Postconsumers reports:
"A haiku, just in case you’ve never heard of it, is a form of Japanese poetry that has a strict syllable count per line. The first line is five syllables, the second is seven syllables and the third is again five syllables...You may be asking, 'How does knowing what a haiku is help me find satisfaction in my daily life?' Believe it or not, there’s been research done and it’s often suggested that the process of writing haiku can be both calming and therapeutic, and additionally the simplified nature that you must put a concept into in order to put it into the form of a haiku helps you to see the simple core of both the beautiful and the difficult things in your life. As one advocate of haiku therapy wrote, 'I found that the more I wrote, the simpler life’s dilemmas became.' There are many forms of writing therapy that you can find satisfaction in. However, many people enjoy the form of haiku because it can be either emotional and lovely or funny and humorous. Additionally, the structure of haiku as we mentioned is an appealing and calming process. The next time you think you need to go buy more stuff or turn on bad TV, write a haiku about how silly that could be. Then see if you still want to do it! Go out and write a haiku today. Write about anything! Write a haiku about what you ate for breakfast or the frustrating people on the street! Once you start, you’ll want to haiku like we do, all the time!" Carrie Lynn Lewis reports:
"Writers are like Olympic athletes. Some are decathletes, able to do well and succeed in events as varied as the long jump, the pole vault, and the hundred[-]yard dash. Others are single[-]event specialists who can run a sparkling dash, but don’t do pole vaulting or steeplechasing. Whichever camp you fall into, be the best you can be...Many successful authors have written in multiple genres. Who, you ask? Here are a few whose names you might recognize.
Bill Stoller reports:
"When the recipient of a press release focuses only on its content -- and not on its creation -- the writer has succeeded. With that in mind, here's how to develop a style that can help give you a big edge in placing your press releases...The folks who write wire copy for the Associated Press are masters at presenting information without calling attention to themselves...Examine their choice of words and sentence structure (typically, they choose the simplest way of saying things) and their overall tone of solid objectivity. This is the style to which you should aspire...The lead paragraph in a press release should, theoretically, be able to stand alone as a news item. A standard news lead answers the Five W's -- Who? What? Where? When? Why? Successfully answer those five questions in one paragraph and you've summarized everything beautifully...Remember this: [I]n almost every release that's successful, what put it over the top was the answer to 'Why?'. You must make plain the significance of your news by answering that question succinctly and without hype!...Perhaps it's a silly convention, but press releases really should be written as if they're coming from an objective outsider to your company, not from within your business. Of course, the journalist knows better, but nonetheless, they expect releases to be written in the third person...Never flatly state an opinion. If you want to state an opinion or...make a claim, always attribute it to a representative of the company (which very well may end up to be you!). Anything apart from entirely factual info (dates, store availability, product features, biographical information, etc.) should be attributed. Again, the best way to get a feel for this is to read wire copy. Start sorting out the things a reporter feels comfortable including without attribution and things for which he uses a named source...On the first day of Journalism 101, aspiring scribes learn about the Inverted Pyramid. Basically, it's [a] way of organizing information so that the most important information is at the top -- the widest part of the Inverted Pyramid -- and, as you funnel down to the narrowest point, the information becomes less and less vital. There's a good reason for this: [I]f a reporter's 10[-]paragraph story gets cut to 6 paragraphs because of space considerations, the reader will still be informed of the most important news. What's cut will be background, quotes and other nonessential material. When writing a press release, the Inverted Pyramid is equally important. First, it's the style the journalist is comfortable with and second[ly], it assures that even if a rushed reporter can only read the first couple of paragraphs, she'll get enough info to decide whether to use the release or not. If you bury the best part of your release in the fourth paragraph, the recipient may never make it that far...A 'stopper' is something that will stop a journalist in her tracks and distract her attention. Once that happens, your release is toast. The point of your press release: to present information in the least obtrusive way possible. Consider it this way: [T]he journalist isn't dumb -- she knows full well that you've sent her the press release for purely commercial reasons, hoping to get publicity that will make you more money. She can live with that as long as [a] there's something in it for her (a good story) and [b] she's not reminded of your commercial desires too often. A 'stopper' breaks the suspension of disbelief needed for this little dance to be successful. It's the boom mike showing up in the frame of a movie -- once you've seen it, it's hard to convince yourself that you're really experiencing something that happened during, say, the Middle Ages...Journalists keep their language pretty simple. Long words, compound sentences and lofty, pretentious phrases are no-no's. Keep your sentences short. Don't try to present more than one idea in a paragraph. Avoid words you wouldn't use in everyday circumstances...Confusing press release copy with advertising copy is a pervasive problem with businesspeople. Don't call yourself the greatest, the hottest, the coolest, the most unique or anything of the sort. If you must make a claim of superiority for your product, service or company, attribute it. Acme President Joe Blow said the X100 'has the opportunity to revolutionize the industry' is much better than The revolutionary Acme X100 is the greatest industrial advance since the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk...[Don't include] TM or copyright symbols that scream, '[H]ey, check me out! I'm a press release! I come from a business! The legal department made me include this stuff!' The bottom line: [W]rite like a journalist, avoid the stoppers and answer the Five W's and you'll succeed!" Jennifer Parris reports (sample letter included):
"As part of your job search strategy, you should consider writing letters of inquiry to companies you’d like to work for. Much like the name connotes, a letter of inquiry (also known as a letter of interest) is a professional way of reaching out to a potential employer to establish a connection when they haven’t advertised any job openings you’d be a match for. The benefit of a letter of inquiry is that it puts your qualifications and accomplishments in the spotlight. But if writing a letter of inquiry has got you groaning, don’t worry...Since taking the time to write a letter of inquiry is time-consuming, the last thing you want is for it to get tossed in the trash before even being read. That’s why you should look for a good contact to send it to. Go through your network first (check out your LinkedIn, as well as other former colleagues and bosses) to see if you already have a connection at the company. If not, you should address the letter of inquiry to a management-level contact who would in theory be your boss should you be hired. Another option is to send it to an HR director if you can’t track down any other solid leads. Under no circumstances, though, should you blindly send your letter of inquiry to a company and address it 'Dear Sir' or 'To Whom It May Concern.'...Remember, you’re not applying for a real job, so your letter of inquiry should not be a regurgitation of your resume or mimic a traditional cover letter. Brevity is the hallmark of a letter of inquiry, so make sure to include the reason you’re contacting the company (i.e., why working for that particular company would mean so much to you), as well as the skills and work experience that would make you an asset to their organization...Since you’re looking for a flexible job (one that allows you to work remotely or perhaps to get hired for freelance assignments), it’s a smart move to mention this in your letter of inquiry. After all, an employer might not be hiring full-timers, but could be on the lookout for contract workers for special on-occasion assignments. Putting your flexible work needs out there might make the difference in getting called in for a job interview!...Sure, almost everything is done online today, including applying for jobs. With a letter of inquiry, though, it can be in your best interest to send in an actual letter along with a printed copy of your resume. The chances of it being read are higher and give your letter a better impression upon a potential boss. Sending in an emailed letter of inquiry could be deleted more easily and without much thought...A letter of inquiry can be a great way to establish a connection with a company that you’d like to work for. It can put you on a company’s radar—and put your resume at the top of the hiring pile, too." John Csiszar reports:
"A business shareholder letter is your chance to communicate directly with your investors. While not a legal requirement, it's usually expected to accompany an annual report. The letter is a chance to give your investors a view of your business straight from your pen...In a nutshell, you should tell your shareholders where you've been, where you're going and why they should be optimistic for the future...Keep expectations reasonable. Your executive career can wind up being short-lived if you constantly promise the world to your shareholders and don't deliver. A key step in attracting and retaining investment support is to make shareholders feel good about owning your stock. If you under-promise in your annual letter, you have the chance to over-deliver with actual results, leaving shareholders feeling good about their investments...Give credit where credit is due. If you're the sole director or manager of your company, you can take credit for the successes of the business. However, if your business has grown to the point where you share the workload with board members or fellow executives, tip your hat to them in your annual letter to let them know they are appreciated...Remind investors how your business operates. If you're a successful business owner, you likely live and breathe your business. Even your most devoted shareholder likely does not. Refresh the memory of anyone reading your letter as to how your business functions, what its purpose is and how it succeeds...Use your letter as an opportunity to list the notable achievements of your company. Justify shareholder interest and value by shining a bright light on your most noteworthy successes...Describe any shortcomings or failures candidly...Address your problems and concerns headlong. Take the opportunity to explain what went wrong and why -- and most importantly, what steps you are taking to prevent such problems in the future...Give your shareholders a taste of your personality. A business shareholder letter is one of the few places where investors can get a real feel for the person running their company. Numbers and charts showing corporate profits are great, but personal outreach to shareholders can help foster a sense of support and devotion that can keep investors engaged for the long haul." Darren Woollard reports:
