Writing Guides
Scribe Technical’s writing guides provide principles, practical techniques, and tools for producing clear, concise, and persuasive professional documents. Each guide combines exercises, practice cases, and resources that support ongoing skills development.
Developed with the needs of urban planners in mind, the techniques are guides are useful for professionals across sectors who communicate complex information to decision-makers, partners, clients, and members of the public.
Persuasive Writing for Planners
get all 3 guides for $45
Complex ideas and projects need strong communication. We developed this guide to help city-building practitioners write with greater clarity and influence, to build support for their ideas and keep projects moving forward.
In five concise chapters, we share principles, practical techniques, and insights into what makes professional writing persuasive. The guide focuses on strategies that help subject matter experts build credibility and support among decision-makers, colleagues, partners, and the public. Exercises, a realistic practice case, and additional resources provide opportunities to apply the techniques independently or with colleagues.
Available as a downloadable PDF. First published in 2021; updated in 2023.
Complex ideas and projects need strong communication. We developed this guide to help city-building practitioners write with greater clarity and influence, to build support for their ideas and keep projects moving forward.
In five concise chapters, we share principles, practical techniques, and insights into what makes professional writing persuasive. The guide focuses on strategies that help subject matter experts build credibility and support among decision-makers, colleagues, partners, and the public. Exercises, a realistic practice case, and additional resources provide opportunities to apply the techniques independently or with colleagues.
Plain Language
for Planners
get all 3 guides for $45
Complex ideas and projects need clear communication. We developed this guide to help city-building practitioners produce reports, plans, studies, proposals, memos, and other professional documents that are clear, accurate, and easy to understand and use.
In four concise chapters, we share principles, practical techniques, and insights into applying plain language to complex and technical topics. The guide focuses on strategies that help professional advice be understood by decision-makers, clients, colleagues, partners, and the public. Exercises, practical writing tools, and a plain language checklist provide opportunities to apply the techniques and strengthen everyday writing practice.
Available as a downloadable PDF. First published in 2022; updated in 2023.
Complex ideas and projects need clear communication. We developed this guide to help city-building practitioners produce reports, plans, studies, proposals, memos, and other professional documents that are clear, accurate, and easy to understand and use.
In four concise chapters, we share principles, practical techniques, and insights into applying plain language to complex and technical topics. The guide focuses on strategies that help professional advice be understood by decision-makers, clients, colleagues, partners, and the public. Exercises, practical writing tools, and a plain language checklist provide opportunities to apply the techniques and strengthen everyday writing practice.
Storytelling
for Planners
get all 3 guides for $45
Professional documents must meet technical, regulatory, and organizational requirements, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. We developed this guide to help urban planners and other city-building professionals bring structure, momentum, and a distinctive expert voice to their writing. A strong storyline helps readers understand how complex ideas connect, why they matter, and where they lead.
In five concise chapters, we explore how storytelling techniques can make professional documents more logical, engaging, and persuasive, without compromising accuracy or credibility.
Available as a downloadable PDF. First published in 2023.
Professional documents must meet technical, regulatory, and organizational requirements, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. We developed this guide to help urban planners and other city-building professionals bring structure, momentum, and a distinctive expert voice to their writing. A strong storyline helps readers understand how complex ideas connect, why they matter, and where they lead.
In five concise chapters, we explore how storytelling techniques can make professional documents more logical, engaging, and persuasive, without compromising accuracy or credibility.
From Vision to Impact: Writing Tips and Techniques for Planners
The most-loved articles from the Urban Planners’ Writing Club
Warning: Not your Typical Writing Guide
This is your back-pocket guide to writing with impact. You’ll get serious skills, without the serious tone. This PDF is packed with articles from the Urban Planner’s Writing Club – tips, tricks, and techniques you can use right away.
This product is available as a downloadable PDF. First published on Substack between June 2023 and October 2024; collected and updated in 2025.
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Practical tips and real-world techniques for everyday professional writing
30+ short, snappy articles you can flip through in any order (yes, even backwards – no judgment)
Pro advice and exercises that make writing less of a chore and more of a superpower
Strategies for everything from polished reports to “read-my-email” subject lines
Resources to help you keep improving over time.
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Explain complex ideas without sounding complicated
Keep your audience awake (and even interested and supportive!)
Make your projects the ones people talk about.
The result? Your projects gain traction, your voice is heard, and your work gets noticed.
From Vision to Impact is your back-pocket guide to writing with impact. You’ll get serious skills, without the serious tone. This PDF is packed with articles from the Urban Planner’s Writing Club – tips, tricks, and techniques you can use right away.