It’s a simple question, but one that can be difficult for some of my clients to answer: Who is the reader for your thought leadership? Marketers, business development professionals and subject matter experts always know what they want to write about -- digital transformation, or why companies need to do a better job of protecting … Continue reading Why you should write for a specific audience
Writing is rewriting
Last week I was writing a business proposal for work, and it took me five revisions to get it right. When I say “right,” I don’t mean it was perfect. I mean I was finally satisfied that it presented what I wanted to say, backed up with hard numbers and strong examples, in a logical … Continue reading Writing is rewriting
Get to the point already
Whenever I advocate that lawyers and marketing and business development staff write more like journalists, I evoke a blog post written by Mark Herrmann, Deputy General Counsel at Aon, a London-based global insurance company. In his post, Herrmann explains why he deletes the majority of the legal alerts he receives from big law firms: A … Continue reading Get to the point already
The importance of proofreading
Telling someone to proofread is like reminding them to eat their vegetables. Or fasten their seat belts. Or floss. It’s one of those things we all know is good for us, but sometimes we resist doing it because it takes effort, can be tedious, and requires extra time. It’s like when you’re sitting in your … Continue reading The importance of proofreading
Omit needless words
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like clutter. Stacks of dishes in the sink, piles of mail on the table, toys strewn across the living room floor. It’s a losing battle considering I have two children under age 4 and a husband who fills the top of our dresser with loose change, business … Continue reading Omit needless words
The power of active voice
Want your writing to be stronger, clearer, and more succinct? Then meet my good friend, active voice. I may sound like a late night television ad, but I can’t help it. I’m that passionate about active voice. Why? Because it’s one of the quickest ways to improve anything you write. Whenever I advocate for using … Continue reading The power of active voice
The Writing Habit 