BT's Natasha Dunt tells how a recent Writing Machine course is helping her get the most out of her relationship with Writing Machine.

Writing Machine's Trade Secrets of Newsletters course was originally conceived to help those who produce their publications in-house. What is particularly interesting, however, is just how beneficial it has been to those who are able to commission an external agency such as Writing Machine to produce their publications for them.

Natasha Dunt is a case in point. She has recently taken over the editorial control of an established, successful magazine which Writing Machine produces for BT called 'Connexus'.

Although she has an excellent track record in marketing, her experience with newsletters and magazines has, until recently, been limited.

"Although Writing Machine is responsible for writing the editorial in this important publication," she told us, "I am most definitely the person in overall charge. I have to be. It is BT's Customer Relationships and marketing budget that I am dealing with. But in order for me to do this job to the best of my professional ability, I realised I could benefit from increasing my knowledge of editorial and copywriting issues."

And so Natasha signed up to attend the one day Trade Secrets of Newsletters workshop.

The day is composed of a series of hands on modules during which attendees get to grips with many of the key editorial issues which have such an important contribution to the success of all publications.

From theory to practice

"It was," said Natasha, "an extremely good, compact one day workshop and was, like all the best courses I have been on, extremely practical. We all learn best by actually doing something.

"In this case the environment was a particularly friendly one which made it easier for me to make mistakes without worry."

It's always gratifying to find that people have enjoyed themselves on a course such as this. However, true success only becomes apparent subsequently when it is possible to assess the impact it has had in a business environment.

In this respect, Natasha is quite clear. "I've already found this course to be very helpful, for instance, in ensuring that the first draft becomes the final draft," Natasha explains.

"I may not be writing the publication myself, but I still need to be very much in editorial control of Connexus. This day has not only enabled me to do that job better but more efficiently than before and with much greater confidence."