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10 fun and inspiring quotations about writing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:00:14 GMT

For those who could use a little extra inspiration this week, here are 10 fun and inspiring quotations about writing:

1. “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”—Douglas Adams

2. “And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”—Sylvia Plath

3. “After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”—Philip Pullman

4. “Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters.”—Neil Gaiman

5. “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”—Thomas Jefferson

[RELATED: Ragan's new distance-learning site houses the most comprehensive video training library for corporate communicators.]

6. “Everybody does have a book in them, but in most cases that’s where it should stay.”—Christopher Hitchens

7. “Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.”—Ray Bradbury

8. “Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.”—Kurt Vonnegut

9. “I only achieve simplicity with enormous effort.”—Clarice Lispector

10. “I hate writing, but I love having written.”—Dorothy Parker (attributed to others, as well)

Care to share your favorite quotation about writing?

Laura Hale Brockway is an Austin-based writer and editor. Read more of her work at impertinentremarks.com.

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‘Tweet’ becomes an official word

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:58:47 GMT

It’s either a sign of progress or the mark of a decaying society, but “tweet” (as a social media term) is now officially a word.

The Oxford English Dictionary has added tweet as both a noun and a verb. The following meaning has been added to the previous bird-related definitions: “To make a posting on the social networking service Twitter. Also: to use Twitter regularly or habitually.”

John Simpson, chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, had this to say about the move in a blog post:

“The noun and verb tweet (in the social-networking sense) has just been added to the OED. This breaks at least one OED rule, namely that a new word needs to be current for ten years before consideration for inclusion. But it seems to be catching on.”

The OED had also added social-media-related entries for the words “follow” and “follower.”

[RELATED: Master the can't-ignore social media tools after Mark Ragan's one day social media boot camp.]

Other words and phrases added to the OED this year include: “flash mob,” “geekery” (in the devotion to pursuits sense), “have a cow,” “big data,” “cludgie,” and “metabolic syndrome.”

Check out the full list at the OED blog.

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Crescenzo's advice to corporate writers: 'Do less but do it better!'

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:50:00 GMT

Steve Crescenzo may be the most popular speaker in corporate communications.

He regularly is rated the top presenter at IABC.

And he speaks to standing room only audiences from Chicago to Saudia Arabia.

Now Crescenzo's advice to corporate writers and editors is on Ragan's new distance learning site—Ragan Training.

Here's what you'll learn:

- How to write headlines that will grab readers' attention and keep it;
- Tricks to streamline your approval process (and maintain your sanity);
- How to write stories for your Intranet that actually move people to take action;
- The easy (and inexpensive) way to conduct a communication audit.

Steve's presentation is one of 200+ hours of highly-rated courses now available to members of Ragan Training.

Why not become a member today?

6 AP Style rules for press releases

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:47:23 GMT

There's more to writing a press release than you might think.

Not only is there a format to follow (headline, summary, date, content, section about the company), but a set of standard procedures to adhere to—AP Style.

Read on to learn how to make sure your press releases follow commonly-held stylistic procedures.

What is AP Style?

The Associated Press (AP) has set various regulations for news publications to follow. While they aren't the only rules out there, they are the most commonly used.

The Associated Press has also set standards for press releases:

1. Set your objective in the introduction. Set your goal at the beginning of the release. If a journalist reads the first line or two of your release and doesn't find the objective, he'll toss your release and move on to the next one.

2. Cover the five Ws in the body copy. Once you have a reporter's attention, you need to deliver the pay off. Follow the five Ws to make this happen (who, what, when, where, why). In other words, make sure you give the editor all the information she needs to write a full story. Because of their tight deadlines, editors don't have time to dig deep.

3. Check your spacing. Here's where it gets a little more technical. While it may seem picky, you should only use one space after punctuation—none before. This may seem different to you, as some people like to add two spaces after punctuation.

4. Drop that extra comma. When you list items in a series, you typically have the option to use a comma before that last "and." For example:

I ate bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate.

