In many ways, I may be the worst person to have on your mailing list. I’m picky, and pedantic. And I’m always looking for something that can be improved, or used as a ‘what not to do’ case study.… Continue Reading
Category Archives: How To
Learning from Lyrics – how to create memorable messages
I was on my morning constitutional (or ‘walk’) the other day, and my iPod dished up a song that I hadn’t heard for years – for the sake of this post I’ll pretend that it was something cool, and not Cover Girl, by New Kids on the Block. Continue reading … Continue Reading
Course: Introduction to writing for the web
Remember I told you there was going to be some new stuff happening? Here’s the first of them – I’m going to be delivering a one-day course on writing for the web, right here in Liverpool. Over… Continue Reading
Freewriting – an experiment in letting go
This week I’m trying out freewriting – a writing technique where you ‘just write’ for a set period of time without stopping, editing, or correcting your spelling and grammar. The theory is, that by giving your inner editor a… Continue Reading
8 golden rules for clear communication
A week or so ago I wrote a post asking what I could write in this blog that people would find helpful, (you can still add to the comments if there is something you’d like me to write about).… Continue Reading
Writing tips from Michelangelo and Einstein
“Make things as simple as possible, but no simpler” This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein, although, appropriately enough, it’s probably a paraphrase of a longer, more complicated comment about scientific theory… “It can scarcely be… Continue Reading
Critical Distance – Why you know too much to work alone (and how to take a step back).
It is often said that you should never proofread your own stuff. Proofreading involves checking what is actually on the page, not what is supposed to be there, and it’s much too easy to read what you meant… Continue Reading
How can I help?
Over the next few weeks (and months and years probably) I’m going to start putting together some ‘how-to’ guides and articles on the subjects of copywriting, proofreading, and small business communications. I’ve got some ideas of where to start, but… Continue Reading
Corporate Identity – 3 rules for naming your business – or why Shakespeare was wrong
Give him his dues, he had a way with words, Our William, and on a lot of things he was spot on. A man is indeed a piece of work, and parting is, very often, such sweet sorrow, but when… Continue Reading
How should I write for Google?
Google recently released a major update to their search algorithm, known as Panda. This focussed on prioritising quality websites and content, and downgrading content farms and other sites that have sprung up in order to game Google’s search results. And on Friday they released… Continue Reading