Authors can’t rely solely on their publishers to do the marketing for their book especially self-publishers. They need to take it in their own hands and the Internet simplifies the task. However, are authors making full use of the Internet? Plug Your Book! is a checklist complete with instructions so authors ensure they explore every … Read more
Since I work and breathe email newsletters for much of my work week, The Seven Deadly Sins of Email Marketing Management from Digital Web Magazine caught my attention. Many B2B articles and magazines have repeatedly shown that companies easily get a return on investment (ROI) with their newsletters (when done right). The article discusses seven … Read more
Pick the Brain nicely abstracts George Orwell’s 5 Rules for Effective Writing and provides the link to the original essay. I just came across this tool that helps you eliminate cliches from your writing. This helps with Orwell’s first rule of avoiding the use of metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech that you’ve seen … Read more
Publicity experts have been implying that press releases are dying, but they’re not (I’d like to link to the article that prompted this entry, but it won’t be accessible in a week without a login — this is a lost opportunity for the site as it could’ve gained new users if they keep the link … Read more
I’ve noticed a trend lately in email newsletters stating “Do not respond to this email as it will go to Email Never, Never Land,” or something along those lines. Sending email newsletters with a valid “Reply-To” would work better. What are the chances subscribers will notice that line? I’m betting that not all email newsletter … Read more
Ah, this is one thing I don’t miss about the corporate world: Signing office birthday cards and notes. I believe in being thoughtful with cards, but it was stressful when you’re the eighth person signing the card and all the good stuff was taken. The Office, U.S. version of the hit British TV show, had … Read more
If this company’s service is anything like its editing and spelling, watch out. Thanks, Mark.
Stop with the Overdone Modifiers On Writing Well taught me to cut the use of modifiers such as “really,” “very,” “so,” and “quite.” I save those for when I *really* mean something 🙂 It’s amazing how many articles I’ve edited that abused these words that they lose meaning. Using Only in Sentences “An Ode to … Read more
This week, we’ve lost two wonderful writers who had their unique style: Sidney Sheldon and fellow Texan Molly Ivins. Sidney Sheldon’s books gripped me. It’s cliche’, but I couldn’t put them down unless my weight of eyelids trying to go to sleep forced me to. The only book I didn’t like was The Doomsday Conspiracy. … Read more
Thanks to poor Pluto’s recent declassification as a planet, the American Dialect Society — an organization founded in 1889 that “is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by” — picked “plutoed” as its 2006 Word of the … Read more