Creativity

Tips for varying sentence length

Build drama, create rhythm and more

Short sentences are best. But make every sentence simple and short, and your copy will read like “See Dick run” primers.… Read the full article

Take a walk, take a nap, take a break

Novelist Agatha Christie believed that the best time to write was while washing the dishes.

Author Harper Lee did much of her creative thinking while golfing.… Read the full article

Gather raw material

The first step of the 5-step creative process is to forage, or stuff your brain with information and inspiration.

The better the information and inspiration, the more creative the result.… Read the full article

Center campaign themes on people

When the Minnesota Society of CPAs learned that less than 1% of young people are interested in becoming certified public accountants, the association developed a youth awareness campaign.… Read the full article

Miguel and Joe and Harry

The AFL-CIO profiles nonmembers

Promoting an association, union, society or other members-only group? Use members to demonstrate the benefits of membership.

Or use nonmembers.

Richard L.… Read the full article

Concrete news stories get remembered

Representative photos improve recall

People remember concrete news stories 60% better than abstract ones, according to a study by a professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University.… Read the full article

Cartoons communicate better than text

Increase understanding by 51%

Cartoons are worth at least 600 words, according to a series of studies by Richard E. Mayer, professor of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his team of researchers.… Read the full article

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? … Read the full article