Very good post. I'm all for people telling their own story. Number 2 is a big hurdle for some. I'm tempted at times to get people to do things which I know will fail, only to show them that nothing really bad happens.
Anonymous
Hey, Toby!
Thanks for the coverage . . . can't wait for more drinks and dinner tonight. Also: just want to give credit where credit is due: Ann Wylie, the great writing instructor in the states, was the first to coin the 3-3-3-30 rule . . . I know I credited her in the seminar, but wanted the folks out here to know it too. See you at 7 in the hotel lobby bar!
Anonymous
Pleasure – lets debrief over milk and cookies tonight… or if you have something stronger that might do as well.
TW
Anonymous
I'm happy to report that we purged corporate-speak from our global news articles long, long ago (before I came to the team!). I write my own stories just as I write on my own blog: easy, breezy. The problem is that I still see it in other places such as several group newsletters and benefits documentation. Luckily a colleague of mine is making it her mission to proliferate our style guidelines more widely.
I like the 3-30-3-30 rule; that matches what I've seen.
Anonymous
Thanks for the comment Jeremy – we'd love to learn more! Can you share a couple of screenshot examples of a couple of good writing examples? Do you have an editorial policy or content guidelines?
Cheers, Toby
Anonymous
Can you tell me who did the “are you strong enough” site for Childrens Hospital of Atlanta?
Anonymous
Thanks for the tips! I really think this kind of information on corporate writing can be applied for other types of content as well. As an editorial articles writer I can only say the rule 3-30-3-30 doesn't really help, but when it comes to content approaches I found your post very insightful.
Very good post. I'm all for people telling their own story. Number 2 is a big hurdle for some. I'm tempted at times to get people to do things which I know will fail, only to show them that nothing really bad happens.
Hey, Toby!
Thanks for the coverage . . . can't wait for more drinks and dinner tonight. Also: just want to give credit where credit is due: Ann Wylie, the great writing instructor in the states, was the first to coin the 3-3-3-30 rule . . . I know I credited her in the seminar, but wanted the folks out here to know it too. See you at 7 in the hotel lobby bar!
Pleasure – lets debrief over milk and cookies tonight… or if you have something stronger that might do as well.
TW
I'm happy to report that we purged corporate-speak from our global news articles long, long ago (before I came to the team!). I write my own stories just as I write on my own blog: easy, breezy. The problem is that I still see it in other places such as several group newsletters and benefits documentation. Luckily a colleague of mine is making it her mission to proliferate our style guidelines more widely.
I like the 3-30-3-30 rule; that matches what I've seen.
Thanks for the comment Jeremy – we'd love to learn more! Can you share a couple of screenshot examples of a couple of good writing examples? Do you have an editorial policy or content guidelines?
Cheers, Toby
Can you tell me who did the “are you strong enough” site for Childrens Hospital of Atlanta?
Thanks for the tips! I really think this kind of information on corporate writing can be applied for other types of content as well. As an editorial articles writer I can only say the rule 3-30-3-30 doesn't really help, but when it comes to content approaches I found your post very insightful.