"The warehouse operation plays a significant role in the advancement of any company. It is important that warehouses employ strategy to ensure an efficient operation and ultimately business success. A warehouse strategy involves many important decisions such as the investment and operation costs that make up the logistics overhead...Begin creating a strategic plan for your warehouse by looking at your current warehouse function...Create an accurate sketch of your warehouse building and floor plan. Make sure it is to scale so you can maintain accuracy. Manually confirm the drawing by looking at the warehouse floor. Record all equipment in your warehouse. Write down processes and staff responsibilities in each section of your warehouse. Look at the procedures you have in place and then actually what is happening on the warehouse floor...Interview your employees to get the big picture of operations in your warehouse. Use observation and interviewing to find out the processes being used by staff. This first step involves documenting your building, equipment, items and processes. You cannot make improvements until you have reported on what is going on...Consider organising [sic] items based on their material handling and storage traits. When estimating your inventory requirements[,] think about seasonality and high[-]selling products. Use previous data on inventory turnover to make accurate estimates...Where can you improve your warehouse operation? Look at the notes for your existing operation for analysis. Seek out critical areas for improvement. Perhaps you need to upgrade your infrastructure to house certain products. Look at your warehouse facilities, processes and the equipment you are using. Search for the most efficient and practical solutions to any weaknesses in your operation...If things aren’t working out[,] then think of new solutions to these problems. You may need to consider how to improve your warehouse facility, the equipment and staff processes. Find any way you are able to erase flaws in the way things are run...Evaluate your new plans [including tax, time value of money, total operational costs, staff safety, adjusting to changes, ease of managing the new plan and possibility of inventory damage]...After making a financial and qualitative assessment, you are ready to draft an official master strategy for your warehouse. This should include the following items:
Paperless Proposal reports:
"Whether you are new to the world of business or a seasoned veteran, in order to raise investment capital for your new business, you must develop a business proposal for investors...If you want your business to get off the ground, you will need a killer business proposal to impress investors...A business proposal is a written document that is sent or presented to investors to propose the outline for your business concept and how it will make money...When tailoring a business proposal to investors, the return on their investment will always be the first and foremost concern. 'Wow' them with your pitch of how your proposed company will make money for you and for them...Just as your business needs a plan, you must plan prior to crafting your actual business proposal. Sketch an outline, make spreadsheets, and study other business proposals...Copying other proposals will not afford you any opportunities with investors...[T]he investors you choose to present to should be relevant for your business...Have a detailed understanding of your own business, as well as your competitors and the market as a whole. Conduct research on the industry you are trying to enter. Plan each detail of your proposal carefully. Your research is the foundation for trust between you and potential investors...Lastly, develop an expectation based on your business of what kind of investments you will be looking to acquire. Knowing how to ask for what you want begins with knowing what you want and why...Develop a flawless plan that will represent your business adequately and extraordinarily...Let your writing be led by the focus and intention of returning investors’ money back to them through your business. Use this concept as a perspective to answering the investors’ questions before they can ask: How will I make my money back? How much more will I make?...Begin with a brief – 2[-] to 5[-]page – profile of your business. This will be a summary of the entire proposal that covers all of the pressing questions...[A company overview] is particularly relevant if your business is already in operation. If it isn’t, you may give a brief snapshot of the company structure, financial tree, various products or services offered, and any important company history that may concern or interest investors (e.g.: acquisitions, mergers, etc.)