Author Archives: Sarah Myers
Blogging for CharityComms
CharityComms is the membership network for communications professionals working in UK charities. Every so often I write a blog for their Knowledge Hub on wordy type topics. Here’s a selection. Making space and time for creative thinking While most of us would agree you can’t learn creativity from a book, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your […]
Five tips for briefing your charity copywriter
Good copywriters spend a lot of time talking. Sharing thoughts and ideas, making bad grammar jokes and, most importantly, asking their clients lots of challenging questions. So if you brief a writer and are met with silence, beware. It’s their responsibility to make sure they fully understand the intricacies of your project and the subtleties of your tone of voice. […]
What makes good feedback?
“Can we make the pig sexier?” “I’ll know what I want when I see it.” “Just jazz it up a bit.” These bits of feedback received by a network of designers, illustrators and art directors inspired a poster exhibition in Ireland. While bad feedback might make creatives laugh over a wind-down pint in the pub – or, indeed, lead to an […]
Why great charity communications are always jargon free
How does a blind person play football? At what time of day will walking burn off the most calories? How common is female circumcision in the UK? These are just some of the questions I can answer as a result of working in the charity sector. Whether I’m writing an annual review or copy for a website, I make sure […]
How to communicate with confidence: Top tips from Guardian journalists
‘How to present a strong argument with confidence’. That’s what the advert said I’d learn at this Guardian newspaper masterclass, from some of their leading journalists. What I also discovered from listening to these self-assured writers was that they have a lot to teach charity communicators about getting your charity’s messages across. Here are a few tips I picked up […]
How charity writers can beat the block
A good writer might have a selection of the following things on their desk: a dictionary, some newspapers and magazines, a reporter’s notepad. Plus, some scrunched up bits of paper, a row of dirty coffee mugs, pages of intricate doodles… Sometimes you just get stuck. You might know what you want to say, but find it just won’t transfer from […]