How It Works

Start when you want. Move at your own pace.

  • Independent and flexible learning

    Go through the coursework and complete assignments online at your own pace.

  • 12-18 hours of interactive lessons

    Writing is a skill that requires practice. In our course, you'll be able to watch videos, read text, and complete exercises at your own pace.

  • Individual written feedback

    Each assignment you complete will be turned in for feedback from your dedicated coach. Their comments, questions, and guidance will help you see what strategies you are using, where some gaps still exist, and what you can do to keep improving.

What You Will Learn

  • Key habits for effective communication

  • 7 questions to ask in planning any document

  • Areas to focus on when drafting a document

  • Techniques for writing clearly, concisely, and considerately

  • Strategies to use when revising

Your Expert

Jenny Morse is the founder and CEO of Appendance, Inc, which provides business writing training to professionals working at companies along the Front Range and around the country. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Bowdoin College in Maine, her Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Colorado—Boulder, and her PhD in English at the University of Illinois—Chicago. As a freelance writer and editor, she has written website copy, crafted award speeches, and ghostwritten for a few CEOs, publishing articles in Forbes, Inc., and Wired. Her articles about common grammar errors, writing habits, and entertaining writing stories can be found at appendance.com/blog.

Jenny Morse, PhD

President, CEO, and Lead Trainer

Meet Your Instructor

Watch Intro Video

Welcome to the course

Course Curriculum

  1. 01

    • Welcome to the course! -Handout

    • Welcome to the course! - Video

    • What you will learn and how the course will work - Handout

    • What you will learn and how the course will work - Video

    • Learning objectives and course outline

    • Set your goals

    • Initial Assessment of your business writing
  2. 02

    • What do you think about credibility?

    • Why does credibility matter? -Handout

    • Why does credibility matter? - Video

    • Articles on credibility

    • Determining credibility

    • What signs of credibility (or its lack) do you notice in 5 emails you've received this week?

    • Difference between speaking and writing -Handout

    • Difference between speaking and writing - Video

    • "Fun" quizzes on non-verbal communication

    • Practice identifying tone

    • Your Module 1: Credibility assignment
  3. 03

    • What are the steps you take before writing?

    • Why do you need a plan? -Handout

    • Why do you need a plan? - Video

    • Purpose and audience: The first 5 questions -Handout

    • Purpose and audience: The first 5 questions - Video

    • Medium and Approach: The last 2 questions -Handout

    • Medium and Approach: The last 2 questions - Video

    • Consider purpose, audience, medium, and approach

    • Practice planning with these scenarios

    • Reflect on the planning process

    • Your Module 2: Plan assignment
  4. 04

    • How to draft messages effectively - Handout

    • How to draft messages effectively - Video

    • Article: Bad Writing Is Destroying Your Company’s Productivity

    • Timed writing

    • Strategies for complete messages - Handout

    • Strategies for complete messages - Video

    • Practice checking for completeness

    • Strategies for clear messages -Handout

    • Strategies for clear messages - Video

    • Practice crafting clearer sentences

    • Practice crafting a clearer message

    • Reflect on completeness and clarity in messages this week

    • Your Module 3: Writing Messages Part 1--Complete and Clear assignment
  5. 05

    • Strategies for concise messages - Handout

    • Strategies for concise messages - Video

    • Articles on conciseness

    • Practice crafting concise sentences

    • Strategies for considerate messages -Handout

    • Strategies for considerate messages - Video

    • Practice crafting considerate sentences

    • Practice crafting a clear and considerate message

    • Reflect on conciseness and consideration in messages this week

    • Your Module 4: Writing Messages Part 2--Concise and Considerate assignment
  6. 06

    • How people read - Handout

    • How people read - Video

    • Article: Students Learn Better from Print than Screens

    • Practice finding the main ideas

    • Paragraphing -Handout

    • Paragraphing - Video

    • Practice using paragraphs

    • Formatting techniques that draw or repel attention -Handout

    • Formatting techniques that draw or repel attention - Video

    • Practice with formatting techniques

    • Reflect on formatting in messages this week

    • Your Module 5: Formatting Messages assignment
  7. 07

    • What do you think is the difference between editing and proofreading?