...Once you have expressed what your products and services are, delineate the following critical information...What is your current inventory / future proposed inventory? What are your production costs per item? Is there potential to lower these costs and what are the consequences of doing so? What is the retail price of your product or service and how did you come to this price? Is it relative to comparable products? Is it one of a kind? Provide a sales forecast that is realistically derived from past sales or market research for the next 3 to 5 years based on your current business plan. Who are your suppliers and what are their credit terms? Where are your suppliers located? Have you worked with different suppliers in the past? Use of Funds? As previously stated, describe how investors’ money will be used to [jump-start] your business. It is wise to seek investors for your next course of action only. Not your 5-year action plan...Investors will want to know and possibly weigh in on your plan for their money...[B]e sure to begin with the most important information and keep your proposal and presentation brief when including these factors suggested by investors and business people alike...[Researching competitors and your industry includes the following:] The company’s management and staff; why they are in the position they are in; what qualifies them for this position? Owners and shares of the proposed business equipment, facilities, and technology currently being used, as well as future additions that may need to be made...It comes on high recommendation that you prepare to answer the obvious questions investors will have at the end of your pitch including how their investment will be monetized, which may include licensing agreements and strategizing a sale of your company to another, larger company." The Pen & The Pad reports:
"One[-]act plays are short plays, but complete stories. They are plays that take place in only one scene and are generally less than an hour long. Choose a subject to cover in a brief one[-]scene act play. A short story works best. Remember to give the one[-]act play the necessary plot, action and characters to make it a complete story. Research other one[-]act plays to get ideas and inspiration for yours. Develop the action first, then compose the dialog[ue] before you decide anything else. Keep the plot simple for a one[-]act play and it should move consistently throughout the play. Develop the characters. Write out a character sketch beforehand to help you flesh out your characters and bring them to life. Give your characters a motive in life (or lack thereof) and up the stakes by making them face a problem. This is central to any story. Generate the setting. The setting for a one[-]act play will be one scene, but you have to still develop the scene so the audience sees everything about the story line. Include as many of the five sense[s] as you can. Lighting helps the setting. Make sure you write in notes about how the lighting should look. Add in the stage directions after you write the action. Write notes about how each character should respond and what props you'll need...Find performers that fit each part. Hold auditions to find the right actors and actresses. Be [up-front] with them about whether this gig is a paying gig or a volunteer gig. Make copies of the play for each cast member. Save the document in case you need extra copies. Give copies of the one[-]act play to each member of the stage and prop handling too. Practice the play. Ask for feedback from all the people involved in the play. Hire or ask an expert to help with the production too. Hold one final practice before opening the show. This should be a dress rehearsal. Treat this final as the real thing and tie up any loose ends...Determine your audience to help you decide what and how to write...Avoid adding anything to the play that doesn't move the plot forward to the final conclusion." Josh Dunlop reports:
"Whether [it's] people, websites or tips, you need to get a list together, and if you’[v]e been working in your niche for any [real time], this won’t be hard, but it will be time-consuming. You need to ideally find at least 20 potential candidates so that you have room to pick and choose...You need to bear in mind the types of people who[m] you should be including in your list...I used Twitter, Facebook and Google to help me find the most influential bloggers...I found them on Facebook and checked out how active they were on there and how many fans they had. Next, I checked them out on Twitter...and then if they were popular enough, I subscribed to their RSS feeds and noted down how many people were subscribed to that. Once I had all the information I needed to help order the list, I divided it up into who I personally thought was important, [and] wrote the best, regular content, who was the most popular on the [I]nternet and who would be most likely to link to my site in their blogs and Facebook. From that, I came to a result that included everyone, in an order that would reflect how influential they are, and how likely they would be to share my link...