In an article about managerial techniques and effective leadership, a writer compares “toughness” on one end of a spectrum with “being more touchy-feely” on the opposite end.

Given workplace restrictions on both touching and feeling, I stopped to consider what this writer might mean.

“Touchy-feely,” in my experience, is an expression used sarcastically by people who scorn emotional expression. It’s slightly derogatory, and it suggests behavior that goes beyond someone’s comfort level.

Touchy-feely defined at The Free Dictionary:

1. Marked by or emphasizing physical closeness and emotional openness: became uncomfortable when the group therapy session got too touchy-feely.

2. Based on sentiment or intuition, especially to the exclusion of critical judgment.

Oxford Dictionaries:

informal, often derogatory

openly expressing affection or other emotions, especially through physical contact: touchy-feely guys calling home to talk baby talk to their kids

characteristic of or relating to touchy-feely behavior: such touchy-feely topics as employees’ personal values

Urban Dictionary:

When someone is all over you, touching and feeling.

To be touched and felt with/without your consent or knowledge. Usually committed in jail, prison, all boy schools, concerts, dates, award ceremonies, church, and my house.

Perhaps compassionate, fair-minded, or empathetic would communicate the writer’s intention more accurately than touchy-feely. But “tough and compassionate” is thought by many to be an ideal leadership trait:

“At the White House…Bush sought to strike a tough but compassionate tone….” (The Washington Post)

“Tough” has many definitions at Oxford Dictionaries such as confident and determined, strict and uncompromising, strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough or careless handling, and notorious for violence and crime.

Overly aggressive, cold and uncaring, or hostile might have been this writer’s intended meaning, but what he or she meant by either “toughness” or “touchy-feely” isn’t clear.  Since there are many other, more authoritative and specific articles readily available, I’ll approach this site with caution should it come up in a search again.

Careful word choice is essential to effective communication, especially when writing for blogs or websites. An international readership indicates that what is easily understood in one part of the world—or in a particular group or neighborhood—may have little meaning, at best, in another part of the world.

At worst, our words may convey completely unintended meanings or no meaning at all.

How would a non-native, non-fluent English reader understand “touchy-feely?” In German, several online translators such as Google and bab.la offer gefühlsduselig or überempfindlich which translate back to mushy, oversentimental, slobbery, overemotional, smarmy, hypersensitive, effusive, exuberant, and maudlin, among others. Is that what the writer intended?

Touchy-feely sounds like groping, if you ask me, and better a tough boss than a smarmy one.

Comments are welcome.

Is important to right good. That means spilling, grimmer, and stuff like comas an prods. Donut truss spill chick. It don’t have no problem wit nun of this wards or wren I spiel the name of my counter like this: Untied Stats.

A spell check program is useful as a tool, but it’s not a solution or a substitute for careful proofreading.

When I’m writing, I use spell check as an immediate alert to fingers accidentally hitting the wrong key. I also use spell check when I’m editing a document with many simple typos and spelling errors; it’s a quick clean up that saves time, but it’s only a preliminary step.

Spell check cannot be used to differentiate between accidental misuse of words or misspellings of a word that result in a correctly spelled word used erroneously.

Some common errors that slip through spell check include it’s and its. Their, there, and they’re. Two, too, and to. Form and from.

Use  a spell check tool in word processing programs, email, and other applications, but remember: it’s just a tool.

It’s important to write well, and that includes spelling, grammar, and punctuationsuch as commas and periods. Don’t trust spell check. It doesn’t have a problem with any of these words or when I spell the name of my country like this: United States.

The headline is catchy, and it promises a reward when I click on the link in the email. Just last night, in fact, I was thinking about this topic, and it’s definitely something I need to work on. I’ve read plenty of articles written by this guy, and he knows his stuff.

Eagerly, I click. Eagerly, I start to read. My eyes move quickly from left to right, left to right, left to right, left to right and down, down, down. My hand reaches for the mouse to scroll further down the page. Dark gray type sprinkled over white blurs together without meaning, like so much chicken scratch: back and forth, back and forth.