I ate bananas, peanut butter and chocolate.

When you follow AP Style, drop that last comma. I like that last comma, but I've made myself stop using it in press releases.

5. Use full names and titles only when you introduce someone. When you first introduce someone, like a CEO, in your release, give his or her full name and title. But don't keep doing so, as it will prove superfluous and make your writing sound clunky. After the introduction, simply use the last name.

6. Get numbers right. AP Style rules for numbers are a bit tricky. Spell out numbers one through nine. After that, use numerals like "10." Also use numbers for dates, and abbreviate months with more than five letters.

AP Style is important for PR

Yes, it seems trivial. Who cares if you get all the little intricacies correct?

Editors care.

And since you want them to pick up your stories, you need to play by their rules.

[RELATED: Hear how top companies adapted to digital PR industry changes.]

Do you format your press releases for AP Style?

Mickie Kennedy is the CEO and founder of eReleases and blogs at PR Fuel, where a version of this article originally appeared.

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The real reason writers write?

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:45:10 GMT

Each week, Evan Peterson rounds up five stories from across the Web that scribes of all stripes should check out.

Professional writers write for money. At least that’s been the case through the ages. The Internet—for all its greatness in opening platforms and making more opportunities available—has limited pros’ ability to make a living. As one article stated this week, most digital writing is not done for attention or money; it’s just a way to talk to someone.

We’ll also explore the use of sense memory in writing, the new creative lexicon, and more:

Writing to talk: One of the worst things about the Internet for professional or aspiring authors, poets, playwrights, and other scribes is that it has made everyone a “writer.” The glut of Facebook posts, tweets, and blog posts has lessened the need for anyone to pay anyone to write. Still, the Internet has been great for those who just want someone to listen—which is basically the stuff that fills up your Facebook wall. Noah Berlatsky writes for The Atlantic about why social media scribes are the modern-day letter writers.

"Letters used to be private—not so much, as it turns out, because the writers wanted privacy as because there simply was not the mechanism to make them more public. "

Fear as a muse: Actors often call upon sense memory to do their job. What about writers? The inspiration for an article or blog post might just be another article or blog post, but novelist Sarah Jio writes in The New York Times about the experience she recalls every time she has to write a frightening scene, and how valuable emotions from personal experience can be:

"I’ve learned that tapping into the hard stuff—whether it’s the fear of loss or a boogeyman lurking in childhood memories—is what ultimately gives a story the power to leap off the page and grab you by the collar."

Storytelling is a skill: Everyone recognizes that people like stories. So much so that "storytelling" is in danger of becoming more of a marketing term than a communication device. Not everyone is good at it, and the ones who are proficient don’t necessarily lead more interesting lives. As Refe Tuma writes in this piece for Medium:

"Interesting people often lead surprisingly ordinary lives, but they are not ordinary. What sets them apart is their ability to tell a good story."

[RELATED: Learn the 7 elements of storytelling with video at this one day video boot camp.]

Creativity from A to Z: Speaking of marketing buzzwords, a group from BBH Labs has published a book called “ABCs of Contemporary Creatives” that taps each letter of the alphabet for a term that is often applied to creative projects. Each letter has an impressive illustration by a well-known artist. It might just be fun to look at, but as writers, you’ll want to speak the language of creatives, right?

How do you write? Biographies and inspirations are things that many readers want to know about their favorite writers. It helps explain why George Orwell’s "Why I Write" is one of his most famous essays. The Dangerous Minds blog examines Orwell’s story, featuring an interesting video montage in which writers from several disciplines discuss the things they’ve learned about writing. Malcolm Gladwell, Joan Didion, and Jonathan Franzen, among others, are featured.

Evan Peterson is a writer based in Chicago, and the editor of OpenMarkets magazine at CME Group. He's on Twitter at @evanmpeterson.

