edit, fact-check, and update two natural sciences manuals.
• Research topics for botany, zoology, microscopic studies, and physical education.
• Write teaching manuals.
• Create student-based activities to meet curriculum requirements.
• Develop graphics, charts, and tables to illustrate concepts.
• Create a glossary and a resource section of print, web, and audio-video material for teachers and students.

Editing: Books

Words at Work edits non-fiction, in particular, books with a strong technical focus. The primary task for these two examples was to present relatively technical information in a way that would be interesting and easy for non-technical readers to understand.

Staying Safe on Our Roads: The Small Margin for Error by Brian Denton

Words at Work was recently engaged to edit Brian Denton’s methodically researched book, which is supported with numerous, carefully analyzed examples. As the book helps fill a cavernous gap in road safety education, it was written for educators and for every road user—cyclist, motorist, or pedestrian.

Project Tasks

The primary task was to retain the author’s voice while presenting the technical information in a way that would be accessible and engaging for non-technical readers of all ages.

• Perform stylistic and copyediting on the manuscript.
• Advise on structure.
• Maintain the author’s unique voice.
• Ensure the technical information is accessible and interesting for not-technical readers.
• Proofread the manuscript.

Canada’s Pacific Gateways: Realizing the Vision by Dr. W. B.M. Hick

Words at Work was engaged to edit and index Dr. Hick’s compelling history of trade and development on the West Coast, Canada’s Pacific Gateways: Realizing the Vision.

The 448-page book is a carefully chronicled history of the ports at Vancouver and Prince Rupert, and the rail routes that serve them. It’s a story of dreams, vision, political will and, at times, political expediency.

Project Tasks

• Perform stylistic and copyediting on the 448-page book, including:
  • Aligning metric and imperial measurements
  • Maintaining the author’s unique voice
  • Applying plain language principles.
• Edit captions for 200+ photographs.
• Index the book.
• Write copy for the front flap.

The BC Shipping News review is available here.