The Style Files
My thoughts on design, writing and entrepreneurship.
Photo credit (background): www.pexels.com
Photo credit (background): www.pexels.com
I've said it before and I'll say it again: just because content exists somewhere on the web doesn't make it good. Just because someone writes for a living (or as a hobby) doesn't mean he or she knows much about grammar, spelling, word choice, syntax or anything else. I've only recently started my quest to guest post on other websites but some of the writing is jaw-droppingly bad. Like a good blogger, I thought I'd pass this juicy information along to my readers! 1. Errors, errors everywhere! Back when I was a translator, it always bothered me how much content was really saturated with errors. The worst was yet to come! You should know that many sites that accept guest posts do so because it's a way to get free content. Some are excellent sites with many visitors and a high caliber of writing while others fall somewhere on the lower end of the spectrum. If I had to pick one issue that comes up the most in the world of guest post hunting, it would absolutely be text riddled with mistakes. 2. Acceptable level of plagiarism This was a new one! I read this today for the first time and have to say it caught me by surprise. In the interest of avoiding drama from potential backlash, this particular website shall remain anonymous. What I can tell you is that it lays down the law by stating, "We only accept blogs with 10% plagiarism." Yes, really. It's a thing. I don't recommend it nor should hopeful bloggers associate themselves with questionable practices like this one. Next! 3. Paying to post The idea of guest posting is normally that you write an article or blog for free in exchange for a published piece and more visibility. It's considered a return on investment (ROI) because you spend your time and effort writing but ideally make up for it in other ways. That's all fine and dandy. It has come to my attention that a lot of websites advertise guest posting but actually make a profit in return. That's right: you pay for the privilege of writing for them. It doesn't matter if their website doesn't get much traffic or their content has tons of mistakes. No, no! (In fact, the sloppiest websites are often the worst offenders.) Be thankful for the opportunity lest you forget they're the ones doing you a favor. Sigh! Language skills are important to writers for obvious reasons. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 4. Native speaker invincibility The truth is I'm sure we all know people like this regardless of who we are or what we do. Believe me, life gets a little easier when we can all laugh about it. Call them know-it-alls, smart alecks, smarty pants, whatever! The identifying characteristics are a holier-than-thou attitude and absolute refusal to admit they're (maybe, possibly, sometimes) wrong. Boy, have I come across this lately! I contacted a design blog and offered to edit some of their content. Turns out Americans don't make mistakes because if you didn't already know, they speak English. Game over. What you likely also fail to realize is that people who speak English write perfectly. Without exception. You got it! Again, this is because they speak English. Don't follow the logic? Yeah, me neither. Here's the reply sitting pretty in my inbox: "That text was written by an American English native speaker. So there are 0 mistakes." Roger that. "As I said - we dont need "official" language, that's boring and readers hate that." As you can see, this guy is confusing official with correct. The problem is they're apples and oranges. For those of you who have been fooled into reading correct language, let me be the first to tell you that it's actually boring! And you hate it, you just haven't realized it yet. Now you know, though, and knowing is half the battle. In case any of you are wondering why there are mistakes in the quotes above, please know I left them in on purpose and give full credit to the author. Quotes are normally left alone even when they might benefit from some TLC. More importantly, making any edits to the original writing would run the risk of making his writing more 'official.' Who's got time for that? 5. Automated responses This one may come as no surprise. The business of words is often a question of speed and volume so there are a lot of automated responses and skimmed emails behind the scenes. It's a total quality killer. Still, it never ceases to amaze me that you might write a short email with a question about a post, an edit, etc. and get a robo-reply in return that doesn't correspond at all. The world of copywriting is full of people trying to make a quick buck so there's not much to be done about this one, unfortunately. There's no time for human interaction. Sigh! Photo credit: www.pexels.com 6. Colorful language Those of you who are familiar with writing or marketing might have heard of content mills. According to Allena Tapia, "[a] content mill or writers' mill is a slang term used by freelance writers and given to a company, website, or operation that provides cheap website content by paying very low rates to writers" (www.thebalancesmb.com/writing-for-content-mills-1360505). In other words, it's basically a company that treats you like a cheap commodity. You have already read in number 3 that paying to post is unfortunately not a unique practice although some sites are worse than others. One website, for example, charges $80 per post (a price not mentioned publicly on their website) and had a few choice words for me: "We're not content mill because we don't give a $%^& about free people like you." Please disregard the writing error in this quote and the others on their website if you know who they are because that's about standard for online businesses interested in profit and profit alone. Luckily for anyone serious about writing, Allena Tapia went on to explain later in her article that writers don't have to put up with content mills once they're more established. Amen to that! One last thing: I like to give credit where credit is due though I think it best not