Melanie Sexton

Background

About Melanie Sexton

Every profession requires proficiency in written communication. Whether you’re writing a simple email or something as sensitive as executive briefing notes, your message needs to be clear to be communicated effectively. But clear communication is hard. And one unexpected challenge we may face as communicators is making the transition from school-style, essay-based writing to workplace writing. For the past 15+ years, I’ve been teaching professionals to unlearn what school taught them about writing and grammar and learn how to approach writing for the workplace. I started my teaching career as an English professor over 30 years ago and also held roles as a technical writer and editor for the government and high-tech organizations. Having worked in the private and public sectors as well as academia, I have seen the challenges of adapting writing styles to different environments. I’ve learned through my work that the key to written communication is plain, simple language wherever possible. And as a writing workshop creator, instructor, and coach, I’m driven to teach my students practical, real-world skills and tools that will enable them to write effectively and without stress. I create and teach a series of workshops that cover topics ranging from practical grammar to technical writing. Participants in my workshops tend to be professionals who have to do a lot of writing, whether or not it is part of their job description. Many are experts in their very technical fields and need to take complex concepts and distill them into digestible written communications. I’m often hired by government agencies, regulatory and professional membership organizations, and non-profits. Something you might be surprised to learn about me is that I’m deaf. You may be curious how I, as a deaf instructor, teach communication. Hearing and listening are often thought to be synonymous, but they aren’t. Being deaf has made me a great listener. I have to work harder than a hearing person in order to fully understand what’s being said. But in working harder, I’m tuned into the subtleties of language, and I’m unwaveringly present and attentive when communicating and teaching. I offer my workshops both in person and through e-learning, or what I like to call, “at your desk.” If you’re interested in learning more about my workshops and how I can help you, your team, or your organization write more effectively, please connect with me here on LinkedIn, send me an InMail, or email me directly at melanie@englishhelp.ca.