Melissa Diskin

A fun Vera Wang piece

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:37:18 -0500

Writing for Vera Wang has kicked up this spring; this is an especially fun piece I wrote for a newsletter partnership with Dyson. I love it -- partly because I avoided that "I'm married to my cleaning products" vibe that so many cleaning supply ads give off! Read on for more of "Cleanup in Aisle 1"...

Getting social media right

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:28:33 -0500

Social media writing. Tweeter for hire. The brain behind your FaceBooking. What's the job title for that -- Social mediator? Hmm... it sounds like someone who does introductions at parties. But really all this means is that I am now writing social media for third parties for pay. I can't talk about my current fabulous job much, but it's focused on the luxury market and has been a blast to write.
Remember: social media writing isn't just a matter of throwing a bullet point or sale alert at your audience. The tone has to be spot-on. Details need to be crafted, not tossed into the media stream. How do you condense an 8-bullet alert into a 140-character tweet? How do you create a two-way relationship with your audience? How do you get it right? Email me, for starters: melissadiskin@gmail.com

New client: Nine West!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:03:06 -0500

Mama's got a brand new bag (er...shoe): I'm now copywriting for Nine West! Their copy has gotten edgier over the last year so it's no cakewalk, but it's right up my alley.

IA: my Bruce Wayne existence

Thu, 26 May 2011 21:48:31 -0500

So before I had babies and started writing I was an information architect. IA isn't a fancy synonym for rockin' writer -- it's a discipline at the intersection of user experience, web design, and information structuring. If you're saying "arrrgh!!!!" when you're making your way through a site or online checkout process, then Praise the Lord -- you have just justified my existence (professionally speaking).
Good IA undergirds everything on a site, from search functions to browsing findability to when and where you encounter the right buttons with the right labels that help you get your task done. That's just the tip of the iceberg, but the typical IA elevator speech is "I restructure your site to help you make a lot more money, and I help reduce calls to your call center."
I do this in bits and pieces sometimes. For example, right now I'm redesigning a checkout process for a huge auto parts store online. I'm also mocking up wireframes for their content management system and redesigning their parts finder. Of course, everything I do is part of a long chain of design, from strategic info planning through to graphic design and technical development.
It's fun to juxtapose my IA skills with the writing I do. (Auto parts guys, have a seat next to Vera Wang and my beauty blogging!)

Newish client: Spanx!

Fri, 13 May 2011 09:16:13 -0500

This client work took place a few months ago -- I wrote some big spreads for Spanx's 10th anniversary catalog, from a founder's history to various employee experiences over the years. Lovely people, prompt payment, and a week of interviewing Sara Blakely and her employees about 10 years of Spanx hose and hijinx. I loved my headline that got away, about the launch of Man Spanx: "Bros before Hose".... it ended up edited out but was a fun laugh til final proof.

New client: Vera Wang!

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 09:39:53 -0500

I'm happy to announce a new writing client: Vera Wang! Examples of my work to follow soon, of course.
It's been such a long year (or more). After having 3 kids in four years and spending 3 years straight with one child with major sleep issues that are finally being ironed out, it's incredibly fun to be back in the writing saddle and engaging with a fun, fabulous client.

Working, working, working

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:27:18 -0500

I'm still here and writing! Just incredibly busy. I've been copywriting for Kelloggs UK on the Special K See if You Can Get Slimmer campaign (we have this here, too-- you know it in the US as the Special K Challenge). Emails, contests, site copy, you name it. In short: I'm still here, still available for work. Shoot me an email: melissadiskin@gmail.com

Daily Candy: Paw Prints

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:45:38 -0500

You say you can't rest til you've seen hamsters in American Gothic dress? Searching for the perfect gift for your animal-loving friend? Check out these cute animal prints by Cindy Jerrell.

Read my piece at Daily Candy or view it here after the jump.

Daily Candy: Blue's Clues

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:08:48 -0500

If you haven't trekked out to Whippoorwill Hollow Farm lately, make the trip! It's prime blueberry-picking time. Read my piece (a little different from my usual) at Daily Candy or view it here after the jump.

Daily Candy: Float Your Boat

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:58:55 -0500

Float is a blissful spa experience with a new take on massage and other beauty-wellness treatments -- not as luxuries but as affordable treats that can fit into any budget. Read the piece at Daily Candy or view it here after the jump.

Daily Candy: Smell Ya Later

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:50:27 -0500

At last! I wrote this piece on a blanket that is poot-retardant ages ago and Daily Candy was just waiting for them to go into production to publish it. Read it at Daily Candy or view it after the jump.

Daily Candy: PS, I Love You

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:26:09 -0500

Here's my latest Daily C -- cute little notes from Heidi Geldhauser that you can leave for your sweetie (or anyone) to find. Read it at Daily Candy or view it after the jump.

Daily Candy: The Right to Bare Arms

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:05:52 -0500

Tell me these running sleeves aren't the coolest. They even look good off the track. Read more after the jump.

Daily Candy: Tacos, Macked

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:38:39 -0500

Another recent Daily Candy piece, on Shaun Doty's new gig as consulting chef of The Original El Taco.

Daily Candy: Charleston in Charge

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:22:13 -0500

I went to Charleston on a babymoon and had a blast (well, as much as you can blast when you're 5 months pregnant).... click further in to read my piece here, or go straight to Daily Candy Travel to read it there.