What they’re saying:
“Deft, generous, wise and insightful, Roy Jacobsen’s experience-based blog is one of the best bangs for the click that any writer will find on the Internet.”—Arthur Plotnik“Writing – Clear and Simple proves that it doesn’t take a professional to write clearly and with impact.” —Top 100 Blogs to Improve Your Writing in 2010
One of “The Top 30 Blogs on Writing” according to the Delaware Employment Law Blog.
"Your website rocks!"—William Van Benschoten
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Category Archives: Audience
Writing is a pipeline for ideas
“Ideas are not really alive if they are confined only to a person’s mind.”—Nancy Duarte One of the most beautiful parts of writing (or of speaking) is what I call idea flow. That is, writing is a pipeline that allows … Continue reading
Bad news. Bad form.
Writing well is more than just being good with words. You have to weigh factors like what your message is, what are the likely emotions that it will evoke, and who you’re delivering the message to. With those thoughts in … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Writing in its natural habitat
Tagged bad news, Facebook, Fast Company
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Writing for the web and email
I’m betting that much of what you write ends up in email messages, or on the web. If that’s the case, Jakob Nielsen has some advice for you, based on his studies of how people read email and web pages.
Posted in Audience, Good advice from here and there, Jargon, Plain Language, Style manual, Word Choice
Tagged email, internet, inverted pyramid, Jakob, Nielsen, reading
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A reader’s advice to writers
Laura Miller has started reading far more books than she’s finished. Over at Salon.com, she offers her list of the things that keep her reading. I can tell you why I keep reading, and why I don’t, why I recommend … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Elsewhere on the Web
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Three writing tips from Louis L’Amour
Louis L’Amour is one of America’s most popular authors, with more than 100 books to his credit, all of which are still in print, and almost all of which have sold more than a million copies. For my last birthday, … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Growing as a writer, Plain Language, Word Choice
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Audience analysis: why and how
Do you have a clear picture of who you’re writing to? If you don’t know your audience, you might make some fundamental mistakes. Mistakes that will keep your writing from being effective. Why do we need audience analysis? Regardless of … Continue reading
Posted in Audience
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What’s the cost of content?
Before you begin writing something, ask yourself this: What’s the cost, and what’s the value? Everything you write has a cost. This cost matters more in a business context, but it’s still present, regardless of what you’re writing, and why. … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Everyday writing, Growing as a writer
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Rule Zero of Writing
It’s Rule Zero, because it’s the rule you apply before you touch the keyboard, before you pick up your pen or pencil and make a mark on the page. Answer this question: Why are you writing? You could fill a … Continue reading
Posted in Audience, Growing as a writer
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Plain language is search-engine friendly
Yet another reason to use plain language: People are more likely to find you and your information on the web. Think about the last time you were looking for information on the internet: What did you turn to first? I’m … Continue reading
Don’t give yourself airs
"You must be aware that your reader is at least as bright as you are." —William Maxwell
Posted in Audience, Quotations
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