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Disciplined Learning and Growth

August 10, 2016 By Fran

By Janice Beetle of Beetle Press and The Creative Thanks to Janice for answering my call for guest bloggers. She talks about the craft of writing and the importance of continuing one’s professional growth. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Lambson, wore her graying hair in a thick bun snug at the nape of her neck. She was a bit of a scowler, the kind of teacher you could imagine shaking a ruler at you to make a point. I remember walking to her desk one day to ask her how to spell a certain word. “Look it up in the dictionary,” she told me without making eye contact. She did not explain how one looks up a word one does not know how to spell. So, I went back to my desk, and I did not look up the word in the dictionary. Mrs. Lambson could have suggested that I come up with my best guess at spelling the word in question and look that creative spelling up in the dictionary. She could have suggested that I continue to refine my guess until I found the correct spelling. Instead, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: business, development, editing, writing

Writer’s Block Unblocked

November 15, 2014 By Fran

Ever have to write something, and find yourself putting it off until it’s too late to do it at all? Ever get the sweats looking at a blank screen, then say to yourself, “Hmmm, where’s that sewing project I’ve been meaning to do for the last six months, I need to get it done NOW”? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Every author, no matter how experienced, faces writer’s block from time to time. Here are some things I do to cope. Step One: Warm Up. The more you write, the easier it gets, like any other practical skill. The trick I follow when I’m challenged by a topic is to just sit down at my computer and start writing what I know about the topic, even if it sounds weird. It physically and mentally loosens me up, like a warm-up exercise. I also find that it captures what I really feel about the topic, and it helps me get excited about it. Step Two: Research. Then, I research online what I don’t know about the topic and add to the piece. Before I know it, I have several pages … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: business writing, editing, proofreading

The Penguins Go to the Zoo

November 8, 2014 By Fran

So the old joke goes something like this, with a few embellishments. Mr. Brown is traveling through Kansas and meets a guy selling penguins at $2.00 each. “What a great deal,” he thinks. He calls the Bronx Zoo, which tells him that it’ll buy as many penguins as he can sell it at $90.00 each, so he buys 129 of them to bring to New York. Somewhere around Hackensack, New Jersey, Mr. Brown’s car breaks down. While he’s waiting for AAA, a Good Samaritan stops to help him, and Mr. Brown asks him, “Would you take these penguins to the Bronx Zoo?” The Good Samaritan agrees to help, loads all 129 penguins into his car, and takes off. In the Bronx, Mr. Brown gets into a major bumper-to-bumper traffic jam. As he creeps closer to the zoo, he sees people lined up along the sides of the street, pointing and laughing. As he pulls up to the zoo, he sees the guy who helped him walking along the sidewalk, trailed by a line of penguins holding balloons. “What the heck?” he says to the Good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: business writing, editing

Proofreading—Feel the Pain

October 4, 2014 By Fran

If you are a business owner, you write every day. Emails, notes, newsletters, articles, blog posts, Facebook updates, you name it, you’ve gotta write it. And as far as writing correctly, you either chew your nails over “its” versus “it’s,” or you don’t—you write what you think is right and hope the reader will forgive you if it isn’t. You might think that it’s easy as an editor to proof my own stuff, but no. It’s even more painful, because I check everything I write thoroughly and still make mistakes. I’m here to tell you, though, how important it is to make sure everything you write is as accurate as possible, because it all reflects on you as a business person and professional. I have seen much in my years of editing for businesses. Believe it or not, I have seen people misspell their own company name--which to an editor is like fingernails on a chalkboard! So here’s my advice. Don’t trust that computer program. Forget spell check and grammar check; you won’t like it when … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: editing, editor, proofreading, writing

Fran’s Blog: Free Association

September 20, 2014 By Fran

Fran Fahey

Hello!  I'm Fran Fahey. Welcome to my blog, "Free Association." I find that occasionally, I want to share ideas with other small business folks and resume clients that I find interesting. As a copywriter and editor, I hope my words will have some practical use once they are floating out there in the ether. If not, maybe you'll just read them for light entertainment or to get to sleep at night. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes and happy reading.         © 2014 Fran Fahey www.fransfineediting.com … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: blog, copy writing, editing, proofreading, resumes

Fran Fahey

Fran Fahey

Fran Fahey is an editor and copywriter with over 30 years of experience in human resources, government and business. Since 2008, she has operated Fran’s Fine Editing, helping business owners perfect their web copy, brochures and other communications, and individuals with editing of resumes, books, articles, dissertations, etc. Fran has a BA in psychology, and her previous career was with the Massachusetts Human Resources Division, where she won a governor’s award for excellence. She is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, a board member of the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, and a member of various professional and networking organizations. Fran writes her blog “Free Association” to share ideas about her work and the challenges of operating a small business.

Recent Posts

  • No More Excuses: Lessons Learned from Being Sick
  • Six Degrees of (Someone): Tips for growing your client list
  • Employment Gaps: What’s Missing from Your Résumé?
  • Disciplined Learning and Growth
  • Importance of Personal Brand in Marketing Your Business

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