News You
Can Use

It's BRAVO! Awards
Time Again

The San Diego chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) will host its annual BRAVO! Awards on Wednesday, May 19...and you can help make this night a success:
  • Become a sponsor...for as low as $250.
  • Nominate a woman business owner.
  • Donate an item for our silent auction.
  • Attend the event, which will feature the fabulous Lisa Nichols as keynote speaker.
To learn more, visit nawbo-sd.org or call 877-866-2926.

Client Focus:
San Diego Business Woman Magazine

The first issue of San Diego Business Woman magazine will hit the streets this month. The publication is being touted as a "lifestyle magazine for the business woman of San Diego." Learn more at www.sandiegobusiness
woman.com.

Need Me on Retainer?

If you'd like to have a writing/ editing resource at your disposal without having to incur the costs of hiring a full-time employee, perhaps you should consider putting me on retainer. You'd be surprised how affordable it can be to have an "in-house" writer/editor to ensure that all your written materials properly reflect your professionalism. Contact me at 619-291-4645 to talk about your needs.
 

 The Write Stuff
Winter 2010  Volume 6 Issue 1

Quote Like a Pro

As a trained journalist, I know more than most people about using quotes within copy. I've covered this topic before, but since I often see pretty basic errors, here we go again:

1. A quote should build on the copy that precedes it, not repeat it.

Wrong: The Sharks are the top team in the NHL. "Right now, the Sharks are the top NHL team," Gabe said.

Right: The Sharks are the top team in the NHL. "With less than three months left in the season, the Sharks are poised to repeat as the President's Trophy winner," Jenna said. "Of course, the trophy they really want is the Stanley Cup."

2. When your quote includes several sentences, it will flow better if you put the attribution after the first sentence, as I did in the "Right" example above.

3. Keep commas and periods inside the quote marks.

4. Always use double quotes when you're quoting someone or when word use warrants it, as in the last line of #2.

5. Never change the meaning of a quote, but it is acceptable to "clean it up" if communicating what people said word for word reflects poorly on their grammar or is unclear.

Focus on Getting Personal

Here's some more "Smart Writing." Take a look at these two sentences:
  • How we take care of our bodies affects our businesses.
  • How you take care of your body affects your business.
Neither is wrong, but the second sentence is going to resonate more with readers because it's written as if you're speaking to each one. Remember that while you're writing to an entire audience, that audience is made up of individuals who'll likely be having a one-on-one experience with your material.

If you're in the market for a talented, responsive and economical writing or editing resource, please think of me. Learn more at adriennemoch.com or contact me at adrienne@adriennemoch.com or (619) 291-4645.
         

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