ISKs (Important Stuff to Know)

• Why ISK instead of FAQ?
• Why is professional writing important for companies and organizations? 
• Can’t anyone do it?
• What kind of projects do you do?
• Is all your work done via email and the telephone?
• Who have you written for?
• Have you worked on any other kinds of marketing communications projects?
• How did Joel, the writer, become JoeltheWriter?

Why ISK instead of FAQ?
Because I thought I'd give FAQs a little break. Besides, most FAQ sections on websites provide answers to questions that aren’t frequently asked but should be. So it’s a bit of a misnomer to begin with. They provide important information to help consumers and business professionals make informed decisions. 

Why is professional writing important for companies and organizations?
Because it can make the difference between a tremendously effective communications piece and a merely adequate one. Every document prepared on behalf of your products, services, programs or personnel becomes archival material that may represent you and the company or organization for years to come. Sometimes indefinitely. From the simplest press release to an entire website, from a pocket brochure to a comprehensive white paper, from an executive memo to an employee newsletter, all corporate writing needs to have significant impact and must be extremely well-crafted, concise and error-free.

Can’t anyone do it?
Everyone should aspire to write well; so much of our personal and professional lives depend on it. But the passion that separates serviceable writing from writing that communicates well, inspires and is a pleasure to read cannot necessarily be taught. It has to come naturally. Writing has been somewhat devalued in corporate America because the economic downturn forced many executives to be highly selective of the services for which they pay extra—and since writing is something we all learn in school, it is often felt that virtually anyone in a company can handle the function. We all learn arithmetic, too, but you wouldn’t want just anyone running your finance department. Would you? 

What kind of projects do you do?
Websites, brochures, ads, newsletters, press releases, white papers, fact sheets, case studies and corporate capability documents, speeches, annual reports, advertorials, fliers, scripts, slogans and articles. I have also written product reviews, eulogies, CD liner notes and blogs, and I have been an editor and proofreader. I have also created and project managed many public relations and marketing communications projects. Click here to read up on a few of them.   

Is all your work done via email and the telephone?
Almost. I’ve written for businesses from Canada to Missouri and for independent artists from Florida to Hawaii. The email/phone combo works very well. I am located in north-central Connecticut and am available for on-site meetings for any client located within a two-hour drive of my office. Visits beyond a two-hour radius are possible for those clients willing to pay travel and/or lodging expenses. I make every effort to accommodate the request.  

Who have you written for?
Advanced Business Checking Solutions, The American Camp Association, Cakes by Wildflour, Executive Computers, First Community Village, Harwill on the Road, Konica Minolta Instrument Systems, Mark Batty Publisher, MBA Group, New World Songs, Remax, River Road Improvement Corporation, the Village of Gleannloch Farms and many others. Please see the Clients page for a complete list. Many projects are available for viewing on the Copywriting Samples page.  

Have you worked on any other kinds of marketing communications projects?
Many. I've developed publicity projects on behalf of new products and corporate executives (read about the ‘dangerous traveling camera tour’ and the ‘couture to coir’ effort on the PR Projects page, both of which were successful); spearheaded employee recognition efforts with such projects as photo calendars tied into corporate initiatives; planned new product and corporate anniversary press conferences for which I selected the venues, hired the guest presenters, wrote the speeches and handled the hosting duties; developed interesting and effective editorial lineups for company newsletters and successfully placed clients on radio shows and have secured interviews for them with newspaper and magazine reporters.

How did Joel, the writer, become JoeltheWriter?
That's the easiest question of all. I've never wanted to do anything else but write. Ever since I was a boy, nearly everything I overheard, saw happen in the distance, learned in school or simply wondered about I turned—in my head, at the beginning—into books and plays and moves and magazine articles. Who knows why? But I never wanted to argue with it.