writing skills & storytelling with ann handley and carrie morgan

Best of#PRprochat

PR Writing Skills & Storytelling

Carrie Morgan@morgancarrie

If you could speak to the ten-years-younger Ann, what writing skills would you emphasis learning? #PRprochat

#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST

Best of#PRprochat PR Writing Skills & Storytelling

with Ann Handley & Carrie Morgan

https://twitter.com/morgancarrie/status/672508676498944000

Ann Handley@annhandley

Train yourself to observe. Writers find inspiration in the most ordinary places. #PRprochat #PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST



https://twitter.com/annhandley/status/672510003442421760

Caledon Virtual@CaledonVirtual

@morgancarrie @annhandley It’s amazing how just deciding to DO IT can break writer’s block sometimes. #PRprochat




https://twitter.com/CaledonVirtual/status/672510620487434241


One of the challenges of #PR is NOT being involved enough with our clients to be inspired, to see challenges... #PRprochat @annhandley #PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





And learn the scaffolding of good writing. "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." (Picasso) #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





There is a huge difference between writing that breaks rules to ADD flavor, vs. making mistakes that look amateur. @annhandley #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





I don't really believe in writer's block. Does a house framer get 2x4 block? Usually writer's block is really a thinking block. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





For those of us who aren’t natural writers, how can we improve our skills? #PRprochat






I’m not sure how, but READING is an amazing way to improve writing skills. Osmosis? It works! #PRprochat






Do more of it. Write your own blog posts. Write more letters. Emulate writers you enjoy reading. #PRprochat






Trying on the writing style of other's is a FABULOUS idea. Try many - polish your style through emulation. @CaledonVirtual #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST




@CaledonVirtualAnn Handley

Write every day. Make it a habit every day, not an "obligation" once a week, as @goinswriter says. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST




Tinu Abayomi-Paul@Tinu

If you think you can't write, pretend you're telling a story or answering Qs. Or Transcribe your thoughts & get an editor. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST



https://twitter.com/Tinu/status/672512888112857088


@whitneysanchez3 We get into trouble when we think writing is "magical.". It can be inspired.. but it's also flat-out WORK. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





What high school writing “rules” should we make an effort to unlearn? #PRprochat #PR #blogging #content






Lose the 5-paragraph essay approach, which is STILL being taught. Even though it's been proven to make kittens cry. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





Storytelling styles of writing don't always compute with high school writing "rules" - too rigid! #PRprochat





Chris Bell@riskycontent

Those rules weren't necessarily bad. Thing is, I didn't need them so I never learned them. #PRprochat




https://twitter.com/riskycontent/status/672514642581848064


So many are afraid to develop their own writing "voice" - but that's what makes some writing AMAZING. @CaledonVirtual @annhandley #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST




Gerard F. Corbett@gerardcorbett

Depends when you were in high school! Several rules still apply. #kiss #PRprochat




https://twitter.com/gerardcorbett/status/672514997029769216


Tone of voice is key, as @morgancarrie just said. I wrote about voice as a differentiator today: annhandley.com/2015/12/03/5-k… #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





Just how important are storytelling skills for corporate PR? #PRprochat





Tressa Robbins@tressalynne

I don't care who you are (corporate or otherwise), #storytelling skills are CRITICAL for #PR pros! #PRprochat




https://twitter.com/tressalynne/status/672515942610407424


@tressalynne Nobody wants to read your boring corporate news. Have to tell a story to capture anyone’s attention. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





If you aren't learning the ability to tell engaging stories, you are doing your clients/employer a disservice.#PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





Storytelling takes an idea others have written about, and makes it completely new, tailored to your audience, FASCINATING. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST





PR often has an ear for stories, because PR pros are trained to think of what an audience will love. #PRprochat






"Story" just means putting information in the context of what people care about. #PRprochat






How can we learn to write great stories? #PRprochat





Tressa Robbins@tressalynne

I think we answered this earlier-- you write great stories by reading great stories and learning from them. #writing#PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST



https://twitter.com/tressalynne/status/672518063762247680


@gerardcorbett That's why I recommend #sciencefiction and #comics - stories live there ;) #PRprochat






Key is knowing your audience. Have empathy for their problems and issues. Share value. #PRprochat





Bonnie Riechert@BonnieRiechert

@morgancarrie It goes back to knowing your audience/publics/readers, focus on what people care about #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST



https://twitter.com/BonnieRiechert/status/672519196874579969


What elements should a great story include? #PRprochat






Elements of a great story: Empathy for the audience is #1. Second, joy in the telling. #PRprochat






.@AnnHandley Empathy is powerful - changes something condescending into resonance, attitude into understanding, smug into smart. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST




Gerard F. Corbett@gerardcorbett

Who What Where Why When and How #PRprochat




https://twitter.com/gerardcorbett/status/672519661569703936


Storytelling is not just emotion, but also craft: pacing, logical progressing, beats, characterization, structure, narrative. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST




Nicole E. Spears@_NicoleESpears

Stories need a conflict + a resolution. Whether the antagonist is a literary char or a startup solving a consumer pain point. #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST



https://twitter.com/_NicoleESpears/status/672519973097627648


It's easier to paint a fabulous story with a good vocabulary. I go back to reading <- it builds vocab! #PRprochat#PRprochat: First Thursdays @ 3pm EST




#PRprochat

First Thursdays @ 3pm EST

http://www.amazon.com/Above-Noise-Creating-Reputation-Digital/dp/1628652586

writing skills & storytelling with ann handley and carrie morgan

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