Table for two
Pit dueling ideas in columns and rows
Are you writing a face-off between your technology against the alternatives? Juxtaposing competing information and ideas? Comparing and contrasting products or services? If so, a table is probably the best format for your article.
I’ve been enjoying webifying magazine articles for EADS Key Touch magazine’s website this year. I often find myself organizing the original information into a table.
Tip: If you find yourself repeating words and phrases, it may be a clue that you need a table. In one story for EADS, for instance, each section had a list of items “for digital” and “against analogue.” If you could make those repeated items column headers, you’ve probably got yourself a table
ACROSS THE BOARD: If you find yourself repeating words and phrases like "for digital" and "against analogue," a table may be your best format.
Open the Creativity Toolbox
Want to come up with fresh ways of telling the same old story?
- Bring Ann to your organization for a workshop on Opening the Creativity Toolbox.
- Get dozens of tipsheets on developing creative story approaches at RevUpReadership.com.
- Get ideas for making your own communications more creative with a communication review.
About Ann Wylie
Ann Wylie is president of Wylie Communications Inc., a training, writing and consulting firm. She works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out. Wylie is the author of RevUpReadership.com, a toolbox for writers, and Wylie’s Writing Tips, a free e-zine. She has earned more than 60 awards, including two IABC Gold Quills, for her work.
Copyright © 2010 Ann Wylie. All rights reserved.
