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.

Changing the game? Speak up!

After a couple of days trying to access my client’s e-mail system without success — and with so much on my plate I had no time to deal with their IT support group — I happened to mention the problem to one of my contacts. It turns out the...
Never ‘just a dog’

Never ‘just a dog’

A dog-walking buddy (someone encountered while we were both walking our dogs) recently lost one of her dogs to cancer. Holly was just two, really still a puppy, so my friend thought there was lots of time for treatment. There wasn’t. Holly died within two weeks...

A heartfelt quote for moms

In honour of Mother’s Day, here’s a quote that really speaks to me and sums up the feeling that took me by surprise when my first son was born, and of course continued with son #2: “Making the decision to have a child — it’s momentous. It...
Know thy customer

Know thy customer

Oh, those funny folks at Honda! They’re doing a good job of keeping in touch with me, long-time Honda owner that I am. But their enthusiasm for selling me a new car always seems to overtake their good sense. I bought a 2009 Honda Civic last year, and I’m...

Just don’t call it a battle

Tell me you do this, too — as you flip past the newspaper section containing obituaries, you can’t help but stop and read the ones accompanied by a photo of a young-looking person. Here’s why I do it. Having lost a few friends to cancer, I feel...
Brand You, no margaritas required

Brand You, no margaritas required

Are you always the same person, or do you act one way with friends and family, and a different way with clients and colleagues? While on vacation, I was chatting (over a few margaritas) with a few ladies I had just met, and one of the women spoke warmly of her son....

Do you respond promptly?

Having been away for a week, I’m a little nervous. A few weeks ago, I managed to live through a day where no e-mail messages made it to my in-box. It took a while to find out, because I could send messages; but the replies didn’t make it through. Of...

Words matter

To wind up the work week and provide some amusement for word nerds, here are a few errors spotted recently in print or online, some of them in places where someone really should have known better/proofread: …wore a vile of her blood (vial) …balling her...