I find this terribly ironic because I nearly flunked out of college because I didn't know how to write at a college level. My high school basically said "Oh, you're smart - go read A Tale Of Two Cities" so I never actually took a writing class. I got straight As there so never worried about it. But after my first quarter in college I was on academic probation.
My parents and my adviser were furious, and insisted that I "try harder" but I suggested that I should take a somewhat-remedial writing class. I had finally figured out that I just wasn't prepared - I'd never even heard the words "thesis statement" at all! I did manage to get them to "allow" me to take that class, and I did managed to get my degree, but I never really caught up after that start and my grades were somewhat average. Luckily it was a comparatively prestigious and rigorous university so even average there was better than advanced elsewhere.
Since the advent of blogging I've done a lot better. I have so many friends all over the world that I originally started all of this just to keep in touch with them. I have evolved a fairly casual style of writing - clear but easy to understand. People who found my blog late always say "You write exactly like you talk", and I take that as a compliment.
My last job involved blogging on a corporate scale, and I did a lot of research into the field. I ended up beine terribly frustrated because I wasn't allowed to do most of the things that all of the information said I was supposed to. My managers viewed a blog as "something you have" and as a sales tool, while all of the advice focused on content. After all, you don't subscribe to a blog to read sales pitches. You go for funny stories, information, to keep up with people, and all sorts of other reasons.
It was SUCH a relief to meet with the shelter manager and some of the board to map out a general direction from the start! They want a positive blog - one that makes readers feel like they are part of the community and then build on that connection for possible donations, adoptions, volunteers, or just good wishes. So that means slice-of-life stories, pet profiles, event info, stories about volunteers, etc. Also some informational stories, but couched in personal terms. Not "how to care for a special needs animal" but "this is fluffy, she has special needs. Here is how we cope with them, and here are some other places that might have info about them.
I have my next 2 stories planned out already, but am waiting for some people to get back to me with info.
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I find this terribly ironic because I nearly flunked out of college because I didn't know how to write at a college level. My high school basically said "Oh, you're smart - go read A Tale Of Two Cities" so I never actually took a writing class. I got straight As there so never worried about it. But after my first quarter in college I was on academic probation.
My parents and my adviser were furious, and insisted that I "try harder" but I suggested that I should take a somewhat-remedial writing class. I had finally figured out that I just wasn't prepared - I'd never even heard the words "thesis statement" at all! I did manage to get them to "allow" me to take that class, and I did managed to get my degree, but I never really caught up after that start and my grades were somewhat average. Luckily it was a comparatively prestigious and rigorous university so even average there was better than advanced elsewhere.
Since the advent of blogging I've done a lot better. I have so many friends all over the world that I originally started all of this just to keep in touch with them. I have evolved a fairly casual style of writing - clear but easy to understand. People who found my blog late always say "You write exactly like you talk", and I take that as a compliment.
My last job involved blogging on a corporate scale, and I did a lot of research into the field. I ended up beine terribly frustrated because I wasn't allowed to do most of the things that all of the information said I was supposed to. My managers viewed a blog as "something you have" and as a sales tool, while all of the advice focused on content. After all, you don't subscribe to a blog to read sales pitches. You go for funny stories, information, to keep up with people, and all sorts of other reasons.
It was SUCH a relief to meet with the shelter manager and some of the board to map out a general direction from the start! They want a positive blog - one that makes readers feel like they are part of the community and then build on that connection for possible donations, adoptions, volunteers, or just good wishes. So that means slice-of-life stories, pet profiles, event info, stories about volunteers, etc. Also some informational stories, but couched in personal terms. Not "how to care for a special needs animal" but "this is fluffy, she has special needs. Here is how we cope with them, and here are some other places that might have info about them.
I have my next 2 stories planned out already, but am waiting for some people to get back to me with info.