Archive for June 2006

I took a writing class and learned something that applies to web design. Broca’s area is a part of the brain involved with speech and language processing. When the brain sees something predictable, it doesn’t pay attention to it. But when something surprises the Broca, then it stands at attention. This article does a far better job of explaining the unexpected. The article gives many excellent examples of how to surprise the user.

Of course, the hard part is coming up with something. The article also gives suggestions on how to get ideas. You know, I’m thinking about this and trying to come up with a way to surprise people when they come to my site — the idea has to somehow keep the site professional while adding an element of fun. If anyone knows how to do this, it’s Hugh MacLeod. I guess I have a little fear of attempting something off-beat considering people think of me as a conservative person.

If you want to do a little reading on this subject, the person to rely on is Roy Williams of Wizards Academy who wakes up our Broca while showing us how to surprise it in several Monday Morning Memos.

How many of these slogans do you remember? What makes them effective? Do you even know what company or product they’re promoting? Test and find out by not scrolling past the slogan until you’ve guessed its related product or company. Some slogans are obvious as they have the product name included. Vote for your favorite. I voted as a proud native Texan.

Who doesn’t like to be quoted in an article? Not many folks, but when you’re talking to big companies or consulting firms — they have gates and policies that make it tough to get a quote and fast.

I discovered that not many consulting firms will provide a quote on recent news because they haven’t done an analysis on the situation. Instead, they send the last paper they wrote, and these rarely have value to an article. Over time, I learned which firms can and can’t provide a quote for an article. Generally, you have better luck with the smaller firms.

Companies. Whew. These are tough. Some of them require reaching the right corporate communications person who, in turn, has to contact the company rep for quotes. Lots of phone tag happening here.

Professors are great resources as they provide much insight. Their respective universities rarely have many rules and hoops for reporters to work through. When I receive a story assignment, I search the following places for resources:

* companies affected by the story
* experts on the topic
* discussion groups and forums surrounding the topic
* blogs as they often point to people
* contacts

Many writers use ProfNet, but I’ve only used it once. I didn’t find it effective.

When I did the Keeping Kids on a Wireless Leash story, I searched for the online safety organizations plus I met WiredSafety.org’s Parry Aftab on a previous story. I also contacted companies that offered such a product and consulting firms who have researched the mobile industry and the growth of family plans.

As I write an article, it’s not unusual for a commonly use cliché or phrase to pop out from my fingers and onto the monitor. I stop and try to get rid of the phrase. Why would I want to use something that’s been said so many times even if it’s a fit? I don’t. The writing becomes predictable and the readers tune out. Oops, I did it again. “Tune out.” Hmm… let’s back up and change that to “readers lose interest.” Kind of dull.

“Readers stop reading.” Eh.

“Readers clock out.” That’s a possibility.

I completed “How to Write Powerfully and Clearly,” and picked up great ideas and tips for dodging those old, tired phrases. But the hard part comes in making a habit of applying the new things I learned.

“Beyond Basic Blunders” from Writer’s Digest tackles the problem of using predictable phrases. How many times have you heard that someone was rudely awakened? Woke up bleary-eyed?

Where I wrote “tackles,” I almost used “covers” (overused) and then “addresses” (too stiff). So I relied on the Thesaurus and found “tackles.” Although, it’s been used … it’s better than the other two. I thought I had spent enough time on one word.

Funny that I talked about snail mail and writing letters yesterday as I came across this article from the Orlando Sentinel. Yes, I noticed the typo in “pen pal” and captured it. This article comes from The New York Times and caught my eye for two reasons: handwritten letters (not the alphabet kind) and Professor Naomi Baron. I attended American University where she was the associate dean for undergraduate affairs during my time there.

I value handwritten notes and use every time I need to thank someone. I won’t resort to email for such things as the person took the time to do whatever I’m thanking him for. So I believe I should also take a few minutes to put in the effort of writing a nice thank you note. At the end of the year in 2006, I wrote a handwritten note to every client, and plan to do the same this year.

I’ve got piles of letters in a safety box from when Paul and I were dating and engaged. He and I were separated by the miles for about nine months as I finished a year in college at TCU while he was in Washington, D.C. working. I transferred to American University and finished college there.

