Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Hemingway App Fights Bad Pitches


When it comes to media relations, the analogy about a chain only being as strong as its weakest link applies. Your media list may be solid, but if your pitch is ham-fisted it doesn't matter. This applies to the entire cycle.

The Hemingway App is one tool you can use to make sure your pitch is as simple and clear as possible. As you'll see below, it points out the readability of whatever you cut and paste into the site, or you can compose on the fly. It also tracks long, complex sentences, passive voice and other common errors.


Unclear writing is color coded and the app gives tips on how to improve each passage. If an adverb shows up, for example, the app recommends that a "verb with force" take its place. Papa would have wanted it that way.

The site is as smart as it is simple. We're hoping in the future it can used with Word, Google Docs or Evernote. Until then it's available online and for the desktop (Windows and Apple).

The app's namesake possessed a writing style described as "lean, hard, athletic narrative." The end result of this approach to writing is the ability to tell more using less words. And that will make this link in your chain as strong as steel.

We put this post through the app and improved it. Cut and paste your last pitch into the Hemingway App and see what it tells you.

No comments:

Post a Comment