Category Archives: Business
Advice for Hosting a Digital-Industry-Focused Book Club
For the past year, I’ve been running a book club at Scotiabank about digital product and design. It’s been a lot of fun, and here’s what’s worked the most.
It’s OK to Write Multiple Drafts
Sometimes, your initial UX writing drafts fall short. It’s ok to rewrite things and suggest design changes. Here’s a quick example of that.
Guest Appearance on Productivity Alchemy
A few months ago, I was interviewed by Kevin Sonney for his podcast, Productivity Alchemy. And it’s live today!
In it, I talk about how I stay organized and productive both in my role as a content designer and in my home life.
Moving into Content Design
I’ve always seen myself as a word person. From ordering dictionaries from Scholastic during my school days to taking courses in book publishing to writing about editing , working with words has always been at the core of my identity.
So it’s with a mix of pride and surprise that I’m announcing my a new job as…. a designer? Really?
4 Print Advertising Mistakes You Should Avoid
I get several flyers in the mail every week. Most are conventional: coupons, sales, and so forth. However, I sometimes find one that catches my eye. Unfortunately, one caught my eye last week for the wrong reasons. It was such a jumble of information that I had no idea what to focus on when I read it —…
Need a Crash Course on Web Copy? Try “Nicely Said”
Title: Nicely Said: Writing for the Web with Style and Purpose Authors: Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee Publisher: New Riders Publishing Rating: 4 out of 5 Format: Print Writing can be a daunting prospect for many people, and the way that the internet has changed both how we write and how we read can…
4 Myths About Editors
What editors do is often kept hidden. In fact, a good editor is supposed to remain invisible by giving the text enough care and polish that it shines brightly and speaks for itself. The thing is, when your goal is to be invisible, people get a distorted image of what you actually do. Myths about editors exist, and…
The Value of Plain Language
One of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn as a writer was that using complex words was not a sign of good writing. It’s a natural assumption to make. “Good” writing means writing that sounds “smart” — and what’s smarter than using vague or polysyllabic words that you really have to think about to understand?…
What Taco Bell Can Teach You About Bad Business Copy
Do you know what your business copy says about you? Not what you think it says, but what it actually says? What if you want to look professional and competent but your business copy is secretly undermining you? Would you be able to see what you’re doing wrong? Many don’t. But some do, and they know how to use…