Writing prompts: Have a rant

One of the biggest problems writers face is continually coming up with something to write about. Oddly enough, people don't seem to have such problems coming up with things to compain about, so why not focus that pent-up indignation?

Think about something you really don't like, or something you're not happy about, and have a rant about it.

 

There are three great things about this writing prompt:

The Creative Instinct: new course

I'm really happy to introduce a new three-part course on creativity called The Creative Instinct.

The course has been developed over the last few years through working with clients and has been condensed into three main components:

 

Should you write as you talk?

Opinions and advice on the topic of whether you should write as you speak are as varied as the people asking the questions. Here's how to decide for yourself.

Feeling creative? Motivated? Liar

If you are a creative person, you're more likely to be dishonest. Add that creativity to motivation and you have a recipe for a whole host of dastardly deeds, or at least that's what research seems to suggest. Francesca Gino, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, has conducted numerous studies covering creativity, social influence and ethics and moral judgement. She has found that creative thinkers are more likely to cheat, justify their unethical behaviour and, in the wonderful words of the Financial Times, be more "morally flexible". Apparently, a tendency to think outside the box goes hand in hand with motivation, leading to all sorts of mischief. It all sounds rather sinister, but is it really?	The dark side of creativity What implications does this have for those engaged in creative work, or those who consider themselves to be creative self-starters? Perhaps more pressingly, are we to assume that all creatives are lying, cheating, self-serving scumbags? Well, not entirely.	It should also be noted that the research seems to focus on those who have been primed to think creatively, i.e. presented with tasks that require creative thinking, rather than those who are creative by nature. No excuse for being boring Seth Godin said that great work is never reasonable, safe or boring. This is why the world needs motivated, creative thinkers. They produce great work. Without creativity the world would be a boring place. Safer? Perhaps, but don't use that as an excuse. Embrace creativity and creative thinkers. Just keep an eye on your office supplies.   - Richard Knobbs
	Creative thinkers are more likely to cheat, justify their unethical behaviour and be more "morally flexible".
	Although the research showed that creatives were more likely to steal office supplies or overstate how much progress they had made on projects, it didn't really paint all creatives as a bunch of Machiavellian schemers.

- Read more articles on creativity.

Is txt spk klg rdg & wrtg?

The less we read well-thought out, well-written long-form writing, the more likely it is we will no longer learn how to write well. - Stephen Tiano

In a recent article, book designer Stephen Tiano discusses the possibility that short-form reading and writing is killing our taste for reading books and, perhaps worse, destroying our ability to write well. So is text speak killing reading and writing and, if so, why and what can we do? The rise of txt spk The proliferation of mobile devices and the seeming need for instant gratification and constant communication has led to text speak becoming something of a lingua franca, especially among younger, more regular users of such devices. Early versions of mobile phones (and even pagers - remember them?) had small screens and limited memory, rendering abbreviations useful and, perhaps, necessary. Hence the rise of overused and often impolite phrases and symbols like <3 and WTF. Smartphones, tablets and other portable devices now allow for clear, elegant and grammatically correct communication, so why is text speak still growing and why should we care? WDYM? Whether we like it or not, text speak has been introduced to many people as an acceptable form of communication. It is acceptable because it is widespread and it is how groups of people choose to express themselves. There are even websites, like this one, dedicated to archiving examples.

It can still be used to save time and convey messages in a simple manner, but its simplicity both produces and masks the problems with it. Some people are now becoming so used to reading and writing in this truncated form that they are unable to produce grammatically correct, intelligible writing. Some also no longer have the attention span for reading books or even articles longer than a few paragraphs. I occasionally receive inquiries and questions from students and remain shocked by how many times I read things like 'wud', 'shud', 'TIA' (thanks in advance), and 'u' in what should be business-like correspondence. Outdated? Is an insistence on correct grammar and spelling an outdated eccentricity? Should we let text speak take its place? No. Absolutely not. The ability to write well is a gift, and we should cherish it, nurture it and never give up on it. I am not such a Luddite that I cannot recognise that text speak has its place, but we should not allow it to supplant correct, beautiful writing. Furthermore, we should not allow it to kill our desire to read and savour such writing. It would be a very sad day if well-written books no longer excited and fired the imagination of readers.

6 simple tips for overcoming writer's block

Anybody who writes, either professionally or for pleasure, knows the feeling: you sit down to write, but the words don't come.

Writer's block can strike at any time and it can be a pain.

Instead of sitting there and getting increasingly frustrated, try one, two or all of these tips - and feel free to share your own.

 

1) Set plans and stick to them

I've recently decided to make Friday's posts about writing. which means that every Friday I need to come up with something on this theme. A schedule can help because it gives you a structure to work from. (I know today is a Thursday, but I've posted a day early due to Christmas.)

It can also help chronic procrastinators.

 

A complete guide to press releases: 50% to charity + how you can help

I am currently finishing up my book 'A complete guide to creating outstanding press releases' and hope that it will be ready for sale in January, as scheduled.

I have decided to release it as an ebook, downloadable in PDF format, for two major reasons:

1. I want to donate at least 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the book to the Japanese Red Cross Society to help the reconstruction efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami. To be able to do this, I needed to keep costs to a minimum and be able to control the sale and distribution of the book.


2. It makes it much easier to distribute. I will hopefully publish books in the traditional way in the future, but I wanted this book to be available instantly in an electronic format that means it can work in conjunction with the optional online learning course which will accompany it.

How you can help

I don't really like asking people to buy my stuff because I believe in letting people decide without any pressure. If you are not interested in the book, don't buy it - please don't feel under any obligation to part with your money. If you would like to support the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami, but don't want the book, I hope you will consider making a donation.

If the book interests you and you think it would interest people you know (perhaps your clients, friends or readers of your website) please help me spread the word. I genuinely believe the information in the book and the accompanying course will help people with a major part of their PR.

If you write for a publication or blog and you think your readers would be interested, please drop me a line and I can forward a sample or full copy for review.

Thanks for your support.

In case this is all news to you, the book covers every aspect of creating outstanding press releases and ensuring they get noticed, from what to do before you start writing to deciding on tone, length, style and images, audience targeting, media targeting, alternative press pack ideas, following up once the press release has been sent and much more.