Council documents
How to write an advisory report
Getting started on an advisory report can be daunting, especially when the topic is complex or unfamiliar. There's a tricky stage to navigate...
debraFebruary 8, 2026
The AMP Sandwich
I gave a talk about AMP writing last year – focusing on the parts that I help with, which are at the beginning...
debraJanuary 12, 2026
How to add the strategy into strategic planning
While everyone is capable of both strategic thinking and planning, it’s natural to have a preference for one over the other. The whole brain...
debraApril 16, 2024
Ideas for your next consultation document
Here are some ideas for you to consider when developing your next consultation document.They are sourced from nine of the best LTP consultation documents...
debraJuly 31, 2023
How to use Whole Brain Thinking to be successful at work
Whole Brain Thinking is a great tool which you can use when: preparing a community engagement plan writing a strategy, plan or report...
debraMarch 26, 2023
How to write excellent emails, submission summaries, and executive summaries
As a council staff member, you know a lot about your subject matter. However, most of the time people only want the summary!...
debraApril 28, 2022
Struggling with a council document?
The documents we write for councils may not be Moby Dick or The Bone People, but we still have to put in the...
debraJanuary 10, 2022
Notes from a writing workshop
At a writing and editing workshop for council officers I learnt as much as I shared with the group. Here's a summary of...
debraDecember 6, 2021
Seven ways to structure your advice
People who work in the local government sector are swimming in information, which is a heady mix of central government and consultants’ reports,...
debraOctober 2, 2021
Three takeaways from a writing workshop
Over the past month I have been developing in-depth content for a writing workshop which will include a two-hour overview in the morning...
debraSeptember 3, 2021
