Great Story Prompts from Joan Stewart of Publicity Hound

I kept Number 1, but I love Number 2. Check out Joan's great Publicity Hound blog here: http://www.publicityhound.com/ Why not subscribe? You'll be glad you did. 2. July Story Ideas --Tie your story idea to an "independence" theme, even if it has nothing to do with the Fourth. Examples: Independence from cigarette smoke in restaurants, messy desks, bratty teen-agers, computer problems or arguments with your spouse. Add great visuals, and you have a ready-made story for TV. --Do companies relax dress codes during the summer? What's appropriate and what isn't? --If your products or services teach people how to save money, pitch penny-pinching tips related to cars, clothing, vacations, toys, groceries and gasoline. --Gardening is booming. Pitch anything related to growing veggies, garden art, garden supplies, or children who garden. --Tie your pitch to the words "cool, sizzling, heat wave" or "heating up," even if it has nothing to do with summer. Excerpted from 103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July through December, with TV producer Shawne Duperon. No time to come up with your own story ideas? Steal ours! 1. Booze + Media = Trouble Loose lips sink ships. Generals, too. One of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's worst mistakes was one I didn't see mentioned much this past week: allowing an investigative reporter from Rolling Stone to interview him--over drinks. Media-savvy Publicity Hounds know that booze and reporters are a lethal mix, and most wouldn't think twice about letting a reporter interview them when alcohol is flowing, because it removes your inhibitions and triggers the urge to blab. But how many people drink in social settings, with reporters present? Have you attended after-work networking events where wine is served and reporters are mingling? What about awards banquets where media representatives are seated at your table? At a convention, have you ever gone out for a nightcap with a group of business associates that included people from the media? See 7 places to stay off the sauce if reporters are present at my blog.

This Gives Me Hope

You can call me a lot of things, but unremarkable isn't one of them.

Jason Fried, in his latest column for Inc. magazine--well, last month's--deplores the quotidian, the ordinary, the average in business writing.

Mostly, he deplores that it's rampant.

Oh, yeah, and way counterproductive.

The post reminded me why I should be more active on this blog, and proactive generally about selling my writing skills.

I'm not a wizard with a financial statement, planning an IPO, or even preparing a SWOT analysis.

My knowledge of HTML is strictly rudimentary. I don't see what's so simple about RSS. And my Office skills can use some polishing.

But I can write good sentences.

Jason's article reminds me how valuable a skill that is.

Thanks, Jason.

Jason Fried, who writes a column each month for Inc. magazine, recently published ReWork with his partner at 37signals.com, Heinemeier Hansson.

I spent most of today memorizing how to spell "Heinemeier Hansson," and clearly it's paid off. I've just used it in two consecutive sentences.