Courses
Classroom | Virtual Classroom | eLearning
Our writing courses are based on our unique Structured Writing Method. They not only improve writing, they improve complex problem solving, teamwork, productivity – and the bottom line.
We train professionals who are writing emails and reports as well as those producing more specialist documents for marketing, pre-sales, bids and tenders. Our latest course focuses on the specialist writing needs of students.
At the heart of the courses is a method which works for every document you’re writing. It is a linear process that encourages you to spend most of your time thinking, and planning and collaborating before writing begins. This structured approach ensures that you not only produce documents that are clear and engaging and structurally fit for purpose, but that you do so faster.
Writing is an important part of most professional lives. Being able to communicate a message clearly and concisely is an incredibly important skill – whether that’s when writing reports, emails, marketing documents or pre-sales materials. Poor writing, meangwhile, can lead to frustration, miscommunication, and a loss of reputation and sales.
An intellectual understanding of objective setting, appropriate messaging and structure are arguably even more important in an age of AI. These are the intellectual concepts that are required to ensure that your documents will truly stand apart from the crowd.
We train professionals
Writing for Business is designed for anybody who needs to write as part of their professional life. Whatever you are writing, you will learn a proven method that will make your documents clearer, more concise, effectively structured and far more professional.
Writing for Business
Writing for Bids enables proposal teams to write clearer, more compelling, more professional and far more competitive bid and pitch documents.
Writing for Bids
We train students
Our latest course is Thinking & Writing. This is an eLearning course that has been developed to provide effective training in thinking and writing for academic work, and to develop skills which will be invaluable in professional life too.
When students have completed Thinking & Writing, they will be able to write more clearly and logically and do so with much greater confidence and efficiency. The ten interactive modules are designed to promote inclusivity and accessibility, targeting confidence, skills, attainment and outcomes.
Thinking & Writing is a tried-and-tested process that has the power to transform student writing, attainment and outcomes. By following this organized approach, students will be able to produce written work that is well-structured, clear, concise and engaging. The process has four key stages: ‘Setting Objectives’, ‘Strategic Research’, ‘Structuring’ and ‘Writing’.
Thinking & Writing
Your training options
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eLearning versions of all three courses are available through this site
Please select the appropriate course from the ‘Online’ drop down menu.
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On-site, face-to-face training + eLearning
Many companies recognise how valuable it can be to have one of our trainers spend time with their team. This model features a one- or two-day classroom engagement designed to introduce the Structured Writing Method to teams. The day is typically located at your company premises and is focused on the specific needs of individual cohorts.
A classroom training day is augmented with the eLearning, to create a blended learning solution.
This has two important benefits.
It enables the classroom day to be more focused
During the classroom session we can focus on exploring the specific needs of the cohort on the day.Blended learning is ideal for writing training
A blended learning approach is ideal for learning a soft skill such as writing.
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Remote learning sessions + eLearning
Our blended virtual training model is an excellent alternative to face-to-face blended writing training and the perfect solution for those needing to train geographically dispersed teams including those working from home.
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Remote mentoring and editorial consultancy
For a small number of clients we are available to provide ongoing one-to-one editorial support from Paul Ayling, founder of Writing Machine and creator of the Structured Writing Method. This is appropriate for both individuals and members of marketing or bid teams. Provided on a time and materials basis, this engagement can include training, writing, messaging, strategy, critical feedback and quality control.
If this sounds of interest, please contact us to find out more.
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Scorm-compliant eLearning modules for corporates and institutions
For those wishing to train large numbers of learners, we can make the eLearning materials available as a site licence.
Please contact us to find out more.
What they say
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NATS
"The Writing for Bids course was spot on. People left the training with real skills and techniques that they could implement immediately, on a day-to-day basis. I’m very confident that our writers now have the foundation they need to produce clearer, punchier documents."
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Principality Building Society
"The Structured Writing Method provides a logical structure that enables participants to build from a blank page to a rounded piece of writing following simple steps. The way the course is facilitated encourages curiosity, experimentation and practical application. It is useful for anyone who needs to communicate in writing and made for a challenging yet enjoyable day."
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SITA
"Writing Machine worked with us to come up with tailored training to help us develop our Service Portfolio. Their experience and industry knowledge was key to supporting us in developing our writing skills and ensuring the right messages are being communicated. They provided insightful methods and tools to help our teams develop their techniques which we were able to put immediately into practice."
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HP
"I’m sure that the course will help me produce better quality, more engaging documents and challenge the status quo around content headings."
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Mitchells & Butler
"I feel much more confident when starting to write now – I won’t dread it like I used to!"
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Deloitte
“My writing will totally change.”
Over the years, many of our clients have told us the same thing: that the Structured Writing Method has an impact that goes far beyond writing. Following this process, they say, can transform not just how you write, but how you think and how you work.