Tone Magnetic
1. Fear of writing is second only to fear of public speaking, studies confirm.
2. Joe is one of those guys who would give you his sandwich if you forgot your lunch. Too bad sharing his expertise on x protocols doesn’t come so easily.
Sorry about the tricks, but I wanted to make some points about how to be an interesting writer at work.
My first draft head was straightforward but boring until I added the bit about Bono, to demonstrate how to add interest to a title by relating it to a magnetic celebrity. If you came here for dirt on Bono, you can stop reading. I’m sure I’d like him if we ever met.
The hating Bono reference also highlights how conflict makes life–and writing–more interesting. Do not try the celebrity hook too often, unless it’s relevant. Or you’ll anger the Google gods.
As for my leads, I made up the study about the fear of writing. I wanted to point out how dramatic facts can make for an interesting intro.
I also made up Joe, though I know many people like him, who need to learn how to share their knowledge through the written word. The quick anecdote was intended to attract people who can relate to his dilemma.
Of course, there are other ways to lift your writing from dull to dazzling. We hear many of them in scintillating conversations.
Greater talkers:
* use colorful phrases
* provide me with new meaningful or exotic information
* talk about me
* express ideas clearly
* paint vivid pictures
* employ pleasing rhythm and pacing
* challenge my point of view
* tell stories well
* are funny
* compare and contrast
* push controversial opinions
* pick fights
* make dramatic or outrageous assertions
* touch hearts
Any more you can think of?
Unlike writers, talkers can add interest through voice tone and gestures. For writing, think of the equivalent, such as using bolding to emphasize a point or an ellipsis to indicate a pause…
The advantage of writing over talking is that you can write things in your first draft that you would be embarrassed to say out loud. Unlike talking, you get to revise and tone it down if you’re not comfortable.
So next time you’re getting bored with your own writing, try going over the top on the first draft. Have some fun. Have sober second thoughts when you revise.
There is no way around the need to create interest through your writing. Most of us compete for readers’ attention many times a day, whether it’s an email inviting people to your meeting a proposal that must stand out from the crowd.
If you don’t generate interest at the starting line, few people will read you. If you don’t continue with interest, fewer will trudge through to the finish.
You cannot sound like a dentist in the middle of a cleaning and wonder why no one seems to have read, understood or acted on your email, report, post or other written words. Besides, writing for interest is a lot more fun.
http://www.stickycommunication.ca
http://barbsawyers.wordpress.com
Barb Sawyers helps busy experts transform good talking into great writing. With a masters in journalism and more than 25 years’ experience, Barb has enabled many corporations, government agencies and nonprofits to communicate more effectively.
Barb also helps small businesses showcase their expertise and build relationships through email newsletters. Contact her for a free test drive at barb@stickycommunication.ca.
Barb passes along what she’s learned in her blog and a book she’s writing called Write Like You Talk–Only Better.
Mobile (cell) phone dampening field???
Have you ever wanted to get a device that would either dampen out mobile phone signals or disrupt the electronics within 20 feet of you, so that you didn’t have to put up with irritating people on their phones??? Or the stupid ringtones/messaging tones???
Does anyone know where you can get a small EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) generator to knock out electronic devices??? 
Hey there.
Not that it would not seem to be a good idea but..
Legally it is an offence in the UK (I think under one of the Wireless Telegraphy Acts) to interfere with a licenced service.
Mobile(cell) phone services are legally licensed to use the broadcast bands that they do exclusively.
I believe that there are devices which can block signals.
It is possibly not illegal to have / make one but it would be illegal to operate one. It would amount to the same kind of thing as broadcasting a pirate radio.
You may find there are different laws in different countries.
For instance, the iPod to FM radio rebroadcasters are illegal here for the same reason. In order to work with a standard FM radio they need to broadcast on the commercially licensed bands.
The law may change on this in regards to short range devices.
Good Luck !
528 Hz & Jupiter’s Electromagnetic voices & Alpha brainwaves
