The Book Chelsea Wish She Wrote.

Chelsea Handler has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times best seller list with her humorous essay collections.

Trouble is, they are just aren't that funny.

Samantha Bee, correspondent for The Daily Show, has written a truly funny book called i know i am, but what are you?  

I could quote her all day, but here are a few examples of excellence in the category of humorous non-fiction, which may be the toughest genre to write:

"One day, I walked into class, and all these formerly fresh-scrubbed girls were wearing shimmery pink lip glosses in various shades of whore."   (from Man-Witch)

"Most of the time I'm simply sporting mom jeans and a scowl, trying my best to get from one place to another without encoutering any brazen genitalia along the way."  (Penis Envy)  

"If I could, I would spend all of my remaining days taste-testing chocolates, while a team of six-year-old girls gently brushed my hair."  (from Sailor Moon)

Bee is the funnier blonde, no doubt.

Choose Joy.

Happy Holidays! 

Writing (Un) Self-Consciously.

Today I was sitting in a doctor's office, skimming an old magazine (is there any other kind?!)  The cover story was a celebrity profile (is there any other kind?!)

I was about a half a page in when a reference was made to "Clark's nucleus." 

This stopped me cold.  And not in the good kind of "Let me Google that way."

The phrase took me out of the flow of what was otherwise decent prose.  It made me think the writer was a smarty pants trying to show off.

As readers, all of us like a well-turned phrase.  Some of us even like to be occasionally challenged, scurrying for a dictionary.

As writers we must stay out of the way of words.  We must not interrupt them with our own ponderous self-awareness.  That's a disservice to the reader.

So when in doubt, use an authentic voice.  Your readers will thank you.

The Time Before Texts.

Once upon a time--before email and texting--I received letters.  Love letters, letters from my mother, letters from friends.

And it must be said:  an e-card doesn't replace the real thing. 

I recently wrote a 20-page letter to my newly discovered half-brother.  At some point it became a stream of consciousness.  I lost myself in the joy of communicating. 

Revive this endangered art.  Make someone's day.  National Letter Writing Week begins on January 9th so you've got plenty of time to practice. And to buy some pretty stationary.

The 5 Percent Area.

Ninety-two year old magnate Sidney Harman is interviewed in the January issue of Vanity Fair.

Seems people think he is nuts to have bought Newsweek.  The publishing industry just isn't the money printing business it used to be.

Here's what Harman says:  "I see Newsweek as a serious undertaking with a decent shot.  Let me tell you something.  I've made a living working in the 5 percent area."

What's your 5 percent?

Nurturing Creativity.

I am working on an especially challenging assignment right now.  It is challenging and draining in equal parts.

Add the hectic holiday season to the mix and my creativity--the very thing I am paid for--suffers.

Besides the occasional glass of wine to cope--okay, a stiff gin and tonic (or two)--it helps to hear how other creative types cope.  And how they reignite the flame.

I love what author Elizabeth Gilbert says in her TED lecture on creativity and clarity about having a "divine cock-eyed genius assigned to your case." 

She should know.  She had to top her massive international bestseller Eat Love Pray.

I believe my "genius" wears red shoes.  And drinks G&Ts.


http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Food For Thought.

As many of you know, I have written food reviews for more than a decade.

Newsweek has an interesting cover story this week called "Our Dinner Divide" on how our "food obsession is driving Americans apart."

It's really about the growing class divide, who's "food insecure" and who has access to  nutritious food. 

Check it out at:  http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/22/what-food-says-about-class-in-america.html

Way to Recast Grandma's Jewels.

Rose gold used to be the futsy (and undervalued) tone your grandma wore.

But in a clever new campaign in collaboration with Macy's, Le Vian is marketing chocolate diamonds with "strawberry gold."

Taking something old-timey and turning it into a trend from Hollywood  to the local mall?

Marketing gold.

Not Bored (Yet).

On HBO's first season of Bored To Death, Ted Danson's weathly, pot-smoking character drops such bon mots as "martinis heal all wounds" and dubs a dull party as "death by a thousand conversations."

His dry, sardonic delivery and that silver mane: comedic genius.  

