I normally have an opinion on everything, but…
For a second I was confused by the text message ‘Of course you’re right...he,he,he’, in response to mine girlishly gushing about Jeremy Paxman being in the same audience for a Fringe show. Then I remembered how this friend had teased, years ago, that my idea of a perfect evening would be one spent arguing Paxman into admitting defeat and that I was right. Oh dear. I do have strong views. I’m never short of an opinion. But I know when to shut up (well usually). Edinburgh in August is festival...
Free holiday checklist…things to do before you go on holiday
Going on holiday? Leave your publication in safe hands with your regular trusty freelancer while you jet off into the sun. Who’s that? I hear you ask. Well, if it’s not me then I’m sorry. For both of us. Perhaps you should add it to the holiday checklist for next year – buy travel insurance, start beach diet, check your passport and hire me. This is the season when I’m advised: “Your usual contact is on holiday so the newsletter has been prepared by someone else. It’ll require additional time...
This was their mailing list. Join it and see what happens, I dare you
This is the invitation on the contact form on The Broken Family Band website. That box waiting to be filled with an email address is like the big red button you know you shouldn’t touch. You really want to see what happens. According to the website, the band played their last show in 2009. At least they bothered to manage my expectations. I can guess the response won’t be immediate. In contrast I will never know why the physio didn't respond. Was it an extended Jubilee break? Had she fallen...
How to decide if you need to go direct – cutting out the middleman
Sadly the web is awash with self publishers, making zero revenue, but boasting of removing the editor, literary agent or other stage in the publishing process. And the many bloggers with amazing stories to tell and conspiracy theories for the failure to get media coverage. There’s always a journalist who wasn’t interested in their story because he was in cahoots with the Government/big business/big advertisers or friends with the competition. They talk about going direct. They cut out the...
I wasn’t listening to the question but here’s my answer
Who hasn’t read an article where you have to wonder if the writer ever met the subject? Who doesn’t listen to a radio interview and beg the presenter to challenge the guest to simply answer the question? Yet, even I have resorted to using the approach taken by Deep Thought, the computer in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, which takes 7.5 million years to compute the ultimate answer. It then spends the next 10 million years trying to come up with the question. Here are 5 reasons...
Promoting the use of words to achieve their full potential
Recently I was asked to develop a mission statement. By the time I was brought in many people had been involved in the consultation process. The result was a draft which it was my job to develop and fine tune. But this was more than a straightforward writing task. I was being brought in as an independent, neutral, fresh pair of eyes. With a licence to ask that pertinent question – what exactly do you do, again? There was nothing wrong with the draft – it was an accurate statement. It reflected...
Thinking inside the niche: Wherein the author announces she wants a screw
How to find a product that you can’t otherwise find? Chicago screws (also known as interscrews, binding screws, snap posts or as I like to call them ‘those things that no one sells’) are great for binding a restaurant menu, photo album or sample swatch. Just try to buy ten, and you’ll gain a new respect for these little posts that screw together. Sure you can buy them. In volume, from specialist printers who wanted to supply hundreds of publications to go with them. If you want to embarrass a...
Say Ni Hao to choosing your words carefully
Failed to keep your new year’s resolutions? Well it’s not too late as millions welcome the Chinese New Year. Along with losing weight, cutting down on the drinking can I suggest you start the Year of the Dragon by resolving to choose your words carefully. Let’s start with the Chinese. According to The Sunday Times ‘vintage has yet to find a big Chinese fanbase because of a cultural distrust of things that have been used. Carmen Haid of the vintage emporium Atelier Mayer, has a neat solution....
Did Uncle Joe send a Xmas card this year?
What are the modern manners for sending Xmas cards? After how many years of not receiving a card back, should we cross a name off our list? And is it becoming a dying art? As overheard in a cafe: “Do you send cards?”. “Only to my gran. She still expects to get one.” Bless, a card sent for the benefit of the recipient. It’s a rarity. Because as with Xmas presents it’s less about what they would like to receive, and more about what you want. Choosing how to send season’s greeting is often about...
Fancy going somewhere a bit quieter?
Step outside. Let’s leave this website and continuing the conversation on email. Join my online community and engage in a debate on LinkedIn. If you’re thinking of jumping between communication channels you might want to bear the following in mind: Don’t assume everyone has what you’ve got. Quick Response codes only work with mobiles that have an autofocus function. Leaving two-thirds of mobile users unable to respond. Either create for the masses and the lowest technical specification (print...