Words on the Page

Open Thread: What’s Part of Your Job Do You Like Least?

Posted on by lwidmer

How was the weekend? Mine was decent enough. It rained like mad here on Saturday, but it was needed. I did manage to get out and get groceries before we headed to New Jersey for meditation. Let me tell you, hauling groceries around in the rain is the fastest way to kill a good mood….

Thoughtless Marketing

Posted on by lwidmer

Great webinar last night! Thanks to all participants for attending the Trade Magazine webinar, and for the lively discussions! If you missed it, fear not! The discussion continues over on the Five Buck Writer’s Forum. For the price of a caramel macchiato, you can become a forum member. As I was arranging meetings for the…

Questionable Phrases

Posted on by lwidmer

Good day yesterday — I put out a lot of feelers for the upcoming trade show and received a lot of positive response. My calendar is filling up, and I’ve decided to attend as many cocktail events as possible. That’s where the real mingling happens. I worked with a client yesterday who started the conversation…

More Freelance Truths

Posted on by lwidmer

Nice day yesterday. I spent a good deal of time contacting conference attendees to get some meetings lined up. Progress is good, and I expect to have a full calendar soon. I did get one weird response to my letter of inquiry — the marketing person, who obviously hadn’t read my note, said she’d never…

Why Writers Need a Website

Posted on by lwidmer

Happy Spring! Yesterday was one of those glorious days where winter was nowhere to be found. Ironically, that’s pretty much how winter was here this year, so it was no surprise to have 78 degrees, blazing sunshine, and daffodils gleaming in the sun. Oh yes, I played hookie. I did some writing on a manuscript…

Return to Reality

Posted on by lwidmer

There’s something about the anticipation of an event that sends you into this other-worldly state. That’s how it was for me this year with St. Patrick’s Day. Having had several wonderful celebrations at my favorite pub, I expected no less this year. Let’s just say there are several factors that go into creating a wonderful…

Writerly Resources

Posted on by lwidmer

Had a fantastic webinar session yesterday! We covered a lot of ground, and there’s a lot more to cover in our next session. It’s not too late for you to join — we recorded this session, and we’ll have handouts at the end. Oh, happy day! Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year (Faith…

What We Don’t Do — Redux

Posted on by lwidmer

Good day yesterday. I negotiated a fair contract with a new client and I turned down a client project that I simply don’t have time or energy for. I got a few appointments lined up for the upcoming trade show, and I started on the new client project. It was a glorious, sunny day, so…

There’s Still Time: Trade Writing Webinar Registration

Posted on by lwidmer

Last chance to get on board! We’ve added six more spots for the Trade Magazine Webinar. Register for the two-session 31 Days to Trade Magazine Profits webinar for just just $99 for both sessions. Plus you get a free month of membership in the Five Buck Forum. Hurry! The webinar series begins this Thursday! Click…

Marketing 365: Your Monthly Strategy

Posted on by lwidmer

Yesterday was a mishmash of fits and stresses — not that anyone blatantly conspired to do so, but it seemed like most (not all) communications were laced with interruptions, technical glitches, miscommunication, confusion, you name it. I see my role in it — in one case, I didn’t read the slews of emails from every…

Cathy Miller

I created a list of Power Words. You can find more lists online. Periodically, I pull out the list. Even if I don't use words from the list, it's great for getting the creative juices flowing.

I have my list in my Free stuff on my website if anyone wants to download it.

Paula

Interesting timing, Lori. Yesterday I found two promising new trade pubs and a new custom title I wanted to hit up with LOIs. By the second one I realized I was using very similar sentences in letters two very different publications in two extremely different industries, so I changed it up. A lot. I didn't simply tailor my experience and clips to fit each market, I shook up the structure, wording and voice while retaining the basic information every LOI needs.

If nothing else, it kept me interested in writing the letters, and with any luck that energy will come through to the recipients.

I tell you, revamping résumés sure gives one a new appreciation for verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

Jake P

Oh, man. I edited a site last week that required almost every single tweak on this list. He's a Haley's client (comes around once every 80 yrs), but a guy I really like, so I helped him out the best I could within the 72-hr timeframe he gave me. But I still threw up in my mouth a little when I saw the beta yesterday.

Wendy

Can I just say you should go casual in most cases? I've seen statements that are great standing alone. But the person writing it, apparently, isn't satisfied with the result, so they over-dress it. Now it's ruined. Do you really need the 5 exclamation points to get the message across? Is it necessary to scream it out with all caps? Think of those things.

Anne Wayman

feeling swamped today and my first thought was "I don't wanna learn new verbs."

So breathe, Anne. Love the idea of one tip a month… great idea.

and great tips here too.

Lori

Great resource, Cathy! Thank you for sharing it. Post the link here if you want.

It sure does, Paula! I remember having a "cheat sheet" of adjectives at the beginning of my resume-writing experience. Even then you tend to use the same ones. We just get comfortable with certain words.

Get a drink, Jake. LOL I have a Haley's client or two myself (and they both showed up recently). When I'd work on their projects, I'd shout to the monitor "Stop it with the friggin' cliches!" Didn't work. The monitor didn't care.

Wendy, amen! Why use a $20 word when a 50 cent one will do and won't confuse the heck out of everyone?

Anne, I can almost hear the foot stomp. 🙂 Just change up one word. That's easy, right?

Cathy Miller

Here's the link for the pdf list of Power Words. Thanks, Lori.

Power Words

Lori

Thanks, Cathy!

Anne Maclachlan

Some of the best writing advice I've heard (aside from here, of course) comes from writer Ray Strait, who told us "Straitjackets" during his conference classes to "avoid 'said, was, did'."

I've found that counsel to be invaluable. It works for fiction, ad copy, and nearly everything else.

Lori

Ooo, that's intriguing, Anne! I use "said" because I think it doesn't overwhelm the copy. Having had a client go 12 rounds of edits with me over different ways to say "said", I grew fond of the simplicity of it. LOL

Paula

I'd wager that most readers find "said" to be nearly invisible, like "the" or "of."

One editor I work with now and then seems to detest "said," and goes overboard in finding replacements. It's laughable. When I sit down to read the published copy I start by guessing which words she'll use this time. "He exclaimed," might work in fiction, but not in a business article.

I still try to mix it up a little, when appropriate. In really short, single source stories, I drop all but one or two "saids" anyway, since there's only one person being quoted.