In July of 2018, one of your worst business nightmares happened to me. It was so painful, it took me six months (and four proofreaders) to write about it. No matter your industry, I hope my saga helps you avoid this same problem. A returning client refused to pay a big chunk of an almost $6,000 final invoice. That may not seem like much to you, but it … [Read more...] about “My client stole some of my work!”
Birth of a new Christmas tradition
I know, I know. It's like I'm stuck in continuous play mode. I send you this message every December. But hey! it's just too good to pass up! In our home, we celebrate the birth of Christ this time of year. Thus, 'Christ-mas' If that's not what happens at your house, you may still enjoy the ideas here (especially if this is a gift-giving time for your … [Read more...] about Birth of a new Christmas tradition
A Thanksgiving miracle
Sometimes it takes a talented author and a great audio crew to get my attention. This is what happened when I heard a radio play based on a book by Eric Metaxas: Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Day in the United States – when Americans pause to thank God for his blessings – is the fourth Thursday in November.) A perfect holiday for … [Read more...] about A Thanksgiving miracle
“Should I use links on my website?”
Since I'm a website tester, people ask me for advice from 'the other side' ... the angle of the person who sees the good and the bad. They wonder if links are a positive or a negative for their pages. Well ... this depends on the reliability of the links. I use very few links You may have noticed I use very few URLs (links) on my pages. I stay pretty … [Read more...] about “Should I use links on my website?”
National Pasta Day!
'Newsjack' alert for writers: National Pasta Day is fast approaching. According to the National Pasta Day website: “Marco Polo did not discover pasta in Asia and take it to Italy. Early Romans used a very simple flour and water dough: pasta is Italian for ‘dough.’” Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson introduced pasta to the United States when he transported a … [Read more...] about National Pasta Day!
Give your proofer a break!
“What’s the hardest part about being a proofer?” My answer always surprises people. It's not doing the work. “The hardest part is convincing people they need a proofer, and having them listen once we're hired!” (Remember the story on my 'Secret sauce' for better docs page?) Crickets During the 2018 midterm primaries, I noticed a local magazine listing … [Read more...] about Give your proofer a break!