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Word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing on earth. Its credibility and trust levels out perform any other advertising, promotion or event. But to do it well, it demands that you out-think instead of out-spend your competitors. You may need to be nimble, outrageous and unexpected. Start-ups are the best users . . . → Read More: How buzz does the work for you: gets your tribe talking 
The way you write for business needs to change. Pompous is out, plain speaking is in. That’s the long and short of it. I know, some of you may have been writing the same way you were taught at school and university – and it’s worked perfectly well, thank you very much. That’s true, . . . → Read More: Death by pomposity: or saved by plain-speaking? 
Sometimes you just know. There was that feeling when you met. Simpatico. The air was sizzling hot. You could read each other’s minds. You’d finish each other’s sentences. They could be the one. Is it right – should you want them so much, this soon? The next step seems inevitable. A commitment. It’s a . . . → Read More: How to know if you and your copywriter are a match made in heaven 
Sitting at my keyboard today, my mind is empty. The space inside is quiet. It’s dark and silent. Nothing. What am I to say? Nothing comes. Then, an image. A bowl. A simple bowl. An empty bowl. A symbol, perhaps? But what does it mean? Empty space. An empty bowl. Waiting to be filled. . . . → Read More: Empty bowl blogging: 3 small steps to achieving nirvana 
No matter the type of blog, the work’s the same. It can be for creative self-expression, a business portfolio, a corporate site, a community builder or a seamless meld of them all. But because we know there are things that we know we don’t know (did you know?), then more often than not, most . . . → Read More: 5 easy peasy decisions to start a blog 
Before there was science and the written word, the world was described through story. As a result indigenous traditions the world over encoded their teachings in story form. The storytellers were the keepers of the history of the people. They were guarded at times of disaster to ensure that through them the stories . . . → Read More: 5 storytelling style secrets that will banish boring marketing spiels 
When was the last time you read something – say an ad in a magazine, a few pages of a website, a Facebook page or even a billboard and have been busting to go and do something about it? Hardly ever, probably. Most of you will glance at it, maybe read it and then . . . → Read More: Are you driven by needs or wants and desires? 
The page. The page and its blankness. The page with its infinite possibilities. The page that you cover with the coloured contents of your insides. The page you fight to tame. The page you destroy each time you try to master it. That page that’s covered with threads, first woven together and then unravelling . . . → Read More: Who will teach me to write? 
You don’t need to know where you’re going, to start. And all good writing starts with less than good first attempts. That’s the way of writing. You just need to start somewhere. And by getting something – almost anything – down on paper (or pixel) the hardest part is almost done. Otherwise fear sets . . . → Read More: The vomit first draft – with all its colourful content 
Flicking through my older posts on the site, I realised I’d covered some deep ground in the early days. So I’ve decided to occasionally repost some hits from the past; here’s the first from the vault for you to enjoy in its afterlife …
What’s exactly in a word? Words . . . → Read More: From the Summerland: What’s in a word? 
Spelling errors insult readers. The subtext of work delivered with errors reads like this … “I don’t really care about you; I have far more important things to worry about than checking my writing for errors. You can do that for me.” Bad business writing costs your company money. True. It means loss of . . . → Read More: 5 easy steps to slay the spelling monster 
The glossy magazines are full of advice on how to slim-down, sex-up and find the secret to a better life. There are also no-pill cures for ailments, you can melt away fat (sounds messy) and anti-age your mind (lobotomy maybe?). Wow. All of this, if you part with a few dollars and some heard-earned . . . → Read More: Slimmer, sexier writing: when and how you want it 
Rebels start things. They are oft the pioneers of ideas, movements and cultural change. Going by many names, they wear many guises. Call them mavericks, insurgents, mutineers, crusaders, renegades or revolutionaries; they are many things but they’re definitely NEVER dull. And they work hard for their cause. The dedication it takes to become a . . . → Read More: Oh to be a Drama Queen: sticky buzz relies on it 
Rarely can one say that they’ve witnessed alchemy. I can. My Dad had the most amazing collection of woodworking tools. They were his toys. When I was small I watched him potter in his workshop and idle away the hours – he was in bliss. And I was in awe. When he worked with . . . → Read More: The Goldilocks rule: simplicity works 
Being a freelancer writer working from my home office (with my dog on my lap), I get to scribble about lots of different things. And doodle. And rant. And rave. Plus stay in my PJ’s all day if I want (and no one knows). Today I’m posting over at Mouths of Mums, about blogging . . . → Read More: The addictive power of blogging 
A world view is a conceptual framework that helps tie everything together; it allows you to understand the world and your place in it. Creating a writing world view can help you make decisions that may shape your writing future. It could even help you slay your foes. Rather than focusing on small . . . → Read More: Reader Challenge: A six-word writing world view. What’s yours read like? 
Force isn’t related to size; it’s what’s inside you that divines your destiny. Will you risk or sacrifice everything to accomplish feats of honour, courage or nobility? That’s a hero. We all love heroes. We all need heroes. They inspire us, support us and protect us when the ‘dark soul of the night’ closes . . . → Read More: Who is the hero in your [writing] tale? 
It’s easy to make a promise, but very hard to keep it. Worse still, if you continue to overpromise, what started out as a small oversight (in your mind), snowballs out of control and results in an avalanche that can cause devastating damage and loss. But many businesses continue, even in the light of . . . → Read More: Does your service live up to your copy promise? 
Did you have a favourite teacher – in kindergarten or first grade maybe? Were they helpful, nurturing and did they encourage the learning muscles in your brain? Our mind is a big muscle and it needs regular exercise. So today I’m giving you a word-workout – a conundrum to wrap your head around. Be . . . → Read More: Writing is about learning, it teaches us – failure doesn’t exist 
Lots of advice on writing centres around our practice – write/work daily, journal, read widely and often, free write, don’t self-edit the first draft – the list is endless. How about we focus on the reader instead? Readers are what we all want. So let’s look at this from their perspective. After all, the . . . → Read More: 5 keys to keep readers reading 
As a writer, you should commit murder every day. More importantly, you should be learning to enjoy it. It should be painless, quick and satisfying for you. The end result should provide a clear, final path to your end goal – that being, to print or pixelate. How and why would you commit murder? Self . . . → Read More: Leave blood on the editing floor … murder your darlings 
Now is the best time to be building a tribe. Social media has irrevocably changed both our personal and business playing fields. There is no going back. Many even say that success now depends on participation. In fact, digital technology as a whole has forced us to reinvent ourselves. We need to cast ourselves in . . . → Read More: Build your tribe by using a c-word [or three] regularly 
I’m really not trying to make a habit of it, but of late I’ve confessed a lot. I admitted to you I was an addict. I told my Mum I was scared. Then my sister got the nitty-gritty on the dragon fears that have been haunting my days and nights. To explain them – I’ve . . . → Read More: Everything [almost] exposed: foes, foibles and fears on Murderous Monday & Tradecraft Thursday 
Nowadays we’re very demanding when it comes to stimulation, entertainment and achievements. Life revolves around crowd (or community) kudos, acceptance and attention. Personal belief seems to fall on fallow ground. However, gaining and holding that sought-after attention is tough – it’s elusive in this digitally saturated world. Toggling between tabs and screens is the norm, . . . → Read More: The Grand Design of writing |
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Most designers are failures. They don’t read your copy
Design can make or break a piece of work.
In this highly visual, information soaked world, there are almost as many designers as writers. Everyone and anyone can claim to be one.
But there are more bad ones than good ones.
Translation: most designers are failures.
Over the years I’ve worked with both, and . . . → Read More: Most designers are failures. They don’t read your copy