The Write Blog

I don’t know about you, but I gag just a little when someone talks about a ‘teachable moment’ – and, evidently, so do the folks at Lake Superior State University. Teachable moment is just one of the entries on LSSU’s 2010 list of words that should be banned from our vocabulary due to “mis-use, over-use, and general uselessness.” LSSU’s tongue-in-cheek list has been going strong since 1977 and has included such gems as ‘you know’ and ‘user friendly.’

Others that made the 2010 list? Czar, chillax, tweeting, transparency, app, and — the ever-popular harbinger of bad news — in these economic times.

So, what do you think? Check out LSSU’s complete list of tired, trendy, and empty buzzwords and let us know if they hit the mark. What words do you think are worthy of being banned in 2010?

A few of my own suggestions: drill down, resonate, and leverage.

Need a creative boost? A good laugh? A few style pointers?

Maybe you’re into science fiction or mysteries. Perhaps you prefer nonfiction or graphic novels or biographies. Or fantasy novels. But whatever you’re into, if you’re a writer, you probably love books about writing. This week, I thought I’d share a few of my recent favorites. I’ve put together a list of six books about writing, from grammar to writing prompts to random musings by successful writers. Enjoy!

Continue reading Books for Writers: Six Books to Inspire and Inform

Social media keeps getting better and better. These days, lots of retailers are jumping on the social media bandwagon to keep up with the times – and, to get consumers in their doors and to jumpstart sales, they’re offering some great deals. If you’re a retail store and want to get some great ideas on how to use social media in your marketing strategy, check out some of these:

Groupon.com

Collective buying power takes a new twist with Groupon.com: All you have to do is sign up for their daily emails in your city. You’ll receive one coupon for restaurants, shopping, Continue reading How Retailers Are Grabbing the Reins on Social Media Marketing

It’s sometimes hard for clients and copywriters alike to remember the writing process: It’s one part hard work (sweat on the keyboard), one part art.

And sometimes, the “art” part can be hard to pin down. You’re blocked, distracted. You’ve had a bad morning, you’re stressed out about something … but you still need to make your deadlines. You’ll find that some days you may show up for work, and the creativity just isn’t there (this happens more than you think!).

Now, listen to what Elizabeth Gilbert has to say. She’s the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love (which I haven’t read). This speech is long (about 20 minutes), but very interesting – she talks about the history of writers and artists, the preponderance of mental illness and neurosis in creative types, and offers a new perspective on the creative process – and why we should all give ourselves a break from time to time.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA]

For this writer, I really appreciated Elizabeth Gilbert’s analysis. Creative genius is an elusive thing – it comes at certain times, and never when you expect it (at the gym, Continue reading New Ways for Writers to Think About Creativity … and Why You Should Give Yourself a Break

Forget hard-copy resumes and cover letters. Forget job search sites. Check out how a guy named Hal Thomas landed a sweet new marketing job via Twitter. Just one more reason – if you needed one — to get on the social media bandwagon.