“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 »
“The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.” – Ernest Newman, Born Nov. 30, 1868. If you keep meaning to write, but you don’t, because you can’t think of what to write… Stop being lame, you pickle. The muse isn’t going to bother dropping
Inspiration Comes DURING Work, Not Before Read More »
“Everything you’ve ever read of mine is first-draft. This is one of the peculiarities of the comics field. By the time you’re working on chapter three of your masterwork, chapter one is already in print. You can’t go back and suddenly decide to make this character a woman, or have this one fall out of
Publish Your Draft Now, Revise When You Re-Publish Again In The Future Read More »
“To me there’s no creativity without boundaries. If you’re gonna write a sonnet, it’s 14 lines, so it’s solving the problem within the container.” – Lorne Michaels, Born Nov. 17, 1944. There is something incredibly empowering about using creative limitations. And it’s not just about placing arbitrary deadlines. It’s about limiting your materials, your scope.
Creativity Will Keep You Broke Unless You Strap On The YOKE Read More »
“Comedy is the most palliative way to make a point. People are more willing to listen if they can laugh.” – Judy Gold, Born Nov. 15, 1962. This is one most people will dismiss, but they shouldn’t. Think of that kind of marketer/guru/whatever that people think is trashy or phony or arrogant, who is still
A Daily ____ Is The Bait That Brings Them Back Tomorrow Read More »