Click. Done. Good-bye. I can’t read it.

Believing that Internet readers are busy people, often with attention deficit issues who read at a 7th or 8th grade level and generally scan blog posts rather than read every word, a trend has developed. The goal is to cater to these readers by making blog posts short, simple, and “scannable.”

It’s a good thing gone way too far.

Avoiding a wall of text with few paragraphs is a good thing. Keeping paragraphs relatively short and highlighting important information with lists, bold fonts, or subheadings works. Presenting ideas and advice in a series of single sentences does not work.

The post that I just tried to read is spread out all over the page.

My mind wants to grasp organized chunks of information and ideas—not single sentences—in an orderly fashion. I want something easy to read and understand, but this writer is asking me to digest 61 single sentences with full spaces in between.

Each of five sections—intended as containers for ideas and a nod at the concept of paragraphs, I assume—has a bold subheading, which is good. But underneath each heading are three to six separate sentences that almost suggest a formatting problem that the writer isn’t aware of (or even a browser problem on my end). This after an introduction with 22 single sentences in three sections that could have been presented as four or five easy-to-read paragraphs.

Dude, close it up. Organize related information and ideas in short paragraphs.

This is not freestyle poetry time. We need order, and 863 words spread out in 61 single sentences just doesn’t work. Use your subheadings as a guide for 9-10 paragraphs or so with a few sentences standing alone for emphasis—not 61 sentences that make my eyes do much more work than I’m willing to have them do.

Please. I really do want to read what you write.

This technique might work for some—and I’ve seen it lately on a couple of popular blogs—but if it’s not working for me, it’s not working for others. And I suggest that we think carefully before adopting this as the latest and greatest way to improve our writing style.

Comments are always welcome.

Subtitle: Avoid everyone, everybody, nobody, and no one unless you’re 100% sure of your facts or you’re in marketing. Why? Because there’s almost always an exception.

Case in point: Seth Godin’s blog post Talker’s Block. In the first paragraph, he establishes his argument by asserting that “no one ever gets talker’s block.”

“No one” immediately raised a suspicious eyebrow.

Someone had shared it on Google+, and just that first line made me wonder whether it was worth reading. My crap detector goes off when I see statements like that because what follows may or may not be a valid conclusion or something worth reading.

I’ve never followed Seth Godin much, but I’ve read a few of his pieces here or there, and I’m well aware of his shroud of blogospheric deification.

Curious, I checked the post out later, and although he offers some solid advice about writing, I mulled over how many quiet, mindful souls looked askance at this statement as I did:

The reason we don’t get talker’s block is that we’re in the habit of talking without a lot of concern for whether or not our inane blather will come back to haunt us.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had talker’s block many times.

Have you ever attended one of those big, local networking luncheons all by yourself? I have, but it’s not often you’ll find me at events like those because I usually get talker’s block. Striking up a conversation with total strangers I know nothing about isn’t easy for me.

I usually get to the point of introducing myself, shaking hands, and hoping the person will be the chatty type, but I rarely have any inane blather of my own to offer. I usually hang out with the talker’s blocked folks standing self-consciously along the walls, smiles frozen on their faces, because it’s much more comfortable for me to socialize with other similarly stricken people at events like these.

At least the quiet folks won’t offer up inane blather, and sometimes really interesting conversations develop albeit at a slower pace than those in the rest of the crowd.

If you’re in marketing—and Seth Godin is—then by all means make liberal use of such words as everyone and everybody, nobody and no one.

Everyone wants a new BMW! Everybody is talking about Main Street BMW! Nobody wants to drive that old car! No one but you will know it’s pre-owned!

Um, I don’t, I’m not, I don’t mind, and of course they will if they know anything about BMWs.

Surely Mr. Godin won’t suffer from his post being used to illustrate a practice most of us would do well to avoid (to cause offense, directly or indirectly, is not my intention). It’s even possible he used a false premise knowingly rather than belabor the reader with less definitive word choices such as “few” or “not many” rather than “no one.” And surely no one who lacks experience with talker’s block will notice.

