Daphne Gray-Grant

Home
Testimonials
Products
Free Articles
Book Reviews
About Daphne
Free Newsletter
Contact Me

 

 
  Check out my book!

 

I think you have one of the most valuable and insightful business writing resources on the web (and, as Im sure you know, there are thousands of them out there). No matter how busy I am, your newsletter is the one email I always open the moment it hits my inbox!
Leslie Talbot
Principal, G2G Sales, Cambridge, MA

I have to stop myself replying to your email each week to tell you how great I think your writing is. I've held off for two months now, so: I think your writing is great. Yours is the only newsletter that I read every time. Inspiring and concise, with humour. Love it.
Andrew Lightheart,
RealSmartNow.net
Singapore

You don't know me, but you've made such a big difference in my writing as I launched and then grew my copywriting business over the past year. Your newsletter is the only one I read right when I get it.
Kelly Parkinson,
Copylicious
Oakland, Calif.

I read your Power Writing tips religiously. I have learned more from them than I did in all my years at Catholic School. Your stuff is valuable to everyone regardless of their business function.
Mary Anne Doggett
Interactive Communications, Inc.
New York, NY

Unlike most newsletters I subscribe to (many of which I delete in frustration or let accumulate in my inbox for "later") I read yours the moment they come in. I love that they’re short, easy to read, and informative.
Nadine Pederson
Black Swan Services
West Vancouver, B.C.

Just had to tell you that, once again, your newsletter has brought enlightenment, enjoyment, and a welcome dose of sanity to my inbox. I love hearing from you each week.
Fran Sammis
Teledyne Storm Products
Woodridge, IL

I just wanted to let you know that I read 100% of your writing. Of the many newsletters that come to my inbox, yours is the only one I read from start to finish every time. TGIT (Thank God it's Tuesday).
Laura Williams
Mississauga, Ont.

Thank you for your recent newsletter. What a powerful concept! I think you've just given me a key to my writer's block. Your newsletter is terrific!
Lisa Ham
Bend, Ore.

I just don’t know how you do it. Every column of yours I read is noteworthy. I’m working on two books (one for Oxford University Press and the other for Prometheus Books) that are each due in a couple of months. I’ve got two major research projects and teaching to boot. I don’t read anything extra.
Except your emails. They’re worth their weight in gold.
Barbara A. Oakley, Ph.D., P.E., FAIMBE
Associate Professor of Engineering
Oakland University
Rochester MI

As a new writer and web owner, I had subscribed to several writing-type newsletters -- yours is the only one I have kept. It's short and sweet; and it offers value.
Julie DeHart
Manila, Philippines

I just wanted to let you know, I look forward to Tuesdays. Because of you. Thanks for the inspiration and insight.
Jennifer Clayton
Sticky Center,
Palm Springs, California

Your newsletter is funny/interesting because you write about stuff I already know, but for some reason need to hear again in small portions. So incredibly useful.
Rachel Lom
Write Image, LLC
Appleton, Wisconsin

 

 

May 7, 2008

Promising vs. delivering

Five ways to surprise your boss or client

Blame it on my stroke or my house-move but I lost an expensive piece of software recently. I could have sworn it was installed on my computer but when I checked my hard drive the application had disappeared like my daughter's soccer socks.
 
The software was Dreamweaver (for building websites) and I'd bought it from a mail order source in January. When I thought about it, however, I didn't remember the software actually arriving and I certainly didn't recall installing it. Was this stroke-induced memory loss or had the software self-immolated via Fed Ex? I combed through my box of software -- nope, nothing in there either.
 
Then, I contacted the mail order folks. They confirmed I should have received Dreamweaver (they even had the waybill number) and suggested I call Adobe. My heart sank a little because I was woefully familiar with Adobe's obsession with security codes. But, desperate, I rang them anyway.
 
Spectacular news!! I didn't sit on hold for more than a couple of minutes and they found my account right away, had my security code at their fingertips and offered to send me a replacement disc for a mere $20 plus shipping.
 
Feeling as though I'd just won the nerd lottery, I was transformed from a reluctant Adobe user into a huge fan. And I think the secret to this success was built on one simple platform: Under-promise and over-deliver.
 
People are always happiest when they get something good they haven't expected. I think this rule applies to writing, too, so here are five ways you can under-promise and over-deliver to your boss or clients.
 
1) Don't write anything until you know what your boss or your client really wants. What's good writing? You and I could probably agree on what constitutes really good writing and really bad writing. But there's a huge mass of writing out there that's neither really good nor bad. And that's where things get sticky. Much writing can only be evaluated by "taste." Don't assume you have the sole correct understanding of good taste. Ask your boss or your client for a sample of what they want from you. Study it. Then replicate it.
 
2) Make sure your boss or client understands all the steps you've undertaken. In my coaching, I inevitably find out that people think of writing as one task -- that is, sitting in front of the computer and pouring (or dribbling) words onto the screen. In fact, as I demonstrate in my book, writing consists of at least 8.5 different steps. Make sure your superiors understand what you are doing. Itemize the research involved, the meetings, the re-writing. In short, help them to understand the terrific -- and terrifically detailed -- job you've been given. (This tactic can be particularly useful in justifying your fee.)
 
3) Don't just meet deadlines -- beat them. Many writers leave their work until the last minute. I call this the college-essay phenomenon. Don't be a sophomore. Schedule your writing so you get it done early and have plenty of time to double-check it. Then hand it in early. You'll look like a hero.
 
4) Use readability statistics. These tools -- which measure the readability of your writing -- are available at no cost in Windows-based versions of Word. Use your Help menu to find out how to activate them. There's a bug in later Mac-based versions of Word, however, so Mac users or others might want to try this online version instead. (Ignore the broken English as the top. The software is great.) Please note that you should aim for a grade 9 level or lower. This is not because your readers are stupid -- it's because they're pressed for time. Furthermore, simple writing won't sound immature. (This newsletter earns ratings ranging from gr. 5 to 9.) Aim for a Flesh reading ease score of 65% or higher. To improve your scores, use shorter shorter words, sentences and paragraphs.
 
5) Eliminate all unnecessary words. This advice comes from The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White. No one likes to waste time when reading non-fiction. Pretend you are going to be paid $100 for every word you can remove. Then do it.
 
Under-promise and over-deliver. Your boss or client will love you for it.
 

To receive a short article like this one each week, get on the Power Writing email list. It's free.