The Red Jacket Diaries blog

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.
Blogging slowdown ahead

Blogging slowdown ahead

You may recognize this road sign, which I have borrowed from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s helpful guide to common and not-so-common road signs. It means there’s a bump or uneven pavement on the road ahead. The yellow “caution”...

Truly awful writing 2

Writers spend much of our time agonizing over this word or that word, grammar and punctuation, all in an attempt to turn out a beautiful piece of work. But there’s a special category of writers who use their talents for a different, you might say evil, reason:...

Fun words v. 2

Here are some of the interesting and funny words I’ve run across recently. Most are from Buzzwhack and urbandictionary.com: Academic junk food: College courses with no value other than being an easy way to get an A. Anticipointment: The feeling you get when a...
Going green? Get the guide

Going green? Get the guide

In all the excitement of the IABC 2010 World Conference last week, I forgot to point out the excellent Green Guide put together by IABC/Toronto’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee. The guide is designed to provide “best practices, communications planning...
More IABC10 highlights

More IABC10 highlights

Yesterday, I promised more highlights of the  IABC 2010 World Conference in Toronto. Here are some of the takeaways from individual sessions (check IABC for handouts) in roughly the order experienced: In Strategic Communication Planning, Les Potter, ABC (friend and...
Another excellent IABC adventure

Another excellent IABC adventure

I’m back at my desk, trying to turn my brain back to reality after another terrific IABC World Conference. Once again, I was able to put faces to names of people met online, mostly on Twitter, and reconnect with others met at previous conferences, friends and...
IABC shoppers, start your engines

IABC shoppers, start your engines

If you’re visiting Toronto, have I got a guide for you. Most visitors to a new city do a bit of shopping. Maybe you pick up a souvenir to take home, or you replace a shirt that has miraculously sprouted a coffee stain, or you need some toiletries. But where do you go?...