“You’re approaching a certain age,” a kind and diplomatic person said on the phone recently. As that, ahem, milestone approaches, here are six ideas (notes to self) to get outside more often… way beyond the screens. Much as I enjoy working, do I want to spend hour upon hour hunched over these here screens? No… Read more »
So you’ve written that blog. Now you want to encourage more and different people to read it and comment, from new and existing clients to prospects and referrers. Inviting and responding to comments is a great way to keep your website content fresh while engaging with your readers. An open question, or a “call to… Read more »
Like any skill, it takes effort, practice and perseverance to write clearly and in a way that engages your loyal clients – and attracts new ones. Whether it’s writing a business plan, a blog or an award entry, here are 8 ideas that will help you to boost your writing skills – and, if writing’s… Read more »
What better excuse to celebrate the language and turns of phrase of Ireland than the feast day of St Patrick, patron saint and myth magnet. Beyond the tales of snakes chased into the sea and a herd of swine rustled up for hungry sailors, would you ever spare a thought too for St Brigid, another of… Read more »
Wee tim’rous beastie: wouldn’t you be with that bird of prey in pursuit? As Burns Night beckons, what better occasion to savour some of his poetry. Celebrations to mark the birth of Robert Burns are held in venues from eastern Scotland’s Glamis Castle to the Birmingham Whisky Club 7 hours south. Then there’s the homage… Read more »
We all have way too much to do, whether for work or all the rest of it. All the more reason, perhaps, to take 10 minutes here and there to read a book… Relaxing? For sure. Develops our skills including writing? I’d say so. Reading fiction also helps us become more empathetic, I’ve often heard… Read more »
Bats in your belfry… Zombies, ghouls and skeletons giving you goosebumps… Halloween is getting increasingly hard to ignore. Fan or not of fright night, leave the eye of newt and lizard’s leg to simmer in the cauldron then join us on a meander around 9 Halloween-themed words. Poetry is included – you decide whether that’s… Read more »
Take a moment and look at those trees. Admit it, you feel better already. Calmer, less gnarly, more in tune with the universe. (If you want to hug a trunk to your heart, who are we to judge?) ‘Your neck of the woods’… ‘can’t see the wood for the trees’… ‘dead wood’. If those expressions are anything… Read more »
Football commentators, usually ex-players of the beautiful game, often face criticism for using clichés. (A game of two halves, anyone?) At the end of the day, and when all’s said and done, why should they get all the flak – or have all the fun*? As England faces Colombia in Moscow, here’s a brief meander… Read more »
Recently I set myself a challenge: to blog once a week for the following 12 weeks. Eight blogs in seems a good moment to reflect… and offer some ideas about how to blog regularly. Never mind the quality, feel the width? Hardly. You’ll also be aiming to write better blogs, of course, getting more and… Read more »