to name slithery people or businesses quoted in this article. I do thank them for shedding light on the industry and providing me with valuable raw material. Ingredients like you've never tasted! Photo credit: www.pexels.com 7. Word salad I have a feeling this particular post will continue to grow because the internet is full of absurdities. Take this quote, for example: "I precisely needed to say thanks all over again. I am not sure the things I might have made to happen in the absence of the type of pointers shown by you regarding my subject. It had been a challenging matter for me personally, but noticing the specialised style you dealt with it forced me to leap over contentment." What the what? That string of incoherent nonsense is what psychologists refer to as 'word salad.' Believe it or not, the quote above was written in the comment section under a post about log cabin designs. Many blogs that advertise guest post options are both set up to make easy money and (presumably) written by non-native English speakers. You know the picture on the front of Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein? Turns out it's the exact location writing as an art was laid to rest. 8. Ruffled feathers The funny thing about language is people often don't respect language service providers as professionals. People are less than open to hearing feedback about their writing 99% of the time. Nevermind relevant examples, a tactful approach and other complimentary tactics to soften the blow of (totally normal and perfectly acceptable) human error. Most of the time, I'm met with a cold shoulder or a defensive tone: "I’m happy with my website as written; it represents my voice, flaws and all." Not having it. Photo credit: www.pexels.com It's worth noting that these are the same pros who know the importance of people pleasing since the design industry is a notorious magnet for difficult clients. Meanwhile, I don't put on airs if someone drops off a flyer asking to mow my lawn or paint my roof because I assume they take me for an incompetent slob. Why should (experienced, qualified, professional) writing be any different? 9. Greasy sales pitches So here's the thing: I can't really complain about a company setting up their terms the way they like. That's up to them. What I can do is notice when a content mill stands out among the rest for especially greasy sales pitches. I recently contacted a website about writing a guest post. Their content seemed fine presumably because it was mostly written by people unassociated with the actual business. I got an email response peppered with errors explaining that there were numerous ways for me to post if I paid to provide content including about 15 references to PayPal. I decided to pass and went on my way. About a month later, I received a reminder email asking (generically) if I was interested in guest posting. It's not enough that a company lures people in with the prospect of guest posting; it's likewise not enough that they don't bother writing correctly as a business steeped in content creation. Instead, their website is all about false facades, pushy attitudes and unearned gains. Not my fave; thanks! My thoughts on for-profit phonies. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 10. For-profit phonies I recently made the mistake of assuming that if a website appears to have correct writing, a decent presentation and a high domain authority, it must be legit. Wrong. (It may have a large following but because it sells guest posts like hot car parts rather than quality content for the benefit of its audience.) Considering respected writers aren't encouraged to write for content mills, I'm both surprised and disgusted this is a thing. Here's a response I just got a few minutes ago: "We allow paid guest post with permanent dofollow link. We charge 70$ for each regular guest post on X DA55 DR63. For CBD content it would be 180$ With dofollow permanent link after the approval of admin." Are you kidding me? Let's break it down: •Does she mean a guest post? Because the article ('a') is nowhere to be found •This person doesn't speak English natively (or doesn't care one tiny bit how to write an email while representing a writing business; bad marketing 101) •Anyone familiar with American English knows it's $70, not 70$ •Girl doesn't know how to use a comma. But wants me to pay her for the favor of demonstration. •The capitalization is all messed up not to mention another missing article. What's the moral of the story? The sales industry (including copywriting) has a craptastic reputation for a reason. I know that intellectually but am having a hard time with the reality. As someone whose phone has been inundated by international scam calls lately, I'm also over the idea that Americans are so stupid we're nothing more than moving targets for a cash grab. Not on my watch. Last but not least, this chaps my hide as a former translator since I think very highly of intercultural exchange and communication. Assuming that native English speakers won't notice the difference between a fluent post and a lackadaisical approximation for a dishonest living crosses the line. Lady, you know who you are! I'm watching you and not in a promotional, approving or dofollow kind of way. 11. Info-phobes From time to time, I apply for jobs on www.problogger.com. There is a section for freelance writers to apply for blogs, articles and related material about a variety of subjects. The site is thankfully free to freelancers though many of the posts are very poorly written. To attract writers. What? Sometimes, I tell the poster there are some writing mistakes which reflect poorly on their business. One guy wrote me back as follows: "I was wondering if your comment is just a rant, or was it a machiavellian strategy to get hired as an editor/proofreader?" Aside from the writing errors (unnecessary comma, lowercase letter for an adjective derived from a proper noun and name of a person), there were two problems with his premise. 1) Apparently I'm in no position to speak to my profession even when it's concerning a job for which I'm applicable to a person who is soliciting experts and 2) Machiavelli was generally known for his philosophy of fear outweighing love. If this guy has a fearful approach towards knowledge, I do believe I'm the least of his concerns. As a general note, I'd venture to guess that most writers prefer to work for people who treat them with respect and kindness; the beauty of freelancing is we choose who's in or out. Let this be a lesson to others to welcome information and expertise into your life. Final thoughts That's all I got for now! The road to guest posting is paved with all kinds of twists and turns. Since this is only the beginning, chances are I'll come across more exciting finds as time goes on. Feel free to share your own trials and tribulations as a fellow writer or tips you'd give to newbies. Thanks for your readership and stay tuned for more! Photo credit: www.pexels.com
