Copyright term and the public domain in the United States

I do not like to write because writing is hard work, including writing a blog. But like so many other writers, I love to have written. I also like the fact that through writing, I can deliver helpful information to others.

Here’s what happens when I sit down to write: I immediately have writer’s block. As I preach in my classes, one antidote to writer’s block is getting compulsive about my task. So I set my timer for one hour; chain myself to my desk (well, not literally); and write until the bell rings. Then I reward myself by biking to the gym so I can work out.

When I return to the my writing task again, I repeat the “chaining” event and treat myself again when I am done.

Corny? Yes. Effective? Yes. You’re reading this, aren’t you? I’ll do anything necessary to bribe myself to do what I must. And when your comments and feedback roll in, I’ll be glad I made the effort.

Prolific author Judy Blume shares her thoughts on how writing is like a puzzle: “I’m a rewriter. That’s the part I like best . . . once I have a pile of paper to work with, it’s like having the pieces of a puzzle. I just have to put the pieces together to make a picture.” But you must have the pieces of writing BEFORE you can put them together into a bigger document!

What are you waiting for?

(Of course, this is a little self-serving because I am listed in the directory, but so are lots of other wonderful writers and editors…searchable for free!)

But here’s what happened: The very first field in the online application asked for my entity name. Easy! “The Text Doctor.” Somehow I missed the fine print in italics that told me to put LLC after my entity name. In spite of my omission, the state gave me the LLC anyway.

And then my bank caught the mistake and refused to accept my LLC unless I went back and amended my original filing. Darned if that didn’t cost me another $25!

It turns out that italics can create readability issues for anyone. You can see the problem with italics in a delightful interactive course about typography from the National Learning Network.  I’ve always taught learners to avoid using italics in extended text. Now I’m living proof that italics, especially small and onscreen, are less readable than regular (roman) text.

Good job, AMWA!

I would argue, however, that even established editors would benefit from this text as an overview and reminder of our complex tasks and decisions. It was good to see an acknowledgment of the intricacies of editorial judgment and to watch a professional walk through the research that informs her judgments. Even after years of editing, I learned something in every chapter I read.

My other argument with Amy Einsohn, the author, is that she has based the book on The Chicago Manual of Style, whose explicit purpose is to set style for academic publishing (specifically at the University of Chicago), not necessarily for “book publishing and corporate communications” as Einsohn has specified. I also wonder why she fails to mention The Gregg Reference Manual, my favorite style manual for all things business because it addresses far more relevant issues than does Chicago.

Nevertheless, Einsohn redeems herself with 15 editing exercises sprinkled throughout the chapters (the answers alone take up 66 pages). The richness of this book almost makes me wish that I would experience a very minor injury or illness that would sideline me for just one day so that I could curl up, finish the book, and take the quizzes.

The Copy Editor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, 3rd Edition
Amy Einsohn
University of California Press
2011
About $15

PowerPoint presentations have become a vital part of both internal and external communications at pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Whether you are from regulatory affairs, charged with presenting information on how to comply with new requirements to the manufacturing team or you are from a small medical device company presenting your product to possible investors, your presentation could mean the lifeblood of your organization. Not only do executives use presentation slides to make pitches to stakeholders, but doctors also use them to present information at meetings and conferences too.

The truth is that most presentation slides are deadly, if not fatal. In order to get your message across you need to know how to break through the fog by creating effective presentations.

During this webinar expert Dr. Elizabeth Frick, will help you streamline your next presentation and polish your presentation skills. You will learn how to structure and organize your message for a PowerPoint presentation, combine effective verbal and visual message, avoid common PowerPoint pitfalls, and use the technology to your advantage.

In 90 minutes, you will discover how to:

• Better structure and organize your message
• Synthesize your visual and verbal messages
• Avoid the deadliest sins of PowerPoint®
• Navigate through your slide show and manage the technology to your advantage
• Avoid the most common presentation mistakes (where to stand for maximum impact; how to handle questions; how to provide yourself with maximum backup in case of equipment failure)
• Handle questions and provide yourself with maximum backup in case of equipment failure

For one low price, you and your entire team can take part in this fast-paced, insightful webinar. Best of all, you’ll be able to connect personally with our speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Frick , when we open up the phone lines for live Q&A.

To learn more or register, visit the Elsevier page for this webinar, or e-mail me at efrick@textdoctor.com.

That’s why I recommend that each work group, department, division, or company adopt a published style manual and mandate strict adherence to that particular style to increase the consistency of their written messages.  (To see a comprehensive matrix of 12 style manuals, visit www.textdoctor.com/stylemanuals.)

If necessary, each group can create a personalized style sheet to document where style choices differ from the adopted style manual. This process, however, can be costly and bloody.

Of course, everyone can play Frank Sinatra’s “I did it my way” at review meetings, but for those who want a coherent, consistent style, these steps outlined above will be helpful.

Read upcoming blog  entries for more information about each style manual, including my opinions on each .

I experienced this when I taught a technical writing seminar at a small testing firm. A learner in the class asked me for a recommendation for a published style manual. I answered, “In the absence of a corporate requirement to use a specific industry style manual like the AMA Manual of Style (American Medical Association) or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Style), I think a great choice for your company for good general business style is The Gregg Reference Manual.”

One seminar member reacted very strongly, grumbling that The Gregg Reference Manual was for secretaries and demanding that members of the class should use The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). After a rather heated discussion about the pros and cons of each, we dropped the issue, but when I came to teach my class the next week, I found a box of CMS manuals (a $1000 investment) on my desk to distribute to the class.

After that, learners would e-mail me with questions like “How does Gregg handle XX?” or “We’re having an argument here about how to format YY, and it’s not listed in Chicago. Could you look it up for me in your copy of  Gregg?”

This is why it’s valuable to know which style manual is best for which industry or purpose. CMS was developed for the University of Chicago’s academic faculty and is best today for authors of scholarly works. It is also used in social science publications and most historical journals.

In contrast, the Gregg Reference Manual states that it is “the business writer’s survival manual” and, as such, includes many items not found in CMS. I own both, but I find myself referring to Gregg at least ten times as much as I refer to the CMS for business and technical writing purposes.

Check out these links:

The Chicago Manual of Style Online
Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide
CMS Crib Sheet
Frick and Frick’s matrix comparing 12 current style manuals

Publication information:

The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers, 15th edition, 2003.

(New editions released about every 10 years)

University of Chicago Press

984 pages

ISBN: 978-0226104034

List price: $55.00 (about $30 on Amazon.com)

Lake Superior State University just released its 37th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse, and General Uselessness.

(The Queen referenced above is Queen Elizabeth, not me…)