‘Tools and resources’

Recapture that typewriter feeling

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 | View on own page?

In the days before PC-based word processors, a blank piece of paper in the typewriter was where most writing began. And there that paper sat intimidating the writer to fill it with words.

Today’s PC desktops are much friendlier places but they are full of distractions with the internet, social media access or email just a mouse click or two away.

Of course, a useful diversion can be just what’s needed to get your brain into gear. But if a deadline is pressing and you really need to concentrate then Q10 should help.

Q10 is a simple text editor that’s been designed and built with writing in mind. Open it and you’re presented with a full-screen – no toolbars, scrollbars, menus or popup windows to lead you astray. Just start typing and the black screen fills with text.

Pressing F1 on your keypad brings up a range of file and save options, including useful alarm and word count settings so you can write to an allotted length, or for a specific amount of time. These are shown in a discrete status bar and are updated live as you type.

For a real retro feel there’s even an optional typewriter keyboard sound to complete the experience.

You can download Q10 here, for free.

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Just how often do you quote Shakespeare?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | View on own page?

If you cannot understand my argument, and declare “It’s Greek to me“, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare;if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger, if your wish is father to the thought, if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool’s paradise - why, be that as it may, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then – to give the devil his due - if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I were dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then – by Jove! O Lord! Tut, tut! for goodness’ sake! what the dickens! but me no buts – it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare.

From Enthusiasms by Bernard Levin, published by Jonathan Cape, 1983

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Avoid costly errors with the business writer’s toolkit

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 | View on own page?

How do you feel when you spot a spelling mistake or an example of bad grammar in a company’s website, direct mail piece or brochure?

At the very least you might question the organisation’s attention to detail and overall quality control. After all if a business can be so careless with its own presentation, what does that say about its approach to customers?

Apparently a large percentage of us will even go as far as not to do business with companies demonstrating poor communication skills. In the UK, the Royal Mail has estimated the value of such lost sales at £40 billion a year; in the US, bad writing costs business over $200 billion annually.

So if you’re not sure when to use ‘complement’ or ‘compliment’, ‘effect’ or ‘affect’ correctly, then do look them up first. Don’t rely solely on your word processor’s spelling and grammar check.

While online services abound, there’s really no substitute for keeping a couple of good hard-copy references on your desktop to provide the help you need.

So here are three suggestions that could spare you possible embarrassment:

The New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors
Straightforward guidance on writing style and usage, including common spelling confusions

The Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation
Handy pocket book to answer everyday queries

Grammar and punctuation – all you’ll ever need to know
An excellent guide from the Word Centre in just 33 pages with self-test exercises

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Who owns your copy?

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 | View on own page?

If you commission copywriting or are contracted to write for an organisation, it’s as well to be clear where ownership of the work lies. Otherwise issues could arise over any proposed re-use beyond its original purpose.

If you commission copywriting or are contracted to write for an organisation, it’s as well to be clear where ownership of the work lies. Otherwise issues could arise over any proposed re-use beyond its original purpose. Here we’re talking about copyright ownership – that’s the exclusive rights to produce copies of, or control, what’s been produced – and it has implications for both those who pay for the work and those that deliver it.

Let’s look at the buying position first.

You might think that if you’ve paid for a specific piece of copy then you, or your company, owns it. But that’s not necessarily the case.

If the copy was written in-house by an employee then you should be on safe ground. The copyright should belong to you. However it’s as well to define the employment contract and the job description carefully to cover this area and preclude any claim that the work was not created in the course of that employment (for example, on the company laptop but in an employee’s own time). Unlikely, but you never know…

In instances where a freelance copywriter has been retained then copyright may remain with them. For the client to own the copyright it must be assigned to them in writing, preferably in advance and usually in a contract or agreement governing the work. Otherwise the copywriter could argue that the payment was for a specific period to create a specific project only, which therefore leaves the intellectual property in the content with them.

If copyright is not assigned then the client has a right to use the work, but not necessarily exclusively. This potentially allows the writer to license its use elsewhere, an option which should be made clear in their terms and conditions.

Copyright ownership remains a potentially valuable asset. So whether you commission copy, or write it, it’s good practice – even essential – to be clear about your position.

This article is for general information only and represents my understanding of the issue as it currently applies in the UK.

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