"Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words." - Mark Twain


Sunday, March 26, 2017

Omit Needless Words

I'm a little over two months into my new job and still can't believe my good fortune in landing there. When I was searching and interviewing, a friend told me I'd know when the right job appeared. She was right. I knew during the first interview that it would be a good fit, and I'm thrilled to say as time goes on, I'm even more convinced. I'm surrounded by fellow word nerds, people who have passionate opinions about the Oxford comma (we're for it), which is something it definitely takes a word geek to appreciate.

It's been a while since I've felt this challenged at work. I'm immersed in learning about the functions of the various departments and how they work together, dealing with the non-stop acronym parade of course—CSC, CPC, SIU, PCC, UR, and WCIRB* just to name a few—and getting my arms around my first two large projects. I wouldn't call it a learning curve exactly, some days it feels more like an M.C. Escher-inspired staircase, but it's still satisfying.

So with everything that goes along with getting used to a new job, including the intense amount of incoming information about the organization, I am to create clear, concise communications for my clients and show them the art of saying more with less. Challenge accepted. The wonderful truth is that I'm once again being paid to write, and every day brings new opportunities to further my craft. My boss has a sign with a fabulous Mark Twain quote on her office wall that reads, "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." Strunk & White would be pleased. And I just may have found a new tribe.


*Customer Service Center, Claims Processing Center, Special Investigations Unit, Pre-Coverage Check, Utilization Review, Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau

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