We’ll updated with Ward’s slides on battling the blank page as soon as we receive them with the font issues fixed.

So if you’re a designer, work with a designer, or just simply want to better understand the relationship between art and copy, come to this exciting new format for Commpose. We’ll have a moderator to keep everything moving forward, and we’ll also be doing a series of exercises to spark some discussion on communication style differences.

This new format will ensure that everyone gets to be a part of the discussion and everyone can get from the event what they need, whether you’re looking to better understand your art department, or just want to hear what designers think of copywriters and how they like to work alongside them.

The meeting will be held from 6-8pm at Gangplank (260 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 85225). Please bring a pen and paper, and be sure to bring some questions or personal dilemmas to the table for discussion. If you truly want to prepare, be sure to check out the film Art & Copy. It takes a look at the advertising world from both perspectives and offers plenty of concepts to ponder.

The final schedule has just been announced:

10–11am – Beyond Blah, Blah, Blah – Bart Butler
Writing advice from advertising copywriters, authors and business writers, plus an exercise geared to each participant’s own business-writing needs. We’ll cover theories and specific techniques for creating copy that breaks through the clutter and resonates with your target audience.

11-12am – Creativity 101 – Ward Andrews
How to fight the evil forces of the blank page, writer’s block and ideas that fly away. Change the way you think about creating. Add systems of discipline and structure to channel your creative powers.

12-1pm – Break for Lunch

1-2pm – Commposing the User Experience – Robert Hoekman
Feature lists, task flows, and information architecture are major concerns for anyone involved with the user experience of a web application, but one key aspect is far too often overlooked: the writing. In this session, Robert Hoekman, Jr., the New Riders author of Designing the Obvious, Designing the Moment, and Web Anatomy, reveals the keys to successful site design through the lens of copywriting. In this illuminating journey through a collection of common interactions, find out how everything from Welcome blurbs to error messages fare in terms of usability and persuasiveness and how to measure the effectiveness of your copy.

2-3pm – Social Media & PR Writing Basics – Beth Cochran & Andrea Aker
This session will cover basic writing techniques for social media and PR – knowing the difference between the two, finding your tone and style, and how to engage and attract eyeballs through writing. This session will also cover tips and tools for effective and efficient writing.

3-4pm – Good Copy Starts with a Great Concept – DD Kullman
There’s a lot more to copywriting than just writing copy. The driving force behind great copy is a great concept. Without a great concept, copy tends to be wimpy, unfocused and irrelevant. This workshop will discuss the importance of a strong concept, show examples of how strong concepts create strong copy, list the 6 steps to generating ideas, demonstrate a variety of concept techniques, and allow time for a hands-on concept practice session

5pm – Networking Happy Hour

Be sure to pick reserve your spot today!

Commpose’s first-ever Writeshop is a beginner’s level workshop that will cover everything you need to know to become familiar with, and start getting better at, writing. It’s the place to go for freelance designers, small business owners, contractors, etc. who are often forced to write due to client/company budget constraints. The knowledge you’ll gain at this interactive, educational workshop will be invaluable to you becoming a more confident and more proficient business writer. The topics will cover all sorts of business writing including PR and social media, web content, advertising writing, and website copywriting to ensure that all the basics are covered.

The schedule is still being finalized, but as of right now our confirmed speakers are:

• Robert Hoekman Jr. who will be discussing basic user experience and web copywriting
• DD Kullman, veteran copywriter who will cover basic advertising information and concepting
• Ward Andrews, who will lead us in exercises to tap into our creative juices
• Bart Butler, who will be discussing the history and basics of copywriting in an interactive format
• + More!

Details, details, details

Writeshop will be taking place on Saturday, July 31st from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a networking/mixer/chance to drink beer to follow. It will be held at the new Gangplank location in Downtown Chandler. Lunch and some fun little prizes will be provided.

So you want tickets, eh?

Tickets are available now and are $15 but limited to only 30 people, so please buy yours ASAP to ensure you get to be in on Commpose’s first copywriting workshop.

More details will be announced as we get closer to the event so be sure you’re signed up to receive email announcements. (They’ll be sent there before they appear on the blog, just FYI.)

We hope to see lots of new faces at the event, including your lovely mug!

Come and learn the answer from Charlene Kingston of Crow Information Design and the Social Media DIY Workshop. You’ll learn a short process you can use to get the information you need to sing the value of your clients, to the tune that their customers can appreciate. Find out the questions that uncover the true value your client provides. They will think you walk on water. (And of course, you do.) Be sure to bring a pen, paper, and some friends as this is a meeting no one can afford to miss.

Food and refreshments will be provided and parking is free and available at the public parking lot at 5th and Ash or at parking meters after 6pm. The event is free and open to anyone!

**The new Gangplank is located at Frye and Arizona Avenue in Chandler at 250 S. Arizona Avenue.**

If you’ve never been or are curious as to what we’re all about, this would be the perfect time to come on out!

Details:

Date: Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Location: Terralever (425 South Mill Avenue #201, Tempe, AZ‎)

Time: 6-8pm

Food: Yep!

Fun: Duh!

In order to get the truth from the person you’re about to interview, you need to know five things:

1. Everyone lies
2. The best insights come when your recorder is off
3. How to listen
4. Most answers are nonverbal
5. Technique is only 10%

In this non-PowerPoint presentation, Joey will do more than discuss these five things, he’ll show you why they’re true and reveal the one thing every interviewer hates doing that is vital to great interview-based writing.

Well also have a CopyChat on proper headline capitalization and an exercise in communication for writers.

We’ll have light snacks and refreshments so come hungry.

Details:
Place: Terralever
Date: Tuesday, April 20th
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Topics: Microcopy, Copy Brawl (selling the sizzle), and Using Content to Convey Personality by Katie Van Domelen
Cupcakes? Yes!
April’s Commpose Meetup Details

Katie’s presentation, “Using Content to Convey Personality,” will cover voice, channel, and scheduling and teach you how to give your brand/company a personality through its content. Similar to the “creative a profile for your brand” technique, Katie will discuss how you can decide what personality traits your company should have and how these traits can be present your daily social media activities. How should your company respond to a funny tweet? Is your company more likely to create video, take photos, or just use text? How often would your company use each type of social media and what time of day would it be most active? She will be answering these, as well as any other questions you have in this interactive presentation.

So come on out to Terralever on Tuesday, April 20th from 6-8pm for a night of copywriting mayhem!

Combating Bad Public Relations, by Lawrence Riddick:

A Guide to Style Guides by Julie Espinosa

Lorem Ipsum Pros and Cons by Victor Moreno: