"I'm still a geek on the inside, that's the important thing."
-- "Weird Al" Yankovic
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Working with Constraints
A guest post by Rick Holton
Business writers understand that it is important to know what they are trying to achieve in any communication. Once they've defined their purpose, they then think about what they have to include to achieve that purpose and what they should leave out. Another issue to consider is constraints.
Distinguish between Problems and Constraints
You should not confuse problems with constraints. A problem is something that can potentially be fixed, while a constraint is something that cannot immediately be fixed and within which you will have to work. Once you've identified your constraints, don't waste energy fighting against them. Acknowledge them and move on.
If management has hired you to solve a particular problem, and your analysis reveals that one of the major obstacles to success is management's resistance to change, that is a constraint rather than a problem. Management will never conclude that it should fire itself, and management conservatism is a limitation within which you must work.
Time and Money Are Always Limited
Ever wish you had more time or money to devote to a project? Writers in particular must be able to accept limitations. If you write proposals, for example, you will always have a deadline.
If you have a proposal due at five o'clock, you must plan to complete the task in time to meet the deadline. You could make it a lot better if you had just two more hours to work on it, but you may not have those two hours. Hence, before you correct the punctuation, it's critical to make sure all the important stuff is right.
You must also take into account the constraints of your budget. If you plan on sending a marketing letter to 10,000 potential clients, sending an enclosure may affect the cost: the enclosure itself will cost money to produce, and the additional weight could increase the postage cost.
You Are Accountable
Remember that you are bound by company policy. You would not, for instance, send out a report that flatly contradicted a recommendation your company had recently made to another client. Nor would you send out a letter agreeing to provide services that your company does not offer or does not wish to be involved in.
Your name and the firm's name are on your communication, so you are accountable for the content and professionalism of your message.
Format Can Be a Constraint
If a client demands that proposals be limited to two pages, you will have to find a way to present your ideas in two pages.
Or if your assignment is to describe all of your company's retirement products on a bookmark that will be mailed out in customers' monthly statements, you must find a way to express your thoughts in few words.
But constraints aren't all bad. If you have weeks to complete an assignment, that's how long it will take you, and think how little else you may have accomplished. As Twyla Tharp points out, "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they give unlimited resources."
Rick Holton is owner of The Holton Group, which specializes in business writing and consulting.
Business writers understand that it is important to know what they are trying to achieve in any communication. Once they've defined their purpose, they then think about what they have to include to achieve that purpose and what they should leave out. Another issue to consider is constraints.
Distinguish between Problems and Constraints
You should not confuse problems with constraints. A problem is something that can potentially be fixed, while a constraint is something that cannot immediately be fixed and within which you will have to work. Once you've identified your constraints, don't waste energy fighting against them. Acknowledge them and move on.
If management has hired you to solve a particular problem, and your analysis reveals that one of the major obstacles to success is management's resistance to change, that is a constraint rather than a problem. Management will never conclude that it should fire itself, and management conservatism is a limitation within which you must work.
Time and Money Are Always Limited
Ever wish you had more time or money to devote to a project? Writers in particular must be able to accept limitations. If you write proposals, for example, you will always have a deadline.
If you have a proposal due at five o'clock, you must plan to complete the task in time to meet the deadline. You could make it a lot better if you had just two more hours to work on it, but you may not have those two hours. Hence, before you correct the punctuation, it's critical to make sure all the important stuff is right.
You must also take into account the constraints of your budget. If you plan on sending a marketing letter to 10,000 potential clients, sending an enclosure may affect the cost: the enclosure itself will cost money to produce, and the additional weight could increase the postage cost.
You Are Accountable
Remember that you are bound by company policy. You would not, for instance, send out a report that flatly contradicted a recommendation your company had recently made to another client. Nor would you send out a letter agreeing to provide services that your company does not offer or does not wish to be involved in.
Your name and the firm's name are on your communication, so you are accountable for the content and professionalism of your message.
Format Can Be a Constraint
If a client demands that proposals be limited to two pages, you will have to find a way to present your ideas in two pages.
Or if your assignment is to describe all of your company's retirement products on a bookmark that will be mailed out in customers' monthly statements, you must find a way to express your thoughts in few words.
But constraints aren't all bad. If you have weeks to complete an assignment, that's how long it will take you, and think how little else you may have accomplished. As Twyla Tharp points out, "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they give unlimited resources."
Rick Holton is owner of The Holton Group, which specializes in business writing and consulting.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Thursday, 20 October 2011
The More Things Change ...
I don't really have to finish that thought, do I? For instance ...
Are authors the new gatekeepers?
The whole point of news stories is to provide filler around the ads.
No one really cares what you have to say, so keep it short.
And this has to be one of the worst ideas for a promotion ever.
The bottom line shows that we do need copyeditors.
Content is king.
What's all this nonsense about stagnant ebook sales?
PS: Here are a couple of really new developments. POD magazines and traditional publishers who share sales data with authors. Hmm ... think they finally got a clue?
Are authors the new gatekeepers?
The whole point of news stories is to provide filler around the ads.
No one really cares what you have to say, so keep it short.
And this has to be one of the worst ideas for a promotion ever.
The bottom line shows that we do need copyeditors.
Content is king.
What's all this nonsense about stagnant ebook sales?
PS: Here are a couple of really new developments. POD magazines and traditional publishers who share sales data with authors. Hmm ... think they finally got a clue?