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With more and more people working from home thanks to COVID, there has been a surge in shopping for office furniture (secondmeasure.com/datapoints/coronavirus-spending-at-office-depot-staples/). Chances are if you're in that situation, the next order of business is finding the right fit for you especially when it comes to desks! In this blog, we'll create a virtual buyer's guide so you know which desk best suits your needs. 1. Modern Photo credit: https://www.containerstore.com/s/elfa/best-selling-solutions/office-desks/white-elfa-desk This Elfa desk from The Container Store has a couple of great features! The design is simple, clean and modern with a white finish while leaving room for storage underneath. Its look would match nearly any space and there's plenty of space to spread out all of your work materials. At 25% off its original price for $102, this desk ticks all the boxes. 2. Adjustable This incredibly small but height-adjustable desk from the Home Depot has entirely different priorities than the first contender. It takes up nearly the smallest amount of space possible, has rolling wheels for easy mobility and comes in a darker gray. There's even some storage underneath but it's a no-go for other multitasking. Still, you can't beat the price at $75.67! 3. Floating Photo credit: www.thefurnituredomain.com/prepac-behw-0901-1.html Ever thought of a floating desk? Aside from the installation, it's a pretty easy solution! This desk is small but large enough to work plus it has minimal storage. Based on the fact you can choose the height, this might work as a kid's desk, too. It comes in at $123. 4. Miniature Photo credit: www.quill.com/quill-brand-224h-x-155w-computer-desk-espresso-43921/cbs/51627056.html?sfcp=1 At 22 inches tall compared to a standard desk height of 30 inches, this desk is short and best used as something of a side table/laptop desk. Clearly, there's no room for storage or any other redeeming features. It's certainly compact, useful for minimal home offices and by far the cheapest option at $26.49. 5. Modular Photo credit: www.crateandbarrel.com/pilsen-graphite-modular-desk/s286867 In a blog I recently wrote about what the Japanese can teach us about using space wisely (deliciouswords.weebly.com/blog/archives/08-2020), one of the tips was to add layers of vertical space. That's exactly what this desk does! Unlike desk 2, however, this design has a sleeker, more permanent feel and an industrial look. It's gorgeous if I'm being honest! Priced down from $399 to $159.97, it's spendier than some of our other desks but a good deal nonetheless. 6. Small and simple Photo credit: www.ikea.com It comes as no surprise that Ikea has cheap furniture both in terms of price and quality. That said, if your main objective is to get through this COVID situation without landing yourself an investment piece, an Ikea desk just might do the trick. You can see that it's fairly small and unadorned. This desk is available in black or white and won't set you back too much at $49. 7. Leaning Photo credit: www.crateandbarrel.com/addison-charcoal-leaning-desk/s594365 Just when you thought you'd learned about all the new styles of desks available, here comes another one! This is called a leaning desk for obvious reasons. This guy isn't too big or too small. It does have the added feature of some overhead storage and a little room to work alongside of a laptop. Marked down from $159.00 to $99.87, Crate&Barrel delivers yet again! 8. Laptop Photo credit: www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/laptop-desktop It would be uncouth of me to leave out a laptop desk in a blog about COVID furniture. Yes, you already know what a laptop desk is and no, it's not really a desk. You have to admit it's probably the smallest and nearly the cheapest! This mint beauty from Urban Outfitters is a reasonable $39. 9. Hairpin For the cutest feminine touch, consider getting a hairpin desk named for its stylistic metal legs. This one from Office Depot comes in blonde oak with black details meaning it would look just fine in lighter or darker surroundings. It also features plenty of space for your laptop, pens, a lamp, and anything else you might need plus a little bit of hidden storage. The price isn't too bad, either, at $99.99. 10. Corner Photo credit: www.build.com/delacora-ff-nan-wk-110-gg/s1434735?uid=3374258 Last but not least is the corner desk with all the room you could possibly need! This model in black is better for more formal environments and appears to have lots of room underneath for added storage options depending on your preference. At $209, it's the priciest one on our list but also twice the size. The end game Whether you're looking for a desk based on budget, size, storage, aesthetic or mobility, there's something here for just about every need. This list should at least get you thinking about which style would best fit your own home office and give you a sense of what's available. Photo credit: www.pexels.com Did you have a favorite out of these ten? Would you have chosen others for our list? Feel free to leave your two cents in the comment section below. Thanks for stopping by! Best of luck with your desk shopping and see you next time.
