writing – Maine Creative Services

Best CRM for solo business?

I compare Relenta CRM, Capsule CRM, and Tactile CRM and decide which best suits my personal work style.

Dilbert: “Write like a cartoonist!”

Writing tips from Dilbert creator Scott Adams

Why you, the business owner, are the best person to write your website

I know this will sound like heresy, coming from a longtime professional copywriter like me. In fact, it’ll probably get me drummed out of the swanky and ultra-exclusive Copywriter’s Club. I humbly submit that you, the business owner, are far more qualified than I am to write the copy for your website. Why? Lots of […]

Tech jargon, boulders and other jive

Vague, jargon-filled buzzwords are like boulders in old TV westerns. They’re really great to hide behind.

Beat writer's block — with a kitchen timer?

For me, it’s not really “writer’s block.” It’s more like a reluctance to apply the seat of my pants to the seat of my chair. Sound familiar? In his awesome book, The War of Art, Stephen Pressman nails it on (practically) the first page. “There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, […]

Hourly rates or flat fees?

I don’t believe in charging hourly rates for my work. First of all, real value can’t be measured in hours – only in quality and results. Paying hourly rates for creative work is upside-down and counterproductive. Sometimes they’re even a ripoff for the client. Suppose you needed heart surgery. Would you shop around for the […]

Upgrade your emails in three easy steps

Sometimes we forget that it’s OUR job to write letters, emails and business communications so they’re clear and understandable. It’s not the poor reader’s job to try and puzzle out what we meant. That way, my friend, lies heartbreak (and possibly Chapter 11). Author and blogger David Silverman offers some good advice on how to […]