Taking quotes out of context

One of my biggest pet peeves is taking quotes out of context, which any self-respecting writer will tell you is dishonest. It misrepresents the person being quoted and is basically LYING. So I totally understand those folks who do not grant interviews unless they get to review the final piece because they're afraid the writer (if they're not hones) will take them totally out of context and misrepresent their meaning.

Same with plagiarism--oh wait! That would be the VP who's an admitted plagiarist (and which should have disqualified him from public office IMHO).

I guess the big O's speech writer was the one lying the other night........ this blurb also addresses several other liberals who have been taking quotes out of context as well.

EDITORIAL: Hijacking Reagan - Washington Times

"President Obama is the latest Democrat to try to enlist Ronald Reagan in a campaign to saddle Americans with more taxes. Last week, MSNBC host Chris Matthews took some of Reagan's quotes on taxes out of context and chided, "Would Reagan even be a Republican today?" No doubt the 40th president is in..."

so much writing, so little time :) Let's talk about web writing...

You may have noticed there was some streamlining going on over at the main writing website. The focus is changing from technical writing and general writing and editing to web writing, technical copywriting, and technical writing. Yes, there is a difference.


Web writing, nearly everyone is familiar with these days. It's the content you find everywhere on the web. However, what you don't always find is websites that are doing their jobs. There are many "informational" web sites that just seem to be someone talking into space. A number of blogs are like that. They don't really want you the reader to do anything...just read and maybe comment, maybe not. There are plenty of sites like that, but these days most of us expect them to be a little more interactive. Let us at least share you on FB & Twitter! lol


There are sites that are informational but that also direct you to do something. Usually you'll find these types of sites on the geeky or technical end of things. There will be plenty of white papers, product information, and help available. But to get to the "meat" of the content, they'd like you to sign up for the newsletter, please. And that isn't a bad deal. That's what our writing site does now.


Then there are those really interactive blog sites where everyone can comment on the main story. They're everywhere. The one place I find them quite annoying is on what's supposed to be my objective, local news websites. Yes, I'm one of "those" who usually turns those comment pages off when I'm just really trying to scan the headlines, see if there's anything I need to be aware of, and get back to whatever type of writing I'm working on at the moment.


It's easy to suffer from "information overload" these days.... so learning to practice moderation here, as well as with your food is a pretty good policy. And always, always, always --- consider the source and the spin!  To make sure you're getting a balanced view somewhere in the middle, remember to check the story on "the other side" of the fence as well.  Remember, there are at least 2 sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in between.


Until next time... write well & be well!
melodie

time to write...part 2

Whether you've noticed it or not, the writing site has under gone a big overhaul, putting more of an emphasis on the copywriting and business writing side of things. That's taken place over the last few months in the "spare" time mostly on weekends.


Big changes were removing our writing and editing pages; these are now available in the Writing and Editing Tips booklet sent to those who sign up for our newsletter. Other big changes were overhauling the Portfolio page and adding some testimonials from past clients. Anything to make use look more professional!


We're not done yet --- over the summer expect to see a design change with some new images and probably a new logo as well.


Baby steps...little pieces in the little time available. :)

Writing & Editing Tips booklet now available

Our new complimentary Writing and Editing Tips booklet is when your sign up for our newsletter. :)
http://www.melodiehawkins.com/index.html

Finding time to write

If you work in another industry, finding time to write may be easier than you think. Before I became a "professional" writer, I worked in the environmental industry as an analyst and product manager. And at that time, I started polishing my writing skills again by taking some "fun" creative writing classes.


How did I find the time to write when I was working 50, 60, and at times 80 hours a week? Simple. I started taking a lunch hour, for starters. :)  And then on weekends, there were some late-nighters as well. (Unlike many  writers, I'm a night owl by nature and the quietness of late night seems to feed my imagination more than the rushing energy during the day.)


Then I landed my first professional writing job, where I actually did spend all day writing. And guess what happened? Spending all day word-smithing zapped my creativity (and my brain!), and so my own creative projects started suffering. I mentioned it to some of the other staff writers, and ya know what?  Their own writing projects also moved to the back burner after they started writing professionally, full time, day after day. Hmmmmm. A common problem....


I guess I shouldn't really be so surprised because by the end of the day my eyes are dry and scratchy from starting at the computer screen all day and my brain is fried and the attention span is all but non-existent. :) I'm good for about 6 hours in front of the screen, but after that I need to do something else and let my brain rest!  On the other hand, this type of daily writing keeps my skills sharp, because the more you write, the easier it becomes, just like any other skill. Writing is a craft and a skill.


