Like it or not, you are judged everyday on what you write. If you want to improve your professional image, increase your salary and up your odds for that next promotion, take time now to improve your writing and communication skills. Mary Rose offers classes in writing skills both for professionals in business and freelancers who want to learn how to write for publications. Click on the links to see details of courses and sign up below.

Effective Business Writing & Communications Next Class: Wednesday, September 17, 8:30a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Employers Association, Plymouth, MN Former students give two thumbs up saying; "This class was much more fun than I thought it would be!" "I went right back to the office and immediately started applying Mary Rose's techniques." "Thank you Mary Rose. Your class was a painless way to improve my writing. The individual consultation helped me realize what I was doing well and what I could do even better." Sign up at www.employersinc.com or call (763) 253-9100 Effective Business Writing

Freelance Writing: Articles & Columns Next Class: Thursday evenings, July 10 - August 14 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Loft Literary Center, Mpls, MN This class is for beginning and intermediate writers who wish to freelance for community newspapers, national magazines, or professional journals. Sign up at www.loft.org/classes.htm Freelance Writing

Column Syndication

Stay tuned for next class. Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, MN If you have opinions plus personality and would like to take your writing to a larger audience, consider column writing. There are multiple benefits to syndicating a column; a steady income, a pipeline for clients, speaking gigs and book sales, plus getting paid to do what you love! You'll learn where to find editor and syndicate contact information, proper submission etiquette, differences between self-syndication and landing with a major syndicate, copyright basics, elements of a catchy column query and essentials for column packets.  We'll cover contract and payment negotiations, plus a sure-fire, step by step process for self-synication. You're encouraged to bring four to five newspapers, magazins, and/or Web sites you'd like to publish with.    $44, $41 for Loft Members

Crafting Persuasive and Publishable Editorials

Stay tuned for next class Good writing, they say, 'disturbs the comforted and comforts the disturbed.' A great way to disturb the comforted and rally support for your cause is through well-written op-ed pieces published in your local newspaper. In this workshop we'll cover the function of an op-ed page and the differences between letters to the editor, op-eds, editorials, and columns; how and when to pitch pieces to editors; specific components of controversial op-eds; tips for creating local slants on national issues and the five personal traits you'll need to get your pieces published. Helpful books, Web sites, and a complete list of local newspapers and contact information for editors will be provided.