Comments on: I Got The Power

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:37:53 +0000

Hi there, PS Jones. Thanks for your comment. I heartily agree there’s a line you have to gauge for yourself. We’d none of us get much work done if we researched every nook and cranny of a client’s business. Some of the best-paying jobs are with the biggest corporations, and we all know they’re not exactly whiter than white. Personally, I’d have no problem being paid to say deep-fried Mars bars are good for you, because I’m not about to knock back a cheque to protect the dumb-ass who’d believe it. The problem is, so many of the best lies are told by governments and multinationals, and even the most intelligent Joe Public can get fooled by those.

Sounds like you have the balance right in your assessment of what jobs to accept. Sometimes it’s just a gut thing. Cheers for now, PSJ.

By: Mark Pepper

Mark Pepper — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:50:44 +0000

Hey George, thanks buddy. Insightful but for my political cretinicity. I made that word up.

By: Mark Pepper

Mark Pepper — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:49:38 +0000

Hey RMB, cheers, and, as I said to Mary, you’re right: my Obama comment was crap and based on no knowledge whatsoever. Proves a point, though, eh? Once it’s out there and read, you (I) have to bear the consequences. Hope your plans work out well for you. Hasta pronto!

By: George Angus

George Angus — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:29:32 +0000

Mark,

This is an important, insightful post. Sometimes we write things thinking that no one will ever really read it. Well, you never know. Words have impact and we need to remember that.

Yes, we do have the power.

George

By: RMB

RMB — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:21:58 +0000

Good article, but have to say a bit of a bizarre jab about Obama’s speeches. Say what you like about the man, he’s an outstanding public speaker and his speeches are second to none.

Other than that found it really useful! I want to live in Spain as well, depending on whether my freelance writing pays off

By: P.S. Jones @Diary of A Mad Freelancer

P.S. Jones @Diary of A Mad Freelancer — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:07:53 +0000

One of my specific deal breakers with my own copywriting clients is that I won’t write what I know to be a lie. For example, I can’t write that cigarettes make your teeth whiter because I know for a fact they don’t. On the other hand, if I’m writing website copy for a business that claims excellent customer service, I’m not going to demand their customer service records before I can write that line. And I’m not going to feel bad at all if someone comes to site and experiences bad service because I “convinced” them to do it.

I guess what I’m saying is that there is a line that exists between misleading copy and writing based on the materials given. And no, I can’t define it but (in the words of Justice Stewart) I know it when I see it.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:55:41 +0000

Thanks, Mary. Re Obama. Yeah I’m sure you’re right. I wrote that for effect. I have no idea if his speeches are any good. So much for my comment about proper research.

By: Mary E. Ulrich

Mary E. Ulrich — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:25:28 +0000

I think some of Obama’s speeches are well written, but other than that–I agree with everything you say.

I especially liked, “a person cannot unread what they’ve read.”

When we REALLY know something, we HAVE to write about it. And there is great power in the writing–even if we have few readers.

Thanks for the pep talk on the power of words. Now, to that post I HAVE to write….