There’s a long-standing tradition of ghosting in the communications profession, and it’s time to call it out. I’m referring to the art of “ghostwriting.” Dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, ghostwriters were hired to write speeches and letters on behalf of public figures. According to author E. Danielle Butler,…
I just drove three-thousand, one-hundred, twenty-seven and one-half miles from Upstate New York to California. It was memorable, incredible, and NEVER boring. America is blessed with vast open spaces linking its major cities. Seemingly endless farmlands, rangelands, grasslands, and wide open skies greet those of us who have the luxury…
It’s that time of year. Whether you’re a big NCAA basketball fan or not, it seems everyone is talking about Bracketology. What is a bracket? If you’re a writer, you know that brackets are most often used to signify that words, or phrases, have been added or changed. For instance,…
In today’s business world we fill slack messages, emails, and project proposals with words like: synergy, align, and traction. To sound more “professional,” we utilize words that we think are intricate; we use “corporate speak.” But let me ask you something. How well do you think the average American can…
My morning routine is simple. I get up, get dressed, brush my teeth, and delete the 350 emails I got over night. Be honest. When was the last time you opened an email that wasn’t from your bank, boss, or best friend? Whenever a client asks me for help writing…
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Greek demigod, Prometheus, the ‘thief of fire.’ According to the legend, cunning Prometheus betrayed the gods to steal fire for humanity’s survival. And although he was punished for his audacity, Prometheus is remembered as the father of innovation, arts, and science in Greek culture. For…
There are 3,782 emojis in the Unicode Standard, according to emojipedia.org. Until approximately 10 minutes ago, I didn’t know there was an “official” standard index. I also learned, about five minutes ago, that a Senior Emoji Lexicographer writes the definitions. Yes, it’s a real, and highly valued, position. The Unicode…
Most of us wear things which provide subtle clues about our personalities. Maybe it’s a favorite band tee, or the company logo emblazoned across a polo shirt. Our preferred brand of jeans or a shirt advertising where we’ve been are also communicators of who we are as people. I got…
Go on… say it out loud! Edit. Your. Oral. Now, say it faster. I’m going for a bit of a play on words here. Editorial. Edit. Your. Oral. Cheeky? Get to the point?! An editorial is defined as a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that…