My daughter is currently away at camp for over three weeks. I write her an email almost every day (unfortunately she can’t write me emails, only letters – gasp!), but I also write her a letter with a pen in my left hand instead of fingers on a typewriter. There’s just something about getting a handwritten letter in the mail that makes a note more special.

My kids whine every time I make them write thank you notes for birthday presents and other gifts. I remember not liking to do that as a kid, but not to the degree they do. My daughter had a small birthday party this year with a few friends. She said she thanked each one in person as she opened her gifts. I told her she still needs to write thank you notes because they (or rather their parents) took the time to find the gift and their parents need to know she acknowledged the gift.

Every year, I write my kids a letter on their birthdays. The first few years, I did it by hand. Then in the past couple of years (after #3 arrived), I find I’m resorting to the computer as the letters were long and my time to write the letters shrunk. I decided it was more important to get the letter written for that birthday rather than keep postponing until I found time to write it… five years later. I plan to do them in handwriting again whenever I get the chance — but whatever I do, I won’t miss a birthday letter.

I received some amazing letters from family and friends when I got married. I still have those letters. It’s not often we see a meaningful handwritten note, so I keep them whenever I receive one. I’ve got a few greeting cards from Paul as he took the time to write thoughtful and sweet notes. Since we’re together most of the time, we don’t get an opportunity to write each other letters like we did before I moved to D.C.

My daughter is going to write a lot of thank you notes come February of next year. Let’s hope she doesn’t put up much of a battle as I have enough challenges trying to plan the special event.

Let’s keep handwritten letter writing alive even if it means writing a note in a greeting card rather than using stationery. I loved the letters my mom wrote to me while I was at camp and can still remember what the stationery looked like. Sadly, I’ve been using yellow ruled paper in writing my daughter. Tell you what. I’ll get out the nice stationery and write her a real letter today.

Update: Shame on me for forgetting to mention that I’ve kept a handwritten journal since 1989. My handwriting style hasn’t improved and even filling books with handwriting … it still doesn’t take much handwriting before my southpaw aches. The price we pay for using keyboards.

Outsourcing is here to stay, regardless of how employees feel about it since businesses continue to save money as a result. It is, however, evolving into something less threatening to employees as companies discover savings–by using other companies to manage a part of the business that’s not considered one of their core processes. Smartsourcing looks at the why and how of this new take on outsourcing — where all involved benefit and innovate.

The authors state that companies aren’t realizing the full benefits of outsourcing, as most simply send a process to another company and leave it at that. Smartsourcing adds innovation to the outsourcing formula as companies consider outsource firms as partners. This leads to the creation of more American jobs, not just the loss of jobs overseas as many fear.

Implementing a smartsourcing strategy takes time, but companies that want to grow and compete need to carefully review their outsourcing strategy, find gaps and outsource the right processes the right way.

One of the most important things to do in planning a smartsourcing strategy is to review a company’s existing processes, determining which are core and which are non-core. Companies have been surprised to find out which processes fall under which category. For example, a hospital may think information technology is one of its core processes only to find out it’s not, and instead their essential process is patient care.

Some of these concepts can be difficult to grasp, but executives and managers who read Smartsourcing will gain insight on how to intelligently outsource so that they can increase innovation and effectiveness while getting ahead of their competitors.

Title: Smartsourcing: Driving Innovation and Growth Through Outsourcing
Author: Thomas M. Koulopoulos and Tom Roloff
Publisher: Platinum Press Inc.
ISBN: 159337514X
Date: April 2006
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Cover Price: USD: $24.95 Amazon: $16.47

The introduction says it well. “I wish there were no need for this book.” Unfortunately, there are enough scams and untrustworthy folks in the writing industry to warrant a book on the subject. I’d like to think I know better, but I got suckered when I was as a college student who loved the idea of getting published somewhere.

I was taken in by that infamous scam where you send a picture, poem, story or any other creative work, and you hear back saying you’re a finalist or your work made it. Order the beautifully bound book for cherishing. Check written, form sent and no gorgeous book arrived in the mail. Thank goodness, it was a small sum and the only time I’ve been taken (thanks to a lesson learned and this book).

“Submit your creative work and buy the book” scam is one of many. Others aren’t so easy to figure out. Writers know there are many trustworthy contests out there that require an entry fee. Because of this, it’s takes little convincing for a writer to enter scammed contest that has an entry or reading fee only to find out later the money is gone and no contest existed.