Comments are welcome.

Last year at this time, I was going crazy. Not the you’d-better-see-a-doctor kind of going crazy.

I was just going crazy trying to figure out how to create an ebook on my own—without hiring a designer or making any major software purchase.

Some of you might remember that time.

I’m handy with just about anything related to layout and design, since I spent a lot of time doing newsletter and brochure layouts on PageMaker years ago. I have an old version of Photoshop, and I know all the basics. I also have Gimp, and I’ve used Illustrator, FrontPage, Dreamweaver, and you-name-it.

There was no reason why I couldn’t design and create my own ebook. The writing part certainly wasn’t any issue.

The problem was that I didn’t know where to start or end or how to design and create an ebook—at all.

I spent about two months of my spare time searching the Internet, studying the layout of all the ebooks I owned or could find, and playing around. I finally figured it all out after many, many hours of intense focus and sometimes frustration.

I bought Adobe Acrobat for the PDF file creation, I did the design and layout in MS Word, and I created a simple cover using both Gimp and Photoshop. It turned out OK. Many of you have Everybody’s Guide to Proofreading and, although feedback has been awesome, the design just isn’t as nice as I’d like it to be.

If Kelly Kingman and Pamela Wilson had created the eBook Evolution last summer I would have been in heaven.

But the universe is looking out for me because I’m not only creating a new ebook over at my other blog, Peaceful Planet—The Peaceful Planet Manifesto—but I’m also expanding and redesigning Everybody’s Guide to Proofreading.

And instead of going nuts trying to put together a half-decently designed ebook on Word—which works but it’s very limited— and then importing it to Acrobat to create the PDF file, I’ll be using FREE open source software: OpenOffice. I’ll also use one of the templates from eBook Evolution and select a cover design from one of 20 expert, customizable designs in the eBook Evolution’s Cover Recipe Book.

Life just keeps getting easier. Somehow, when we’re on the right track with our lives and our work, things just snap into place.

The eBook Evolution gives you everything you need to create a beautiful ebook from start to finish with OpenOffice. You can do all your design work, even the cover, right in one of the OpenOffice programs which is a lot like Word but much more robust—and much more stable.

With eBook Evolution you get:

• 41 pages of guidance on choosing a topic and writing your ebook

• 2 OpenOffice templates

• 2 instructional screencasts

• 11-page instructional guide

• 20 cover design recipes

• 68 pages of launch strategies for marketing your ebook

• 2 inspiring interviews

• 2 bonus ebooks on brainstorming and staying productive

You’ll learn everything about creating an ebook like figuring out your goal, generating ideas, organizing your ebook, and all the elements of design including titles and graphics.

The “Quick Start Guide” takes you right to what you need whether you’re completely new to writing, design, and ebooks or already familiar with design and OpenOffice but need help writing and selling your ebook.

You can learn more about it right here and get your own copy.

The “Launch Guide” features 68 pages packed with information and tips for launching and marketing. As a graduate of the A-list Blogging Bootcamps and Chris Guillebeau’s year-long Empire Building Kit (read more here), I’ve been along for the ride on more ebook launches than I can count, and I can say with confidence that this guide wraps it all up and then some.

Plus, Kelly and Pamela know that everyone is different and we all have different approaches:

Perhaps you want to create a huge wave of buzz and momentum to swell your list of prospective buyers. You might have no qualms reminding them every day for a week that your eBook is on sale and the price is going up in a day or two. But it’s OK to be on the mild side, too. Just know that since your techniques are more subtle, it may take a little more time for people to develop an appreciation for your offer. You may reach your sales goal over a longer period, rather than within a short, crazy sprint of a few days.

This comprehensive guide comes with loads of links and resources, too, and no matter what your goals and style are, you get step-by-step instructions from start to finish.

I’m really excited about getting started on The Peaceful Planet Manifesto—I already designed a possible cover with the eBook Evolution’s “Cover Recipe Book,” and I’ve chosen my template and loaded it on OpenOffice—now I just have to pop in the text. The templates are much more than just templates, too. They’re filled with instructions and tips for everything that needs to be done.

