One of the most valuable steps I build into timelines for any writing project is ‘walk away’ time. It is so important to me that I have time to walk away from a close-to-final draft. ‘Walk away’ time allows me to: Think about the copy while I do other things, allowing new ideas to arise.… Read More »
As a nonprofit communicator, you are most likely facing constant, large volumes of work. And if your role involves creating content, you have to be both creative and prolific under pressure. Which makes writer’s block very unwelcome indeed. But don’t we all suffer from writer’s block from time to time? For one reason or another,… Read More »
Do you want your speeches to do more than just present information? Great speeches are written to inform, but also to motivate, inspire and engage your audience. When crafting your next speech, follow these ten steps to maximize your impact: 1.Know your audience. Learn as much as you can about the people who will be… Read More »
I was recently helping a client get ‘unstuck’ in his creative process. He was struggling with microsite copy for a video contest based on raising awareness of poverty-related issues. During our brainstorming session, I realized that he was getting stuck on a common nonprofit copywriting problem: forgetting to tell the audience what’s in it for… Read More »
I’ve written before about communicating benefits to your audience, but there is another, very specific way of keeping your audience at the centre of your nonprofit copywriting. When trying to draw in your reader, there is a simple tactic you should employ. Actually, it’s just a word: ‘you’. Use it in your copy. Often. Every… Read More »
Three (period-separated) word taglines are everywhere. Are they making a comeback? Gaining popularity? Or have they just been a far-too-prevalent (and boring) staple for years? Here are a few examples: Wisdom. Power. Change. Young. Professional. Connected. People. Planet. Profits. Live. Learn. Cure. This one doesn’t exactly fit the criteria, but I’d say it can be… Read More »
Writing a bio can – and should – be more than just a presentation of credentials and accomplishments. With a little effort and creativity, you can make anyone interesting! Here are a few points to help you to write bios that intrigue: Gather the facts The obvious first step is to gather all of the… Read More »