Then there’s the publisher that requires paying a set up, printing, copyright or some other fee. Legitimate vanity and print on demand publishers do this. This blurs the line between the good and bad guys, and the authors clarify how vanity press works including all of its related or similar terms and how to tell the difference between the legitimate and the rip-offs.

Writers get advice from Jenna Glatzer, an experienced author who has confronted unsavory characters in the publishing world, and Daniel Steven, an attorney specializing in publishing. They point out the scams as well as “what to do if you’ve been screwed.” Chapter titles like this and “Special Screw-Overs for Screenwriters” highlight the writing style you can expect from the book. No finger pointing or shaming, but rather frank and “we’re on your side” talk.

Contracts, copyrights, agents, deadbeats, and courses are covered. This well-rounded book also contains an appendix of six forms (agreements and a release) to help a writer dodge the dark side of the writing world.

Though you may not enter contests and all of your current writing associates are upfront and honest, having this book nearby should make you feel more secure. New opportunities continually pop up and the next one could be the one that goes bad. Considering the high cost of legal advice, Street-Smart Writer is a bargain since you’re getting a lawyer’s expertise in this book. With the lawyer-writer team, Street-Smart Writer is a worthy addition to your professional reference library.

P.S. Glatzer is behind AbsoluteWrite, the first place I send those interested in writing.

P.P.S. She also has a Writer Beware page.

Title: The Street-Smart Writer: Self-Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the Writing World
Author: Jenna Glatzer and Daniel Steven
Publisher: Nomad Press
ISBN: 0974934445
Date: January 2006
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
Cover Price: USD: $16.95 Amazon: $11.86

Pay bills? Do that online. Write a letter to a camper? Ditto. Submit a contract? Send it by email and then fax it back, scan and email it back, or use an electronic signature and email it back.

With increasing stamp rates and email taking over, it’s no surprise the U.S. Post Office (USPS) has a campaign promoting the use of mail in conjunction with email and the Internet. The organization understandably fears it’ll become obsolete as technology continues to help us do things without using snail mail.

I wish I can remember where I found these two [pdf version] files [rtf version]. (Yes, I searched for them).

Then within a couple of days of getting the files, I got a direct mail piece: “The Direct Marketer’s Inside Guide to Outsmart the Office” from USPS. I’m not impressed by these files or the direct mail. They point to different places on USPS.com, but unfortunately they all require entering personal information before you get the Direct Marketer’s Outsmart the Office kit or anything else. One link is broken. I’d like more information before I give mine away.

I’ve got no problem with an organization requesting personal information in exchange for a download or something of value, but the USPS doesn’t provide enough to push me into taking action once I get to its Web site.

I recently read that brochures sent by themselves are usually a miserable failure from a ROI perspective. Based on my observations, I doubt this direct mail piece will do well.

Snail mail isn’t going away. Invitations rely on snail mail. The idea of emailing wedding and bat mitzvah invitations feels wrong even if you create a beautiful electronic invitation. Thank you notes rely on snail mail. Thank goodness, I’ve yet to receive a thank you note for a gift or donation by email.

Many rely on snail mail to get their bills as they’re not ready or comfortable with using the Internet to get bills and pay them. The wind may change direction as the younger generation ages, but not 100%.

Snail mail may not go away, but here’s a look at the financials. Where are the statistics where I need them? I read that old-fashioned direct mail is still successful, which is why the USPS campaign focuses heavily on direct mailers.

Whatever happens, I hope there’s always a way to get handwritten notes from writer to recipient.

As a long time Mavs fan (yes, since the ’80s), I checked in with Mark Cuban’s Blog Maverick to see how he responded to the Maverick’s disappointing series against the Heat. A guy takes a different approach to owning a professional basketball team, and people talk smack.

He did what needed to be done. He turned the NBA’s joke into contenders in six short years. And people continue to talk smack. He’s unconventional. So what? So were many folks with incredible accomplishments behind them. He made professional basketball fun. What’s with the politics? Leave that to Washington, not to the NBA.

Anyway, his saying “To me, the proof is always in the details” spurred this entry. I’ve caught myself about to email a client to about a project, but then I delete it when I realize it’s better to leave it alone and let the final product do the talking.

