With one of the most anticipated (and controversial) exhibits in its history about to arrive, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry needed to make sure its Spring 2007 magazine delivered an enticing and balanced message. Absent a staff writer at the time, they called in Word Jones to pinch-hit.

It started as a simple catalog proofing job for Sandstrom Design. We threw in a couple editing suggestions, no charge. Their response: “Why don’t you just write the next one?” So we did. And another half-dozen after that. It was really fun, sitting around making up stories about funky shoes. Here’s a brief excerpt from one.

Based on the fact that nearly everyone in Oregon has been to Sunriver at some time, we came up with a campaign theme built around people’s good memories: “Remember that time we stayed at Sunriver and…” So with “Create a Memory” as the theme, we created a series of evocative pieces featuring single key words tied to wonderful vacation memories.

The first year Word Jones helped out Cycle Oregon, the event didn’t actually sell out (it took a while for the effect to take hold). So we decided to put together an e-mail blast campaign that would slyly address common objections to registering.

One of the real tricks to large-document editing is maintaining (and, often, creating) continuity of voice across all the sections of a total piece. In this case it was a 107-page community guide for TriMet, Portland’s transit agency.

Joe Kurmaskie, aka The Metal Cowboy, is a riding raconteur, the author of a series of books detailing his two-wheeled treks across the country and the planet. When he took off on his most improbable adventure yet – pedaling a 14-foot-long caravan consisting of him and his two sons (ages 4 and 6) across the U.S. – he was commissioned to write a magazine article.

The assignment seemed innocuous: TriMet wanted us to create an event to show people the “detour” bike route while the I-205 bike path was torn up for construction of the new light rail extension.

One of the coolest features of Cycle Oregon (well, from our point of view, anyway) is that the event puts out a newspaper every day on the tour. It’s full of information, human-interest stories, creative gossip and photos – and the riders go through 2,000 copies every day at breakfast.

The Oregon Dept. of Energy promotes telecommuting for all its energy-saving benefits, and wanted to create a piece that would get the information out in an educational and eye-pleasing way.

After Word Jones was chosen in 2005 as one of three proposers to be awarded a contract for design, copy and Web services, there was one more challenge. They gave all the winners a test: Design a sample piece so we can choose who gets the first work.