Weirding Word®

The First Time Is Seldom As Good As the Last

It's always helpful to remember that a first draft is just that -- the very first, roughest go at it among all of the revisions and iterations that will come along.  However, that lonely little underappreciated first draft is a doorway to opportunity. It's an opportunity to clarify goals. A chance to assess direction and style.  It literally illustrates where we can improve and how far we've come.

Maybe you know what you want the piece to accomplish or to explain, but the how of it is not quite straight in your head.  You want it to be engaging.  To be clear.  To be simple.  To be better than the competition!  And yet, ACK, that poor little first draft is not what you'd hoped!  Whatever that was supposed to have been.

So, is there any way around that painful first contact?  Whether you write the piece yourself or hire someone to do it for you, these tips will help:

1. Find samples of the things you like -- whether an entire document or just a feature in an article.
2. Briefly outline the main goal of what you're writing. (HINT: More than 3 goals means you probably need to rethink it.)
3. Know your topic -- don't get tripped up trying to explain something you don't quite understand.
4. Write to your strengths -- use your own authentic voice in the first draft and leave the polish for later drafts.
5. Edit, revise and edit some more until it's what you want.
6. Have someone else review and comment on the document.
7. If you've hired someone to do the writing, discuss the process and number of revisions ahead of time.

Keep hope alive and keep on keeping on.  That final draft is going to shine.

 

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2007-2010 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

The Hardest Habit To Break: Bob Edwards on the Art of Interviewing

Award-winning radio journalist Bob Edwards recently delivered a candid, intriguing presentation on the art of interviewing for MediaBistro at the National Press Club.  Between audio clips of his interviews and stories about the making of those interviews, Edwards answered several questions.  His answer to my question surprised me most.

When asked about his biggest lesson in the field, Edwards didn't talk about ensuring balance in a story, or question preparation, or even mastering new topics.  He talked about finding your own distinctive voice.  His hardest habit to break was abandoning the voice of a journalist he admired, and creating that unique sound, style and cadence we've all come to recognize through his more than 30 years in radio.

And, this advice is relevant not only to broadcasters, but to those of us who conduct interviews, focus groups, client consultations, and any number of person-to-person forms of inquiry.  That includes journalists and freelancers, social researchers, recruiters and headhunters, performers, consultants and more.  Discovering and wielding our authentic voices -- through the flood of others' voices inside and outside our own heads -- is a skill that's key to success.  It's that unique voice that inspires and engenders confidence, trust and respect in those with whom we communicate.

What are some ways to harness your unique voice?

• Use your own words and terminology
• Approach the interview as a conversation
• Convey your interest and happiness to be there
• Begin with smalltalk instead of diving into the questions

I'd love to hear other recommendations for drawing on and using your own unique voice when interviewing people.

Gaea Honeycutt
blog@weirdingword.com

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2007-2010 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

Happy Holidays from Weirding Word®

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Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2008 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

Promote Yourself When You Speak

A guest blog by Sally Strackbein

When you speak, train or are on a panel, do you use that opportunity to promote yourself? You will stand above your competition when you give an information-packed handout.

I attend a lot of meetings that feature speakers. It amazes me how few give handouts to support their presentations. The speaker at one meeting did have a handout. It had her PowerPoint slides printed in a grainy resolution on cheap quality paper and it had no contact information. Most speakers don't have a handout at all. Some pass out their brochures. These brochures are often beautiful and expensive to produce. I look at them and throw them away as soon as I get home. (Actually, I put them in my recycle bin.) I don't save them.

On the other hand, give me a good handout and it goes in my reference file. A good handout gives me the major points the speaker made with some supporting detail. It gives me an action step to take and it gives me a way to follow up with the speaker.

Do you provide a good handout that your audience will save? People have called me years after a presentation because they were looking through their reference file and found my handout. (Yes, these calls lead to business.)

Here are some handout tips:

• Use your professional photo.


• Use color - at least on the title or cover page.


• Make your layout attractive.


• List your phone number, website and e-mail address on every page.


• Print it on 28lb paper instead of the more common 20lb paper. People can feel the difference.


• Most important, give valuable information.

Use every engagement as an opportunity to promote yourself with your handout. Handouts trump brochures every time!

Sally Strackbein inspires people to discover, clarify and express their value through speaking and storytelling. Her presentations, workshops, and coaching help her clients create and deliver messages that motivate, educate, or sell. She is also the host of the international online speakers directory, www.SpeakerZone.com. You can reach her at www.DefiningStory.com. Or, learn how you can discover your best stories and tell them like a pro at Sally's Storytelling Speakshop, September 12-13, in Reston, VA.

Gaea Honeycutt
blog@weirdingword.com

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services. Copyright 2008 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

Massive List of Killer Freelancing Tips

The Freelance Folder recently ran a contest to celebrate its one-year anniversary. Whether a writer, editor, designer or other consultant, you'll find this list of freelancer-to-freelancer recommendations submitted by contestants helpful. And, if you have your own tip to share, post a comment at the end of the blog.

Gaea Honeycutt
blog@weirdingword.com

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2008 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.