This class was different than what I expected. I came into the class thinking I could write memos and documents since this was my job for more years then I want to mention. Each week I found out there was room for improvement. When I look back over the first memos and compare them to the recent work there is a noticeable difference. The detail and clarity of the message has improved. I can include more information in fewer words. I am sure there will be fewer follow up questions on future work related memos.
Instead of focusing on writing projects targeted at useless tasks we wrote documents with meaning. Having a project that lasts for weeks with required periodic updates is typical of workplace writing. Having to do a major project with other team members happens often. Working with a great group that is eager and open to constructive feedback, like I had, is rare.
Learning about target audience, rhetoric, and structure have helped improved my ability to communicate with others. The biggest problem I had was email communication. The things learned applying these concepts writing memos can be applied to email writing with the same effective results.
Blogging was the most difficult part of the class. Writing something to post for all to read was a little intimidating at first. I found it harder to write my post after reading the posting of others. I wanted to make sure my posting was as good as the post of others in the class, so the pressure was on. More pressure was added making sure I stayed original while the posting of others was in the back of my mind.
I feel I the class was worth the time, money, and effort. With the class experience being so different than my expectations I ended up learning more than I thought possible.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Publishing
Many thanks to Tom Sumner for an informative introduction to publishing. Learning about the many levels of editors that screen the books before they get considered for actual printing amazed me. The job of editing requires reading many bad books. As a student interested in a subject I find text books boring at times. I can only imagine an editor needing to read and correct things in a book when they have no interest in the subject.
As an editor there is more work to do than just making sure the words are written well. Designing book jackets, writing cover copy, and directing complete rewriting takes a special talent. An editor needs to be a graphic artist, a critic, write copy, and handle writer's egos and different personalities.
Each of the guest speakers has had something in common. As writers we need to be informative, concise, and interesting. Selling books, old lamps, or news it still comes down to being able to put into words ideas to capture people's eye by standing out from the crowd.
As an editor there is more work to do than just making sure the words are written well. Designing book jackets, writing cover copy, and directing complete rewriting takes a special talent. An editor needs to be a graphic artist, a critic, write copy, and handle writer's egos and different personalities.
Each of the guest speakers has had something in common. As writers we need to be informative, concise, and interesting. Selling books, old lamps, or news it still comes down to being able to put into words ideas to capture people's eye by standing out from the crowd.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Persausion Over Done
The Persuaders was a little alarming. I noticed the outcomes of two marketing plans. One worked and one failed. Marketers have so much information on people that they can target their message down to a single person. By developing multiple messages and going to each person they were able to affect the outcome of a primary election in Ohio. The mass market approach used for Song Airline failed.
Advertising is big business. They put a lot of effort into getting information, developing products and pitches, focus groups, testing, and marketing. Getting an effective message to the right buyer has always been their focus. I had never thought of advertising as a science before seeing this.
As technology changes targeting is getting easier for them. Each time there is a change in technology the ad people adopt it to their use. If we figure out a new way to block ads, like TIVO, they change to product placement. We get pop up blockers, they develop a method to run ads first before your video starts streaming.
As advertisers gain more data and technology evolves I can see each person becoming a specific target. The cable and satellite boxes are addressable and could become the next target of direct advertisers. Imagine getting custom messages delivered automatically to your house.
Advertising is big business. They put a lot of effort into getting information, developing products and pitches, focus groups, testing, and marketing. Getting an effective message to the right buyer has always been their focus. I had never thought of advertising as a science before seeing this.
As technology changes targeting is getting easier for them. Each time there is a change in technology the ad people adopt it to their use. If we figure out a new way to block ads, like TIVO, they change to product placement. We get pop up blockers, they develop a method to run ads first before your video starts streaming.
As advertisers gain more data and technology evolves I can see each person becoming a specific target. The cable and satellite boxes are addressable and could become the next target of direct advertisers. Imagine getting custom messages delivered automatically to your house.
Friday, March 26, 2010
My Change in Viewing Tech Writing
When I review technical or professional writing now one of my first thoughts is to figure out the target audience. This puts me into a frame of mind to understand the material better. Knowing the intended audience sets my expectations of what I should learn from reading it. I evaluate the quality of the material compared to who is intended to be reading it.
One recent paper I read was a history report that was written for postgraduate history majors. Knowing the audience helped to reduce my irritation with the frequent use of technical terms I had to stop and look up to understand. When I found other less technical words that could have been used to convey the same meaning it would frustrate me in the past. Now I understand he is just using words his peers understand. Something I learned from this is writing with specific technical terms where they are not needed could unnecessarily narrow your audience.
Another recent example of audience specific writing was the admissions orientation web site. I was directed to visit the site as part of my major certification. This site is intended for incoming freshman to the WSU business program. Many of the items covered were not applicable to someone seeking a second career. Viewing the information from the viewpoint of someone just graduating high school the material makes sense. I will suggest the possibility of creating a second site targeted at more mature learners during my advising session.
Targeting the audience is key to getting the information across. If the material is too technical they will not read it unless the need for the information outweighs the frustration of the difficult reading. If you write in terms that are too simple the reader will lose interest and could miss the point of the material.
One recent paper I read was a history report that was written for postgraduate history majors. Knowing the audience helped to reduce my irritation with the frequent use of technical terms I had to stop and look up to understand. When I found other less technical words that could have been used to convey the same meaning it would frustrate me in the past. Now I understand he is just using words his peers understand. Something I learned from this is writing with specific technical terms where they are not needed could unnecessarily narrow your audience.
Another recent example of audience specific writing was the admissions orientation web site. I was directed to visit the site as part of my major certification. This site is intended for incoming freshman to the WSU business program. Many of the items covered were not applicable to someone seeking a second career. Viewing the information from the viewpoint of someone just graduating high school the material makes sense. I will suggest the possibility of creating a second site targeted at more mature learners during my advising session.
Targeting the audience is key to getting the information across. If the material is too technical they will not read it unless the need for the information outweighs the frustration of the difficult reading. If you write in terms that are too simple the reader will lose interest and could miss the point of the material.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Question
I am a little confused. When the assignment is to post on two classmate previous posts do we post the comments in our blog or as a comment on their blog? Last week and this week I posted comments to their blogs. The draw back is they need to review and post the comments, if they don't post them the comments are not seen by anybody.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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