[Writing about each entry] is somewhat time-consuming, but not all that difficult, seeing as everyone has a personal website and bio these days. You need to include WHO they are, WHAT they do, HOW long they’ve been doing it, and WHERE they’re from if they’re from anywhere a little unusual. Remember that there’s a strong chance that one of their fans will link them to your list, so you need to make sure that you’ve got the information right. If they specialize in anything in particular, have an interesting USP or can be found elsewhere in books or on the [I]nternet, it’s important that you include all of this information. A lot of people will only look at the name and the photo, but the people who actually read what you’re writing are your most important visitors, so make sure you write as well as you can...I’ve stressed in the past how important it is to use images in a blog post, even when they don’t seem particularly important. I took a [screenshot] of every website, [then] put them all into Adobe Elements under a template that I’d made that was 600*300px with a dark fade on 3 sides. I then angled each image and saved them down under relevant names. Adding relevant names will help to drive traffic from Google image results and ultimately drive traffic to your site in time. You’ve got your first obvious link, the name...but you’re likely to have 20 images that are much more visual than a small name. This is a little time-consuming, but it’s a great idea to link all these images to the site or person that they link to – it’s boring and repetitive, but it’s not difficult...The rest of the writing on the list is yours to link to. When I write, I try to include as many [keywords] as I can that I know I have set up to link around the website to different posts that I’ve written. So long as this is set up automatically, it doesn’t look intrusive and anyone that reads the text is then likely to be sent around the website to different post[s] that you’ve written. Even though you’re writing a post that links to other websites, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t link to yours as much as possible – it shows that you’ve taken the time to provide the best information possible...If [your readers have] made it to [the] end of your post, then you’ve got their attention, and it’s acceptable to plug your own website...When you’re all done, you should have a post that draws in thousands of visitors, and looks so good that people judge that you have the authority to be writing the list, even if you don’t." Craig Berman reports:
"Focus groups can be an ideal way for a business or institution to get information from members of their target market and generate ideas for more detailed research going forward. A moderator’s guide serves as the outline of what the groups will discuss, and is usually written as a collaborative process between the moderator and the stakeholders to ensure that the desired information is collected...Moderating a focus group is a challenging task, which is why most moderators make sure to have a guide completed beforehand...[I]t is critical to make sure every session is conducted in a similar fashion to create consistency and generate statistically valid results, as well as to clarify the topics and questions to be discussed. While moderators may be flexible in teasing out information depending on individual group composition, the structure presented by the guide is a road map to keep discussions on-topic and the event moving on schedule...The first part of the focus group moderator’s guide should provide the background information needed to conduct the interview. Start with the research objectives. Placing them in a prominent position reminds both the moderator and any other readers what the focus group is designed to answer. After that, write a description of the respondents’ profiles and the interview logistics, which is important because it provides background and context and may be useful for confirming details later...The introduction describes how you want the moderator to introduce herself and inform the focus group members of what they can expect over the course of the session. Have the moderator tell the audience the general purpose of the session, remind them of the incentive that they are receiving for participation, discuss any administrative details and detail the level of confidentiality. Also have the moderator establish the rules of the discussion...List the three to five topics that you expect the moderator to cover, and the amount of time devoted to each topic. For a typical 90-minute session, that is the amount of material that can be covered comfortably and comprehensively. It’s best to begin with a general topic to generate discussion before getting into more specific material to make sure the participants are comfortable speaking in front of the rest of the group and to get them accustomed to participating...Write a list of questions to be answered for each topic. In general, ask behavior questions before attitude questions, positive before negative, unaided before aided. It is also helpful to include probes, short comments or questions that can be used to further explore desired topics or stimulate discussion. Wrap up sessions by asking if there was anything the moderator missed that they would like to talk about...Once the draft of the moderator guide is finished, it should be reviewed by stakeholders to assess whether any changes need to be made in the content or format. This interactive process ensures that there will be no miscommunication about what the groups intend to measure, and gives everyone an understanding of what will take place." |
Writing and editing can be pretty rigorous processes if you want to do them well, but that's what this page is here for. Check out the latest tips here. Archives
March 2024
CategoriesJ.D. Parsons
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