“I” Before “E” Except After “C” …

I LOVE breaking writing rules if they make my writing better. But I also love find writing rules often considered tried-and-true, can-always-be-counted-on rules. So let’s start with the “i” before “e” except after “c” rule. It’s such a good one!

I know people who swear by this one, but the fact of the matter is it simply can’t be used across the board. Need proof?  Here’s a list of words where that rule simply does not apply:

• Beige
• Cleidoic
• Codeine
• Conscience
• Deify
• Deity
• Deign
• Dreidel
• Eider
• Eight
• Either
• Feign
• Fein
• Feisty
• Foreign
• Forfeit
• Freight
• Gleization
• Gneiss
• Greige
• Greisen
• Heifer
• Heigh-ho
• Height
• Heinous
• Heir
• Heist
• Leitmotiv
• Neigh
• Neighbor
• Neither
• Peignoir
• Prescient
• Rein
• Science
• Seiche
• Seidel
• Seine
• Seismic
• Seize
• Sheik
• Society
• Sovereign
• Surfeit
• Teiid
• Veil
• Vein
• Weight
• Weir
• Weird

Know some other “i” before “e” except after “c” rule breaking words? Drop me a comment and share!

Proof Your Work. Then Proof It…Again

I read the most HYSTERICAL weather forecast last night. Our local meteorologist blogged the following sentence: Tomorrow night the sun will shine and by morning temperatures will drop.

Hmmm. I don’t know about you, but unless you live in the Arctic Circle at a particular time of year, the sun simply does not shine at night. And trust me, I do not live in the Arctic Circle.

And here in lies the problem: writing should be left to the professionals, or if amateurs are doing their own writing, then they should employ the talents of a professional editor or, at the very least, a proofreader, to review their work and clean it up. I mean, come on, this is out there for their audience, their public, to read, and when they write like they are illiterate, how does that reflect on their credibility, or that of the station they work for?

I have to admit, the first time I read that line, it stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to re-read it. Twice. I couldn’t believe what I actually saw. On the Internet. For all the world to see. And then I laughed so hard I thought I would die. It’s so damn funny!

Which brings me to my point: if you refuse to use a professional writer, or your budget simply won’t allow for it, for the love of all things sacred, please, please, please, proof your work before you publish it to the Internet.

Your audience will thank you for it, and trust me, you will save face!

Want to Write? Get a Plan

Almost all successful writing begins with a response to an idea, experience, problem, or question. It’s hardly ever random. And your response needs some kind of process, even if it’s a rather loose one, which is what I prefer, otherwise I get so caught up in the process of writing I never actually get pen to paper.

So as a jumping off point, any writing response requires the following process in order to get from A to Z successfully:

• defining a purpose
• knowing your audience
• planning
• drafting
• revising
• editing
• revising
• revising some more
• proofing

You can craft your process based off of this one. It may take some trial and error to see what actually works for you; you’ll find it. And once you do, your writing will flow so much more smoothly for you. What it will never do, however, is go from idea to finished product without a number of steps in between. But wouldn’t that be nice for a change?

You Can’t Break the Rules Unless You Know the Rules

So, that seems self-evident enough, right? Yet, time after time, I am lectured by non-writing professionals about the rules of writing and how they simply cannot be broken. Ever. Period.

Really? Well here’s a newsflash: times have changed, and with them, the traditional rules that used to dictate the way we wrote in grammar school have changed as well. In other words, if you’re not a professional writer, you are probably still adhering to the same tired rules that your 5th grade grammar school teacher taught you, and that professional writers long outgrew for a much more sophisticated writing style.

Case in point: I am still corrected on the use of beginning a sentence with the word “and.” Old school. Doesn’t apply any more. In these modern writing times, as evidenced in nearly every modern book in print today, you will find sentences that start with the word “and.” It works. It makes sense. And, it’s dramatic.

