strategy and resources
Have you ever found yourself struggling to write something at work? You might have all the empirical data you need to write a persuasive case study, or a great idea for a blog post. But when you sit down to write, you just spin your wheels and get stuck. I knew this feeling well when…
Virginia (as in, Woolf) was totally right. For writers, sometimes nothing but a room of our own will do. However, there is a huge difference between having our own space and writing in a vacuum. This is especially true in the professional world, where writers are part of a team that is often charged with…
Love it or loathe it, you’re a writer, too. If you have a website, you’re a publisher. If you’re on social media, you’re a marketer. Thanks to the Internet, we all have the opportunity to engage our audiences with content, including our written words. That thought can be thrilling or chilling, depending on whether you…
We’ve shared with you ways of working with your copywriter and writing in the client’s voice. Now, here are five ways to help your copywriter capture your editorial style—that is, to express your message exactly the way you want it. These tips will help streamline the copywriting process. Quoting vs. paraphrasing Without specific instructions, a copywriter will…
There’s an old saying among writers and editors: The best writing is rewriting. At Wordsmithie, we aim to nail our clients’ copy in the very first draft. We spend time up front getting to know your needs, wishes and expectations, so by the time we sit down to write, we understand your audience and message.…
Whether you want a parcel of cyberspace to plant your thoughts in, or need to share your business model with the world, blogs are the du jour communication channel. But the sheer number of platforms available makes the decision to blog harder than it needs to be. Here are some thoughts to help you weigh…
The recent suspension of anchor Brian Williams from the NBC Nightly News offers a valuable lesson about the importance of safeguarding your brand. And make no mistake, Williams is—or at least was—a very valuable TV brand. The anchor’s sin was embellishing his participation in various news stories. According to a Washington Post article, people in the…
One little comma can create a whole lot of havoc. Whether to use the serial comma—a.k.a. the Oxford comma—before “and” to separate three or more items in text is a hotly debated copyediting topic. Do you prefer apples, oranges, and pears? Or apples, oranges and pears? Proponents say the series comma makes things clearer, while…
Wordsmithie works internationally, which also means we’re much more widely scattered than many agencies our size. We have ’smithies not only all across the United States, but also in Europe (Madrid) and Asia (Singapore). We routinely collaborate on projects that have us talking and collaborating with people all across the globe—from Norway to New Zealand,…
With the old year rapidly winding down, it’s a good time to think about your editorial calendar for the new year. Maybe you write your organization’s blog all by yourself. Or maybe you enlist help from other knowledgeable people in your office. However you work, a calendar will help get you off to a good…
