Happy New Year! In what’s become an annual tradition for the Red Jacket Diaries, I’ve peeked under the blog hood to find the 10 most-viewed posts in 2024:
1. I’ve been known to rant about annoying words and jargon (like “hack,” “like a boss” and “resonate”). Here’s another one about a word that is suddenly everywhere: “of all stripes.” As in, “politicians of all stripes” and “neuroscientists of all stripes.” Perhaps you joining me in wishing people would just say “of all kinds”?
2. For several years, I’ve been running roundups of posts shared on social media. My original thought was, “What are the chances people were on the specific social media channel at the time I posted this link?” Now I also see these as helpful collections related to specific themes. This one relates to the use of plain language and getting rid of jargon.
3. I’m always interested to see which words capture our imagination in multiple “Word of the Year” posts. One of my earliest posts last year collected the words for 2023, which included artificial intelligence (AI), authentic, hallucinate and rizz.
4. We all think retirement will be a natural transition, but experts say you need to learn how to be retired. My client, RTOERO, wanted to share how its members stayed motivated when they retired, and I got the scoop. Since their publication appears online, I’m allowed to share it with you.
5. Here’s another collection of links you might have missed, with tips that help you create writing that’s more readable and inclusive. They include suggestions for better anchor and alt text, how to avoid ageism and how to handle polarizing topics.
6. Also popular was this roundup of links you might have missed, these to do with telling better stories, ways to write faster and tips for editing your own work. Bonus: A fascinating tale of a squirrel census.
7. The annual IABC conference in June prompted me to share my “11 tips to make the most of attending a conference.” I have advice on things to do before you go (like make plans to meet with some of your social media contacts), while you’re there (sit beside people you don’t know) and when you get home (follow up).
8. Another popular collection of posts you might have missed had to do with interviewing, quoting and writing. Tips include 12 basics of interviewing, listening and note-taking; writing like a business journalism award winner; and avoiding quotes that say nothing. Bonus: Learn about the amusing “Ig Nobel prize” for works that make you laugh.
9. Do you celebrate life’s simple pleasures? My client wanted to know, so I talked to a number of its retirees. You might be surprised that teaching dirt-bike riding skills and roller skating were among their “simple pleasures,” along with the more expected travel, gardening and time with children, grandchildren and partners.
10. Whether you think you are “creative” or not, you can flex your creative muscles and have fun doing it. In “Assignment: Find out how retirees use their power of creativity,” I talk to more of my client’s retired teachers about their creative outlets.
As always, thanks for visiting my blog in 2024, and here’s to an interesting 2025.
10 photo by Timo Müller on Unsplash.
Related reading:
Top 10 posts of 2023
Top 10 posts of 2022
Top 10 posts of 2021