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.

Do what you love

You’ve often heard the advice, “do what you love and the money will follow.” In the dating world, the equivalent is “do what you love (or even just like) and the love will follow.” At the very least, you’ll have fun, but you may...

How to choose a writing sample

If you are a blogger, consider yourself patted on the back by Anne Holland, Content Director of MarketingSherpa. She encourages bloggers in the May 12 newsletter (see #9) thusly: “Starting a blog is easy. Keeping the blog going for more than a few months is...

Live the life you want to live

Yesterday marked the birthday of Queen Victoria, who reigned when Canada was born. It’s a classic Canadian holiday, dubbed “May two-four” in a nod to both the date (the Monday closest to May 24) and the ceremonial purchasing and consuming of at least...

Rare sighting: good ads

With golf season upon us, Golf Town has been busily advertising and I have to say, these ads are good. In one, you see a mom at the wheel of her mini-van, counselling her unseen charges to “stay together” and “don’t cry when we have to...

More on moms

The Friday edition of the Toronto Star led into Mother’s Day with several essays about moms. One by Toronto writer Elyse Friedman was particularly funny; it captures the desire to do right by your child and the guilt and fear that you might not be doing so by...

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there! So far, I’ve received a warm hug from each of my boys, but looks like the card and flowers that are hidden in the garage (spotted when I put something in the green bin) won’t be revealed until my own...
Eat for the cure

Eat for the cure

For more than 25 years, M&M Food Market franchisees in 460 communities across Canada grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for Charity BBQ Day, raising money for research to find a cure for Crohn’s and colitis. For only $2.50 to $3 (more, if you were generous),...