Writing Matters

Famous Inboxes: Who knew Michelangelo, Napoleon, and Satan wrote e-mail?

Apparently, the very talented, the very commanding, and the very bad are just like you and me. They have inboxes crowded with e-mails waiting to be answered. Check out   Mark Brownlow's Famous Inboxes blog and peer into inboxes that never were but should have been.

In Michelangelo's inbox:

• From Sistine Maintenance: "Pls tell apprentices to clear up beer cans & cigarette butts"
• From Mrs. Michelangelo: "Mama wants her kitchen tiled - can u do it Sunday?"

In Napoleon Bonaparte's inbox:

• From Twitter: "Welcome to Twitter, BonyNap!"
• From Wellington: "Least I don't have to wear high heels"

In Satan's inbox:

• From New Media Devil: "Webinar - 5 new ways to tempt a prophet"
• From Beelzebub's Beauty Boutique: "20% off cloven hoof lacquer"

Brownlow makes the Famous Inbox conceit look easier than it is. I gave it a try with the subject lines I invented for the inbox of Lot's wife, the Biblical character who was turned into a pillar of salt when she violated the "don't look back when fleeing Sodom" rule.

• From Architectural Digest Newsletter: "Doric or Corinthian? Find the front-porch redo that's right for you?"
• From FamilyTravel.com: "Get Out of Town - Weekend Getaways Just a  Short Drive from Sodom and Gomorrah"

Your turn. Let your imagination go. Send me your invented inboxes and, with your permission, I'll post your subject lines here.

 -- Leslie O'Flahavan

Announcing Marilynne's New Blog: WebOver50

When Leslie and I started E-WRITE in 1996 “the e-mail” was a very new tool and Al Gore was inventing the Internet. We knew that e-mail and the web would change how we communicate. But who could have envisioned Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or blogs? 

I’ve noticed that many of my over 50 friends and colleagues have been slow to adopt social media and the generation of new web apps. Why? Many feel it is unsafe, overwhelming and time consuming. And how or why would someone over 50 use it?

That’s why I’ve started a new blog WebOver50: The Web Is Wasted on the Young. Its purpose is to

• Sort through the jungle of web apps and tell over 50s what’s worth their time and what’s not.
• Show how to web-surf safely.
• Explain all-things-web in plain English.

Some sample posts:

• Should You Join Facebook Now?
• YouTube for How To's: Just-In-Time Learning
• How to Find Free Shipping E-tailers
• Safe Social Networking: What Advice Should You Give Your Kids?

While I’m donning a new hat—publisher of WebOver50—I’ll still be wearing my comfortable and familiar E-WRITE hat. That means I’ll still be writing web content for E-WRITE clients, working with Leslie to develop new course content, and contributing Writing Matters posts

Please take a look at WebOver50 —even if you are under 50. And pass this on to your over 50 friends and colleagues. Please subscribe and let me know what you think. Leave a comment or send me an e-mail.  

 --Marilynne Rudick

Join me for a Plain Language Webinar on January 21

On January 21 at 1 p.m. EST, I'll be presenting a webinar for Web Manager University: " Write Plainly: An Update on Plain Writing Principles and the New Law." Though targeted to the federal community, this 90-minute webinar will be useful for anyone who wants to learn about writing in plain language.

Webinar Description
With the Plain Writing Act in place, 2011 will be the year of plain language. Kick off the new year with this introduction to plain language writing principles and practice.  In this webinar, you'll learn why writing in plain language does not mean “dumbing down” your content. You'll analyze before-and-after examples of federal web content written in plain language. You'll receive pre-course writing samples to review then we'll apply plain language principles to these samples during the webinar.

What You Will Learn

• The principles of plain language
• How to edit content according to plain language principles
• Where to find additional plain language training and resources
• How the Plain Writing Act could affect your agency’s operations

I hope you'll join me on January 21!

-- Leslie O'Flahavan