This year I have been blessed with an enormous volume of work from great clients. One project has provided me with the opportunity to hire a small group of writers to assist me. This has been a fascinating and enjoyable experience from several perspectives.
It has shown me exactly what I like in writers: the ability to "get it" quickly, work easily with feedback, deliver on time and not complain about much of anything.
I've been fortunate to find a handful of talented people who meet these criteria. They have affirmed for me a side of freelancing that makes a huge difference: being responsive, responsible and service oriented.
I have also had the opportunity to give these writers the kind of treatment I appreciate from my clients. I have paid their invoices immediately upon receipt (although not everyone can do that). In one case, I added a bonus because the writer went above and beyond to save another person's draft that was not working. It was just the right thing to do, and I did it without prompting.
I have tried to give 90% praise and encouragement, and 10% constructive direction. The results have been good. The best writers thrive on positive feedback.
Thanks to all who have worked with me this year: subcontractors, direct clients, agencies, designers and marketing consultants. And special thanks to those who refer business to me. I appreciate your trust and confidence.
© Miller McMillan
Word of the day: remarkable
Nothing too remarkable about the word 'remarkable' as used in common parlance. But the medical world adds new interest. I remember getting the results of a CT on which the doctor wrote, "Liver, pancreas, kidneys, appendix all unremarkable."
Wait a second. I think that if my internal organs are looking good and not growing any extraterrestrial stuff, they deserve a better verbal appraisal, wouldn't you agree?
Well, in med-speak, unremarkable means there's nothing to remark about. My kidneys have nothing going on that calls for comment.
Remarkable, this English language.
© Miller McMillan
Empathy. The missing link in communication.
Putting oneself in the reader's place sounds easy. It's not. This is not just a mental process, but is also emotional and spiritual.
For example, how does it feel to live in a city that might face disaster at any moment? How do the residents feel about disaster? What are their concerns, barriers to action, and beliefs about their future? How does a writer truly understand in order to engage, inform and inspire action?
These are the kinds of questions to be mindful of when writing with a purpose.
You don't have to be psychic. But you do have to be aware and tuned in to others in a genuine and heartfelt way. I could never write about cigarettes, for example, because I cannot put myself in a smoker's place, mentally or emotionally or spiritually. But earthquakes, sporting goods, planes, cell phones, contact lenses, vitamins, real estate, restaurants . . . I've been there and I can relate on many levels. My writing empathizes, which is essential to connecting and communicating.
© Miller McMillan
Do exclamation marks convey emotion? Consider the context.
In advertising and marketing writing, exclamation marks usually demonstrate a failed attempt to express emotion. Better to let the words and ideas do the work and end with a period. However, in texting and email, these marks can express enthusiasm, appreciation, outrage, or friendliness. Commas are often omitted:
Hi Miller! Thanks Joan! What?! Hello!
Back to marketing and formal writing: Using an exclamation mark is sort of like putting a Rolls Royce hood ornament on an economy car. You're not going to fool anybody. You might as well construct a metal exclamation mark and weld it to the hood of the car. The effect will be about the same.
Using a lot of exclamation marks further weakens the intended effect. The marks become redundantly and abundantly uninspiring, essentially canceling each other out. I've seen writing that has exclamation marks after every sentence! How insane is that! Tell me!
Exclamation marks do have value in other applications. They are good for using in front of folder names because the folder moves toward the top of your list. Exclamation marks also communicate the mathematical concept of factorial: a number multiplied by all numbers below it in value. Thus 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1, or 120. Yes. Pretty exciting.
As with hyphens and commas, sometimes less is more. If you have strong emotions about this subject, please get in touch with me.
© Miller McMillan
"Whose idea was that, anyway?"
What makes for a successful collaboration and great ideas?
In my experience, it's an absence of ego and a respect for the idea. When the atmosphere is open and accepting, people drop their guards and ideas flow freely. Some ideas sound ridiculous. Some may be brilliant. Some inspire others. And all should be welcome. Because you never know when the big one will strike.
How to kill an idea
Perhaps the worst thing a collaborator can do is immediately reject the ideas of others. In an atmosphere of criticism and judgement, creative people tend to shut down and shut up. A potentially great idea may never be seen or heard.
