The Scribble Studio

Sample Writing - CD Booklet Creation, Editing and Proofing

Edited and Proofed the content and structure for Andrea Lee's CD - 'How to Measure What Matters.'

What is Metrics?

Metrics is a boring word for a very exciting thing...watching your business grow!

Put simply, metrics is tracking your numbers (sales, leads, promotions, etc) so you can truly see what is going on in your business.

If you have ever experienced a day of excitement when your first passive product hit the market And, wow, sales started rolling in... you'll be just as much of a metrics-addict as me!

Measuring success is definitely one of my favorite gleeful guilty pleasures as a business owner… I hope you have one too, and no I don't just mean the ice cream you had for lunch.

Now, the 'numbers' may not be the most exciting aspect of your day-to-day business activities, but what if measuring could be the catalyst that moves your business to the next level?

Let's say to six or seven figures? Would this be good enough incentive to pull out the 'virtual' measuring stick? Listening to your numbers will point the way to what you must do next in terms of making more money in less time.

What can you learn from metrics?

·         Tracking metrics tells you how well you are doing from week to week. 

It helps you measure the things it's most important to measure, which we will get into later in this program.

·         You will immediately see when your measurements 'spike' or 'tumble.' 

This means you know precisely what you should keep doing, and what you should stop doing.

·         Your own Metrics Worksheet can act as an EKG for your business.

It will tell you if your business pulse goes flat-line, fast. Obviously flat-line is not a desirable state for us or for our businesses, and the more quickly you can respond when things are 'slow,' the better chances you have for a healthy business. (Simply keep an eye on whether your metrics change. In all cases, if they aren't moving somehow, things are not as they should be.)

·         A great Metrics Spreadsheet also sharpens your focus.

Would you be better off adding new income streams to your product funnel? Could your existing streams be doing higher volume?

Although there are many more deductions you yourself can make when it comes to your Metrics, be aware that the process of tracking your metrics is a clever and elegant management tool.

Sample Writing - Web Content

Created and edited website content for small business.

  Herb, Bud and the Beanstalk Boys (also known as simply, The Beanstalk Boys) is a partnership of adults with disabilities who own and operate an urban agri-business. What started out several years ago as a small project to develop a garden space out of a piece of land the size of a large living room, has grown into a year-round Urban Agribusiness with over 600 square feet of indoor and outdoor growing space. Last year the Beanstalk Boys grew a variety of crops including herbs, peas, beans, cabbage, flowers, etc. that were sold to local restaurants, farmers markets and a local grocery store. All seeds and plants were from donations from local garden centers and grocery stores.

After securing long-term partnerships with the Alternative High School, The University of Calgary Community Garden Project and Mount Royal College and with the generous support and cooperation of the local business community, Herb Bud and the Beanstalk Boys has turned a corner and is now a year-round agribusiness. With the development of two outdoor garden locations at the Alternative High School and the University of Calgary and one professionally equipped greenhouse growing space at Mount Royal College, hopes are high for future expansion.

After much ‘sweat equity’ and teamwork the location is now a series of garden boxes laid out in a circle design that signifies the ‘circle of truth’ philosophy of the school. This year, approximately 20 more garden boxes will be built with the assistance of up to 20 volunteers from Home Depot and CASS staff. ‘Team Depot’ will bring their expertise and their tools to assist in a “garden box work bee” on May 3, 2006 to increase the growing capacity of the garden business.

to see more: www.beanstalkboys.com

Sample Writing - Ebook Content and Editing

Researched, proofed and edited the content and structure of ebook, Breastfeeding For a Better Life.

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations!  If you are reading this book, you have either given birth or plan to in the near future.  Perhaps you bought this book for a friend who is considering breastfeeding.  Regardless of your reason, you have taken a step in the right direction!
This guide will help you through your breastfeeding journey.  Mothers have been nursing since the dawn of time.  If you have not yet committed to the idea of nursing your infant, read on. 

One of the first decisions you’ll have to make after giving birth is whether to breastfeed or bottle feed your infant.  There are even some mothers that will choose to do both.  Most women will be able to breastfeed their newborn, but there are some exceptions to the rule.  Generally, all mothers should be able to breastfeed.  Due to medical reasons however, some women are unable to breastfeed.  Adoptive mothers also may not have the option to nurse their children.  There are many women who choose not to nurse, and for them bottle-feeding may be the best choice.  Bottle-feeding does offer some benefits.  For example, fathers can share in the bonding experience early on, and allow moms some much needed rest. 

