Tag Archives | writing

When people aren’t reading, you really need a copywriter

By Scott Flood on August 2, 2022 in Online Words, Writing Advice 0

Nobody reads copy anymore. At least that’s what everyone tells me. Nobody pays attention to the printed word, so keep it to a minimum and don’t even think about using a word with more than two syllables. Much as I hate to admit it, there’s some wisdom behind that. Couple the oversupply of information to […]

Your mother was right about bad words

By Scott Flood on July 5, 2022 in Writing Advice 0

Someone told me about a company that was reputed to be impressive, and I went to the firm’s website to learn more. I spent about ten minutes reviewing their content. What does this amazing company do? No clue. I read their mission, product information, press releases, “About Us,” and more – and I can’t begin […]

Seven steps for making writing easier

By Scott Flood on November 16, 2021 in Writing Advice, General rants

“I hate writing!” Perhaps that should be music to my ears because it ensures a steady stream of work, but it saddens me. Many people dislike (or even fear) writing and are intimidated by knitting words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs. Nearly everyone needs to write now and again. Being able to assemble words […]

Improve your writing by starting in the middle

By Scott Flood on June 23, 2020 in Writing Advice, Online Words

Many people regard having to write as sheer torture. Unfortunately, nearly every job or business endeavor demands a certain amount of that torture. The good news is that there’s a simple trick that can make your writing easier and more effective. That trick is starting somewhere in the middle. If that sounds odd, consider that […]

What color is your copy?

By Scott Flood on June 17, 2020 in Writing Advice, Marketing Wisdom

Want to know how effective your copy is likely to be? To find out, highlight it in two different colors. Whether you’re developing a blog post, a brochure, a web page, or any other channel, take a few moments to highlight all of the sentences that are really about your customer and his or her […]

When you write, write to Mom

By Scott Flood on February 12, 2020 in Writing Advice, Online Words

Want a simple way to write more clearly and effectively? When you begin to write a letter, a memo, or an email, write it to your mother. Or you could write to your best friend or your Aunt Agatha. The key is that you want to write to someone you know instead to of a […]

JUST WRITE SOMETHING, ANYTHING

By Scott Flood on October 15, 2014 in General rants, Online Words, Writing Advice

One of the most commonly expressed frustrations about writing is the inability to get started. Whether someone has to write something for work, for school, or for any other purpose, nine times out of ten, their struggle begins with the first words they need to put on the page. Some people call it writer’s block, […]

JUST WHAT KIND OF WRITER ARE YOU, ANYWAY?

By Scott Flood on July 17, 2013 in Anything else, General rants

Although nearly everyone knows what writers do, it’s amazing how few people really understand how business writers earn a living. When people find out that I write, most make certain assumptions about what I do and why I do it. For example, many people start talking about novels and writing books, and assume I must […]

SAVE YOUR BEST WORK FOR EDITING

By Scott Flood on July 27, 2011 in Writing Advice

One of the surest signs of a professional writer is that his or her first drafts are absolutely terrible and often unreadable. Surprised? It’s true. While most non-writers assume that those of us who earn a living stringing words together try to create brilliance and beauty with every keystroke, the simple fact is that our […]

YOU REALLY SHOULDN’T BE WRITING YOUR OWN COPY

By Scott Flood on March 25, 2010 in Marketing Wisdom, Writing Advice

No, I’m not questioning your ability to write. I’m suggesting that it may not make sense for you to handle your own writing projects. Why? Several reasons: (more…)

Navigation