Read your copy aloud When Don Murray arrived in the newsroom for his first day on the job as writing coach for the Boston Globe, he turned to his new boss and said: “I can tell you who your three best writers are.” Then the Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of Writing to Deadline proceeded to do just that. “How did you know?” the editor asked. “Their lips move when … [Read more...] about Write for the ear
Archives for January 2012
Your brain on the Web
We’re clicking instead of concentrating This is your brain on the Web: Constant problem solving (To click or not to click?) and divided attention (You’ve got mail) lead to cognitive overload. And that makes it harder for readers to concentrate when reading your copy online. In fact, a 2005 study by the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of London showed … [Read more...] about Your brain on the Web
Alliterate a little list
‘A spoonful of alliteration helps the medicine go down’ I’m a sucker for an alliterative list. When a client asked me to write a piece on the 28 languages now available on her company’s technology, I wrote this lead: “Whether you speak Chinese or Czech, Korean or Catalan, Finnish or French, Tetra radios speak your language.” Got a list? Why not alliterate a little? “A … [Read more...] about Alliterate a little list
Cartoons double understanding
Words + pictures teach better How can you help students remember the difference between affect and effect, all ready and already and among and between? How about cartoons? In one study, students who received cartoons scored almost twice as high in understanding the differences as those who'd received written examples only. For the study, researchers showed students at a … [Read more...] about Cartoons double understanding
Genius loves company
Bring the lawyers to your writing workshop I learn so much from my brilliant clients. When CenterPoint Energy's Eydie Pengelly brought me in for a writing workshop last month, it wasn't just for the company's communicators. Eydie invited her team's clients and other reviewers to the sessions, too. Among the benefits: Clients and communicators are on the same page … [Read more...] about Genius loves company