Author Archives: Tom McKay

Writing a proposal is one of the more common kinds of business writing. If your hands shake at the mere thought of writing such an intimidating document, Neil Tortorella has some helpful suggestions. Neil is a graphic designer, so his examples lean in that direction, but his basic principles apply to your business, too. Neil […]

If you enjoyed my recent series of writing tips, you’ll like this post. Retired English teacher and business owner David Richards knows the importance of decent writing skills in achieving success — both in business and in life. He has two (only two) simple suggestions for those struggling to write well. First, he says, follow […]

Podcasts can be terrific, especially if: You enjoy listening to audio You’re able to process information that way (as opposed to reading it) You’ve got the time to listen Whether it’s radio, CDs, books on tape or podcasts, most listening is done in the car while driving. As someone who works in a home office, […]

Question: Does anyone know who actually said “Kill all your darlings”? I’ve seen it credited to everyone from Faulkner to Twain to William Goldman, screenwriter of Butch Cassidy. Let me know if you know. Thanks.

As the late Jimmy Durante used to moan, “Everybody’s trying t’ git into the act!” Jason over at 37 Signals was having lunch with some editors from a local weekly newspaper. (Gee, I heard they were all extinct.) 😉 He realized that all of them were “editors.” They just edit different stuff. “They edit articles, […]

Have you ever left a presentation, abandoned a Web page or tossed out a business document, wondering what the heck the author was trying to say? Examples clarify your memo, letter, presentation, or marketing communications message. In our fast-paced, technological world, clear communications are a huge challenge. What we’re trying to say is often fairly […]

Frankly, some business people deserve it. While most technology companies make money by developing software, building hardware or providing services, Forgent Networks Inc.. (uses) threats and lawsuits that try to cash in on ideas. From Business Week.