1-860-291-9476,

when typed or written out, is

one-eight-six-oh, two-nine-one, nine-four-seven-six.

You can see how long line really is when numbers are spelled out. Then, after you’re ready to print your final draft, convert words back to numbers.

Write for ear, not eye. Construct short, conversational sentences, with natural breaks for taking a breath. This is especially helpful to narrators when they voice technical or medical copy, which contains large, complicated, and difficult-to-pronounce terms.

Read your copy out loud, just as you intend voice talent to read it, and time it. Then adjust your copy accordingly for timing.

Try to write in active voice, not passive voice. This is a passive construction: “When writing a script, be sure you’re saying some exciting things, or else you’ll be losing attention of listener.” Instead, use active voice, structured something like this: “When you write a script, say something exciting, or you’ll lose listener’s attention.” Active voice is more conversational and easier for ear and mind to follow.

Happy writing!

© Peter Drew, February 2004

You have your blog set up, but how do you get visitors to it and get them comming back? Along with general advertising, here are a few more ideas:

1) Directories There are many directories that you can submit your blog to such as BlogWise.com ( http://www.blogwise.com/ ) To find more simply do a search for blog directories.

2) Link Exchange Place links on your website to your blog and visa versa.

3) Syndicate Your Blog For example you can now give your visitors option of having your blog headlines right on their MyYahoo! Page. (example - http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http%3A//www.2wahms.blogspot.com ) This makes it much simpler for your readers to quickly skim topic headlines and an added benefit to you blogger to keep your visitors up to date.

You also have choice of letting your readers comments on your blog. Most services have these features and can be a great tool to keep your blog interactive between you and your readers.

With all spam filters and spam blockers available or sometimes even automatically installed in email programs, it’s getting harder every day to keep in constant contact with your visitors/customers and/or clients. Blogs have shed some new light in this aspect giving you a better way to communicate.

Most blog services are very user friendly. If you can run simple programs such as MSWord or Word Perfect then you have knowledge to maintain your own blog. There’s no need to even have html knowledge. In essence, anyone can have his or her own blog.

Happy Blogging!

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