Tokyo isn't for the faint of heart! Photo credit: www.pexels.com Dreaming of a bigger apartment during your Covid lockdown? Consider yourself lucky compared to your Tokyo counterparts! Tons of people in an enormous city translates to tinier housing and extra smart living spaces. Let's take a look at what the Japanese can teach us about how to live our best lives minimally. Packed like sardines According to the Tokyo Metropolitan government, 13.4 million inhabitants called Tokyo home according to its latest 2015 census compared to New York city's 8.3 million in 2019. To put that in perspective, the average floor space of a Tokyo residence is a paltry 65 square meters or approximately 700 square feet compared to 882 square feet for American apartment dwellers. So what's the secret to living with more people in even smaller housing? Lofting and hollow spaces Just when you thought there was nowhere left to go, someone came up with the idea of adding surfaces to thin air! The concept of lofting is seen repeatedly in small architecture from Tokyo to New York to tiny houses and with good reason. There's still usable room to be had in otherwise dead space. Another trick we can learn from Japanese architects is to use hollow furniture or a silhouette style outline. Not only does it look ultra-modern and almost imaginary, you magically have more space without sacrificing stairs. The Tsubomi House by Flat House architects features barely-there stairs reminiscent of something from a child's imagination and lofting for ultimate space efficiency. The Tsubomi House Photo credit: www.archdaily.com/578076/tsubomi-house-flat-house Loosen up Next is the issue of loosening up our concept of spatial use. One of the key ways that the Japanese use space to their advantage is by taking a more flexible and multiuse approach to interior spaces. You might compare it to open-concept designs in some American apartments but that still doesn't do it justice. The Japanese solution is to use a single area for sleeping, studying or entertaining depending on what's needed at the moment. "the LIVING SPACES ARE FLUID, with bedrooms, living rooms, studies and guest rooms all interchangeable." To make a long story short, they've found that the best way to cope with less space is by focusing on the task at hand. Party of one Next up is the capsule concept! Although they're used like bare-bones hotels rather than in residential spaces, it's still an incredibly clever idea. Guests are assigned a capsule big enough for one person to spend the night. It's basically a rectangular cube large enough to fit a bed and maybe even a sitting person. Maybe! Bathrooms and showers are available communally which means that the space occupied per capita is way less than that of a standard hotel room. There's no doubt a capsule is better for utility than luxury. It certainly gets the job done, though, and smaller spaces mean more affordable accommodation. A capsule in all its itty-bitty glory! Photo credit: www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2016/07/24/what-its-like-to-stay-at-a-japanese-capsule-hotel Build up The price of downtown housing is often paid in square footage. In Tokyo, that footprint measures approximately 96 square feet for an ultra-compact feel. (Spilytus Co. built a Ququri series of miniature apartments with 96 square feet representing its smallest units.) Suffice it to say the unit is a little on the tight side. Realistically, though, how can someone live in a space that small? Designing the apartments very tall makes it possible to loft a second room. Ladders are also used to conserve space and residents come up with added storage for clothing, appliances and tables any way they possibly can. Minimal furniture is a given. The verticality of these apartments goes a long way in generating space. A picture is worth a thousand words although this one fits about five. Photo credit: www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2019/04/20/lifestyle/tokyos-tiny-living-spaces Visual separation So far, we've seen how to live small by adding layers for added surface area and insta storage. Another way to make a small apartment seem bigger is by adding dividers for visual separation. Japanese architecture is often characterized by a clean, understated look like this. Photo credit: www.dezeen.com/2016/08/24/apartment-renovation-kitasando-tokyo-minorpoet-kitchen-hidden-behind-folding-doors/ What you might assume to be a wall of closet space actually hides an entire kitchen! Design firm Minorpoet installed these folding doors as a way to hide clutter and create a minimalist aesthetic. Yes, Marie Kondo would want us to have everything in its place; the beauty of this design, though, is its ability to hide a multitude of sins for visual tranquility. Lessons learned Urban Americans are already familiar with the living struggles of city life but Tokyo has given us some valuable tips. From hollow silhouettes to avoiding stairs altogether, avoiding wasted space is at the top of the list! Creating layers and levels such as lofts and folding doors provide added surfaces or clear barriers between spaces. Building up (tall apartments), paring down (capsules) and making space fluid similarly contribute to improved apartment design for the spatially restricted. Think you can handle it? As always, your feedback is welcome! This list is not exhaustive nor do I mean to leave anyone out of the conversation. Feel free to leave your thoughts below or to share suggestions with other people on the hunt for space-saving ideas. Thanks for your readership and I hope to see you again soon. Sayonara! Photo credit: www.pexels.com
