Communicators model Loren D. Estleman Last month, I invited readers to model this passage from Loren D. Estleman’s The Midnight Man: “It was one of those gummy mornings we get all through July and August, when the warm wet towel on your face is the air you’re breathing, and the headache you wake up with is the same one you took to bed the night before. Milk turns in the … [Read more...] about ‘Obstinate popinjays swarm the airwaves’
Archives for May 2011
‘Settle in’ vs. ‘search and destroy’
Print’s best for understanding Headlines in communication journals moan and whimper: “Is Print Obsolete?” “If Print Is Obsolete, Why Won’t It Go Away?” “Print Still King” “They’re Finally Killing Print” “Reports Of Print’s Death May Be Greatly Exaggerated” “Is The Employee Publication Extinct?” “In Rousing Defense Of Print” And, my favorite: “Dead Papers … [Read more...] about ‘Settle in’ vs. ‘search and destroy’
Communicate, don’t decorate
Creative copy can attract or distract Creative copy is powerful. It attracts attention, helps people learn and remember — even makes them more creative, according to the research. But the power to attract may also distract readers from your main idea. If your “seductive details” don’t illustrate your key points, they can: Draw attention away from more important ideas … [Read more...] about Communicate, don’t decorate
Do writing tools matter?
Last typewriter factory (sort of) closes Tears welled and teeth gnashed last month after the world’s last office typewriter factory — Godrej & Boyce in Mumbai, India — announced that it would close. (The last portable typewriter factory, Swintec in Moonachie, N.J., is still cranking them out. Swintec survives on prison contracts for clear typewriters in which … [Read more...] about Do writing tools matter?
Ann’s touring schedule
Polish your skills at one of these events Alas, I can’t invite you to the in-house seminars I present for private organizations. But everyone’s invited to these upcoming public seminars in: Chicago on June 7. “The Biggest Loser: Drop 3 pounds of fat from your copy in just 1 hour” and “HEY! Grab Attention In the Age of Information Overload,” two breakout sessions … [Read more...] about Ann’s touring schedule