Monthly Archives: November 2005

Good writing demands clear thinking. In my experience as a journalist, copywriter and technical writer, I’ve learned that it’s impossible to write about something unless you know it inside and out, forward and backward. I’m not talking about writing stories, screenplays or poetry. I’m talking about business writing — writing to inform, explain, persuade, motivate […]

They don’t use them themselves, mind you. But about 59% of CEOs surveyed said they think blogs can be useful for internal communications. Another 47% think they’re useful for communicating with external audiences, according to a study conducted by PRWeek and Burson-Marsteller. Only 7% of the 131 CEOs surveyed are actually blogging themselves, and only […]

Ads for prescription medicines litter the evening news, magazines, newspapers. Their distinctive prose, delicately skirting FDA rules and regulations, are often so ludicrous they practically beg for a good parody. Now it’s here, under the heading “Panexa: Ask your doctor for a reason to take it.” As the spoof explains, the fictitious drug is only […]

Gina Trapani of Lifehacker fame has posted an excellent guide to writing Web content. It’s very different from writing for print or broadcast. Among her best points: Use explicit titles and subject lines. Write a strong lead. Get right to the point immediately Use frequent paragraph breaks. (I’d put it this way: Keep paragraphs short. […]