Amateurs talk about inspiration. Professional writers just go to work. Here are ten techniques that help me get work done more efficiently.
Tag Archives | Interviewing
Hiring a writer? 10 must-ask questions
Hiring a writer? 10 must-ask questions to avoid problems, delays and bad chemistry.
A-Z of better writing
A veritable alphabet of better writing. 26 tips for inspiration, guidance and encouragement.
EA Frankenquotes
EA used to be a cool company. They published my first game, Imperium and we worked with them on a bunch of games at IG. Everyone I met there was whip-smart and passionate about making great games. Now they are just another big dumb corporation that puts out press releases with frankenquotes like this: “This [...]
40 essential online apps for freelancers
Online applications give me a competitive edge. I want to be a ‘big little company’ with the same (or better) IT capabilities as the biggest of my clients. I try to make the maximum use of online applications because they let me deploy new capabilities quickly without adding to my IT or admin burdens. This [...]
Writing tools: iPhone plug-in microphone
I have recorded a few interviews recently using my iPhone and its built-in voice memo application. I sent them away for transcription (I’ve found a couple of ways of getting this done online for about $30-60/hour of recording) but the quality wasn’t that great for the typist. However, I think I’ve found the answer: the [...]
How to write faster – learn Teeline shorthand
Ambitious journalism student, Alex Cooper, introduces us to Teeline Shorthand with his debut guest post for Bad Language. In this article I will go through the basic structure of Teeline Shorthand, a brief history and some tips for learning it along the way. Teeline was invented by James Hill in 1970. It is aimed at [...]
How to use quotations in your writing – 10 expert tips
Quotations can make an article, press release or case study real or they can make them deathly dull. As a writer, it’s your choice. You have complete control over how you quote people and a few simple techniques can make all the difference. Go to the top. One reason to include a quotation is to [...]
How to interview someone
Interviews matter. Interviews are the foundation of good reporting. They are the best way of understanding a complicated situation and seeing it from someone else’s perspective. A wise, old editor of mine used to say “report it out.” She meant ‘go talk to people, don’t rely on your own opinions and judgment.’ It’s a good [...]
About
Matthew Stibbe is CEO of Articulate Marketing, Articulate Training and Turbine, the easy, online way to deal with office paperwork. He writes about flying on Golf Hotel Whiskey and Forbes.