NAVY STOPS COMMUNICATING IN ALL CAPS

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:53:41 GMT

Since the 1850s, every message and order from the U.S. Navy LOOKED LIKE THIS.

No more, according to The Wall Street Journal, which in its article about the Navy's change (from all-caps communications to mixed-case text) got cute and used all caps, a headache that Ragan.com will spare its readers. (The headline will suffice, thank you.)

Way back when, the Navy sent orders and other messages in all caps out of necessity; teletype machines simply didn't have lowercase letters. Tradition, a staple in the Navy, has kept them that way.

[RELATED: Ragan's new distance-learning site houses the most comprehensive video training library for corporate communicators.]

So, why the change? Using nothing but capital letters in a message has taken on a whole new meaning. Young sailors who are texting and social-media savvy see all-caps messages as akin to shouting, and though they're undoubtedly accustomed to hearing raised voices daily, it's probably a good idea for them not to be reading orders as if they were being screamed at.

The Navy wants its messages to be "more readable and less rude," the Journal's Julian E. Barnes wrote, though officials also want to stress that this isn't a sign of the Navy's "going soft."

The branch hopes other branches of the military follow its lead. Lots of Army messages are still in all caps, the Journal reports.

The change also saves the Navy money. Its new messaging system, which goes online next month, will save the service $15 million a year, officials said. It won't filter through to all Navy messaging systems until 2015, however, so some text-based screaming will be necessary over the next few years.

What's next? Press release subject lines? Newspaper story slugs?

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The 5 most popular stories on PR Daily this week

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:48:24 GMT

Here are the five most widely read stories this week on PR Daily:

20 pieces of advice every young professional should follow

What 9 Internet trends mean for PR

The best—and worst—times to post to social media

9 non-PR skills every PR professional needs

Marketing agencies will disappear in 10 years, study says

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Improve your business blog by reading more

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:46:40 GMT

Whenever I ask someone how to improve my writing, the answer is usually to read more.

I agree with this advice, yet I often wonder how to go about it. How does reading improve your writing? Does it happen at a subconscious level, or are special reading techniques required?

I found the answer in Daphne Gray-Grant's book “8-1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better.” The book is an excellent primer that teaches you how to write. Gray-Grant is the publication coach who adapts journalism and time-management techniques to help clients improve their writing.

A former journalist, Gray-Grant asserts that the problem is that no one ever taught us how to write. Sure, we wrote essays at university, received grades, and feedback. However, no one ever showed us how to tackle our writing using an effective plan. Gray-Grant goes on to outline an approach every writer can use, whether you want to write a better business blog or you’re drafting a complex nonfiction book.

The keys to successful writing, Gray-Grant says, include planning, research, thinking, determining the “lede” or "angle" for your story, research, writing, revising, and editing. I learned a lot from the book and keep it by my side as I plan my weekly blog posts.

Read passionately and mindfully

One of the most interesting parts of the book is Gray-Grant's suggestion for using reading to be a better writer. She doesn't just advocate what she calls "regular reading." Nope, if you want to write a better business blog you need to "read mindfully and passionately."

Gray-Grant recommends you read like a passionate artist, caring about what the author is saying and how she says it. She offers some specific suggestions for mindful reading. First, ask yourself what it is that makes you like a particular piece of writing. Conversely, examine writing you dislike. Identifying what not to do is as important as identifying what you want to do. By reading writing you don't like, you'll discover flaws to avoid in your own.

[RELATED: Ragan's new distance-learning site houses the most comprehensive video training library for corporate communicators.]

Read widely to be a better writer

Gray-Grant also advises writers to read widely. Business people should not restrict themselves to the newspaper or books on leadership. Branch out into areas such as fiction, short stories, essays, and even self-help books. It's also important to read outside your field in order to encourage your mind to work in a different way.

Questions to ask when reading

Once you've figured out what you like about a piece of writing, dig deeper by asking yourself these 5 questions:

1. What is the basic architecture of the piece?

Does the author present information chronologically? Or in the order of importance? Or in some other way?

