Tips for PR writing by Jeff Gilbert

1 of 37

Slide Notes

Tips for PR writing

No Description

View Outline

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

WRITING TO AN AUDIENCE

WHAT DO THEY WANT?

Photo by consumerfriendly

PEOPLE WANT 1 THING

THEY WANT TO EASILY UNDERSTAND

Photo by trazomfreak

IF NOT, YOU LOSE THEM

This goes for media and website readers

Photo by cellar_door_films

THE ANSWER

PRACTICE, STUDY TO BE A BETTER WRITER

Photo by Richard-

2 SUGGESTED SOURCES

"ON WRITING WELL" BY WILLIAM ZINSSER

2 SUGGESTED SOURCES

"WRITING TOOLS" BY ROY PETER CLARK

Photo by mestes76

ELIMINATE CLUTTER

UNNECESSARY WORDS, JARGON

Photo by SparkyLeigh

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY

WE TEND TO INFLATE TO SOUND IMPORTANT

Photo by thirtyfootscrew

THE SECRET

EVERY WORD SERVES A UNIQUE FUNCTION

Photo by thebarrowboy

10.

FAVOR ACTIVE VERBS

NOUNS PERFORMING ACTION

Photo by david.ian.roberts

11.

NOUNS & VERBS

AT OR NEAR THE START OF SENTENCES

Photo by Jon_Marshall

12.

SHORT SENTENCES

GENERALLY 25 WORDS OR FEWER

Photo by .scribe

13.

SHOW, DON'T TELL

TELL A STORY, NOT JUST FACTS

Photo by Digimist

14.

WORD USAGE

MAKE SURE THAT WORD MEANS WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS

Photo by herzogbr

15.

WRITING PROCESS

Photo by GazH

16.

CONCEIVE

What's the story idea?

Photo by 3n38u3

17.

COLLECT

From whom and where do I get what I need?

Photo by mwiththeat

18.

FOCUS

MOST IMPORTANT & PART OF OTHER 5

Photo by haglundc

19.

ORGANIZE

What shape/structure will the story take?

Photo by InteliusInc

20.

DRAFT

Doesn't have to be perfect first time through

Photo by Klardrommar

21.

REVISE

Writing is Rewriting

Photo by syntaxoflife

22.

Interviewing

Getting past the fear

Photo by beedieu

23.

Establish trust, build rapport

Preparation, conduct
Be ethical
Double check facts
Confirm meanings; repeat things back

Photo by mikebaird

24.

Establish trust, build rapport

Establish time length
Dress appropriately
Acknowledge uncomfortable or awkward questions

Photo by mikebaird

25.

Write down 3 questions to ask me in an interview about my work as a professor and freelance writer

Photo by schmorgie13

26.

Open-ended questions

What are strengths of ...?
What makes you happy about ...?
How are you feeling about your ... ?

Photo by ed_needs_a_bicycle

27.

Close-ended questions

Why do you consider ... a strength?
What is it about ... that makes you happy?
Do you think that feeling will help ... ?

Photo by ed_needs_a_bicycle

28.

Write down 3 more questions to ask me in an interview about my work as a professor and freelance writer

Photo by schmorgie13

29.

THE LEAD

Strategies for starting

Photo by vgm8383

30.

THE LEAD

Tell someone what the story is about

Photo by woodleywonderworks

31.

THE LEAD

Describe the story in 1-4 words

Photo by Cat Sidh

32.

THE LEAD

Write the Tweet and/or # first

Photo by Tom Raftery

33.

THE LEAD

Sometimes start with the news

Photo by minnepixel

34.

THE LEAD

Sometimes start with an anecdote

Photo by bobtravis

35.

Slide Notes