So what you'll be seeing in the blog over the next several months is how I find the time to finally finish several writing projects in my personal projects folder. I'll share with you here the ways I find to fit in my own writing projects, and that's not including my 2 websites and 2 blogs!


What? You didn't know about those? There's the writing site:  http://www.MelodieHawkins.com and this writing blog. Then there's the wellness center site:  http://www.LunaWellnessCtr.com where you'll find information on hypnosis, energy medicine, spiritual healing, angels, demons,  intuition (it's more of a creative site), and the Luna Wellness blog: http://www.lunawellnessctr.com/blog/ 


The wellness center site has been coming together nicely over the last couple of months. I changed hosting providers because I just didn't have the time to finish a re-design (using Dreamweaver) I had started. This way,  I can just concentrate on the content using pre-fab page designs.  But, if you want to see some of my own design work paired with some writing, visit the writing & editing site.  :)


So, next time I'll let you know what kind of progress I've made on the book. Until then, please think about what you say, how you say it, and write it well.

Taking things out of Context

This basic NO NO seems to be practiced a lot these days. Both libs & conservatives are guilty of this; however, if appears to me that the liberal media takes conservatives out of context Far More Often than the other way around.

Take Rush Limbaugh for an example. Several years ago (when I still listened to the dominant mass media which is predominately liberal---you know, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.) I was struck at one point by all  the reports of Rush and his "hate mongering" that seemed be a daily news staple.

As a writer & editor, I was curious because frankly I didn't think Anyone was stupid enough to keep making the "gaffes" that the media reported. So I started listening to him. Regularly. And to the entire radio show.

Far from being the "hate monger-er" being reported, he was funny and intelligent, yes often over-the-top but then aren't those who need ratings? He *assumed* contrary to most media that his audience was equally intelligent and that they "got" his tongue-in-cheek humor.  He was also educational, routinely explaining his and the conservative point-of-view on economics and history and policy. This is far more than you would get from most "drive by" accounts.

And I kept listening.  The reports of  "hate mongering" have not subsided, in fact they've gotten worse. But now I know that those reports and quotes are intentionally taken out of context, breaking that very basic rule of journalism.

The only folks who do believe those reports are those who haven't bothered to check into them; those who have only listened to the often outrageous snippets that circulate that are explicitly taken out of context. Often these snippets are satire and references to what the dominant media will take out of context. And they often choose that very thing.

It's no wonder many choose not to talk to the media at all or only under very controlled circumstances since there's no way of telling how they're going to portray you until the story airs or is published.

Consider the source, their bias (and there is always a bias even if you're not aware of it) and ask critical, thinking questions about the report. Is it out of context? Is it spun to reflect a specific viewpoint? If so, I would suggest checking the original source and the full context of the story.

more links on the plagarism item

http://nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com/1553538.html
http://howpublishingreallyworks.com/?p=3450

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/11/04/more-cooks-source-tr.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2010/11/cooks-source-magazine-vs-the-web.html

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=196994196748&topic=23238

On posting online (Internet) and copyright infringement --- YES IT APPLIES!

This story has gone viral in days---because it's an item that affects all who post written, creative, music, video, artwork, etc. on the Web.

http://illadore.livejournal.com/30674.html?view=439762#t439762

http://nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com/1553538.html

I fight the same kind of IGNORANCE at work as well, in fact the training dept (in another state) was wanting to download vids from Utube and use them in training. Thank goodness someone asked about it in a weekly meeting (different department and directed it at network security of all the wrong places) and I gave everyone a little verbal (and later e-mail) lesson in copyright infringement, how because something is on the Web does NOT mean that copyright does not apply (NO, the web is NOT "public domain") and gave them the proper etiquette for requesting usage of the video. (Simply contact the author, tell them who you are and what you want to use it for and ask them if that is OK. Most will usually grant permission...)

But this story... the Cooks Source magazine editor (if she's really worked in the industry for 30 yrs) should certainly be aware of copyright issues and that copyright applies to all creative media from the moment of creation.

Plagiarism is also a crime since it is a form of copyright infringement. In fact, the Republican primary in Colorado had a plagiarism scandal this year that removed who the party fathers had anointed as the Governor elect candidate. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24230487/detail.html

I really hope this gal talks to an IP attorney and/or the National Writer's Union who (I'm sure) would just LOVE to take this case on!