Writing on the Job

A practical and compact guide to writing for professionals

Writing is an essential skill in today's workplace. From messaging platforms and social media to traditional forms of communication like memos and reports, we rely on words more than ever. Given how much reading we do on mobile devices, being able to write succinctly is critical to success. Writing on the Job is an incisive guide to clear and effective writing for professionals.

Martha Coven begins with the basics, explaining how to develop a professional style, get started on a piece of writing, create a first draft, and edit it into a strong final product. She then offers practical advice on more than a dozen forms of writing, from emails and slide decks to proposals and cover letters. Along the way, Coven provides a wealth of concrete examples and simple templates that make the concepts easy to understand and apply.

Based on Coven's popular writing classes and workshops at Princeton University, as well as her decades of experience in the public and private sectors, Writing on the Job addresses the real challenges professionals face in today's digital age and shares essential practices that can improve the performance of any organisation.

'Writing clearly and succinctly is an essential skill that is far too rare. Martha Coven's book offers keen insights and practical guidance for effective communication, no matter the audience or mission. Writing on the Job lays out a commonsense approach to writing with uncommon clarity.' - Jacob J. Lew, former US Secretary of the Treasury

'Coven smartly and concretely gives readers a roadmap for turning ideas into action in the twenty-first-century workplace. Writing on the Job shouldn't be on your bookshelf—put it on your desk beside your mouse or trackpad for reference, early and often.' - Melody C. Barnes, executive director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council

'Every page of this slim volume has a wealth of real-world experience distilled into actionable and sage advice. Note to those early in their careers—do yourself a favour and read this book now and carefully. It will return that modest investment several times over.' - Ashvin B. Chhabra, author of The Aspirational Investor: Taming the Markets to Achieve Your Life's Goals