Like how I worked that in? And doesn’t it work? And yes, it is dramatic. And I did it three more times!!!!

So, the point is this: refresh yourself on yesteryear’s writing rules, because once you know what they are, you can break them at will to become a much more sophisticated writer.

Well, you can break a lot of them. You really can’t break all of them. That would just be madness.

Not all writing rules are meant to be broken. But you can’t even begin to break writing rules unless you know what the rules of writing are to begin with. And, if you’re still with me, and I’m hoping that you are, that’s exactly where we are going next…Writing Rules 101. Learn them and break them.

Writing IS Hard

Of course it is. If it were easy, everyone would do it, and more importantly, do it well. But, they don’t. Most people hate writing, and most can barely put two sentences, let alone two words, together in a way that makes any sense whatsoever. And that’s where we come in. Writers. And editors. We do the work that others either don’t want to do, or can’t do.

Writers may be crazy, but trust me, there is a clear-cut reason for this. Bear with me. This will all make sense. While we all know that most people would rather gnaw off their own arm than write a single line of copy, these are the very same people who will tear apart and ruthlessly criticize the work that writers do. The work that they hire us to do for them. And while I do believe in the merits of constructive criticism, I take issue with the random rants of those who have no background or experience in editing the English language.

I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I’ve been asked to make something that is grammatically correct incorrect because the “reviewer” has no editorial background whatsoever, and simply believes the copy is wrong. I am then forced to justify it. Pull out a style manual. Site a grammar rule. Provide an example. Explain why the copy is correct. I mean, seriously, I’m a writer. I’ve been writing for more than 20 years. What I am not is an English teacher. But at times, I feel I am more of the latter than the former.

I shouldn’t complain though. I know it’s an occupational hazard given the field I’m currently in. I do not work in the world of publishing anymore, surrounded by professional writers, editors, copy editors, and proofreaders. It’s a different reality now and I either have to just lower my expectations or accept my role as writer and teacher.

Because … Writing. Is. Hard.

How to Really Get Under a Writer’s Skin

And irritate the hell out of…me!

Don’t believe me? Then try this…ask this one simple question: Tell me about your writing process. WTF? Are you seriously asking that? You might as well ask me how to tell the difference between each cry a baby makes, because quite frankly, I can’t explain my writing process to you or anyone else any easier than I can explain what every cry means. And here’s why: no one project is the same. Therefore, writing does not follow a one size fits all approach to every project. At least, this is the case for creative writers. And I would venture to go out on a limb and say that this is true for most writers.

Sure, there are certain “steps” in the process that you hit upon at some point along the way, but again, depending on the project, these steps will vary. A hit or miss approach if you will. Sometimes you prewrite, but it’s not always required…maybe your client has provided this for you. Sometimes you start with research and then hit the ground with an outline and a running list of ideas before you do prewriting and sharing, then go back to do a little more research before starting to write. Who knows? It really depends on the type of writing you are engaged in: creative, business, technical, corporate, research, grant, whatever.

The fact of the matter is this: each writer’s writing process is a very personal process, and when someone asks this of you, you should be a little more than incensed. It’s infuriating, as if you need to justify how you get from point A to point Z. I know how to write. I know what works for me. What I don’t know is what works for you, and quite frankly, I don’t need to know that. That’s totally up to you.

Social Media and the Writer: The Big Picture

As a writer, your goal, with regard to using social media, is to generate a buzz about brand awareness. Spread the word. Reach the target audience using the tools they use and language they understand. Unfortunately, here is where a lot of writer’s drop the ball. It’s okay…this is new territory for most of us. The same thing happened when the Internet came along, and now look at us. Most, if not all, writers can say they are experts!

Social media is the same thing. New, but not unattainable. To master these tools, we need to just to get in there and use them. The thing is, we need to understand what they can and can’t do before we can recommend them to our clients. New challenges, but nothing we can’t deal with.

