names, names, names

You know how someone named James might be Jim, Jimmy, Jamie, etc? Or a Catherine might be nicknamed Cathy, Kate, Cat, or (yes even) Cassie?

A recent project opened my eyes to the many options one has when naming not just people, but departments within schools. If anyone ever needs to know what exactly to look up when reserching art & design schools and their departments, here's a short list of possible titles:

Art
Studio Arts
Art & Design
Fine Arts
Media Arts
Arts & Letters
Creative Arts
Graphic Design
Visual Arts
Digital Arts

There are more, but I left my main list (I started keeping track) at my home office.

Anyway, just thought I'd share this tidbit with you.

insurance issues

Ok, fellow freelancers. I need to hear from you on this one.

So we (we meaning my husband and I, not we as in business partners) received a letter from our insurance company yesterday informing us of a rate increase for 2009...which figures out to be a 25% increase. That's right, my friends. 25%. That's huge. It's ginormous. It's insane. And it's totally uncalled for.

I will be calling our provider later today to ask some important questions. (Why are the web site quotes so different from our actual raters? What justifies this enormous increase? Do you really think people are going to be able to continue to pay for this service if it keeps going up and up and up in leaps and bounds? Who can I talk to--who can give me actual answers--about this problem? Because it is a problem...a BIG one!)

But what I'd like to know from you, fellow entrepreneurs, is if you buy your own insurance, how have your rates increased this year? If you're willing to share, by how much? How much longer do you think you can actually afford to buy health insurance? What other solutions have you considered? What do you think needs to be done?

This is a huge problem in our country. I'm not going to spout my political views on the subject. I'm just wondering how many others are in the same boat and how you're handling these inflated costs. Thanks in advance for your comments.

the blog is back (again)!

After a year plus of neglecting this blog, causing it to join probably thousands of other lost blogs in cyberspace, I've decided to resurrect it. This is partly due to a book I'm reading, The Corporate Blogging Book by Debbie Weil. If you've ever considered publishing a blog for your business, this a great read to help you learn how to go about it.

Web 2.0--interactive, user-generated, online content--is huge right now. Blogs were at the forefront of this type of technology when they first emerged several years ago. Other popular Web 2.0 methods soon followed (MySpace and Facebook are notable right now). Blogs are still going strong--and they aren't just for teens searching for an outlet to bemoan the trials and tribulations of adolescence anymore. Many businesses--both large and small--are jumping on board and putting blogs out there for everyone to see.

This includes me. While I've been a blogger for several years, I've not been consistent about keeping this particular medium up-to-date. That's primarily because, as I've mentioned before, the number of hours I have to dedicate to personal projects as a work-at-home-mom (WAHM) ebbs and flows. When I'm not chasing after my two-year-old, I'm working on writing projects. And I need to meet deadlines for my clients first, so other things tend to fall by the wayside, including my own marketing tactics, like this blog (yes, blogs are indeed a form of marketing!).

But now I'm inspired and ready to blog again. I'm back in the saddle and ready to rumble. I want to get some dialogue going! And I'd love to hear what you have to say about blogging for business. What cool blogs have you come across? What do you like about them? Have you made an effort to offer feedback as you read your favorites? Why or why not? Talk to me!

off-peak hours

Since becoming a mom I've had to make numerous adjustments to my schedule. One of the biggest involves my working hours. No longer can I hang out at my desk all day or bop out to a networking event in the afternoon on a whim. I've become what I thought I never could: a night owl.

Thta's right, aside from an hour or two in the morning that I somtimes manage to sneak in before my husband leaves for the day, the majority of my work is done between 9 pm and midnight. I've actually adjusted pretty well, but one problem I've encountered concerns taking phone calls from clients. Most folks aren't in the office that late. And trying to have a phone conversation with a 10-month old clamoring around the office just isn't productive. I love email, but I realize not everyone wants to communicate that way--at least not all the time.

So I'm asking for your help...how do you hand the demands of working in a home office while balancing your relationships with clients and your kids?

This is embarrassing, but it's been so long since I've posted I completely forgot my login name for this blog. Eeek, so much for staying on top of things!

I don't know about you, but for me, 2006 was a pretty crazy year. Much of it had to do with the arrival of our daughter last spring. She's a healthy, happy baby, and I'm thankful for that. But as any parent knows, infants are a lot of work! I didn't realize how difficult it would be to juggle the demands of motherhood while running my writing business from home. I had to be available whenever my daughter needed me, and I certainly didn't want to miss any deadlines for my clients. But there are only 24 hours in a day, so something had to give—and that something was this newsletter. That's why you haven't received a WriteTips issue in a little while (if you are a subscriber) or why you haven't seen a recent issue posted on my site. I blew one of the rules I urge anyone who publishes a newsletter to follow—determine a publication schedule and stick to it.

But now, being a more experienced mother (having an older baby who can entertain herself for bits of time helps a little, too) and being more than ready to get back in the saddle work-wise, WriteTips is back on track. I'm glad to be back, and it's great to correspond with you again. Here's to a wonderful New Year for you, your family, and your business!

email blessing, email curse

Does anyone write “real” letters anymore, now that email seems to be the preferred form of communication? True, it’s fast, efficient, and low-cost—and for most of us, there’s no way we would give it up without a fight. One common problem, however, is that because email messages are often typed and sent hastily, sloppiness tends to creep in: words are misspelled, sentences are incomplete, and grammar is less than perfect. This isn’t the type of impression any professional wants to make via writing, whether making initial contact with a potential new client or a co-worker in another department.

So, let’s revisit the original question: does anyone actually write, stamp, and drop a letter in the mailbox anymore? The answer is a definite yes. After all, you still receive a stack of mail to sift through every day, right? Depending on the situation, a number of instances are often better suited for tangible letters rather than electronic communication. Here are just a few examples:

Cover letter (with resume)
Job acceptance letter
Character reference letter
Pay raise request letterMarketing/sales letter

Today's tip: remember to communicate with your clients and customers in more ways than just using email. Receiving an actual letter will make them remember you!

resources for everyone!

Are you responsible for writing duties at work or for your organization? These basic desktop references are good for everyone to have on hand—they’ll make the writing process easier!

Dictionary - A good dictionary is indispensable, and a must-have reference tool for your desk, no matter what profession you’re in. Merriam-Webster is a good bet, and an online version is also available at www.m-w.com/home.htm.

Thesaurus – Looking for another way to say it (whatever it is)? Crack open Roget’s International Thesaurus for a variety of wording choices. Over 330,000 words and phrases in 1,075 categories are included, and updated editions (most recent: 6th edition) keep up with trends in today’s ever-expanding vocabulary.

Style manual - Your company might have a corporate style guide, but it may not address every issue that tends to crop up when writing. One source I like to use The Chicago Manual of Style, which provides guidelines for creating lists, special characters, punctuation, plurals, acronyms, and much, much more.