If you think ‘woke’ is a buzzword reserved for Gen Z liberals, think again. While some accuse “politically correct snowflakes” of being “over-sensitive”, those of us who work with words need to be especially mindful of our language. Let me start by saying that I’m a white, straight, 64-year-old female. I live in a lovely
Writing
Woke: why communicators need to be especially mindful
03 Nov / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 0 comments /
You’ve done your research. Conducted the interview. Now you’ve got to write the article. Gulp. In the third of his series on ‘how to write an article’, former trade press editor and journalist Andy Barrett shows how to finesse those sprawling notes into the perfect article. Whatever happens, don’t be downhearted. Even if you are
Why you need to write press releases and features differently
08 Dec / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 0 comments /Comfortable with press releases but a bit wary of features and articles? Each serves a different purpose and needs a different approach to the writing. Not everything we write needs to be read from start to finish. With news stories, we often get everything we need from the headline and/or opening paragraph alone. But, if
As a copywriter, the second most common question you’re likely to be asked (after ‘how much do you charge?’) is ‘do you have examples of your work?’. Or, if the person asking knows what they’re talking about, ‘do you have a copywriting portfolio?’. If you’re like me, you’ll spend half the morning searching your files
Whether you’re writing an article about someone or just ‘picking their brains’ on a particular subject, you’re going to produce a better article if you interview that person first. In the second of his series on ‘how to write an article’, former trade press editor and journalist Andy Barrett explains how to prepare for and
How to write an article part 1 – finding the angle
28 Aug / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 6 comments /There can’t be many of us who don’t find long copy a bit daunting, especially when the subject is complex, unfamiliar or not something we’re particularly interested in personally. In the first of his series on ‘how to write an article’, former trade press editor and journalist Andy Barrett explains, with the help of Jack
Stay alert/aware/ready/ prepared/mindful/etc: the dangers of slogans
12 May / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 0 comments /When we’re in the communications business, in principle isn’t good enough. Leaving our words open to interpretation is the proverbial recipe for disaster.
The good, the bad and the smugly: how to communicate well during the Covid-19 lockdown
21 Apr / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 8 comments /They’re all at it. Banks, doctors’ surgeries, supermarkets, travel agents, courier companies we used just once four years ago – they’re all emailing us. Some are checking how we are. Some are letting us know how they are. And many are just trying to make an honest buck. But while some, like Sainsburys, have nailed
Online training: is there room on the bandwagon?
03 Apr / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 0 comments /If, like me, you’ve searched for anything teaching or training related recently, you’ll no doubt have been inundated with ads for online training in everything from creative writing and playing the ukulele to Artificial Intelligence and how to manage your stocks and shares. (I wish.) We are indeed living in strange times. While key workers
The 15 best online resources for copywriters in 2022
04 Mar / by: Lorraine Forrest-Turner / 34 comments / tags : copywriting,editing,proofreadingBusiness writers are an anxious bunch. Unlike creative writers free from corporate limitations, business writers constantly worry about objective and message and tone of voice and must-haves and must-nots. It’s surprising we come up with any original thoughts. Here then are my 15 online resources for copywriters. I use them to inspire me, sense-check my
