InkHouse’s guide to AP Style writing

Five common blunders in written content

We’re all human, so mistakes can certainly occur when writing, especially in this digital age when it seems our keyboards are moving faster than the news cycles. The race to quickly publish is heated, but before distributing, writing needs thorough proofreading. After all, content is currency in public relations, and any grammar flops can disgrace circulated content almost faster than pushing it live.

Seven ingredients for crisp writing

Words, when cobbled into descriptive sentences, can create some of the most striking works of art. These verses wield the power to convey detailed messages, paint vivid images and absorb all readers—while informing audiences…

Ten pieces of advice to get you writing

Writing is technical, personal, and at times, frustratingly difficult for those of us who get stuck or feel like we’re not good enough. To that end, I went in search of writing advice, which I’ve compiled below in case it helps you get writing, because if you’re a writer like me, writing is like air…

The facts alone do not make a story

Reporting is not storytelling. Successful PR campaigns rest on great stories, not just great facts…

Eight key elements of thought leadership

Thought leaders need real ideas. Your PR partner is good at coming up with stuff, but if the thought isn’t authentically yours, the leadership won’t be either. Figuring out media targets and strategy comes later.

Here are some key elements…

Good writing is clear thinking, made visual

A company or business could be failing to reach a much broader audience if they are relying solely on written text. Thankfully, the realization that there are creative ways to more effectively reach billions people is starting to catch on…

Three common writing roadblocks, and how to tackle them

Writing takes time, and writing well takes even longer, but there are a few tricks to make it a little easier. Here are three common writing challenges, paired with three tips on how to overcome them so you can tell that red pen (or mouse cursor) to kick back for a while.

The worst pitch we could ever write

Reporters sometimes complain about the staid phrases PR people use in their pitches, rightly so in some cases. Erica Swallow at Mashable has a post on this topic, which inspired the InkHouse team to write the worst pitch we could think of during one of our recent FOFs (forced office fun for anyone who doesn’t work here)…

Five little ways to tighten your writing

Writing is hard. You have to have a point, make that point succinctly and persuasively, and follow a whole bunch of rules and journalistic standards while delivering that point. But writing is part of your livelihood as a communications professional, and whether it’s a press release, blog post, or LinkedIn update, strong writing is what can set you – or your clients – apart.
 

Here are a few examples to help tighten your writing:

Twenty signs you might be a word nerd

Here’s my map of the DNA of a word nerd. If you answer yes to at least three of these characteristics, welcome to the Word Nerd Club.