Brendan Bald

Tag: Writing

  • I’M BACK!! And Dabbling in Screenwriting

    I’M BACK!! And Dabbling in Screenwriting

    This is my first blog post in freakin FOREVER. I’m talkin months – like many many months. Not sure why exactly I stopped in the first place. Probably a time thing if I’m being honest. That’s such a lame excuse though. Whatever I’m making it anyways.  

    I really want to start blogging more and I have a free half hour so here we go…

    I’ll start with a brief little update about what my life has been like the past five or six months. Here’s a tidy list that you can feel free to skip past if you want – I won’t be offended…

    • Acted in two short films and one commercial.
    • Recorded several new podcast episodes for The Millennial Lawyer podcast.
    • Was on a dating show which I lost (sheds tear)
    • Discovered that I live down the street from the best taco stands in Nash, and have been taking full advantage.
    • Directed a short film. 
    • Started giving ghost tours in downtown Nash. 
    • Still working at the lemon
    • Went on a two-month hiatus from Planet Fitness (SMH).
    • Am now back on my Planet Fitness game (#HealthIsWealth).
    • Went to Destin, FL for literally 24 hours (it was well worth it)

    Yup – that about sums it up. 

    Anyways, I recently went on an Amazon Prime book buying binge and started reading all about writing screenplays. I’ve written a few short screenplays in the past but if I’m being honest, they all kinda sucked. I’d give them a solid C+ and that’s being generous. I originally wanted to write a short screenplay that I could produce myself and act in so that I could add the footage to my acting reel. But once I realized that my stories were lacking, the lawyer in me went into research mode and I started combing the web for information. 

    Don’t worry – this won’t be a long boring post about how to write a good screenplay. I wouldn’t even know how to do that.  I’m only two books into the ten I purchased from Amazon.   So yeah basically an expert. 

    This post, on the other hand, is mainly about PREMISE – and how having a solid one is critical to writing a good story. 

    After reading The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri, I realized how important it is that every story have a solid premise. None of my screenplays had a good premise. Are you surprised? I already told you they were pretty JV squad. They had cool stories and characters and scenes but no concrete premise.

    The premise of a screenplay is essentially the central idea or theme of the story. AKA what is the point?? Some examples given by Egri are..

    • Foolish generosity leads to false gaiety
    • Ill-temper leads to isolation
    • Dishonesty leads to exposure
    • Egotism leads to loss of friends

    After reading Egri’s book and fully understanding the importance of starting with a premise, I started writing with purpose and towards a goal. I basically just automatically became the next Aaron Sorkin. Just kidding. Sorkin is a legend – mad respect.  Plus, I’ve still got eight books to read. I’ll probably post additional writing epiphanies as I learn more about the craft so be forewarned.

    To sum up this post, I found the brief but important nugget about premise extremely helpful. It was on my mind this morning so I thought I’d share my thoughts. Cheers to my next screenplay being better than my last! Well – hopefully. 

    Have an AMAZING DAY!!

    ~Brendan

  • Influencer Marketing 101

    Influencer Marketing 101

    If you’re active on social media, you’ve likely noticed that a lot of well-known personalities have started “selling” or “endorsing” products on their social media channels.

    They aren’t doing this for free.

    Companies are paying these “influencers” for advertising.

    So what makes a person an “influencer” and what exactly is “influencer marketing?”

    Let me break it down for you…

    What Makes a Person an Influencer?

    Influencers are Internet celebrities.

    They have large followings on social media and naturally carry influence over their followers – hence the name influencer.

    Most influencers have a niche personal brand.

    They could be fashion bloggers, photographers, movie critics, fitness coaches, cooks, or video gamers – literally anything.

    As long as they have a large following, they’re influencers.

    The Basics of Influencer Marketing

    Influencer marketing isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s almost identical to celebrity marketing.

    In both influencer marketing and celebrity marketing, marketers take a well-known person who carries influence over their target market, and they pay them to advertise their product.

    The only difference between traditional celebrities and influencers is that influencers have niche “followers” and wield their influence on social media platforms.

    Side note- many traditional celebrities now carry influence on social media as well, further blurring the line between influencer marketing and celebrity marketing.

    While traditional celebrities tend to have a broad audience (everyone loves Brad Pitt), influencers have a more tailored audience (mainly gamers love Ninja). This is what makes influencers so attractive to marketers.

    Companies can now reach their target demographic through a trusted influencer on platforms that aren’t yet oversaturated with advertisements.

    Influencer marketing sounds great in theory. But does it work?

    Let’s Look at the Data…

    According to Social Media Today…

    • 67% of marketers believe that influencer marking campaigns help them reach a more targeted audience.
    • 61% of consumers rely on social media as the most important source of information when shopping.
    • Influencer marketing can generate up to 11x the ROI of traditional advertising.

    In addition, the Digital Marketing Institute reports …

    • 70% of teens trust influencers more than traditional celebrities.
    • 86% of women use social media for purchasing advice.
    • 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations
    • Influencer Marketing Campaigns earn $6.50 for every dollar spent.

    The numbers speak for themselves. Influencer marketing is here to stay.

    The next question you probably have is, “how do I get in on this sweet action?”

    How to Get in the Game

    You can either approach influencers yourself or pay a marketing company to do it for you.

    Hiring a marketing company will make your life a lot easier. Marketers know the best way to contact influencers, how much to pay, what sort of campaigns are successful with your market, etc…

    But most small businesses don’t have the resources to hire a big marketing firm.