    • The difference between editing and proofreading - Handout

    • The difference between editing and proofreading - Video

    • Why it’s so hard to proofread our own work - Handout

    • Why it’s so hard to proofread our own work - Video

    • Articles on the challenges of proofreading

    • Your typo stories

    • Punctuation -Handout

    • Punctuation - Video

    • Practice punctuating sentences

    • Techniques to improve proofreading success -Handout

    • Techniques to improve proofreading success - Video

    • Your revising strategies

    • Practice proofreading these sentences

    • Your Module 6: Editing and Proofreading assignment
  8. 08

    • Final Assessment of your business writing

    • Thank you for your participation in the Better Business Writing course! -Handout

    • Thank you for your participation in the Better Business Writing course! - Video

    • Provide feedback on the course

    • Course Review

Course Cost

What's included: 12-18 hours of video lectures, handouts, quizzes, and other independent tools, plus 6 writing assignments with feedback from an expert.

Interested in Live Coaching?

Add-on live coaching for $75/session OR consider signing up for Better Business Writing Pro!

  • Live Coaching Sessions

    All Courses

    Ask questions, get feedback, talk to other professionals who write! This is your opportunity to connect on your path to becoming a Better Business Writer.

    View Course

How do you know if this course is for you?

  • You struggle to draft your messages, sometimes staring at the blank screen not sure where to start

  • You want every message to be absolutely perfect so you keep tweaking every single word, sometimes sending messages later than you should

  • You've been told that your messages are too long, too short, too happy, too abrupt, or people say that you "write just like you speak" or that "you're nicer than they thought you'd be"

  • You want to make sure you are writing "correctly" or you want to find out if what you learned about writing in middle school is still true

Our AWARD-WINNING Course Can Help You Become a Better Business Writer!

Better Business Writing won the 2021 Award for Excellence in Communication Consulting

Our course isn't like other courses, and you don't just have to take our word for it! The Association for Business Communication and the Association of Professional Communication Consultants voted Better Business Writing superior for its adaptability, pedagogy and materials, and impressive results.

With so many business writing courses out there, how do you decide which one to take?

Appendance's Better Business Writing: On Demand course is different from most other business writing courses because you are able to work at your own pace and still get feedback from a dedicated expert.

Can you learn to write better just by watching videos? We don't think so. And we have years teaching in higher education and training professionals like you to back us up. That's why our program is more than video content. We provide you with the virtual content and exercises, and because we know you are a busy working professional, you can take the course at your own pace. When you're ready for feedback, you'll submit your exercises to your coach and get the guidance you need to become a better business writer.
Choose a course that works
Us: videos, interactive lessons, weekly exercises, connections, individual feedback, weekly coaching sessions. Them: videos--no really, that's it

Want to find out more about what you'll learn with us?

Testimonials

We think our course is great, but don't just take our word for it...

“A co-worker said I don't need that class; it looks basic from the flyer. And I agree that I was unsure at first if I needed the class, until I sat and listened. I think the flyer should include the words, "This class will teach you writing for business with company assets and your professional reputation at stake. Yes! This means you! You need to take this class! You will learn that writing it right is critical to instilling trust in your audience and conveying credibility with your readers. These traits are key to furthering your career!"”

Greg D, August 23, 2019

“Didn't know that it takes my brain 15 minutes to proofread anything I draft up on the computer. Also taught me to multi-task between tasks and back to communication with my coworkers or supervisors. Most useful because currently with the restrictions, my main communication is through email. Showing that I can phrase what I am saying to them without offending them when giving the message back.”

April 21, 2020

“I loved the content, and Jenny brought the positive energy/vibes I needed. So great.”

Nate B, April 3, 2020

“The hands on practice was extremely helpful. I was able to identify my areas of strength and those areas that I still need to spend more time. I'm looking forward to digging into the suggested resources.”

Kristin S, April 2, 2020

“I think it is important to communicate effectively in written form. I love these classes and I would attend many more”

Earcillia R, March 19, 2020

“There was a wealth of information provided, and I walked away with some helpful tools to improve my writing. The delivery of the training fostered engaging dialogue.”

August 17, 2018

What Else Does Appendance Offer?