Fall into the correct grammar patterns!

November is a month to give thanks to loved ones, health and happiness. Reading and writing are two of my favorite pastimes (both at home and in the office), so I decided to make a list of my Grammar Pet Peeves with easy-to-remember rules to cure the bad copywriting bug that’s been going around lately. 

(Please note: a few I already mentioned on the Blue Tide Productions Blog, but thought they were important enough to reiterate.)

1. Review your sentences and remove the word “that.” In most cases, your sentences still make sense without that word. The more you can condense your sentences and tighten up copy, the better.

2.   Finally, an easy way to remember they’re, they’re, and there!:

They are = they’re. Think of it as a drunken slur, you are just running the words together quickly.

So clearly, their = the “other” one, used for possessive. Easy to remember because an “heir” gets stuff. It just has a T in front of it.

And lastly, “there” indicates a location or destination. Also easy to remember because it is like the word “here” (another location/destination) with a T in front of it.

I.e. They’re going to pick up their car from there.

3. Capitalization versus little letters? Depending on the type of site and copy you are crafting, capitalization comes into play in a big way.

The Big Game. A powerful title, needing all caps.

That’s what SHE said. (Self explanatory.)

Eenie,meenie, miney mo…I may choose not to capitalize any of this sentence if I think the viewer will get the ambiguous feeling better without them.

4. God bless bullets. Not the ammunition, but the lovely little dots that help us categorize an otherwise bulky and confusing paragraph. We should all use them more often to help structure thoughts, outline documents and sum up reports. All too often a paper comes across my desk that is completely essay-style, and it takes too much brainpower to decipher meaning. Help your supervisor (or audience) sift through your thoughts by keeping similar content in list format.

5. Alliteration is always an appropriate option. If it rolls off the tongue smoothly, try typing it out and seeing if it also flows well when your eyes move over the text. If I had used words that started with other letters like “Alliteration is typically a reasonable selection,” it just wouldn’t resonate properly.

6. Make dashing sentences by using perhaps the most underrated mark of punctuation – the em dash. Add a little drama and anticipation to your readers, and leave them wanting more. Girls should be good at this one. The width of the letter m, em dashes may replace commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought.

Examples:

It was my favorite day of the week – payday.

He was the hardest-working intern we ever hired – period.

7. Commas suck, any way you splice it.
A comma splice is the incorrect use of a comma to connect two independent clauses (a phrase that is grammatically and conceptually complete: that is, it can stand on its own as a sentence.) To correct the comma splice, you can:

* replace the comma with a period, forming two sentences

* replace the comma with a semicolon

* join the two clauses with a conjunction such as “and,” “because,” “but,” etc.

Example:

Let’s go to lunch, I am hungry.                    INCORRECT

Let’s go to lunch. I am hungry.                    CORRECT

Let’s go to lunch; I am hungry.                    CORRECT

Let’s go to lunch because I am hungry.    CORRECT

8. Active verbs are healthy verbs! Active versus passive verbs
While there are exceptions to the rule, powerful sentences require action verbs to get the point.

The ball was dropped on this project by our team. INCORRECT
We dropped the ball on this project. CORRECT

If you every use the words “was, were, have or has been” family, ask yourself why. If it makes more sense and sounds better flipped around when you say it aloud, then in probably looks better on paper as well.

9. OMG. Text Jargon is NOT okay in the work environment.
Instant Messages to your colleague is one thing, but sending an email, ad, memo or report is quite another (no matter how close you are with clientele). I’d love to commend Marc Brownstein on an excellent post in Ad Age about this subject: U Think U R Such a Professional? Plz!

10. Don’t use words that are “too big for a sentence’s britches.”
There is a time and a place for showing off your vernacular and if you can’t tell the difference, it harms you more than it helps you. For example, a simple headline doesn’t need to use extensive vocabulary, especially if it makes readers stumble over the words. Nobody has time for it – they will drop it and move on to something else. Of course, in a 10-year strategic plan for your company, colloquial speech is accepted and in most cases, expected for the high-level eyes browsing the document.

