Self-Guided Course

Writing That Works: Practical Strategies for Main Street Communication

Clear, effective communication is one of the most important tools a Main Street leader has.

Whether you're writing to board members, funders, business owners, or city officials, strong writing builds trust, saves time, and helps you lead with confidence. This course will help you gain practical, people-centered writing strategies rooted in the realities of your role and tailored to Main Street work.

Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Starting Formal Learning: 100 points

Two workshop facilitators stand at the front of a room holding a large flipchart covered in handwritten notes. One facilitator gestures toward the chart while speaking into a handheld microphone; the other holds the chart steady. In the foreground, participants sit at a long table with notebooks, water bottles, and coffee cups, watching and listening. Floor-to-ceiling windows behind the presenters look out onto a forested landscape. — Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. Photo by Main Street America.

Overview

Course Outline

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Use a simple, four-step process to organize any piece of writing.
Match your message to your purpose, audience, and medium.
Apply writing style tips that improve clarity and reduce confusion.
Recognize and revise passive voice, wordiness, and jargon.
Communicate more clearly in emails, reports, announcements, and updates.

Section 1: Introduction
- 1.1 Welcome
- 1.2 Course Design & Engagement
Section 2: Writing That Works: Practical Strategies for Main Street Communication
- Writing That Works: Practical Strategies for Main Street Communication
Section 3: Conclusion
- 3.1 Final Takeaways
- 3.2 Main Street Convo
- 3.3 Survey