Writing workshops, communication consulting and writing services
How long is too long for the mobile screen?
“Only the biggest/most complex stories should go above 600 words,” counsels the BBC in its guide to writing news for the mobile screen.… Read the full article
Writers measure copy in words, inches or pages. Readers use a different measure: time.
So instead of using writer-centric measures, think like your reader.… Read the full article
Here’s a famous story among persuasion researchers and Malcolm Gladwell fans:
When a researcher offered shoppers 24 types of jam, many customers stopped by for a sample, but only 3% made a purchase.… Read the full article
Thank you, David Letterman.
The Top 10 list rules the web — or at least, Buzzfeed.… Read the full article
How does your message stand up against The Huffington Post?
After all, The Huffington Post is the third most popular online news site, after only Yahoo!… Read the full article
What’s the secret to a successful e-zine? Make ’em laugh; make ’em think; make ’em Skimm.
In other words, make it interesting, relevant and easy.… Read the full article
After 50 years on writers’ bookshelves, The Elements of Style — aka “Strunk and White” — still offers perhaps the best collection of techniques for compressing copy:
Twitter has never issued a news release. Amazon introduced the Kindle through a series of tweets. Google announced Alphabet via a blog post from Larry Page.… Read the full article
Here’s the problem with long sentences: Every time you add a word, you reduce comprehension.
Let your sentences sprawl, and the subject, verb and object get too far away from each other.… Read the full article
When Lynn Wylie, aka Best Sister Ever, sent me an Unfancy blog post arguing that all you need to look great every day is a capsule wardrobe of 37 items per season, I scoffed.… Read the full article