Hope this hints help. What are your big pet peeves when it comes to grammar and writing?

You don’t have to be a Ghostbuster to realize Halloween is my friend.

Some of my own favorite homemade costumes in the past have included:

-          Team America outfits (complete with the soundtrack blaring from car en route to party)

-           Dirty Martini drink with a olive hat that you could actually sip cocktails out of with a giant pixie stick straw (my best friend, the Cosmopolitan drink, had an equally cute outfit, complete with a cherry-on-top hat).

-          Rainbow Brite, with my old school colorful shoe-lace ribbon clip

-          I tried to pull of a cute Transformer costume last year, but didn’t have the time to prepare. Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.

Making creative, crowd-stopping costumes is an art; but thinking of them is a science.

I thought I’d put my creative costume brainstorming powers to good use and share some fun ideas for this year’s Halloween festivities. Consider this my good deed, since I am not giving away candy to Trick-or-Treaters this year. My motives are purely altruistic and have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am sick of seeing the same “sexy [insert nursery rhyme character here]”’s flouncing about every single year. =)

New adage, courtesy of moi’:

Give a friend an idea, they will be a stupid nursery rhyme character again next year.

Show them how to think of these ideas on their own, and they just might pleasantly surprise us next time!

1. Beyond Blockbusters: What are your favorite movies this year? Think deeper than the #1 Blockbuster that has a hot couple everyone will try to imitate.For example, if you are into animated movies, try imitating Coraline or better yet, a cloud with meatballs.Into cheesy comedies? Give a nod to Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum with a security outfit, and staple bunch of animals on your outfit.If you are four guys and can play it off perfectly, try being the guys from the Hangover. Don’t forget the chipped tooth and baby doll in the pouch.Show your love for the recently deceased in a respectable way. For example, this would be a nice year to not leave Baby in a Corner…My rule is: avoid prepackaged nylon versions that are being sold for $100 at a party store. Unless you want to run into your twin all night.
2. Television Break: As much as you might clear your social calendar to watch Grey’s Anatomy or Entourage, it might be tough to re-enact – unless you happen to have an extremely diverse-looking group of friends. If someone doesn’t “get it’ within ten seconds, it probably isn’t that distinctive of a character. Props can make or break a posse as well. I’ve seen four striking ladies – 2 brunettes, a redhead, and a blonde – totally pull off Desperate Housewives outfits. Mostly because of the red apples or muffin baskets in hand, a “dirty laundry” basket, bright lipsticks and flawless character mannerisms.Taking this a step further would be a very memorable commercial or SNL skit you think would be fun to re-enact. i.e.) Dirty Mouth? Clean it up!
   Kristin Wig’s Target Lady, anyone?
3. Ball is in Your Court: Famous Athletes are fair game. Don’t they say imitating is the best form of flattery? I am not sure exactly who they are, since I have a feeling we’ll see some ref-shouting Ms. Williams’s in a tennis outfit, just like we saw a few stoned Michael Phelps’ performances last year.
4. Current Events CAN be fun!: Whether you are playing off the Octo-Mom or creating your own little political satire, 2009 brought plenty to parody. What better way to lighten the news then to poke fun of it in costume-form?
5. Gauge Your Audience: If you can further play off the theme of your audience or location too, even better. For example, if you are attending a co-worker’s party and you are all in the advertising business, it might be fun to Mad Men-ize a few colleagues and show up with red ties and cigars.
   

If you are hosting your own party and want to get even more creative, you could ask everyone to bring their own carved pumpkin. The best / scariest / most creative wins something. Scariest edible treats are always a good time as well.

Hope my creative costume ideas helped! If nothing else, we are giving Bo Peep a much-needed break this year. High five.

Well, I know about energy, passion, and brainstorming.

I also am one of the few people that recognized what they loved to do at an early age, with my first published literary masterpiece* printed in the 4^th grade.

*By masterpiece, I mean a compilation of my schoolwork that my teacher loved so much that she found a printer to sponsor a beautiful rendition of my compiled essays.

