r u 2 cool 4 ur own good?

August 26th, 2007 by Nancy

Employers want you to know that professional writing is not the same as text messaging. Seems like a statement of the obvious, but apparently many people in business today don’t get it.

I”m not condemning the techie shorthand that has become so widespread–speed and efficiency have their place, after all. But I also love the power of language, and I”m afraid it often gets lost in the translation. Check out this piece in the NY Times–and make sure u r writing 4 ur audience.

Young Workers: U Nd 2 Improve Ur Writing Skills

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Light in the darkness

July 25th, 2007 by Nancy

Even under the best of circumstances, communicating is a challenge for some people; but when tragedy strikes, most of us are hard pressed to find just the right words to express our thoughts and feelings. Likewise, after a loss, those who grieve often feel isolated and alone at the very time when the love and support of others is most needed. In general, our society is simply uncomfortable with death as a topic of conversation.Earlier this year, the launch of a new website helped to open the lines of communication for those who are bereaved and the people who love them. The Light Beyond is a place of support, comfort and hope, offering

• an extensive library of articles on end-of-life issues,
• an active blog and forums for human interaction,  
• a bookstore featuring selections on a variety of bereavement-related topics (including Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep, a collection of new and time-honored poems, quotations and readings on death, dying and bereavement by Lucie Storrs, the site’’s creator),

. . . and much, much more.Please stop by for a visit . . . and if someone you know is grieving, be sure to pass the word about The Light Beyond.

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Word power

July 25th, 2007 by Nancy

I do what I do because I love the power of words. Within the English language, writers find a seemingly limitless vocabulary of words to describe, communicate, explain, and entertain. Good writing is effective writing - writing whose message is clear, concise, and leaves no doubt as to its meaning.

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Check into this

July 25th, 2007 by Nancy

Is anyone else troubled by the endless parade of celebrities and socialites who check into rehab these days? We check in (register) at hotels and resorts; we check into (investigate) the accuracy of information we receive; and we check in (enroll) for classes and conferences and seminars. Kids check in with their parents when they’re going to be late for curfew. But check into rehab?

Listen to those who have successfully completed treatment programs for various addictions. They’ll tell you that the decision to enter rehab bears no resemblance to checking into a spa. They’ll tell you that they arrived at the door only after inflicting tremendous pain on themselves or others, whether that pain is simply the bummer of dealing with morning hangovers, or the haunting, inescapable and irrevocable truth that one’s habit led to the injury or death of another person. Some, after all, can tolerate more pain than others.

To say that a person has checked into rehab merely sugarcoats and minimizes the truth. A more accurate statement would be something like: Celebrity X is sick and tired of being sick and tired. Unable to break the cycle of addiction on her (or his) own, she has decided to enter a program in an attempt to turn her life around.

Such a proclamation may cold or harsh, but it is right on. And beating addiction isn’t easy, but with honesty, support and hard work, it can be done. Perhaps if we speak the truth, people with drug and alcohol problems stop checking into rehab and get with a serious program of recovery before they check out.

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Email: Fast, yes - but at what price?

July 15th, 2007 by Nancy

I love email. It’s fast and easy & essential for anyone who’s into instant gratification. Yet all that efficiency can be costly if quick & becomes careless. Lately I’ve come across several articles on avoiding the pitfalls inherent in email. Here’s one I thought worth sharing: Email mishaps are all too common

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Technically speaking

May 20th, 2007 by Nancy

Sometimes the best lessons come in the form of small but powerful statements. Take the following lesson on the importance of clear writing, for example.

About 15 years ago, I took a great technical writing class. I remember the teacher, who was the head of the English Department at the local college I attended, revealing the secret to success in technical writing: Think of yourself as the person in charge of writing the emergency procedure manual for a nuclear power plant. In the event of a potential disaster, you don’t want the plant operator to lose time wondering whether you meant this or that in your instructions.

That was one of my all-time favorite classes. Because the teacher was exceptionally effective, and because I got it. Although I’d always loved writing my own and others’ - this class was one of those ah-ha! moments in my life. Somewhere in that class, I gained a deeper understanding of the real power of the written word, and that’s what brought me here today.

In business terms, poorly organized reports confuse rather than inform, unclear policies lead to bitter disputes, and awkwardly designed forms frustrate customers. On the other hand, effective written communication informs, sells, and improves business relationships as simple as that.

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Welcome to WriteMind

May 12th, 2007 by Nancy

If you’ve visited the Adams Business Communications website before, you may wonder what happened to the Worth Reading page - a list of links to articles I found useful or amusing or interesting. (The links in this paragraph will take you to the last version of that page, which will no longer be updated.) Although all of the articles I deemed Worth Reading were related to language, communication, and writing, most of them focused on business writing alone.

Business writing is my bread and butter, it’s true, but I love good writing of any kind - I love writing it, I love reading it, and I love talking about it. I found myself wanting to expand the kinds of links I was offering, and I needed more space to throw my $.02 into the mix.

So, long overdue and lagging far behind the blogging bandwagon, here is the WriteMind blog.

Comments, suggestions, and questions are welcome.

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