2. What kinds of words does the author use?

Are the words short, long, obscure, common, formal, or casual?

3. How is description handled?

Is description based on metaphors or description? If the former, what kinds of metaphors? Do they have a common theme? Do they invoke your sense of sight, sound, taste, smell or touch?

4. How long are the sentences?

Count the number of words in a typical sentence. Are sentences structured in a straightforward fashion? Or do they tend to be more complex?

5. How are transitions handled?

How does the writer lead you from one paragraph to the next? What transitional words—and, therefore, but—are used?

You can ask many more questions about a piece of writing. If you love reading as much as I do, you won't want to spoil all the fun by asking too many. Gray-Grant suggests analyzing and focusing on one chapter in a work you particularly enjoy.

Of course, there are many other ways to improve your writing, but I certainly can’t think of a more enjoyable way than reading.

A version of this story originally appeared on Polaris Public Relations' blog, Polaris B.

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8 guidelines for a great blog

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:47:25 GMT

If you're not confident in your writing skills, can you still be a great blogger?

Let's be honest. Good writing matters. But there are a few simple ideas any one can learn to dramatically improve the quality of their blog posts.

Let's take a look at a few tricks of the trade that are explored in detail in a new book I've co-authored with Stanford Smith called "Born to Blog":

Read it out loud

"I feel like you're talking to me."

That's common feedback I receive about my books and blog posts. If you can't write, you can still talk, right? I suggest that you literally read your blog posts aloud before publishing. If something does not roll off the tongue in a natural and conversational way, change it.

Cut, cut, cut

The biggest problem I see in the guest posts I receive is that they are far too wordy. Eliminate every word and sentence that does not move the story along. If your post is more than 1,000 words that is a sure danger sign.

[RELATED: Master the can't-ignore social media tools after Mark Ragan's one day social media boot camp.]

Write upside down

In school and at work, we are taught to write linearly—with a beginning, a middle, and an end. That usually does not work in the blogging world, because people don't have the patience to wait for your conclusion. Start with the conclusion, and then explain it. I see too many posts that do not get to the guts of the issue until you are one-third down the page.

The beginning matters

Spend time creating an accurate, interesting headline. If your headline does not compel people to "click," they will never even get to the blog post. Create an opening sentence that grabs people by the throat and makes them read what you have to say.

Get another view

Do you have a close friend or family member who can write? Why not at least run posts by them for a few weeks to help you improve?

Don't just write; rewrite

Here's a simple but magical trick I've learned to be a better writer. Let it sit a few days.

I don't know how or why, but I might think something is really great, yet when I return to it after a few days I see so many obvious ways it can be improved.

I rarely "crank out" a blog post. They usually gestate a few days, sometimes even a few weeks.

This a gentle art, though. You can't let it sit there until it is "perfect," because that will never happen. At the end of the day, the most important characteristic of a successful blogger is having the courage to push that publish button.

Get help

I do not enjoy auto mechanics. So, I hire a professional who can get the job done right at a fraction of the cost and time compared with my trying to hack through a repair.

If you don't enjoy writing, you're going to suck at blogging. But maybe you still have a desire or a legitimate business reason to blog. I think it is a perfectly viable option to hire a professional writer to help you. Provide a purpose statement for a blog post and three or four key bullet points, and let a professional work his or her magic.

Start

You cannot become a great blog writer in one day, in one week, or one month. It takes experience and practice. You will get better, faster, and more effective over time as you find "your voice," get feedback from your community, and figure out your own system. Starting is the hardest part, but to become a competent writer, there is no choice.

I'm 100 percent convinced that almost anybody can be a successful blogger with the right framework, dedication and attitude. I hope these insider tricks help and that you take the leap.

What tips and tricks would you add to help a beginner blogger?

A version of this article first appeared on Mark Schaefer's {grow}.