So here’s the big picture on social media and networking and what you as a writer need to know to make the most of it:

• First, understand that this is a way to communicate and connect not only with friends, family, and colleagues, but with customers and more. Internet tools such as LinkedIn, Slideshare, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube give you instant access to the people you want to reach
• Second, know that the Internet allows you to instantly collaborate, share information, and converse about ideas or causes you care about
• Third, accept that you now work in a world where anyone can be a publisher, writer, reporter, artist, filmmaker, photographer, critic, pundit, or activist

Next step: try the tools out on your own and see what they have to offer. Then make the most of them, first for your own site, then for your clients.

So What’s the Big Deal About Social Media?

Really? Okay, I know if you are a professional writer, you get social media. You know the power of it. You understand its reach. And you know how to make the most of it. Your clients, however, may not get it.

So here’s a basic truth: As a writer, it’s part of your job to educate your clients about the use of social media. Which aspects may work best for their business. How to use it to get their messaging out to their customers/potential customers. And how to excel at it. Because the fact is, if your clients aren’t using social media to collect, gather, and disseminate information, they are behind the 8 ball…a place no one wants to be.

So here’s what you need to know, and share with your clients, about the power of social media:

• more than 1.5 BILLION people are currently online, with usage growing at a rate of 400% per year
• of those 1.5 billion users, 22% use social media
• 75% of online users go straight to a social network or blog when they log on
• last year, the average user spent 6 hours per month on social media sites
• only 19% of companies state that they are good or excellent at mining insight from social media

So what’s the big deal about social media? I think the numbers speak for themselves…start making the most of it, or get left behind.

Writing…Interrupted

It never fails. No matter what project I am working on, no matter how quickly the ideas are flying out of my head, and the pen is moving across the paper (or my fingers are striking the keyboard), something comes up. Always.

And do you know why? Though writing is one of the loves of my life, that I truly do live for the written word, I actually have a life, and life is messy. It cannot be lived without running into problems. Bumping into obstacles. Being sidelined by roadblocks along the way. For instance…

• Snow days, the kids are home…and they need attention every 5 seconds
• Sick days, and not for you, but again, for your kids…and again, they need attention. And rest.
• Doctor’s appointments
• Dentist appointments
• School meetings
• A day job with a billion and one deadlines
• Grocery shopping
• House cleaning
• Car problems
• Late buses
• Taxes
• Legal issues
• Relationships in general

This list could go on, and on, and on….with no end in sight. And for most people, it does.

But so what! If writing is your passion, then you will find a way to work around all those little things that not only interrupt your writing in general, but interrupt your life as a whole. Because writing, like any other job you could do, will always get side-tracked and as a professional, it is you responsibility to find a way to your success. To make it happen…for you.

Is it easy? Hell no. But then again, what really is…

How to … Write Your Articles Faster and Better

Writing can be a tedious activity. Don’t fool yourself. No matter how good you are, there is NOTHING easy about it. Think about it: How many times have you been faced with a blank page and nothing, nada, zip to say. Writing easy? I don’t think so. And article writing can be the most tedious of tasks, even for seasoned writers. So, if you are writing articles and want to have them see the light of day, and get PAID for it, you need to write faster and better. Here’s how:

SHORT ARTICLES Plan on writing a lot of articles? If so, it’s a good idea to keep them short. Quick reads. When writing, keep these articles to 300-400 words. And if you have a lot to say about your subject, break it into more than one article. Think of your blog posts and use that as a guide.

GREAT TITLE If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a THOUSAND times: Write a strong headline!!! This is the first thing your readers will see, so it HAS to be an attention-grabber. Hint: Place at least one main keyword in your title because it is the subject that readers will search under; and, if you publish online, it will help you move up in the search engine rankings.

MAKE IT SCANNABLE Simply put: Make your articles easy to read. Keep paragraphs no longer than two or three sentences. Print and proofread your article. Then send it out to be published.