Why does this happen? Some people need to feel superior and play favorites with their own ideas. Some have an almost godlike notion of their creative abilities. Others want to be sure they get "credit" for an idea and their name on award entries. Regardless of the reasons, ideas are lost when egos rule.
I've seen situations in which a client suggests an idea that is automatically rejected because it came from the client. How ridiculous is that? I know many clients who are highly creative and make valuable contributions. Learn to love clients.
How to nurture great ideas
Treat all people as equals. Forget about titles, positions at the table, claims to fame and names to shame. Listen, be open and let it happen.
It's nice when "my idea" is replaced by "the idea." And nobody cares where it came from.
© Miller McMillan
Footnote: Bodhi Tree, a great American bookstore
Sadly, Bodhi Tree closed at the end of 2011. The store is sorely missed and I hope a new owner will come forward at this prime location. Here is my original post from last year.
Bodhi Tree on Melrose is truly a treasure: a bookstore, library and sanctuary in one. There are plenty of chairs placed throughout the store and no pressure to hurry up and finish a chapter or buy something. In spite of the lack of pressure (and maybe because of this attitude), I have bought many books, magazines and other items at Bodhi Tree through the years. The environment is forever peaceful, with soft music, occasional incantations of chimes, and a sage cat who roams the premises, stops to say hello, and delivers a lesson in etiquette to ill-mannered dogs who dare cross her path.
This post is my "thank you" to a really special place in our city.
© Miller McMillan
When acronyms spell dysfunction.
The idea behind acronyms is to turn a verbal mouthful into a manageable morsel. For example, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers works well as ASCAP and is immediately recognized through that melodious medley of capital letters.
Unfortunately, acronyms don't always work. Those back-to-back capital letters can be cryptic and therefore frustrating for the reader.
However, there is an advantage to using acronyms within a closed circle like a government agency. Outsiders won't have a clue what you're talking about.
In a similar vein, do you like phone numbers that use words instead of numbers? I find myself staring at the phone and taking the time to make the required translation of letters to digits when I would rather be placing the call. At the expense of losing some brand pizazz, let's lose the words and go numerical.
My favorite self-generated acronym? WIDSIO. When it doubt, spell it out.
© Miller McMillan
Repeat business and referrals: the highest compliments.
I am very busy this summer working with long term clients. And their friends. And their families. It's an honor to earn the trust and confidence of people who seek my help.
Say goodbye to writer's block.
To be fair, I haven't researched "writer's block" to see what others think. Guess I have reader's block on this subject. But here's my take. Writer's block can occur when we are so critical about our writing that we fear rejection before there's anything to reject.
The good news
In school, an instructor showed me an easy way to avoid writer's block. We were working on an ad and he said to write down every headline that came to mind. The idea was to suspend judgement about what was "good" or "bad" and simply start the flow.
A couple of years into my career, an agency owner echoed the same idea: "Coming up with great ideas is not hard. You just have to come up with enough ideas." It sounded simplistic. Later, I realized the wisdom of his words.
Just start it
Here's a suggestion. When you are awarded an assignment, open a new documentand start writing. Naturally you'll focus on the subject and audience, but getting underway is the goal.
When I'm writing emails, brochures and websites, I write the first paragraph three or four different ways without stopping to edit. Everything is acceptable for the moment. The left and right brains will have plenty of time to chat.
Momentum creates momentum
When I work this way, one of the headlines or paragraphs invariably becomes the catalyst that moves me through the project. Once the thread is established, the ideas simply weave together.
To summarize, when you fear getting stuck, just get started. And when you've said enough, just "publish."
When clichés actually work.
Is the double entendre, or pun, the lowest form of humor?
Depends on who you ask -- and how you use it. Some word plays can work really well, grabbing attention and engaging interest.
Consider the "literalized cliché" -- a tired expression that gets a double shot of espresso when placed in a fresh context.
Let me distill that for you.
If someone refers to a business deal as a "long shot," we yawn and think, "Wasn't there a better way to say that?"
But if Dirk Nowitski hits a game-winning jumper from mid court, then "Dallas is a winner by a long shot" is pretty interesting. The words are literally true. Three points.
Compare that to situations that have nothing to do with a "long shot." The phrase loses its identity and lacks energy.
Some might say it should be put on the bench or thrown out of the game. But that would be taking this discussion into overtime.