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Peculiar practices of prominent writers

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:46:56 GMT

Agatha Christie did it in the tub. James Joyce wore a white coat while he did it. And Edgar Allan Poe did it as his cat looked on.

Minds out of the gutter, people—we’re talking writing habits here.

Celia Blue Johnson’s new book, “Odd Type Writers,” explores the “obsessive habits and quirky techniques of great authors.”

Blue recently highlighted a few writers and their habits for the Huffington Post.

[RELATED: Ragan's new distance-learning site houses the most comprehensive video training library for corporate communicators.]

Some of those habits—like Friedrich Schiller’s penchant for rotting apple stench—are downright gross.

Blue writes:

“… some of the greatest literary minds of all time came up with techniques that were as inventive as their own fiction. There's clearly no formula for composing masterpieces. Rather, it seems that the path to literary fame is paved with one's own eccentricities.”

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13 job openings in the PR and marketing world

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:48:16 GMT

At my grandmother’s house, there were two things we, as children, never touched: anything in the china cabinet and her “Bible.”

Of course, by “Bible,” I mean her TV Guide.

As her only means of tracking any and all college sports that might be showing—this was before social media, mind you—while simultaneously attempting to entertain, my grandma didn’t leave the couch without slipping the handy guide into the pocket of her housecoat.

Still bearing the weight of similar small-screen surfers today, TV Guide Magazine is turning to a new public relations manager who can handles matters of various media introductions and outreach, as well as working with editorial on breaking news and other reporting.

For more details, put down the clicker for a moment and click here instead.

Not the job for you? See what else we have in our weekly professional pickings:

Public relations manager—McDonald’s

Public affairs representative—Chevron

Campaign manager—The Hollywood Reporter

Marketing specialist—Canon

Account executive, consumer PR—Matter Communications

Copywriter—Ancestory.com

Corporate communications manager—Starz

Marketing intern—CBS Outdoor

Senior communications specialist—WebMD

Director of analytics—R/GA

Original content producer—Yahoo

Director of communications—Prolanthropy

If you have a job you would like to see highlighted on PR Daily, please email me or send me a message on Twitter @iquotesometimes.

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Hey, communicators, let’s play, ‘Would you rather…’

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:46:00 GMT

Last week my kids were playing “would you rather” in the back seat of the car. For those who’ve never played, it’s a party game that poses a question beginning with, “Would you rather…”

It can be a choice between two good options or a true dilemma—one involving two equally unattractive options. Answering “neither” or “both” is against the rules.

With my kids, their questions mostly involved superpowers (Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?); eating things (Would you rather eat a rotten egg or stinky cheese?); and school activities (Would you rather go to phys-ed all day, or have recess all day?).

[RELATED: Link creative communications to the goals of your organization with this one-day workshop.]

Listening to their game got me thinking about “would you rather” questions for corporate communications professionals. So, PR Daily readers, would you rather …

• … go to that late-afternoon meeting on 401K investment options, or go to the dentist and have a cavity filled?

• … listen to a presentation filled with words such as “synergize,” “leverage,” and “implement,” or clean out the company refrigerator?

• … read a blog laden with clichés such as “kick it up a notch,” or “leverage cutting-edge technologies,” ask the IT department for help with your computer?

• … submit to big-brotherish health assessments at the office, or have your health insurance premiums increase?

• … write the CEO’s message for the annual report, or edit the annual report message that the CEO wrote?

• … explain Google Analytics data to your CEO, or edit an article written that the corporate attorney wrote?

• … write the in-house company style guide, or be responsible for enforcing the in-house company style guide?

• … have your mom read everything you write, or have your favorite J-school professor read everything you write?

• … work with a client who refuses to use social media, or work with a client who only wants to use social media?

• … debate a co-worker about the serial comma, or debate a co-worker about the proper use of hyphens?

• … write your next article with a pen or a typewriter?

• … be without Google Search for one day, or be without Facebook for one day?