However, there is a double-edged sword in having a profession where you love what you do every single day.

Entrepreneurial spirits tend to have a handful of other inventions or blooming companies you “moonlight” (stay up late working on your own projects) every single night. When you ask this type of person, “So, what’s new?” the answer is almost always a laundry list of projects and sites and books and blog and classes and new organizations and…are you still reading? I would have dozed off by now with my eyes open. You are probably one of these go-getters yourself. Good for you.

In a regular workday, I stare at the computer screen for hours on end, swapping syllables and cutting/pasting sentences so much it looks like a fridge magnet game. Then finally, everything just fits perfectly, and the perfect article or story gleams back at me. I barely have time to pat myself on the back when my momentary satisfaction is stolen by another sales letter or advertisement tapping my shoulder, waiting impatiently for me to write in time for deadline.

I know many creative designers and social media activists feel the same way. While I can’t fathom the notion, I imagine that is also how it works for other people passionate about other occupations (like number-lovers adding up budgets).

The problem with these kinds of people in an office or work environment where they actually love what they do? The moonlighting fades.

Since the passion is lit all day in the office while you are hammering away at your favorite tasks for your company, you can be burnt out by the time you get home. Ready for activities or creative outlets or god forbid, to relax.

Instead of spending time cultivating you big-money, game-changing idea, time goes by and you get comfortable working for “the man.” For some people, security and benefits are more important. For others, getting in this rut is dangerous and will ultimately make them unhappy if they don’t at least ATTEMPT to move forward with their lifelong goals.

• Take time out for yourself and soul search.
• Stay involved with activities outside of work that make you happy – whether it’s sports, or a more obvious form of networking. You never know who can help you take your dreams to a reality.
• Don’t make the office your new home, if you don’t plan on being there forever. Offer to take on a wider variety of projects. Take advantage of lunch breaks and office hours/holidays. Leave work at home when you can. Make one night a week a day for your projects only, and hole up to cross items of your to-do list.
• Timing is key. Bad economy is a bad time to start some businesses, while others are finding a niche market and finding it the perfect launch time. Perfect your business plan to incorporate timelines and profit margin comparisons.
• Dive in, don’t just dip your toes. If it’s worth doing, and you feel that strongly, starting out will always give you anxiety and make you nervous. Whenever you decide to move forward, as scary as it may be, don’t. look. back.

Under 30 Rock Star Business Series (Webinar, but hosted by some of my favorite local rock stars, so I am including anyway!) http://ow.ly/nANO
Sept. 14 at 7 pm
As a young business person, entrepreneur or job seeker – the competition has never been more fierce. Unemployment is high, funding is tight and the market is ripe for change. We want to show you how to make that change in your own life by helping you create and establish a personal and professional brand!

Each week will have a different theme and instructor. Collectively this group has been using Social Media and Online Tools to create a huge network that includes: More than 25,000 engaged Twitter followers; a community with over 600 active members; TV Coverage on FOX News, ABC and the Daily Buzz; syndication on a nationally distributed Radio Show; magazine features in Smart Business Magazine, Personal Branding Magazine and the Hudson Valley Business Journal; books feature in How To Go To College on a Shoe String; spoken at events around the country, speaking to college students, graduates and job seekers, helping them see the potential in social media and online branding.; guest posts and features on Mashable, Workshifting, Personal Branding Blog, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, The College Living Blog, the Startupist, Ypulse and countless others.

