Successful Blog

Myth Busting “Write as You Talk” OR How to Write Conversationally

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I Can Think Writing

Power Writing Series Logo

My IT husband wanted to know what I knew about writing. We talked quite a while. I told him that writing is written conversation about organized thinking.

As he does often, IT man gave his response in quotable form.

I can think writing, but I don’t know how to write it.

I could have answered, “Write as you talk.” It’s well known advice, but talking isn’t at all like writing. Really. That is a myth and I’m myth busting it now. So what does it mean to write as you talk? [Read more…]

Net Neutrality 8-14-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Weighing High-Tech Bills in Analog [via Congress, Comic Books, Technology And Passing New Laws]

The fight over House and Senate telecom bills has sparked an estimated $1 million a day in lobbying and advertising by companies and advocacy groups. Urged on by politically powerful phone companies, Congressional leaders have been actively pushing the legislation. Recognizing the momentum, advocates for a variety of technology issues — including a new Internet tax moratorium and anti-piracy measures — are trying to tack on amendments.

But fear of unintended consequences and difficulties grasping the highly technical issues are making some in Congress hesitant to support technology legislation.

[ . . .]

“I’m tired of talking about 18-wheelers,” an exasperated Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) said at a House hearing this spring. “I’d like to know what we’re talking about here.”

[ . . .]

Phone and cable companies, which oppose any new regulations governing whether they can charge for prioritizing content, have seized on that confusion. They’ve warned lawmakers not to act on a vaguely defined potential problem because it could have those dreaded “unintended consequences.”

Those arguments carry weight among lawmakers trying to be careful about intervening in the technology marketplace, said Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who chairs a House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet.

“We didn’t want to lock in or lock out future players,” he said. “Who knows what’s going to come down the pike?”

But the debate has frustrated Internet executives.

“To our industry and our customers, very important issues are being decided today in Congress,” said Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice president of global public policy. “Much of the concern is decisions might be made without a complete understanding of the facts.”

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

7.5 Cat’s BIG IDEA

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Where to from Here?

Cat Morley

And now that I’m getting to the point of retirement, I’m getting away from the actual work of design and am now spending most of my time on pro bono work. Hence NO!SPEC, Creative Latitude and Proscodi. And one more on the way … Cat Morely said.

But her life hardly seems to be slowing, in fact it seems to be gearing up. Before we left her or looked too far down the road, I wanted to know what Cat sees now.

Cat, what do you think most designers get wrong?

Depends what you are talking about. Wrong about choosing freelance over
inhouse before they have enough skills? Not enough education and experience before striking out on their own? Working on spec? Being gullible? Not being professional? I guess I answered your question …

What could Successful Blog do to support designers more?

Successful Blog has its own style. It caters to a range of professions
with diverse interests. If you were to attract designers, in my opinion
you’d have to teach them something they do not know. Something they
need to know. Something you know. Writing. A large number of designers
are crap at grammar and sentence structure. I’m one.

In order for this to work, you’ll need to first get their attention,
then get them to understand that they need to keep paying attention.

Cat, What is your BIG IDEA? When people think of Cat Morley, what’s the first thing you want them to think of?

First thing I WANT them to think?

Hmmm…. tall, slim, young, brilliant?

[deep sigh] not the truth, just wishful thinking.

The truth is I’m passionate about the industry of design. I’m demanding of myself much more than I am of others. I am very good at organising but I’m not perfect. I have a quick, fiery hot temper. I no longer shy from it as I’ve lived with it for way too long and know it’s not going away. No more than I am. I’m loyal to my friends and not adverse to attempting to see the point of view of those who I’ve disagreed with hotly. I’m not one to say I have “no time for fools” as I’ve been a fool myself once too often. Live and learn, then live some more.

I tried to talk Cat into convincing one of her clients that she needed to call me in on one of her jobs. But once she explained the economics, we both decided it was wishful thinking.

Wishes are good things and one day I will meet her.

That Cat Morley is just too interesting to time run out without finding an afternoon to spend together talking about life and other stuff.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related Articles
Interview 7.1: Meet Cat Morley, World Designer
7.2 Interview: Cat Morley Becomes a Blogger
7.3: Cat, the Toothpaste, the Queen and Everyone

Bloggy Question 18 — Suddenly You Have

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What Are Your Favorites?

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week, I offer this Blogging Question.

Suddenly your blog has been discovered. All of the big names, all of your heroes have put you on their blogroll. You’re now looking at 26,000 links — individual site links — to your now famous blog. You’re number 1 on the Technorati Top 100. You have a Google Page Rank of 9, the same as Boing, Boing and Slashdot enjoy.

What do you do with this good fortune?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Bloggy Question 17 — The Official Writing Book Discussion
Bloggy Question 16 — Customer Feedback
Bloggy Question 15 — Roadblocks
Bloggy Question 14 — Make a Wish

Great Find: Motion Mall

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An Interactive Option to Amazon Advertising

I found this alternative advertising option reading OMMA, the Online Marketing Media & Advertising Magazine. If you’re willing to share a little ad benefit for a little interactivity and pulling power, you should take a look at this one.

Great Find: Motion Mall

Permalink: http://www.motionmall.com/

Audience/Topic: Any blogger who would like an Amazon program with some extra oomph and interactivity.

Content: Motion Mall is a Boston-based company that offers one-stop advertising that any blogger can setup and have running in four simple steps. All you have to do is

    1. Design your ad.
    2. Join the Amazon Associates program.
    3. Provide your contact information.
    4. Copy and Paste the HTML.

The benefits of Motion Mall are

    You get to choose the product focus.
    The interface is interactive and refreshes throughout the day.
    You’re paid directly from Amazon’s Associates program.

What’s the catch? There is a reasonable service fee to cover the costs of the interactive interface and you might find that some readers spend more time interacting with the ads than reading your blog posts.

To check out Motion Mall, click the logo.

Motion Mall

This is the most interesting new ad model I’ve seen in the longest while.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Time Out Chicago Agrees about VOX

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Something to Celebrate Every Day

Just a quick note to say that I have a new pile of VOX invitations if you missed out on the last bunch and to say that Time Out Magazine Chicago agrees that VOX is a really upbeat way for families and friends to connect online.

To check out their review, click the title.

Cheeriest Place in the Blogosphere

It’s hard not to smile when you’re in a VOX neighborhood. So if you’re not the smiling sort, be warned. You might want to move on to the next post. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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VOX: As Fun as Grandmas and Grandpas!