Follow-up to class on Wednesday, Oct. 23

Thanks to everyone for a fun class and for welcoming guest speaker Dan Szczesny, author of 'The Adventures of Buffalo and Tough Cookie." I hope Dan's description of the realities of marketing his book was useful and enlightening.

Here's a summary of what we talked about in class. We had a few folks absent, and I've already sent them this info, but here it is for everyone...

Mid-term exam: Will take place in class on Wednesday, Nov. 6 (not Wednesday, Oct. 31). We'll discuss and have a study guide in class on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Reading assignment: None for this week. (Just be sure you've finished the 'Buffalo and Tough Cookie' book, as we'll be using it in weeks to come.) Please bring to class 'Into Thin Air' next week, on Wednesday, Oct. 31, which we'll start reading then.

Writing assignments: We actually had TWO writing assignments. We discussed these in class and I gave handouts for each. In case you need another copy, I've uploaded .pdf versions of both assignments to Blackboard under "Course Documents." Any questions, please ask.

• For the "cover letter" assignment, the important thing (which we discussed quite a bit in class) is how your cover letter should not repeat what's on your resume. Instead, it should show how you are not only a good candidate for the job, but also that you know something about the company you're applying to, you're excited about the opportunity, and you're a person worth bringing in for an interview. That's the purpose of a cover letter.

• For the "video script" assignment, it's pretty self-explanatory. Let me know any questions.

Blogs: You should have seven posts by now, and eight by next week's class. Some folks are keeping up while others need to catch up. I'll issue a progress grade this week or next to give you an idea of what it would score if I had to grade it right now. That way, you'll know what you need to do.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Don't hesitate to contact me by e-mail or give me a call at (603) 236-9237.

Follow-up to class on Wednesday, Oct. 9

Great class, lots of fun hearing reaction to the blog posts. Here's a quick round-up of what's expected in the next cycle.

1. In 'The Adventures of Buffalo and Tough Cookie,' please read up to Page 90, or the end of Chapter 22. We'll discuss in class on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

2. The writing assignment this week is to create copy for two direct mail postcards promoting book signings to people in ZIP codes with very different demographics. It's due by e-mail no later than Monday, Oct. 14. I've pasted in the details below in case that helps.

3. Please finish reading the Ben & Jerry's book if you haven't yet. We'll be using it for writing assignments into the next month, so it's important that you be familiar with the entire book.

4. For blogs, by next class (on Wednesday, Oct. 16), I'd expect you to have a minimum of six posts, and to have taken steps to avoid Useless Blog Syndrome. (That means including images, labels, and other elements to explain what your blog is all about.) You'll be getting feedback from me this cycle, so be ready to act upon it. Thanks!

Okay, below are the instructions for the direct mail postcard assignment. Please let me know any questions. Always glad to respond and help out if needed. Thanks! Have a great Columbus Day weekend and see you in class on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Jeff R.
jeffrapsis@gmail.com
(603) 236-9237

CA 500 MEDIA WRITING: TARGETED DIRECT MAIL COPY

Instructor: Adjunct Professor Jeff Rapsis

E-mail: jeffrapsis@gmail.com

Phone: (603) 236-9237 • Class blog: http://ca500fall2013.blogspot.com

DUE via e-mail BY MONDAY, OCT. 14

Please write copy for two direct mail postcards, each announcing a book-signing for Dan Szczesny's new book, 'The Adventures of Buffalo and Tough Cookie,' at a local Barnes & Noble.

The size of the postcard will be 6 x 9. So you have room for a maximum of 10 tightly written sentences to describe the book and get people to want to meet the author.

One postcard is going to ZIP code 17606, Lancaster, PA, which has the nation's youngest median age. Another is going to ZIP code 56593, Wolf Lake, MN, which has the nation's oldest median age. The copy should be written to appeal to the respective audiences.

Basic information for both stores for use in the copy:

Book signing: 

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 at 1 p.m.

Barnes & Noble

59 West Commercial St.

Lancaster, Penn.

(310) 342-2233

www.bn.com

Book signing:

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 at noon
Barnes & Noble
2800 Memorial Drive
Wolf Lake, Minn.
(215) 333-8866
www.bn.com

Please send the copy for both postcards to me via e-mail in a single attachment.

CHECKLIST

• Required Elements:

1. Provide basic info about the book-signing: when, where, who's invited, etc.

2. Headline that's a call to action. “Here's your chance to meet a legendary author...”

3. Text that speaks to the demographic of each ZIP code.

4. Description of the book that's tailored to each ZIP code.

5. Description of the author tailored to each ZIP code.

6. Spell the author's name correctly. :)

7. It's a 6 x 9 postcard. So keep it to no more than 10 sentences, tops.

• Remember: Brief is better. Use as few words as possible. Make every word count!

Notes for our class on Wednesday, Oct. 9

Hi everyone,

A quick note in advance of our class on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The class agenda has been posted. You'll find it among the pages listed at right.

Also, I'm getting the writing assignments together for classes that come after this one. Here's a quick preview:

- Wednesday, Oct. 16: We'll do "long copy" advertising writing.

- Wednesday, Oct. 23: We'll try writing billboards.

-Wednesday, Oct. 30: We'll do writing cover letters for job applications.

Also, we'll have our mid-term exam as part of the Oct. 30 class. It'll be like a quiz on steroids, with a few questions and then some writing. Nothing to be frightened about, even if it's the day before Halloween.

About our class on Wednesday, Oct. 2

A photo of me last week with actor Paul Dooley, who played the father in the movie 'Sixteen Candles' and also was head writer for 'The Electric Company,' a PBS children's series in the 1970s that helped me learn how to write.

Hi everyone. Just a quick note ahead of this week's class. I'm back from my glamorous road trip to Kansas and Arkansas. Now, after a spotty September for Media Writing, we'll begin covering a lot of ground.

See you in class on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Lots to talk about!

Jeff R.