Sample Writing - Ebook Editing

Exerpt From: Hamsters: Cute and Cudly Pets.

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION

Making the decision to buy a pet is a major decision.  Keep in mind you need to consider many things before you make the ultimate decision to bring a pet home, including a hamster.  After all, you want the right pet for your home, your lifestyle, and any special considerations you might have.

Although hamsters are small, your commitment to them must be the same as if you were buying a large dog.  Typically, the reason people buy pets is for companionship, knowing they offer unconditional love.  However, to enjoy owning an animal, you need to understand that they require clean water and food daily, clean bedding, and lots of affection and love.

Since pets of all types require daily attention, it is important that you not buy a pet merely because someone you know owns one or because someone tells you this is the pet for you.  Only you can make the decision regarding which type of pet is right for you and your family.  Select your pet based on how well it will fit into your family and lifestyle.  Most importantly, never buy any pet on impulse.

Even small hamsters are a large commitment so be sure you do your research to understand the pros and cons so you can make an educated choice.  Start by asking yourself a few simple questions.  Even for a little animal such as a hamster, you need to ensure you have covered all the bases.

· Do you have adequate room?
· Do you have a cage or the financial means of buying one along with all the other paraphernalia needed?
· Do you have a quiet location in your home where the cage can be placed during the night while the hamster is awake and ready to play?
· Are you looking for an animal that you can wrestle with or simply a sweet-natured animal like a hamster that can be cuddled and enjoyed?
· If you work away from the home or travel often, do you have someone that could step in to care for your animal temporarily?
· Do you want a pet just for pleasure or are you interested in breeding?
· Do you have the time to care for your pet?
· Will there be other pets in the home that you need to consider?
· Do you have small children, elderly, or disabled people in the home?

Sample Writing - Ebook Sales Letter

Created and edited sales page for ebook - Better Breastfeeding For a Better Life

Do You Know What Hillary Clinton, Cindy Crawford, Jodie Foster, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jada Pinkett-Smith Have In Common?  You guessed it, they ALL breastfed their babies!

Discover Six Simple Things About Breastfeeding That Can Give You and Your Baby A 100% Increase in Health, Strength and Intelligence...and Save You Money Too.

Learn Why They Say Breastfeeding is THE BEST Gift You Can Give Your Child...
Discover Special Techniques Of Breastfeeding Experts That Will Have Your Baby Breastfeeding Naturally and Easily...

Prevent Breastfeeding Pain And Frustration,
Even If You're New... (And Even If You Feel Like You've Already tried everything)

Why Breastfeeding is also one of the best things for Mommy's health and well-being (and Daddy's, too)

Dear Friend,

Congratulations on an important decision: giving your child a leg-up in today’s health conscious world by giving them the gift of breastfeeding.  This is a vital decision and you have every reason to be proud.

Did you know you are in good company? Some famous breastfeeding moms include: Meryl Streep, Madonna, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Katie Couric, Margaret Thatcher, Senator Hillary Clinton, Tipper Gore, Eleanor Roosevelt, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, and even Diana, Princess of Wales, just to name a few. 

So you can see that the decision to breast feed is backed up by many smart moms who want only the best for their babies.

Now what can you do to ensure your baby gets all of the benefits of your decision? That's what this ebook "Better Breastfeeding for a Better Life" is all about.

Do you know when breastfeeding may be harmful to a newborn or mother?

Do you know the secret signal that tells you your child is ready to breastfeed?

Do you know the best time of day to pump milk?

If not, you will soon.

But first, a confession . . .

Sample Writing - Magazine Article

The Noble Rot

I have a friend who purchases wine based on how attractive the label is. This is a little like choosing a date based on looks alone. The result is too often a rather dull evening. It’s rare that a connection is made between the exterior beauty and inner quality and we usually end up kicking ourselves for thinking that this time it would be any different. Eventually we learn that tired expression, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” is a cliché for a good reason. For the vintner, this open-minded approach is taken when considering the less-than-appealing appearance of grapes affected with “noble rot,” Botrytis cinerea.

Botrytis is the mould that is allowed to grow on certain grapes and eventually gives special dessert wines their intense, exotic flavor. The affected fruit looks like a botched Petri dish experiment from chemistry 101. The affected grapes are encased in what can only be described as a nest resembling that of a tent caterpillar – definitely not something one would imagine able to produce an exceptionally consumable end product. The “elephant man” of the vineyard, as repulsive as it appears, is not lacking inner quality or character. Botrytis is known the world over as noble rot for good reason: some of the most highly flavored, luscious and complex wines are made from grapes affected with the mould.