Professional Alliance Group
When September 9, 16, 23, and 30 2009, 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Email: anne.farmer@orlando.org
CONNECT with other professionals in the community to help grow each other’s businesses and facilitate introductions which turn to revenue
LEARN from each other, mentor and grow together, and share business ideas to reach maximum success
LEAD each other through becoming engaged with regional community issues and concern

Professional Power Partners
When: September 9, 16, 23 and 30 2009. 8:45 am – 10:00 am
The Chamber’s Leads Group help to provide additional opportunities for businesses to build relationships, increase visibility, aid in professional development and help get more referrals. You must be a current Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce member in good standing to participate. Only one industry representative per Leads Group. Three unexcused absences may result in dismissal.
There will be a $5.00 per meeting charge for anyone not ordering breakfast.
Contact: K. Goins
Phone: 407-835-2469
Email: k.goins@orlando.org

Central Florida Film Festival
When: 09/04/2009 — 09/06/2009
www.centralfloridafilmfestival.com

Women of Enterprise (WE) Network
When: September 7 and 21, 2009, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
WE is a women-only referral group that aims to promote women doing business with women within the community. For those wanting to become more involved in the community, WE aims to become a recognizable organization making a difference for the betterment of life and business.
WE meets every 2 weeks for lunch, learning, and relationship building. WE allows only one representative from each industry.
RSVPs must bereceived no later than the Friday preceding the meeting.
Contact: K. Goins
Phone: 407-835-2469
Email: k.goins@orlando.org

Lake Nona Leads Group
When: September 2,9,16,23 and 30 2009, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
The Chamber’s Leads Groups help to provide additional opportunities for businesses to build relationships, increase visibility, aid in professional development and help get more referrals. You must be a current Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce member in good standing to participate. Only one industry representative per Leads Group. Three unexcused absences may result in dismissal.
Contact: K. Goins
Phone: 407-835-2469
Email: k.goins@orlando.org
The Crystal Reel Awards
When: Saturday, September 12, 2009
Where: Plant City, Florida
This, our twentieth year of the award shows presented by the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, takes place again at the Red Rose Inn in Plant City on Saturday, September 12, 2009. This proves to be a very special event.
Website: www.fmpta.org
FilmSlam
When: Sunday, September 13, 2009
Originally a project of University of Central Florida’s Downtown Media Arts Center, the FilmSlam seemed fated to end when DMAC closed earlier this year. The local filmmaking community and FilmSlam organizers came to Enzian with a request to continue the monthly screenings of local filmmakers’ projects. As a result, Enzian will continue the program to focus on the growing number of indie and student filmmakers in the State of Florida.

Entry into the FilmSlam is FREE (and open only) to all Florida Filmmakers. There is a $5.00 admission fee to the monthly screenings so that the filmmakers do not have to pay an entry fee! Tell your friends to come support indie film! Website: www.enzian.org/films/filmslam.html

WEVA EXPO 2009
When: 09/14/2009 — 09/17/2009
19th Annual Wedding and Event Association (WEVA) International Trade Show and Convention. Wedding and Event Videographers from all over the globe gather to network, share techniques and elevate their businesses to the top of their game. Trade show brings vendors and attendees from all across the video industry. Creative Excellence Awards bring entries from all over the world. Awards Event held opening night. Expo Only Tickets available.
Website: www.wevaexpo.com

Florida Media Market
When: 09/16/2009 — 09/20/2009
The Florida Media Market is a membership-based organization whose goal is to educate and build a platform where independent film & media makers meet with international buyers, distributors and production companies to buy, sell and network. We aim to create an annual market for film, documentary, television and media deal-making that will fortify our industry both internationally and in Florida, the action state. FMM’s Fourth Annual Global Film & Media Conference will take place in Orlando, Florida September 16-20.
Website: www.floridamediamarket.com
Orlando Hispanic Film Festival
When: 09/16/2009 — 09/20/2009
Plaza Cinema Café Downtown Orlando
The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (OHFF) is a high energy, high profile event bringing movie-going to a whole new level. The event will draw a wide variety and fast growing independent film audience. OHFF provides a highly desirable platform where independent filmmakers from around the world can showcase their work to industry professionals and the entire Central Florida Community.
Website: www.ohfilmfestival.com/
The Global Peace Film Festival
When: 09/22/2009 — 09/27/2009
Rollins College, WP Library, Orlando Science Center
The Global Peace Film Festival was established to utilize the power of the motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth. With a mission to expand the definition of peace beyond anti-war, ideology, activism or specific causes, the Global Peace Film Festival films and events suggest a more personal message as reflected in the daily lives of individuals and communities the world over.

