Comments on: Guest Post: Newspapers Might be Dead, but Good Copy Isn’t

By: Links: Chan… Hann… Hanukkah 2009 Edition | Meryl.net

Links: Chan… Hann… Hanukkah 2009 Edition | Meryl.net — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:44:45 +0000

[...] Kathlin Sickel for winning a copy of Andy Hayes’ ebook. No matter how you spell it, Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday that grew because of Christmas. [...]

By: Andy Hayes

Andy Hayes — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:45:19 +0000

George/Meryl – I think I have a knack for great headlines, but it’s such a balance: people’s weird click behaviour, SEO, and headlines that have great editorial read.

Thanks everyone for all the insightful comments – feel like I need to go and add a chapter to the book
.-= Andy Hayes’s blog …Steal This Travel Marketing Idea: Metrotwin =-.

By: Meryl Evans

Meryl Evans — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:41 +0000

Pamela, you’re right that some people try to speak to everyone instead of a select few. You can reach more this way even though you target fewer people.

Kathlin, your husband is a keeper. What great advice!

Sharon, I think email and the Internet has made a world of a difference in getting rid of a lot of stuffy / corporate copy and we’re all the better for it.
.-= Meryl Evans’s blog …Game du Jour: Week of 6 December 2009 =-.

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:45:53 +0000

I especially love the points about showing you’re a real person and getting rid of stuffy copy. When I was learning writing techniques, stuffy was in, and it never suited my style, so I am glad to see the back of it.
.-= Sharon Hurley Hall’s blog …The Ebook Has Landed! =-.

By: Kathlin Sickel

Kathlin Sickel — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:53:36 +0000

Very helpful post here by Andy Hayes on Meryl’s shining blog.

Favorite writing tip? Oh boy; anything that actually helps me focus and just do it.

I think I’ll share a tip my husband is overwhelmingly fond of repeating to me: don’t get it right, get it written! He learned this year’s ago at a continuing ed program for lawyers. Of course, I always reply to him that although the sentiment has a lot of common sense in it(don’t obsess, just get the thing done) getting “it right” is of paramount importance too! You’d expect lawyers of all people to know – and promote that, right?

By: Pamela Wilson

Pamela Wilson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:25:35 +0000

There are so many great tips to writing well online, but I think you are right when you say that you need to speak to the individual. In no other forum, that I surmise, can one be so conversational and, in some respects, self-indulgent. After writing for newspapers for the past 20 years, I have had to really train myself to include me, myself and I in the blog posts that I create.
.-= Pamela Wilson’s blog …Why news and feature writers are so important =-.

By: WWD Weekend Reading List

WWD Weekend Reading List — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:02:16 +0000

[...] Meryl.net: “Guest Post: Newspapers Might be Dead, but Good Copy Isn’t” [...]

By: Meryl K Evans

Meryl K Evans — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:01:05 +0000

George, I try to create catch yet “give you an idea” of the article headlines — but sometimes they backfire due to being too creative. Have to find middle ground.
.-= Meryl K Evans’s blog …Game du Jour: Week of 29 November 2009 =-.

By: George Angus

George Angus — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Meryl/Andy

While I can’t recall ever hearing it specifically, the first point makes perfect sense. Writing for somebody seems to be the perfect way to connect with the reader. After all, only one person is reading the copy at a time, right?

I’ve been blessed with headline talent and I have seen the results of a good headline bringing folks to a particular post. It’s hard to do though, since it needs to be accurate for content and eye catching at the same time.

By the way, Dad was from Edinburgh, hope to make it there someday myself.

Cheers!

George
.-= George Angus’s blog …Lifestylin’ The New Blog Of The Week =-.