If you're anything like me, visual change in your living environment is practically a must. It's not always realistic to make big changes. Thankfully, there are a number of smaller and more feasible design tricks to calm your mind and revamp your space. 1. Change your lighting To be clear, this can be as simple as switching out a lamp. Choosing another accent color could play up the space in an entirely different way and require limited cost and effort on your part! This lamp adds a modern yet sophisticated touch. Photo credit: www.horchow.com 2. Bring in the flowers Nothing livens up a space as much as, well, life! A large plant can have as much visual impact on an otherwise bland space as built centerpieces so don't underestimate its value. By the same token, adding seasonal plants is a way to keep your look fresh and timely. 3. Add travel paraphernalia There's nothing quite as meaningful as things that remind you of your travels. Incorporate some of these things in areas where you're likely to spend more time reflecting—you'll be able to appreciate them all over again! Photo credit: www.etsy.com 4. Replace your posters or prints Posters and prints have two important design qualities: they take up large amounts of space and are often relatively inexpensive to replace. Aside from that, changing them out is also fast and easy. You could replace all of them for an entirely new theme and reinvent the ambiance. 5. Try decorative pillows I'm a big proponent of plain bedding and expressive accessories. If you start with a neutral base, all you really need is a few decorative pillows in different styles or colors to transform your bedscape whenever you feel like it. This hack is easy, fast and affordable but the best part is it packs a punch. This Uzbek pillow lends an ornate feel to your bedroom or living room. Photo credit: www.society6.com 6. Upgrade your shower curtain I know people think of shower curtains as being largely utilitarian and boring. No thank you! Especially if you live in a small space, take advantage of the square footage with a decorative print or stunning landscape. I'm personally a fan of cloth shower curtains since they're more striking, come in tons of gorgeous designs and can last you for years without fading. Photo credit: www.society6.com 7. Play with texture Think of a thick-knit sweater or decorative twine: adding texture reminds us of cooler seasons, bundling up and the recently trendy Danishism, hygge (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-year-of-hygge-the-danish-obsession-with-getting-cozy). You could just as easily remove layers or supplement lightweight fabrics for warmer vibes. Adding texture is synonymous with cooler seasons. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 8. Go big Sometimes I wonder what it's like to be one of those people whose Christmas lights could compete with the city of Las Vegas. As much as I want to change my look, it needs to be simple and straightforward. Concentrating on bigger items like centerpieces, tablecloths or bedspreads means you can forget about small and putzy accessories while saving yourself some time. Statement pieces save you time and prevent unnecessary clutter. Photo credit: www.westelm.com 9. Balance neutrals and colors Sometimes understanding all the elements of design can feel really overwhelming. Remembering balance is a really helpful trick especially when it comes to color! Know that color adds personality and interest to a space while neutrals are basically required for sanity. Pro tip? You need both. What you do within the confines of that balance is up to you! 10. Learn to paint No, not van Gogh—I'm talking craft store paints or possibly spray paints. It's amazing what a layer of paint can do to change the look of furniture or a picture frame. Let's not forget how amateur you can be to pull off basic paint jobs! It's a standard fix for tons of design rehab and doesn't get any easier. Painting is practically a design cure-all. Photo credit: www.pexels.com Takeaway To make a long story short, there are tons of ways you can implement change in your living space. Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference! Hopefully one or several of these suggestions will help get the ball rolling for your next home project. Do you have any other decorating tricks or secrets you'd like to share? Got any personal experience with strategies that have worked well in your home or office? Feel free to add your thoughts to the comment section. As always, thanks for your time and attention. See you again soon!
Photo credit: www.pexels.com |
AuthorHi, my name is Martha Oschwald and I'm a content writer focused on design. This page is meant to give you a taste of my writing style and latest musings. Archives
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