• … dance in front of your co-workers at the company holiday party, or play softball in front of your co-workers at the company picnic?

• … teach spelling to first-graders, or teach spelling to accountants?

• … take the three-hour tour, or be stuck on the island?

PR Daily readers, any other “would you rather” scenarios you’d like to share?

Laura Hale Brockway is from Austin, Texas. She is the author of the writing/editing/random thoughts blog, Impertinent Remarks. And she would rather be stuck on the island!

Is it ever too late to become a writer?

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:47:10 GMT

Each week, Evan Peterson rounds up five stories from across the Web that scribes of all stripes should check out.

There are lessons to be learned from reading all kinds of writing. This week there were a few stories that focused on this idea, including how reading can turn a person into a writer at any stage of life and what we can learn from a 90-year-old novel.

Also, the proper use of "blog," well-crafted TV characters, and suicide notes as literature.

Changing careers to write: This piece from The Huffington Post is from a 54-year-old former accountant who recently decided to become a writer. It's a nice chronicle of how reading can inspire people to become writers, but it might also be an illustration of the few times in life where we have the right mix of inspiration and possible lack of regard for financial security that are necessary to becoming a writer.

The best writing lesson from “The Great Gatsby”: Between the recent movie version out and it being one of the top-selling books in America again, now is a good time to review what writers can learn from F. Scott Fitzgerald's popular story. Roy Peter Clark at Poynter.org concludes that, for any kind of writer, story construction and sticking to a strategy helped Fitzgerald complete his Great American Novel. The lesson he extracts can be adapted, whether you're writing novels or blog posts.

RELATED: What ‘The Great Gatsby’ can teach us about PR

Writing blogs: Ben Yagoda writes about why it makes no sense to call a blog post a “blog.” It's something people do now, but that doesn't mean it has to stay. Yagoda mentions a few other phrases that either are used incorrectly or need revision. The term “post” might even need an update because, as Yagoda writes, blogs have morphed to become more like online magazines, and there's no longer a stark difference between the two.

Tweaking TV characters: I found this story because the headline references “Breaking Bad” and its creator Vince Gilligan. But the lesson from it is buried deeper. On a recent panel of TV show runners, several, including Gilligan, talked about changing the way major characters are viewed and how it determined success for the show. The same ideas about television could be applied to nonfiction writing. Your audience sees a subject through the words, phrasing, and story construction you choose. It's worth tweaking the central idea to make sure they see it the way you want them to. Good examples in this piece from “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “The New Girl.”

RELATED: 8 PR lessons from ‘The Office’

A class on suicide notes: A pop-up school in New York decided to examine a different kind of writing workshop in which students considered why suicide notes are written, and they even practiced writing their final farewells. The teacher called the notes "moving, strange, harrowing, and peculiar literature.” It seems an odd way to practice writing, but as you'll see, there are many forms writing can take and, above all, authors have to find their voice.

RELATED: Learn the 7 elements of storytelling with video at this one day video boot camp.

Evan Peterson is a writer based in Chicago, and the editor of OpenMarkets magazine at CME Group. He's on Twitter at @evanmpeterson.

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The 5 most popular stories on PR Daily this week

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:48:24 GMT

Here are the five most widely read stories this week on PR Daily:

13 books every PR pro should read

The essentials for finding and using image online

5 tips to enhance social media content

30 most overused buzzwords in digital marketing

Storytelling isn't going anywhere

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A history of typefaces

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:46:18 GMT

Unless you ply your trade in the graphic arts, chances are you tend to ignore typeface (unless it’s Comic Sans … everyone loves to hate on Comic Sans).

A new infographic from Mashable highlights the evolution of the western typeface—from the beginning of printed language to fonts on movie posters.

And yes, Comic Sans makes an appearance, as its inception in 1994 by Vincent Connare for Microsoft has sparked so much derision.

RELATED: 12 most overused fonts that can damage your brand

Check out the rest of the infographic here: