Make them more concrete, creative It’s one thing to make a bio or profile creative. Breathing life into high-level strategy stories — like the company’s mission, vision, business objectives and annual goals — that’s another thing. The key: Turn abstract ideas and concepts into concrete, creative, down-to-earth things. So how do you make strategy stories more … [Read more...] about Bring strategy stories down to earth
Archives for March 2014
Catch Your Readers
Save $200 when you register by March 15 Would you like to learn to write better copy, faster? Reach more readers? Come up with more creative ideas? If so, please join me at Catch Your Readers, my two-day Master Class in Kansas City (April 29-30) and Portland, Ore. (July 23-24). Rev Up Readership members save $100 on registration — $200 if you register by March 15. … [Read more...] about Catch Your Readers
What goes viral?
Make messages positive, emotional Nearly 6 out of 10 people frequently share online content (PDF). Every time someone shares a link on Facebook, an average of nine people click. Someone tweets a link to a New York Times story every four seconds. How can you make your article travel the world, while others just languish at home on the couch? Make your piece positive … [Read more...] about What goes viral?
‘Killing me softly’
Use adverbs to change, not intensify, meaning Beware adverbs, counsels The Poynter Institute’s Roy Peter Clark. Too often, they dilute the meaning of the verb or repeat it: “The building was completely destroyed.” Instead, of using adverbs to intensify meaning, Clark suggests, use them to change meaning. “‘Killing Me Softly’?” he writes. “Good adverb. “‘Killing Me … [Read more...] about ‘Killing me softly’
More pocket profiles
Use 'narrative shorthand' In a recent issue, I introduced “pocket profiles.” That’s squeezing a big life into a small space — without compressing all of the life out of a person — by using "narrative shorthand." Then I asked you to do it. Eight of you took me up on the challenge. Here are the best of the bunch: Christa Evans, Presentation Specialist, Santander … [Read more...] about More pocket profiles