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How To Write A Press Release
I don’t know exactly what this website is but it seems to be paid for by my/our tax dollars. There are some good tips on here about how to write a press release – a skill I need more regularly between Entertainers and Apex and the Bank and …. :)
The essentials of good business writing
Good business writing is at the heart of successful marketing. Without it you will be at best, misunderstood, at worst, totally ignored. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure your business writing hits the spot.
Write readable sentences by writing the way you talk
There is a misconception that good business writing is complex and flowery. It is simply not true. The only people who can ignore this advice are lawyers by virtue of the fact that it is their intention to make everything more complex than it need be, especially as they are paid by the hour to explain to you what they have written!
Use ordinary words
Don’t try to be too clever; don’t use a long word where a short one will do.
Variety
Vary your punctuation and sentence length to add life and movement to your writing.
Use the personal pronoun
Use "I" or "we" wherever you can.
Make your point
Make your main point early and make it easy to find. Don't introduce new ideas until you have thoroughly explained the first.
Intention
Make your purpose for writing clear. Say what you have found, address the issue or problem and make a recommendation or provide a solution. Tell the reader very clearly what you want them to do. Never make the assumption that the reader will make the mental leap between the information and what you want them to do about it.
Structure
Help your reader get to the point by revealing the structure of the document. Allow them to have control over what they discover and when.
White space
Leave plenty of white space. This can be created by using headings, lists, bullet points and short paragraphs.
Use font types wisely
If in doubt stick to the classic fonts. Don't litter your writing with bold, italics CAPITALS or underline; it makes the text harder to read.
Wherever possible, remember:
- Use the active voice
- Use ordinary words
- Construct clear, simple sentences
- Concrete not abstract – use examples, metaphors and details
- Personal
- Informal, conversational style
- Make every word count or get rid of it
- Use just enough punctuation to assist the reader
- Watch your grammar – don’t switch tense.
- Say what you mean and mean what you say
- Don't use jargon - if you have to, explain it the first time you use it
- Strive to express yourself clearly
- Get to the point fast, or at least allow the reader the option to if they choose to
But most of all have fun with it. Never be afraid to reflect your own personality in your writing and it's okay to break a few rules now and again!
Karen McCreadie is a freelance writer – capable of writing anything from a marketing brochure to a website to ghost writing your next book! Ghost writing is her specialty.
Original article link http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p196318265_The-essentials-of-good-business-writing.html
Get happy!
Some of this is a bit 'New Age' but I thought some of this advice was interesting. I find sometimes when I am zoned out and vague I am actually breathing very shallow. A few deep breaths and I perk up a bit. I would also like to be more alert to my posture as this can save you from the slumped shoulders and aches and pains of sitting too long.
What do we need to become more alert, calm and happy? The practice of happiness is a continual one, so get smiling with these ten top steps.
#1 Get your mind in gear to go
Enjoy a relaxing stretch in bed, filling your lungs with fresh air, breathing out any heaviness from the
night. Read an excerpt from something that uplifts your spirit and reminds you of the purpose of your own existence. This will help set your intention for the day before the busyness begins. Your intention might be to practice kindness, compassion or respect for all people – including yourself.# 2 Come to your senses
Wherever you are, be there! Your body is always in the present yet your mind is forever projecting into the future or rehashing the past. Practice awareness of the present moment by coming to your senses. Be aware of your posture, the shape of your body and the touch of your clothing; notice its texture, the temperature that your clothing helps create. Feel the air moving against the skin of your hands and face. Listen to all of the sounds around you. Let your listening run right out until you hear the clouds passing. Then focus on your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Let any thoughts or feelings come to pass without holding onto any of them.
# 3 Stress detector
Practice increasing your awareness of what happens in your body when you encounter stressful situations. Does your pulse increase, do you feel tight in your chest or your throat. Do you sweat or get butterflies in your stomach? Does your jaw tighten or does your head feel like it’s going to burst? It is better not to speak or act from a state of reaction.# 4 Be present to the breath
Awareness of the breath allows you to more easily respond rather than react to life’s challenges. We can't always control what happens to us in life but we can control how we respond to the things that happen. We may not be able to avoid becoming emotionally upset, but we can control the intensity and duration of that upset and how we express it.
# 5 Don’t take your life so personally
Learn to not take yourself quite so seriously. If you can laugh at yourself you will be endlessly amused. Your body secretes endorphins when you laugh. These natural hormones give you a natural high and empower your immune system. Where possible, escalate a smile into a chuckle, a chuckle into a laugh and a laugh into a belly-shaking one. A light-hearted approach to life allows us to be spontaneous and available to people in the present moment.
# 6 Know yourself
Become aware of your attitudes, beliefs and reactions. Be willing to be a work in progress. This gives you the chance to change your judgments of yourself and others. Know what replenishes you and make sure that those things happen in your life. If music, nature, singing, dancing, reading, gardening or other activities replenish you, then make sure those things are present in your life on a regular basis.
# 7 Lace them up
Exercising for 40 minutes can reduce stress levels for up to three hours. Find regular and enjoyable
exercise which can be realistically incorporated into your life. Walking and swimming are two of the most beneficial forms of exercise and improve your circulation, breathing and the functioning of all your internal organs.# 8 Letting go of the past
The past cannot be undone. Forgiving is not the same as condoning. True forgiveness is an internal act and doesn’t need the involvement of the person or situation in which we felt wounded. The essence of forgiveness is that we liberate ourselves from reacting from feelings of being hurt or wounded.
# 9 Learn relaxation techniques
Familiarity with progressive relaxation techniques helps us to recognise when we are becoming stressed. Having the ability to physically unwind is the first step to letting go of mental tension. Regular use of a good relaxation practice will take the stress out of learning the technique!
# 10 Learn to meditate
Learning to meditate can be the next simple step in relaxing the mind so that it becomes quieter. With a quiet and focused mind our intuition, inspiration and imagination become more readily accessible. Meditation is one of the greatest tools for improving clarity, concentration and memory.
Petrea King is the author of Your Life Matters – The Power of Living Now and directs the Quest for Life Centre, Bundanoon, NSW www.questforlife.com.au
Five Things You Need to Know About Effective Habit Change
This sounds very interesting. I know I have a few bad habits that distract from my work day productivity. Let's see how I go about improving a few things. :)
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Ian Newby-Clark, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada who studies habit change.
As a psychology professor who has studied habit change for several years, I have some advice about effective habit change. My advice is general. It applies to any habit that you would like to change. My advice is based on my research and that of my colleagues.
1. Work on One Habit at a Time. If you work on changing more than one habit at a time you run a serious risk of overwhelming yourself and changing no habits at all. Consider Jim: Jim has resolved to exercise more and he has resolved to accomplish more at work. What could Jim be thinking? He’s going to fill his already busy schedule with regular exercise. Fine. But, he somehow thinks that he will also get more done at work? I hope he’s also decided to cut down on his sleep …
2. Create a Plan and Write it Down. It is not enough to say to yourself, “I am going to get more done at work.” Think about it this way: What if you asked a randomly selected working-person, “Are you trying to get more done at work?” Almost everybody would say, “Yes, of course.” And the response would be the same if you asked about exercising more often, eating better, or paying more attention to international affairs. It’s in our nature to want to do better. We almost always want to do better. But wanting isn’t enough. You must make a plan. Write it down. Be as specific as possible. Does Jim plan to go into work early or stay late? Will he eat at his desk? Will he exercise good email and phone discipline? Jim needs to create a plan and write it down.
Five Things You Need to Know About Effective Habit Change | Zen Habits
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