Like all moulds, Botrytis grows best in conditions that supply FATTOM: Food (sugar), Acid (juice), Temperature, Time, Oxygen and Moisture. Generally speaking, grapes are left on the vine into the late autumn, when the mixture of morning dampness and afternoon sun encourages fungal growth. Spores from the mould lie dormant in the vineyard soil and on the vine bark until brought to life with the right FATTOM. In good years, the spores latch onto the skin of the grapes and drain moisture slowly, leaving behind a shriveled grape with a high concentration of both sugar and acid. The result is on ugly grape that produces honey-rich nectar so pleasing it’s been known to bring even the most jaded wine drinkers to tears of ecstasy. In bad years, if the FATTOM isn’t just right, if the morning mists turn to rain and the sun doesn’t shine, the rot becomes ignoble and turns the grapes to mush. More often that not, the wine maker doesn’t bother harvesting the fruit;

Like many great culinary and oenological discoveries it seems the nobility wrought by the rot was “first” discovered more than once. Austria, France, Germany, and Hungary all lay claim to initially squeezing and drinking juice from moldy, shriveled grapes. The version I like best concerns, indirectly at least, Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula.

Published in The City Palate food magazine.

Sample Writing - Newsletter

Wrote the content for a Small Business Profile for Calgary Alternative Support Services (Social Service Agency) newsletter publication.

At first glance, when Jim, Richard, Bruce and Dan get together they are fun-loving jokesters, ribbing each other light-heartedly, as guys do. Ask one of them, “Can you give me a hand with…” and they interrupt, in unison, with applause (giving me a, ahem, ‘hand’), giggling at the gag they never grow tired of pulling. But, bring up the topic of earning money and the joking stops.

Underlying their fun-loving spirit lays a fierce determination. Who else shows up to work, puts in a hard day of physical labour, goes home, doesn’t get paid then shows up the next day and does it all over again? Well, these business owners do, often for months at a time. Self-employment is definitely not for everyone.   

Herb, Bud and the Beanstalk Boys (also known as simply, The Beanstalk Boys) is a partnership of four adults with disabilities who own and operate an urban agri-business. What started out several years ago as a small project to develop a garden space out of a piece of land the size of a large living room, has grown into a year-round Urban Agribusiness with over 6000 square feet of indoor and outdoor growing space. Last year the Beanstalk Boys grew a variety of crops including herbs, peas, beans, cabbage, flowers, etc. that were sold to local restaurants, farmers markets and a local grocery store. All seeds and plants were from donations from local garden centers and grocery stores.

After securing long-term partnerships with the Alternative High School, The University of Calgary Community Garden Project and Mount Royal College and with the generous support and cooperation of the local business community, Herb Bud and the Beanstalk Boys has turned a corner and is now a year-round agribusiness. With the development of two outdoor garden locations at the Alternative High School and the University of Calgary and one professionally equipped greenhouse growing space at Mount Royal College, hopes are high for future expansion.

Small Business Writing

Business Operations Summary March 2005 to July 2006 for greenhouse business.

1. Business Name: Herb Bud and the Beanstalk Boys

2. Nature of Business

The business is a partnership among 5 owners. The purpose of this business is to create a sustainable urban farming business involved in growing, tending, harvesting and selling of seedlings and produce to individuals, local stores, restaurants and markets.

3. Summary of Operations/Activities Completed

· Three of the business owners attended the MCC workshops on Exploring Entrepreneurship and ABC of Small Business.
· Land share and land use partnerships were developed with the University of Calgary Community Garden and the Alternative High School.
· Another partnership was developed with Mount Royal College to utilize greenhouse space at the college.
· Many donations were received from the Calgary business community in the form of seeds, seedlings, garden tools, etc. including $9235.00 from PDD Calgary Region and $4000 from Evergreen Foundation (Home Depot).
· The Beanstalk Boys increased their profits by over 500% over the summer growing period, through selling their produce at Farmers’ Markets and also to established restaurants, green grocery stores and individual buyers.
· The Beanstalk Boys also donated vegetables in addition to taking some of the produce home for personal use.
· The project was extensively promoted through print media and presentations to various audiences including the Evergreen Workshop on Urban Green Space Protection and Restoration held in Calgary and the National Association for Supported Employment Conference in Canmore. The Project is also featured on the Evergreen website: http://www.evergreen.ca/en/registry/view_project.php?ID=00673
· The Beanstalk Boys also participated in a Compost Sale Fundraiser in collaboration with the U of C Community Garden. The Fundraiser raised at $400, which was split between the 2 parties.