“The piano is a monster that screams when you touch its teeth.” – Andres Segovia, Born Feb. 21, 1893. What’s funny is that Andres was a guitarist. So he was describing why he hates he piano and doesn’t play it. But we are sick fuck writer masochists. And our keyboards are beasts that scream when …
Want to Write Well? Feed the Beast Your Fingers First. Read More »
“Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more.” – Edward H. Harriman, Born Feb. 20, 1848. You’re so close. Just finish the fucking thing. You know the thing. You brought it nearly to the end and stopped short of the finish line. Maybe some other shit came up. Maybe you had …
Shut Up and Finish. Hit Publish. Start the Next One. Edit Later. Read More »
“The price of a work of art has nothing to do with what the work of art is, can do, or is worth on an existential, alchemical level.” – Jerry Saltz, Born Feb. 19, 1951. Information is like art in this way, at least when it’s for sale. For example, imagine a piece of information …
“A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away.” -Charles M. Schwab, Born Feb. 18, 1862. An offer that is for everyone excites no one. Product, service, or persona – it’s all the same. If you try to please everyone, you can only please each of them a little, and therefore, …
“If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.” – Thomas J. Watson, Born Feb. 17, 1874. If you can’t get into your writing or building your business or whatever, it might be because you aren’t being excellent. If you’re being excellent, you automatically love …
How to Quit Sucking Forever: Decide to Be Excellent Instead Read More »
“Sometimes you have to lie. One often has to distort a thing to catch its true spirit.” – Robert J. Flaherty, Born Feb. 16, 1884. Consider a poem, which often describes reality with a refined and elegant metaphor – one that reveals a deep but unobservable truth about a given thing. But despite the bard’s …
“Trying to do business without advertising is like winking at a pretty girl through a pair of green goggles. You may know what you are doing, but no one else does.” – Cyrus McCormick, Born Feb. 15, 1809. Here is the revolutionary change in the nature of advertising as we begin to really get into …
How to “Advertise” in the “Future” (Because Advertising is Dead, Ain’t You Heard?) Read More »
“When a magician lets you notice something on your own, his lie becomes impenetrable.” – Raymond Teller, Born Feb, 14, 1948. A lot of people think persuasive writing is about what you say to people. Your words push their buttons and they act. But a lot of times, it’s what you DON’T come right out …
Lie Like a Magician, and Make the Audience Work the Magic For You Read More »
“I’d rather have ten people who are mad for it than ten thousand who aren’t.” – Peter Hook, Born Feb. 13, 1956. Who wants a lukewarm audience? Who wants readers with only a tepid interest in your topic? Who wants fair weather followers who can take you or leave you? Not this here coonass. I …
Don’t Cater to the Casuals – Feed the Fiends Instead Read More »
“To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, the establishing of a new truth or fact.” – Charles Darwin, Born Feb. 12, 1902. That’s true, Charlie. It’s not just as good or better. It’s way easier, too. To know what is wrong in the world of your prospect …
What Most Copywriters Don’t Know: When to Shut Up, and What NOT to Say Read More »