And with Kelly and Pamela’s many years of design and writing experience backing me up, I know my upcoming ebooks are going to be fabulous.

You can buy the eBook Evolution for $147, and it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

If you’re thinking about writing an ebook—or maybe you’ve already written one but paid a designer to do the layout—you may want to seriously consider getting this guide and doing it yourself.

I wish I had the eBook Evolution last summer. But life happens in strange ways. I truly believe that when you need something and it’s the right time for you, it will be there.

I’m proud to be an affiliate for this product and I’m also a fan of both Pamela and Kelly. I’m thrilled about this fabulous resource they’ve created, and I can’t wait to show you my results.

Comments are always welcome.

I’ve never had writer’s block. I almost always have more topics to write about than I can keep track of. I’m a compulsive writer, and I’m constantly seeking an outlet even if it’s not for one of my blogs or paid work.

There have been times, though, that I hardly wrote at all. It wasn’t writer’s block (though I’m not sure what that is, exactly); it was too much going on in my life. While in college—all eight years—it seemed like I was always studying, writing for a class, working, sleeping, or eating. I hardly had time for anything else. At other times, I was just preoccupied and stressed, and writing fell to the wayside.

When I don’t have time to think freely, I don’t come up with much to write about.

When we’re busy with all the busy-ness of life, our minds get filled with clutter. Writers need relaxed time and space to not only process what already took place, but also to mentally play around and let concepts, images, and ideas float freely until they gel.

Even if I have a specific topic to write about, words don’t come when I’m super busy with other things.

If you’re struggling to get something out on the paper or screen only once in awhile, taking a break can help. Take a walk, a brief nap, or meditate. Change scenery, play some favorite music, or catch up on some mindless tasks that don’t require much mental energy.

If you’re stuck more often than you’d like, what’s going on in your life? What can you cut out?

When you have free time to think, dream, and imagine, make sure you have something handy to take notes, because it’s sure to come pouring out.

Have you dealt with writer’s block? Share your tips!

Most writers want to improve their craft, especially beginners. But many of us don’t know where to start or what, exactly, we should improve.

A writer’s group or classes in which you get feedback and support from other writers is ideal. Online friends, forums, and networks are also good. But there’s plenty you can do on your own, and you can start right now.

1. Read, read, and read some more.

It doesn’t matter what you read, as long as it’s high-quality professional writing. Pay special attention to writing in your niche or genre (if you’re a blogger, read other blogs;  if you want to write a novel, read novels). Observe, absorb, and learn about your subject.

2. Subscribe to blogs about writing, like this one.

One of my favorites is Daily Writing Tips, but I also like Write to Done and Men with Pens. Choose a few that you like (here’s a good list) and read them regularly.

3. Revise, edit, and proofread your work carefully.

Ask friends and fellow writers for honest feedback, and make changes that make sense. Read your writing critically a few days, weeks, or even months later, and polish it up.

4. Read other writing critically even while enjoying the content.

Why is it so good? Imitate the style or cool tricks in your own way. What doesn’t work, and why? Look for errors, and if you’re not sure, look it up. It’s a great way to learn.

5. Bookmark dependable online resources and use them.

Here are a few I like:

Grammar Girl

Purdue Online Writing Lab

Oxford Dictionaries: Better Writing

GrammarBook.com

Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus

Writing improves best by writing (and reading). Keep at it! If you have something to say, and if you want to write it better, you’re already in a great place.

Comments and questions are always welcome. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to Eagle Eye and get your free copy of Everybody’s Guide to Proofreading!

If you’ve ever struggled with your writing, the “five-part essay” format can help. I often keep this format in mind because it helps me stay organized and focused. It can also be helpful when you’re struggling with writer’s block. Here’s what a five-part essay looks like:

Introduction

Point One

Point Two

Point Three

Conclusion

The introduction includes a few words (or more) that lead into the discussion.

