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...]
Singin’ the Email Blues
Please allow me a few moments to rant about proper email usage. I have written in the past about it, but apparently nobody read my emails. I have burrowed into my (admittedly disorganized, non-foldered) email list in the past to try to find a particular one, only to see that it didn't have a subject line, which is why I couldn't find it, or it didn't have the person's current phone number on it, so I have to go elsewhere to find her, and then I find that another email didn't answer all of my questions, so I have to email her again. Not that I haven't been guilty of hitting the "send" button too soon, before double-checking that the attachment was there. At least it doesn't happen as often now as it did when I first started sending them as attachments 25 years ago. (Oops, did I just tell you my age? Please disregard.) Val Nelson is a good writer, a good coach and a good mentor from one of my networking groups. Take her "E-tiquette Quiz" on email usage and tell me how you do. … [Read more...]
Proofreading—Feel the Pain
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...]
Fran’s Blog: Free Association
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...]