“When a thing’s done, it’s done, and if it’s not done right, do it differently next time.” – Arthur Ransome, Born, Jan. 18, 1884. Stop trying to make shit perfect. You won’t. You can’t. Don’t even worry about it being great. Focus on “good enough”. Publish your alpha, beta, 1.0 stuff. Let the audience react […]
Do the Thing Now. Improve the Thing Later. Perfect the Thing Never. Read More »
“The first time you make something, follow the recipe, then figure out how to tailor it to your own tastes.” – Ruth Reichl, Born Jan. 16, 1948. Are you too creative and clever for your own good? I used to be like that. I went to art school. I used to want to do something
How to Learn to Cook and Copywrite (At the Same Time!) Read More »
“It is the emergence of mass media which makes possible the use of propaganda techniques on a societal scale.” – Jacques Ellul, Born Jan. 6, 1912. I say often that being able to persuade other people is about as close as you can get to having a real life superpower. It makes life easier. It
Propaganda for Fun and Profit. But Mostly Profit. Read More »
“Don’t forget that the only two things people read in a story are the first and last sentences. Give them blood in the eye on the first one.” – Herbert Bayard Swope, Born Jan. 5, 1882. That’s why your opener should fuck the reader in the brain, right through their eye socket, planting the seed
Bloody Eyeballs Are Happy Eyeballs Read More »
“People often ask me about what constitutes a nerd-friendly show – like, does it have to have sci-fi elements? But I think it’s just a show that satisfies the secret craving we all have to be obsessed with something and not feel at all stupid about it.” – Dan Harmon, Born Jan. 3, 1973. It’s
Inside: Indulge in Your Weird Obsessions Without Shame Read More »
“Pretend you’re a southern sheriff. Or Mae West. Or Donald Duck. Buy a western hat and walk around the house like a cowboy. The point of all this, of course, is to draw yourself out of your accustomed groove.” – Steve Allen, Born Dec. 26, 1921. A lot of entrepreneurial, self-employed, freelancer types like us
“Dress For the Job You Want” Means a Different Thing to Professional Persuaders Read More »
“We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.” – Abigail Adams, Born Dec. 22, 1744. In our line of work, it can be easy to be attracted to other ads that are clever, or funny. We envy the creativity of their writers and conceivers. We mentally (or even physically)
A Funny Sign You Saw Is Not Good Copy Read More »
“Journalism: an ability to meet the challenge of filling the space.” – Rebecca West, Born Dec. 21, 1892. The hardest part about writing is the writing. Having ideas is easy. Everyone has ideas. But not everyone writes. I mean, most people CAN “write” – in the sense that they are literate. But most people can’t
Most Wannabe Writers Lack the Muscle to Reach Page Two Read More »
“Writing can’t be taught.” – Susanna Moore, Born Dec. 9, 1945. Well, Susanna. I’m going to go ahead and call bullshart on that nonsense. If writing couldn’t be taught, we wouldn’t have civilization. Of course writing can be taught. The desire to want to write well and excessively, perhaps even as a full time vocation?
Is it True That Anyone Can Learn to Write For a Living? Read More »
“He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.” – Joseph Conrad, Born Dec. 3, 1857. This is why your work needs to read the way people speak. Because the mind’s ear
The Written Word Makes Audible Music in the Mind of the Reader Read More »
