WordPlay

The Grammar Gal - their/there/they're when you need me!

clare — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:41:38 +0000

The Grammar Gal is back and still on a mission to sort out the myriad of grammatical errors that have me tearing my hair out and shouting obscenities at the laptop when I’m editing. I may have mentioned before that I had the pleasure of studying foreign languages for my entire school and university careers [...]

The Grammar Gal - less and fewer.

clare — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:27:20 +0000

All writers surely have their pet hates — those little grammar niggles that make your skin crawl when you see them, that make you wish you could batter the offender over the head with a copy of ‘Eats, Shoots and Leaves’. It’s not my fault really, I’m the daughter of a former English teacher. My [...]

What Chanel can teach us about copywriting.

clare — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:24:20 +0000

“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” Coco Chanel. I am a complete magpie; my jewellery box is teeming with shiny things (mostly fake!), all twinkling at me as I dress in the morning. ‘Put me on, you know you want to’ they call to me. So before I [...]

Dressing the part.

clare — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:27:53 +0000

I’ve said it often: one of the perks of freelancing is being able to roll down the stairs of a morning and get to work while still in your pjs. However, it has occurred to me recently that this may not be the wisest strategy. Is wearing my jammies really the best way to motivate [...]

The 7 deadly sins of social media.

clare — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:32:46 +0000

As I am about to take over as Twitter account manager for The Vegan Woman, I thought I’d take a minute to remind myself (and you if you need it!) of the cardinal sins of managing social media. 1. Airing dirty laundry. Competitor annoying you? Client late in paying again? For goodness sake, [...]

Surviving the school holidays in 6 easy steps.

clare — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:28:51 +0000

Freelancing; peace and quiet, no office politics or water cooler gossip to deal with, no uber boss stifling your creativity…it sounds fabulous doesn’t it? Now add a couple of kids into the mix. Temper tantrums, requests for snacks every ten minutes, the distinctive whiff of a dirty nappy hitting your nostrils just as you were [...]

Bog standard.

clare — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:32:30 +0000

Admit it: some of you have a sneaking suspicion that the life of a writer might be somewhat exciting, bohemian…maybe even glamorous. I’m afraid I’m about to dispel the myth! It’s midnight and I’m sat on the bog brainstorming my latest project. Bed head, checked jammies, the sound of snoring reverberating around the darkened house. [...]

A New Year and hitting the ground running.

clare — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:42:22 +0000

Sure it’s raining, it’s cold, it’s miserable and the living room looks somewhat bereft now that the lights and baubles have been relegated to the loft until next Christmas, but I’m am ready and raring to go. Bring on 2012!! Now this is where I should be telling you all my resolutions for the coming [...]

Design vs. Copy: why it's time to call a truce.

clare — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:31:13 +0000

Content is king? Design is divine? Design vs. Copy: why it’s time to call a truce. My last guest post ‘Lorum Ipsum’ has got me thinking about the designer/copywriter relationship. We’re not traditional allies – each of us is convinced that we are the most important cog in the machine. Just watch a designer’s [...]

Do you find it hard to sell yourself? Read on...

clare — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:00:27 +0000

A recent networking event centred on the topic of ‘Confidence’ has got me thinking. We all know that confidence in business is vital. After all, if you don’t believe in your skills, talent and business prowess then how do you expect to convince your clients that you are worthy of their hard earned cash? [...]