Writing samples
To begin with a bang, I've embedded one of my feature articles (along with unsolicited feedback on its merits from a premier organization for business communicators) first. Additional writing samples that follow include formal business writing and marketing prose.
A knotty consideration was how to group these (by audience? by length? by formal vs. chatty voice?) to highlight how I'm able to adapt to different media and goals. My other purpose, of course, is simply to give you enough to decide for yourself if I have a knack for writing.
THE ZEN OF WRITING Obviously, the approach used when addressing a CEO, a board of directors or an investor will vary vastly from that taken in employee communications or when marketing trendy tees direct to female consumers. Savvy writers anticipate among the many variables and write accordingly. When coaching others or beginning a project myself, I focus on:
AUDIENCE Clarity is king. The more you know, the better your aim.
VOICE More than use of first or second person, this pertains to formal vs. conversational, detached vs. personal.
MEDIA or delivery channels In today's world, this is usually a plural consideration.
GOALS To educate? To inspire? To entertain? To evoke a response? All of the above?
Those are nonetheless just the bare-bones beginnings that every communications major is schooled in. A developed writing talent, on the other hand, shows respect for the reader and topic as well as finesse at the art of communication. How do you "show respect" for readers and topics? By caring enough to use fresh writing and find new approaches. By dynamically improving and changing up content while judiciously jettisoning what doesn't work. By knowing your audience, especially as they change. By creating diverse content to accommodate various learning styles and levels of attention. By staying current with trends, translating best-practices, and leveraging design's advantages to deliver the best product possible. Excellent writing is clear, anticipatory, accessible, and always seeks to improve itself and the message.
I also heartily endorse the practice of capturing the human dimension no matter the topic whenever possible. Information is more captivating when drilled-down specifically as this person's narrative. And (bonus!) it's easier for writers to educate readers through storytelling: for example, by narrating how Joe Associate raised X amount of dollars for his charitable cause when he ran the Y marathon in a gorilla suit and then amplified his donation by using the Z firm's 2-for-1 Matching Gifts program, other employees learn about how Z firm's charitable giving match works.
As you read my samples, see if I practice what I preach about writing.
A knotty consideration was how to group these (by audience? by length? by formal vs. chatty voice?) to highlight how I'm able to adapt to different media and goals. My other purpose, of course, is simply to give you enough to decide for yourself if I have a knack for writing.
THE ZEN OF WRITING Obviously, the approach used when addressing a CEO, a board of directors or an investor will vary vastly from that taken in employee communications or when marketing trendy tees direct to female consumers. Savvy writers anticipate among the many variables and write accordingly. When coaching others or beginning a project myself, I focus on:
AUDIENCE Clarity is king. The more you know, the better your aim.
VOICE More than use of first or second person, this pertains to formal vs. conversational, detached vs. personal.
MEDIA or delivery channels In today's world, this is usually a plural consideration.
GOALS To educate? To inspire? To entertain? To evoke a response? All of the above?
Those are nonetheless just the bare-bones beginnings that every communications major is schooled in. A developed writing talent, on the other hand, shows respect for the reader and topic as well as finesse at the art of communication. How do you "show respect" for readers and topics? By caring enough to use fresh writing and find new approaches. By dynamically improving and changing up content while judiciously jettisoning what doesn't work. By knowing your audience, especially as they change. By creating diverse content to accommodate various learning styles and levels of attention. By staying current with trends, translating best-practices, and leveraging design's advantages to deliver the best product possible. Excellent writing is clear, anticipatory, accessible, and always seeks to improve itself and the message.
I also heartily endorse the practice of capturing the human dimension no matter the topic whenever possible. Information is more captivating when drilled-down specifically as this person's narrative. And (bonus!) it's easier for writers to educate readers through storytelling: for example, by narrating how Joe Associate raised X amount of dollars for his charitable cause when he ran the Y marathon in a gorilla suit and then amplified his donation by using the Z firm's 2-for-1 Matching Gifts program, other employees learn about how Z firm's charitable giving match works.
As you read my samples, see if I practice what I preach about writing.
Features and reporting
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Web-specific
See *http://hopecouture.com/
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Global audience, global topics
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Business communications
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Stars in your eyes: Deciphering my mark-ups (and other inside information)
- I've *starred* entries that appear on more than one web page within this portfolio site (to offset any vaguely nagging "haven't I seen this somewhere before?" glimmerings on your part).
- To protect the privacy of my clients, some company, municipality and individual's names have been altered or shielded.
- In the off-chance my human-interest pieces pique your interest for similar narratives, the Content Development page features similar articles profiling people and worthy causes and organizations.