Sue Horner is a freelance writer in Oakville, Ontario, who blogs about writing, newsletters, communications and running an independent business in The Red Jacket Diaries blog.
In the end, my big brother had less than a year to live from the first signs that something was going wrong. Gallstones, maybe? No. Colon cancer, which had already spread to his lungs and liver. He was 61. Don moved to California years ago, and being on opposite sides...
Earlier this year, I mentioned working on a Toronto shopping guide, intended for people coming to this year’s IABC World Conference. With the guide, visitors get the inside scoop from local IABC members on where to grab a gift or specific item close to the...
Is your desk and workspace tidy? Some believe a messy desk shows creativity, others that it’s a sign of an equally disheveled mind. At a meeting of my local freelancer group (HPCA) last week, we learned that it’s okay to be a little untidy, but it’s...
I’ve been doing what I think of as “spelunking” (isn’t that a great word?) — digging around in the caves of this blog. With the wisdom of my seven years of blogging, I can look back and clearly see ways I could have done a better blogging...
If you publish an e-newsletter, remember to keep in mind “what’s in it for my reader?” Doing so will help you avoid the mistakes that often cause readers to unsubscribe or ignore your messages. Many of the items on the following list are the “don’ts” listed in the...
Sorry for what may be a misleading headline. This post is not the most epic, amazing, etc. one ever; but do you notice how so many people are casually attaching those words to any blog post? A search for “epic blog posts” or “kick-ass blog...
A large flock of crows swooped overhead as I walked the dog one day. Although it was early morning, my brain dimly recalled the official name is a murder of crows, in the obscure naming convention of “collective nouns.” I looked up collective nouns, and...
Good design and clear, simple writing are two aspects of creating accessible websites that not only meet new Canadian regulations — they’ll also improve your search results. At a meeting of the Halton-Peel Communications Association last week, my colleague...
You’re in a new city, perhaps for a conference or other business. Most of your time is mapped out, but you want to pick up a souvenir or gifts for family back home. Or maybe you forgot to pack the right shoes, or you spilled coffee on your lap. Where do you go?...