Reading time: Just over 1 minute Have you ever struggled with how to handle criticism of your writing? It’s really not that tough if you can build up a thickened skin… This week I had to write a difficult, sensitive letter to a professional colleague. Of course I didn’t send it without having it checked […]
How thick is your skin? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Does your website load quickly and efficiently? Can customers find you easily? If you don’t know, you might want to run your URL through Website Grader… I have a consultant working on a new page for my website. Rest assured, I wrote all the content myself. And I hired a
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute We all have unstated assumptions — things we think about ourselves and others. But when it comes to communications planning, the unstated assumptions can undo us… I met with the client this week to discuss some mailing lists. This meeting was more important than it sounds — and infinitely more
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Reading time: Less than 1 minute Donald Trump’s Iowa results carry an important message for corporate communicators — and they’re about more than just politics… I find American politics to be almost endlessly interesting. Never more so than when there are crazy, high profile candidates such as Donald Trump. I have little respect for the man,
Trump-sized expectations… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Is it worth hiring a professional proofreader? Here’s my view, if your publication is going to be printed… I’m a big believer in the value of professional proofreaders. If you’re reluctant to spend the money on one (currently somewhere between $35 and $50 per hour), let me tell you about
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Reading time: Just over 1 minute In Canada, at least, the end of journalism seems very near…. The metropolitan daily newspaper that gave me my first job as a senior editor is going to merge with its rival, it was announced this week. The Vancouver Sun will be sharing its newsroom with The Province. Similar
Is it time to say RIP for journalism? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes Have you ever considered using speech recognition software? Here’s what it can do for you… I am writing this blog post without moving my hands. That’s because I’m using speech recognition software. Here are five reasons why you might want to consider using such software, too: It allows me to write faster than
Here’s a device to help you write faster… Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute Could taking a fresh start — apart from on New Year’s Day — help you accomplish something important? Two classes I ran this week ended up being better, livelier than usual. One, for my Get it Done group, seemed friendlier and more engaged. The other, for my Extreme Writing
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Reading time: About 1 minute Is your workplace riven by conflict? Here’s a video you might want to watch… I was especially interested by a recent talk by Rochelle King (pictured above) Global VP of Design for the company Spotify, a music streaming, podcast and video service. King speaks insightfully — and entertainingly — about how conflict
Are you embracing conflict? Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Have you ever wondered where to put only, the adverb? There’s a rule for that! This week I was working on a website for a client. Things were going relatively smoothly until the boss took a phrase I’d written and moved around the word “only.” To protect confidentiality I can’t
Where to put only… Read More »