It also presents a “thesis statement” or main idea. In this post, the thesis statement is the first sentence. The intro may also provide a foreshadowing of the main points of discussion. My three points that give reasons or support for using a five-point essay are 1) it helps with organization, 2) it helps with focus, and 3) it can help with writer’s block.

Keeping this format in mind helps you to organize your article.

You can vary things, but if you provide your main point and its value right off, you’ll have a much more effective piece.

It also helps me to stay focused because I tend to ramble and go off on tangents.

If I structure my article or post according to this format, I won’t waste my time or yours with irrelevant details.

It can also help with writer’s block.

What’s your thesis statement? What are your main points? If you’re drawing blanks, maybe it’s time to do some research, sketch out a mindmap, or create an outline until you come up with something.

The conclusion is a wrap-up, a wind-down, a satisfying end to the story.

The five-part essay can really help you if you give it a try. It might sound a bit hokey or elementary to some, but almost any good article reflects this format, in one way or another.

Note: An upcoming post will discuss the challenges (and benefits) of using only 300 words!

Comments? Love ‘em.

I love Thesis, which is the WordPress theme for this blog and my other blog, Peaceful Planet.

I upgraded from 1.7 to 1.8 recently (right after upgrading WP to 3.1), and I ran into a couple snags. Most of them were my own fault, like an “a ref” code thingy that I didn’t close up properly which meant my entire sidebar was linked to my other blog. It was just a mess, but fortunately I figured it out.

One snag wasn’t really a Thesis issue, it was an Internet Explorer issue.

IE just gets its panties all twisted up sometimes. I use Firefox, but I have IE and check there when I’m changing something since I know plenty of people use it. Yesterday, Eagle Eye looked awful.

There was a huge gray block in the middle of things.

I looked and looked and couldn’t figure out what it was. I did a browser check which confirmed that it wasn’t a cache problem (or something) on my end.

I finally posted on the support forum over at DIY (I love those people!), and I got a response in a few minutes.

Here’s what to do if you run into that problem.

Go to your “Custom File Editor” under “Thesis” in your dashboard.

Select “custom.css” from the drop down menu and hit “edit selected file.”

Plop some code in there at the very bottom. Just scroll down and position your cursor so you’re on the next line after whatever is in there already, which is */ in mine.

Paste the following code in the custom.css file  (you probably should copy and paste FIRST into Notepad or similar plain text editor to be on the safe side and remove any code that might be dangling from it, though I don’t think code can follow into the editor).

.custom #content_box {

background:#FFFFFF;

}

Hit Big Ass Save Button. Bingo! All fixed, happy happy.

Disclaimer: I’m not a certified geek, just a click-happy interfacer. Follow my advice at your own risk.

Questions and comments, geeky or otherwise, are always happily entertained.

Reading is essential to writing. I don’t think there’s a writer anywhere in the world who hasn’t done at least a fair amount of reading. I suspect most writers are prolific readers, and if they’re good writers, they definitely read a lot.

When did you start to read? I can’t remember an exact age, but I have three clear, very early memories.

“Contents may settle during handling” on cereal boxes. I puzzled over it every morning for a long time. That’s an exact quote, I’m pretty sure, but it was prefaced with something like “Weight is accurate, but box may not appear full because contents….” I could read it, and I understood many of the words and how to sound out the others. But I couldn’t make any sense of it. “Serving suggestion” on the front of the box baffled me too.

“Drive defensively.” This statement was on the inside view of my family car’s inspection sticker. Drive defensively? Who needs to defend herself? I didn’t get it, for years.  But I stared at it every time I rode in that car, and I’m guessing that started somewhere around age five or six or so.

My first novel. I’m sure I was less than seven years old because I clearly remember the room and house I was in and the pride I felt when I announced to my sister and mom that I had finished it. We moved to a different house when I was almost seven years old, so that’s how I know for sure my approximate age. I don’t remember what novel it was, though, but I do remember it belonged to my older sister. By the time I was ten or twelve, I had read countless novels not to mention an entire set of encyclopedias, several times over.

What about you? When did you first start reading?

Comments are welcome!