September 10th, 2009 — How to write
Had an interesting discussion this morning with a client. They are a voluntary organisation wanting a marketing booklet.
Now I’ve written for the voluntary sector several times in the past few years and what generally drives me mad about the jobs is the jargon they use. It’s bad enough when it’s contained in annual reports and such. But when they want to use it in marketing documents I really struggle with the jobs.
That’s because people on the whole don’t speak all the time in jargon. And often when they do, they couldn’t define accurately many of the terms they use. If you’re writing to people whose first language may not be English, or they’re not too confident in written English, jargon can be offputting at best and terrifying at worst.
The audience for any writing is key. If you have to impress them by including the jargon so be it. But please for the rest of us, clear, simple, English please.
September 9th, 2009 — General
Met Rachel Strong from Erewash Sound Radio station yesterday when I was networking. She was telling me that Erewash Sound have just been awarded their licence which has had them whooping with joy. That means they can extend their presence; already you can listen to them online.
If you fancy your chances as a radio announcer or a behind the scenes person, then why not contact them at www.erewashsound.com
September 8th, 2009 — General
Busy creating the email update I send out to my clients, colleagues and associates. Every month I mix it up by including stuff I find on my wanderings on the internet, information about what I’m doing and something to lift the spirits.
You can’t please everyone so really I include anything that I think might help someone that has interested me for some reason. Like this morning I had a link from Ken McCarthy of The System Seminar about the free videos on his YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/systemseminar
Even if you can’t manage the money or the time to see marketing experts there are still snippets you can learn from them.
If you think you’d like a look at the update email at eileen@words-for-you.co.uk and I’ll add you to the list.
September 7th, 2009 — How to write
Catching up with Writer’s Almanac (www.writersalmanac.com) which is full of fascinating facts and quotes from and about writers from all over the world.
One item caught my eye about Jennifer Egan an American author I have to confess I hadn’t heard of.
She’s the author of The Invisible Circus (1995), based on her travels in Europe; Emerald City and Other Stories (1996), a short-story collection; Look at Me (2001), a finalist for the National Book Award; and The Keep (2006), a best-seller.
What intrigued me though was the fact that she writes in longhand. Because she started writing before the advent of computers (she was born in the 1960s) she thinks that her writing on the computer is inferior to her other writing and needs more fixing.
One of my exercises when I studied business writing was to write out successful sales letters, by hand. Not once, not twice but three times. The logic was that you picked up the rhythm of the writing much easier that way. I have to admit that I do most of my writing on the computer but if I’m trying to pick up how another writer works then I do go back to the exercise.
It shows you all the quirks of punctuation, breathing in the writing and sometimes if you do enough of one writer, almost the thought processes that got them to the way they write.
September 7th, 2009 — General
This year’s Women of Influence lunch will be held at the East Midlands Conference Centre 9 November.
For more information contact carol.parkinson@ntlworld.com
September 5th, 2009 — events
I’ve just been checking about Heritage Open Days which take place next week 10-13 September.
For more information go to www.heritageopendays.co.uk to see what’s available in your area.
I’m definitely going to visit Bromley Library in Nottingham City Centre which has intrigued me for years.
September 3rd, 2009 — How to write
I’ve just been reading a blog from John Carlton about stealing other people’s writing. He rants more than I do but I couldn’t agrre more with what he says.
It’s become the norm for people to expect free stuff and be allowed to do what they like with it. At best it’s flattery but at worst it’s stealing. And for sure it takes time to learn the rules and guideline behind anything that works. But that’s the case for any skill you want to acquire.
The bottom line for me though is do you want to always be a copy of someone else in your writing or do you want to have your own personality? Understanding how good writing works is the first step to real independence and your own writing identity.
Yes it takes longer but it’s worth it in the long run.
If you want to see how John Carlton writes then just Google him. He calls himself the most copied writer and he’s certainly one of the most successful. And that didn’t come from him just copying other people.
September 3rd, 2009 — How to write, links
If you’re not sure about how to write your Tweets, here’s a walk through of designing a Tweet by Jakob Nielsen, web marketing expert.
http://www.stnx.at/a0lj
And a link to his website for info and help on website design.
www.useit.com/
September 2nd, 2009 — General
Turn around & Change Breakfast Seminar – Does your business keep you awake at night?
1st October 2009, 08.00 – 11.00, The Village Hotel, Beeston, Nottingham
Business Link
Visit the Business Link website to book your place online.
www.businesslinkem.co.uk
July 27th, 2009 — events
Erewash Partnership are holding an event on 11 August 2009 at The Arena Conference Centre in Ilkeston.
If you need more information visit www.erewashh-partnership.com
