Category Archives: Writing

My Google Maps Piece is up

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

As noted earlier, I wrote a piece for The Atlantic, using Google Maps. It was a highly complex project and difficult to execute–I wrote pithy listings for some 125 spots all over the world. I also provided the client with … Continue reading →

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Stupid Tricks Don’t Bring the Clicks

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Using data from the most popular newspapers out there, a group called Perfect Market is saying that while stupid articles about trash personalities such as Lindsay Lohan generate traffic, they don’t bring in the money for the websites involved. Perhaps … Continue reading →

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Ground Zero and “The Mosque”

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

I lost a few friends over this one (but in the end, gained more than I’d lost) One guy, a writer I’ve published, called me all sort of names. Maybe you’ll hate it, too.

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Ask Me Anything About Bourbon

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

I just rewrote the entire website for an ultra-premium bourbon company. I wrote thousands of words and did a lot of research on bourbon, its history, and the proper way to drink it. Now, I know a great deal more … Continue reading →

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Wordnik Likes My “Halter-Top”

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

I wrote a story called “Power Ballad” a while back. I wrote it as a joke, really: it’s about a guy trying to pick up a  heavily tattooed woman.  .  . in a haltertop. I’d spelled it, “haltertop,” but my … Continue reading →

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Writing on Deadline, Using Google Maps

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Under deadline, there just isn’t time to be uninspired. I’m writing a dynamic, online piece that’s about some 25 restaurants in six different cities. Aimed at the business traveler, it uses Flash and it’s all linked to Google Maps. When … Continue reading →

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Writing: Should You Outline First?

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

I just ran across this piece by Nancy Rawlinson (who is a contributing editor at Guernica ) on the outlining debate. She says that yes, you should. You should outline your fiction. I have to admit that I sometimes do, … Continue reading →

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Procrastination is:

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Procrastination hits us in so many ways. Writers probably get hit with it worse than others. Or maybe we just worry about it more. I’ve many deadlines today, so after watching this video, I’ll have to move on .  .  … Continue reading →

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Advice: 10 Tips for Writers

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Janet Fitch author of the novels White Oleander and Paint it Black has some advice for writers, whether they write fiction or nonfiction (although the advice is directed at fiction writers).  Many of these tips were already given to me … Continue reading →

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My Posted Clips

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Just moved into my new site, meakinarmstrong.com. Continue reading →

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Will Bad Newsgathering Outlast Good Papers?

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Newsonomics has a piece on its blog comparing Patch.com news report with one in the Contra Costa Times. Contra Costa has better reporting. But Patch had more interaction with its readers. It also had better SEO and was listed higher … Continue reading →

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Study: No Matter What, People Want an iPad

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

Jakob Nielsen just released a report concluding it’s faster to read on plain old paper, than an e-reader. And it’s faster to read on an iPad than a Kindle.  However. . . people would rather read on an iPad, no … Continue reading →

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Still Working on This Site

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

It’s a slow process, but I’m putting PDFs of my clips onto this site. Click on “Editorial Clips” for my freelance writing/journalism and “Copywriter” for my ad-driven writing. Eventually, I’ll also have my all of my fiction up, and information … Continue reading →

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Sunday Salon: How It Went

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

That reading was one of my best. I read a short story I’ve been working on, “Burning From the Inside.” I’m glad it worked in front of a live audience. Supposedly the reading will be on YouTube at some point.

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Reading: Sunday Salon, June 13th

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Meakin Armstrong

This Sunday June 13th at 7 pm, I’ll be reading a a new draft of a short story I’ve been working on at Sunday Salon. Continue reading →

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