The toughest thing about writing a news release is getting started. But writing doesn't have to be hard. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you beat writer's block.
Before the story, think about:
? audience. who do I want (or expect) to read this? What do they want to know? What do I want them to know?
? "gatekeepers." These are usually the editors who will decide if they will use your story. What kind of story do they normally use? How long? Style?
If you just can't get the first word down on paper, here are some things to try.
? Talk to someone about your story. Listen to yourself. Write the story like you told it. You can always rearrange sentences or paragraphs later.
? Go through your notes. Star the things you think are most important. Then try to start a story with at least one or two of those important things in the first sentences.
? Write the headline first. Then make sure your first paragraph or two says essentially the same thing as the headline.
? Try being childlike. How do kids tell a story? They blurt it out, getting to the point fast with plenty of action verbs.
? Plagiarize, sort of. If you see something written that you like, borrow the idea, but not word-for-word. I'm especially talking about borrowing ideas of style.
Now you have the tools to bust writer's block. Get write to it.
About the author: Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR, http://www.hoover-ink.com. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Duke Energy, Levolor, North Carolina Tourism, Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, VELUX and Verbatim.
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..How can media training help you create a successful Hispanic... Read More
Product/service publicity is the superhighway to business success everyone dreams.... Read More
Many of our clients are in service businesses, such as... Read More
To survive in business, you've got to focus your attention... Read More
Ain't a gonna happen unless business, non-profit and association managers,... Read More
There's an old African proverb:"If you think you are too... Read More
Ever wonder why papers devote a page or more to... Read More
Do editors of newspapers, magazines and online news sites really... Read More
Think for a moment! If you were to do a... Read More
The public relations bar, should such a proficiency measure ever... Read More
Almost assuredly you do, especially when your most important external... Read More
Well, autumn is upon us and with the onset of... Read More
Would you advise clients to buy a stock based on... Read More
It's the time of year when calendars crowd out the... Read More
Your public relations people are busy. The buzz is all... Read More
Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams,"... Read More
Whether you are a business, non-profit or association manager, your... Read More
During my career as the head of media relations for... Read More
Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
I don't know about you but I get really frustrated... Read More
Recently someone asked me why so many restaurants go out... Read More
Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More
THE NATURE OF MEDIAThirty years ago, Marshall McCluhan, the father... Read More
What are you trying to do with your business, non-profit... Read More
Yup -- it's hot and sticky and you don't feel... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..PRESIDENT BUSH TELLS A STORYOn March 18, 2005, President Bush... Read More
The truth is, you CAN attract the support of those... Read More
You never want to inundate a reporter with information, but... Read More
If you're like most publicity seekers, you probably think oneproject... Read More
A press kit is an essential press relations tool. While... Read More
?makes the rules, of course.But when the gold takes the... Read More
Without a solid, well-designed foundation, few buildings successfully withstand the... Read More
Just happens to be public relations activity that alters individual... Read More
Well, autumn is upon us and with the onset of... Read More
Your important outside audiences behave in ways that stop you... Read More
You worked hard to get a story on your business... Read More
You bet! And in three ways vital to you as... Read More
Journalists are trained and often experienced at getting information out... Read More
The notion that a business, non-profit or association manager can... Read More
HOW TO BE RELAXED AND EFFECTIVE ON-AIRHow does one stay... Read More
When I search Google News for "surveys," I get nearly... Read More
Individual financial planners can outscore bigger competitors and gain market... Read More
A term you'll hear in newsrooms, in editing meetings, in... Read More
Media interviews are an important part of an overall public... Read More
Well, for starters, because good public relations can alter individual... Read More
You never know when 60 Minutes will knock on your... Read More
When ABC News anchor Peter Jennings announced he had lung... Read More
Just because a publication is small doesn't mean that getting... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, let the tacticians... Read More
Have you ever noticed that in communities without big universities,... Read More
Public Relations |