If a client isn’t happy with the results, rather than explaining — I accept responsibility and do what I can to make up for it whether it’s a discount or something else. I, however, don’t just let every one of these go as there have been times when the “problem” was something beyond my control.

Cuban took the team from the basement to contenders. There may be no prize for second place, but the Mavericks had their best record and played tough teams in the playoffs. That should be proof enough. Stop smacking Cuban and praise him instead. Talk about the future. Talk about what he plans to do to ensure we’re contenders again. Anyone who has him as a mentor is a lucky person as I believe he has a lot to teach us about business.

In spite of a disappointing finals knowing the team had the power to win, I’m proud of the Mavericks. My Mavericks antenna decoration stays right where it is… on the antenna.

Turning 30 wasn’t as I had hoped. Being the youngest of three by a gap, I was used to feeling young and always younger than everyone else. As I entered my thirties, I felt depressed whenever the ages of a football star, actor, or big shot manager appeared in an article. They were such big successes and not even 30. There I was, in my thirties believing I had accomplished little outside of raising a family. After all, anyone can become a parent and not anyone can become a CEO or best-selling author.

Reading each story, my reactions ranged from “I’ve been there!” and “I remember that!” to “Never been through that, thankfully, but I understand.” And “OK, maybe being 30 had good points.”

In reading books like these, a collection of true and intimate stories, you sense that you’re there listening to a best friend or being a fly on the wall hearing stuff that you would otherwise never hear. Great collections do just that and The May Queen succeeds. Any gal in her thirties will feel less solitary while reading the stories.

Flor Morales shared her experience of going back and forth between El Salvador and California where her family shamed her for cheating on her husband, an alcoholic. She proceeded to tell her tale of crossing the border for good to pursue a better life with another man.

In my twenties, I wanted to climb the corporate ladder as high as I could go. But my expectations started toppling after my second child arrived when I was 29 and not a manager. Slowly, I began to change wanting instead to climb the family ladder with an occasional nudge from a career success. It turned out, from reading these stories and others about us Gen-Xers, we struggled with the “having it all” in our twenties and as we matured, we came to appreciate life more as we understood successful careers were nice to have, but not something that made life completely meaningful.

In “My Missing Biological Clock,” Megham Daum pondered her lack of interest in becoming a mother in spite of society’s pressures of “having it all.” So every story isn’t about horrific or incredible things that happen to others and not us.

Ayun Halliday’s “A Random Sampling Age Thirty to Forty” resembled a list more than a story, but what an insightful list! Read a random sampling of things that happened between ages of thirty and forty and compare those to things that happened between ages of 10 and 20 and 20 and 30. This fast-read will instantly cheer up anyone struggling with having lived three decade of their lives.

With 27 stories of varying lengths in over 250 pages, busy women in their thirties can easily read a story in between feedings, during lunch break, traveling somewhere exotic or whenever they find a moment to simply take pleasure in a good story. As a mom of three with my own freelance business, it was effortless to take a break to read one story at a time and feel another ounce of appreciation for life in my thirties.

Title: The May Queen: Women on Life, Love, Work, and Pulling It All Together in Your Thirties
Author: Andrea N. Richesin
Publisher: Tarcher
ISBN: 1585424676
Date: March 2006
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Cover Price: USD: $14.95 Amazon: $9.72

Analyzing Eggcorns and Snowclones, and Challenging Strunk and White looks at Language Log, a blog covering linguistic boo boos. My kind of place. The article talks of eggcorns, “a type of slip of the ear in which people mishear a word and mispronounce it, then insist that the malapropism is correct.”

Maybe I’m obtuse, but I don’t see why it’s called eggcorn instead of malaprop? But then I checked out the definition of malaprop: “the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.” So an eggcorn is a malaprop done on purpose whereas a malaprop is more of a slip, perhaps Freudian in some cases.

I’ve never forgotten learning about malaprop from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in The Rivals who mixed up words that eventually became a dictionary word.

I checked out the blog along with other mentioned blogs on the topic. Oy. How to make time for another high quality blog? Nonetheless, this entry caught my eye: “Funly?”

Eggcorn has its own site. The bloggers and folks behind these resources are talented and knowledgeable. One thing annoys me: the Linguistic Log uses gray text. That’s difficult to read on a white background. Black is OK, folks.

Yeah, yeah, I know my visited links are gray and some of the blog has gray text. I’m hoping to get that fixed.