About

I’m Mary Cullen, president of Instructional Solutions.

At its core, business writing is about:

1) considering your reader

2) providing accurate and relevant content for that particular reader

3) using language and formats that convey your content clearly and meaningfully to your reader

In order to

4) advance a business objective.

There’s a lot to consider in this core requirement, so this blog will discuss language, grammar, audience, content, organization, format, tools, gathering information efficiently, managing information overload and evolving practices.

Why Blog?
This blog developed from Instructional Solutions’ client newsletter, Write Solutions. Each month, readers’ questions and comments about articles increased, making it challenging to reply to all questions. This blog will allow us to take our clients’ great questions and share the discussion, along with tips, best practices, and recommendations about writing effectively and productively on the job.

Professional Background
My teaching career began in 1988, when I was a graduate teaching fellow at Boston College. I taught writing and literature at Endicott College and the University of Massachusetts college system for the next ten years.

In 1998, I founded Instructional Solutions to teach business people to write better with less effort and time, to increase business productivity. We’ve worked with large corporations such as FedEx, Aramark and Liberty Mutual Insurance Corporation, as well as mid-sized and small companies and individuals.

Of all the genres of writing I’ve taught, business writing is the most fun and fascinating. Standards are constantly evolving, and hypertext and electronic communication have shattered the restriction of purely linear format, created exciting opportunities to connect and construct information. Our clients’ careers are tied to their ability to harness their writing to drive business.

Of course, these changes can be overwhelming. No worries. We’re here to help.

My full bio is here. Find me on Twitter