The GPFF presents films from around the world and global discussions that highlight the power of this extraordinary medium as it relates to new peace issues. See films from around the world, attend educational panels, meet filmmakers and special guests and hear from local activists about their work. And get involved!
Website: www.peacefilmfest.org/
FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival
When: 10/09/2009 — 10/11/2009
Venue: Wyndham Orlando Resort
International horror film festival featuring the best in independent horror from around the world! As part of Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend which draws over 10,000 horror fans every year!
Go to our website for more information
Website: www.freakshowfilmfest.com
Daytona Beach Film Festival
When: 10/09/2009 — 10/11/2009
Where: Ormond Beach, Florida
The festival will feature films from the four corners of the globe, as well as award winners from other festivals. There will be a student competition offering an opportunity for future filmakers to showcase their talents and an ‘Out of Towners’ special weekend package to encourage those who wish to enjoy our area as well as the cinema offerings.
Website: www.dbff.org

INDIEFEST!
When: 10/16/2009 — 10/25/2009
INDIEFEST! is a four-day (Thursday –Sunday), family-inclusive event that welcomes the very best in independent features, shorts, documentaries and student-made films. In addition INDIEFEST! celebrates classic favorites that audiences have come to know and love by offering FREE screenings to the general public. INDIEFEST! welcomes independent filmmakers, industry professionals, and film lovers the world over to celebrate and showcase their talents in an artistic-centric community that provides world-class accommodations, unique dining experiences, and themed entertainment.
Website: www.celebrationfilm.org
ShowEast
When: 10/26/2009 — 10/29/2009
Orlando World Center Marriott
ShowEast is the only major convention and trade show for the cinema exhibition and distribution community on the East Coast. Cinema Exhibition professionals come to ShowEast for exciting film screenings of major studio and independent feature films slated for holiday release as well as product reel presentations, exciting special events with Hollywood’s hottest stars, educational seminars and to find the latest products, services and technologies at the trade show.
Website: www.showeast.com
LDI 2009 by Live Design Magazine
11/16/2009 – 11/22/2009
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando FL
Do you need TOOLS that will help you BREAK through the economy, give you a competitive edge and allow you to work more efficiently?
This year we’re all being challenged to deliver more at our jobs…more productivity, more expertise, more creativity. In today’s economy, it has become more critical than ever for live design professionals to update their technical knowledge and sharpen their skills. In 2009, you either contribute or become extinct. LDI has all the tools and resources you’ll need to help you work smarter.
ldishow.com/LDI09/public/enter.aspx

Creativity cannot be rushed. Yet for it to be productive, it must.

What music helps you “put blinders on” so that you only see your canvas / screen / notepad / sketchpad?

“Creative Mood Music” that helps stir creativity:

-         Film scores like Carl Orff: Carmina Burana

-         Soundtracks from your favorite movies

-         Slow Jazz, Instrumental, Environmental

-         New Age

-         Techno/electronica / dance / house (whatever this genre calls itself these days)

Perhaps there is a little coffee bar or jazz place on the water you can check out during lunch to breathe in the music.  Your mood music should change depending on the creative endeavor, because music effects emotionally.  I like to listen to smooth, sultry yet upbeat music from artists like Regina Spektor, Mandy Bergen, John Mayer, etc.

An artist trying to depict a dark message should probably listen to a different channel/track than a public relations professional trying to catch their bearings before coming up with new story angles.

Music that helps you focus and wrap out creativity before deadline time:

-         Golden Oldies

-         90s alternative

-         Classic Rock

(Psst: Sensing a pattern? Sometimes when you know the words so well you subconsciously sing along, or completely ignore the song altogether. Either way, it’s not getting in the way at your task at hand.)

I am one of those freaks that prefer silence during deadline time.

Not by choice, exactly.

My embarrassing lack of song lyrics knowledge makes for an interesting karaoke night, but not a fun working environment. My brain starts to get distracted and sing along, but since it never knows the proper words, it turns into a multitasking disaster.