Writing Prompts

...is hard. At least today it is. I'm finishing up an event management application whereby folks can register themselves for various firm events (training or otherwise). They have a personalized page where they can see a list of upcoming events for which they are registered. On the application's start/home page, the project sponsors wanted some verbage to help guide people around the application.

The challenge is to write few enough words so that people will actually read what I write (no one will read anything over two sentences, trust me), but isn't confusing and actually says something useful.

So here's the thought progression...

"Have you been here before? Visit My Events to view your upcoming events, that you registered for previously, earlier on!"

No, that doesn't quite work.

"Have you been here before? Visit My Events to view the list of upcoming events that you yourself registered for!"

Nope...

"... Visit My Events to view your events!"

Short, to the point, but my manager will change it when she sees it, and we can't have that now can we?

"Have you been here before? Visit My Events to view your upcoming events!"

I'll cross my fingers and go with that. The thought crosses my mind, "Who cares?", which is really a valid point, however you wouldn't believe the number of hours spent in meetings going back and forth over things just as mundane. Why, just yesterday I was the hub of a 30-minute conversation involving what font size to use.

Hmm...upon reflection I just painted a rawtha depressing depiction of what I do every day. It's really not that bad folks! And that thought is deeply impressed on me everytime I walk by the "Chicago Hot Dogs!" trailer parked across the street where someone sits from dawn until dusk, or the construction workers building a skyrise a block down in this icy weather, or the street people begging for a piece of warm clothing.

Anyone need a font changed? I'm on top of it.