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Quotation for the Week of October 16
"The problem with any unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it."
-- Glaser and Way
-- Glaser and Way
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Say it Ain't So, Joe!
Let me start off by saying that I have nothing but the highest respect and gratitude for the amazing Joe Konrath.
Now, when I heard that Joe was taking a break from blogging and asking for guests to post on his blog for him, that seemed just fine and dandy. Why not? I host guests on my author blog frequently, for what it's worth. :) So ... it's all good, right?
Then, I read the second post about Joe's hiatus from blogging.
Hmm ... okay, here's the thing. When I was a freelance writer (back in the days before ebooks), I knew people who did exactly what's being proposed here. This amounts to creating a compilation. And it requires a great deal of coordination and effort. I know because I knew people who did this for a living on a freelance basis (in the print world).
Now, given the sheer amount of contributors that Joe is talking about who have sent posts in (over a hundred in two days?? seriously, Joe???), I think the amount of coordination and effort required to pull this off could most fairly be described as monumental at this point.
Right. So ... with all due respect to Rob Siders and his (no doubt) monumental skills, I'm trying to picture one guy doing all this sh*t by his lonesome or even with an assistant (or two or three) (or maybe a whole battalion).
Plus, when writers agree to be contributors to compilations, they traditionally know who else is involved with the project. And they get to review and approve the final product before it goes out the (proverbial) door. Now, why do I get the feeling that's not going to happen here?
No one knows who the other contributors are. Their contribution could be sh*t, for all you know. Do you want to be associated with sh*t contributors? How can you judge? Will you rely on Rob Siders? Aren't you supposed to take responsibility? Isn't that part of being an indie author?
Don't get me wrong. Rob Siders may have awesome judgment. Or not. Who knows? But it's your job to take responsibility for your own work and your own career. And there's no easy way to achieve success in this business.
Finally, contributors to a compilation of this sort are definitely PAID for their contribution, along with the organizers of same.
Without the content, you wouldn't have the compilation, would you?
If the money would be spread too thin, they need to weed out a WHOLE lot of contributors, eh?
I suggest you listen closely to Harlan Ellison. Because, he's totally right, in my opinion.
And you have seen the motto on this blog, haven't you? :)
Now, when I heard that Joe was taking a break from blogging and asking for guests to post on his blog for him, that seemed just fine and dandy. Why not? I host guests on my author blog frequently, for what it's worth. :) So ... it's all good, right?
Then, I read the second post about Joe's hiatus from blogging.
Hmm ... okay, here's the thing. When I was a freelance writer (back in the days before ebooks), I knew people who did exactly what's being proposed here. This amounts to creating a compilation. And it requires a great deal of coordination and effort. I know because I knew people who did this for a living on a freelance basis (in the print world).
Now, given the sheer amount of contributors that Joe is talking about who have sent posts in (over a hundred in two days?? seriously, Joe???), I think the amount of coordination and effort required to pull this off could most fairly be described as monumental at this point.
Right. So ... with all due respect to Rob Siders and his (no doubt) monumental skills, I'm trying to picture one guy doing all this sh*t by his lonesome or even with an assistant (or two or three) (or maybe a whole battalion).
Plus, when writers agree to be contributors to compilations, they traditionally know who else is involved with the project. And they get to review and approve the final product before it goes out the (proverbial) door. Now, why do I get the feeling that's not going to happen here?
No one knows who the other contributors are. Their contribution could be sh*t, for all you know. Do you want to be associated with sh*t contributors? How can you judge? Will you rely on Rob Siders? Aren't you supposed to take responsibility? Isn't that part of being an indie author?
Don't get me wrong. Rob Siders may have awesome judgment. Or not. Who knows? But it's your job to take responsibility for your own work and your own career. And there's no easy way to achieve success in this business.
Finally, contributors to a compilation of this sort are definitely PAID for their contribution, along with the organizers of same.
Without the content, you wouldn't have the compilation, would you?
If the money would be spread too thin, they need to weed out a WHOLE lot of contributors, eh?
I suggest you listen closely to Harlan Ellison. Because, he's totally right, in my opinion.
And you have seen the motto on this blog, haven't you? :)
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Quotation for the Week of October 9
"Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles."
-- Pat Paulsen
-- Pat Paulsen
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Writers #Occupy Wall Street
As you know, if you're not a complete ostrich, something called #OccupyWallStreet has been taking place. News coverage has been until recently ... spotty, at best. But here's an article, FWIW. Lean to the right while reading, to maintain your balance. :)
Plus did you know that the Writers Guild of America East joined Occupy Wall Street yesterday? There's more information (if you click the previous link) about Occupy New York library and a need for book donations and volunteers, etc., etc. Hmm ...
So ... are these guys coming to sing Kumbaya or what? :)
Oh, this is nice. Do the words, "Let them eat cake," sound familiar?
PS: If you're in the DC area, look out for roving bands of these armored creatures.
Plus did you know that the Writers Guild of America East joined Occupy Wall Street yesterday? There's more information (if you click the previous link) about Occupy New York library and a need for book donations and volunteers, etc., etc. Hmm ...
So ... are these guys coming to sing Kumbaya or what? :)
Oh, this is nice. Do the words, "Let them eat cake," sound familiar?
PS: If you're in the DC area, look out for roving bands of these armored creatures.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Quotation for the Week of October 2
"I'm thirty years old, but I read at the thirty-four-year-old level."
-- Dana Carvey
-- Dana Carvey
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