    The good news is that you can get started on your own.

    Here’s an example…

    Say you’re a barbershop owner who’s looking to increase business with influencer marketing. What’s your first move?

    You need to slide into a few DMs!!

    Find local influencers on Instagram and send them Direct Messages.

    Ask if you can pay them to come to your barbershop, get a haircut, and then post about their experience. You may have to do some negotiating with price but that’s all it takes.

    Conclusion

    The Internet has turned millions of people into influencers. Social media is the new Hollywood and marketers have taken notice.

    The marketing opportunities are there and the numbers speak for themselves.

    Time for you to slide into the DMs and get in on the action!

  • So You Want to Start Blogging for Your Firm – Here’s How:

    So You Want to Start Blogging for Your Firm – Here’s How:

    Are you thinking about starting a blog for your Firm? You’ve come to the right place.

    Blogging can position yourself as an industry expert, widen your digital footprint, boost your website traffic, improve your search engine optimization, and build rapport with potential clients.

    The benefits of content marketing cannot be understated. Want a leg up on your competition? Start blogging ASAP.

    With some structure and a few tips, you’ll be a rock star blogger in no time.

    Here’s how you get started…

    Be a Content Sponge:

    Not sure where to start? Forget about writing. Instead, consume as much content as you possibly can. Be a content sponge.

    Magazines, newspapers, blogs, twitter, food labels, billboards, the dictionary – read it all.

    Okay, maybe not the dictionary. But you see where I’m going with this. Read EVERYTHING.

    Be sure to broaden your preferences though…

    If you are a family law attorney, switch things up and read about real estate or movies or black holes or Mexican food or foreign policy – literally anything.

    When you read diverse material, you energize your imagination.

    After feasting on an all-you-can-eat content buffet, something magical happens. Ideas start popping into your head.

    You’ll be walking in the grocery store. Drooling over the double-stuffed Oreos. Thinking about how shitty your diets been since you started that trial. Then…Eureka!

    You remember that your clients’ health often suffers during trial too. Why not write an article about the importance of staying healthy during trial?

    Congrats! You just got hit with an idea for your first blog post. Now write it down!

    Ideas are easily forgotten, just like dreams. So when you get hit with a majestic idea, like the one in the above example, write it down.

    You might want to invest in a pocket notebook. Or just use your smartphone. Either way, get that shit down so you don’t forget it.

    Once you’ve got a solid idea, you then need to turn it into a blog post.

    Here’s how you do it…

    Pick a Format:

    Pick your blog post’s format before you begin writing.

    Will your post be list based or subject based? For example, your article could either be “5 Tips to Eating Healthy During a Divorce” OR “Eating Healthy During a Divorce: Everything You Need to Know.” The former’s format is self-explanatory. The latter’s format is broken up into headings and subheadings.

    List based articles tend to be easier for writers new to the game.

    Okay, so you’ve picked a format – what’s next?

    Outline Your Content With Headings:

    When you craft your headings before you begin writing, you set yourself up for success.

    It keeps you organized and gives your content a clear road map.

    If you’ve gotten this far in the process, take a deep breath because the hard part is over.

    It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy from here on out.

    Give it Some Meat:

    Now it’s time to write the body of your blog post. This is the easy part.

    You need to dive in headfirst. Dump all of your knowledge onto the page. And don’t worry about sounding funny or clever – that all comes on the rewrite.

    If you consulted any outside sources, cite those sources with clear hyperlinks.

    Draft Your Intro & Conclusion Last:

    Intros are critical to a good blog post. They either hook your reader or turn them away.

    Be sure your intro answers the following two questions:

    1. What is your article about?
    2. Why should your audience care?

    Remember – you’re writing to provide value for your current and future clients. Therefore, it’s critical to articulate the expected value in the intro.

    Make it Pretty:

    Congrats! You’ve finished your first draft! Now it’s time to clean it up and make it pretty.

    I recommend stepping away from your content for at least a few hours before jumping into editing.

    Grab a cup of coffee or hit up chipotle for some fuel.

    I recommend a burrito bowl with white rice, black beans, double chicken, mild salsa, sour cream, cheese, guac, and lettuce. Just sayin.

    Do whatever you have to do to ensure you are editing with clear eyes.

    A wise man once said, “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” And he was right. Shout out Coach Taylor of the Dillon Panthers!

    Here are a few tips for editing your first post…

    • Comb through your content for spelling and grammar mistakes. Be sure to check out Hubspot’s 30 of the Most Common Grammatical Errors We All Need to Stop Making.
    • Shorten your sentences. Dispose of unnecessary words. Here are a few tips from the Center for Plain Language.
    • Shorten your paragraphs. Double tap your enter key often. White space is friendly on the eyes.
    • Ensure you are using active voice and not passive voice. Active voice makes your sentences direct and punchy – further strengthening your content.
    • Use contractions. They make your writing less formal.
    • Use pronouns like “you,” “your,” and “yours” as often as you can. This connects you with your audience.
    • Limit your use of adverbs. Be creative with your word choices. For instance, instead of saying “he’s very mad,” say “he’s furious.”

    Conclusion:

    Remember – your first post is likely to be the hardest to write. But with a little curiosity and careful planning, you’ll be cranking out quality content in no time.

    In the words of NBA superstar, Joel Embiid, “Trust the Process.”

    You’re well on your way to becoming a blogging superstar!

    via The Lawyers Post