And a reminder of how to improve on a good line.   

Rescuing Obscure Words.

Did you catch this report on NPR a week ago about what you can do, as a word lover, to rescue arcane words from being forver lost?

The website, http://www.savethewords.org/, was created by an ad man. 

Listen to the story at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131194735.

Don't Give Your Dog a Dumb Name. (A Cautionary Tail/Tale).

While walking in the park yesterday, I heard a man shouting for "Trouser" while chasing after an unleashed pooch. 

Wouldn't you run?

Naming--whether a car, a prescription medicine, a lipstick or a restaurant--is critically important to how the product is percevied in the market.  The right name can mean the difference between failure and success.

As a writer, I am often asked to help name a product or service.  More often, I am asked to ignore a bad name.  Unlike Trouser, I can't actually run away. 

Incidentally, Carlos is a good name for a dog.

I'm Lovin' It. (McDonalds, 2003-Present.)

Admittedly, McDonalds has had better taglines over the years; You Deserve a Break Today comes to mind.

Sometimes clients ask me to write (or just tweak) their taglines. Problem often is, they aren't willing to go quite far enough to yield something that connects with consumers.

Just saw this tagline for The Cosmpolitan, an upscale hotel in Las Vegas:  Just the Right Amount of Wrong.

Cheeky.  Effective.  Memorable.

Bingo!

Big Three.

In the past week, I've heard or read these three $10 words and wanted to share them with you:

* Maw:  informal for mouth
* Brio:  the quality of being spirited, vigorous
* Self-Abnegation:  renunciation of your own intersts in favor of others' interests

Copywrapper.

Grabbed lunch today at Chipotle Mexican Grill (carnitas burrito) and was surpised--and impressed!--to see that they are touting the benefits of their "Food With Integrity" (i.e., the role of farmers and responsibly sourced ingredients) on the brown wrappers that line the plastic baskets and the to-go brown bags.

Talk about maximzing your message on available space!

How To Restore the American Dream.

While at the airport this week, this cover story for Time caught my eye. 
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2026776,00.html.

Editor Fareed Zakaria discusses how the twin threats of technology and globalization are squeezing the middle class--and what to do about it.

Waiting for Superman.

That's the title of a sobering new documentary indicting the deplorable state of our public schools.

I was especially struck by Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim's assertion that it's "bad" schools that make for "bad neighborhoods"--not the other way around.

You'll be shocked and outraged to see "bad" teachers sleeping in "detention hall." While collecting full salary.

See the film, talk about it. And ACT. We all have a vested interest in educational excellence.
http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/?gclid=CKH-tdGl7qQCFQm87QodRiMB1Q

Our Funny Planet.

Jon Stewart's new book, Earth (The Book), a Visitor's Guide to the Human Race, is expectedly hysterical. 

To wit:  bamboo is the world's fastest-gowing plant, surging skyward at up to 30 inches an hour--40 inches, if you're willing to rub the shaft.

I won't tell you here, but flip to page 42 to learn what a "sin pebble cozy" is.

Finally, someone has recognized gaydar for the rare sense it really is.

I'm laughing aloud on almost every page.

http://www.amazon.com/Daily-Show-Stewart-Presents-Earth/dp/044657922X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287590158&sr=1-1

Underused Words. Weekend Edition.

Supine (thanks, Erin!) and Salient are my Saturday and Sunday underused words.

Enjoy the sight of autumn leaves swirling and crunching.

Is Sexuality Taboo for Female Policitians?

Twenty-eight year old Krystal Ball (dumb name, smart woman) is a Democrat congressional candidate in Virginia.  If elected, she will be the youngest member of Congress in history.

Of course, she has a sex life.  Of course, she's taken racy photos.  Naturally, they've surfaced online.

Did I mention that's she's 28?

Why is any of this surprising?  Worse still, why is any of this relevant to her qualifications (or lack of) for public office?

Disappointingly, the double standard for women is alive and well. 

What's refreshing is that the younger "Facebook" generation is challenging the tired Madonna/Whore complex.

Ball wrote a long (too long, actually; I wish it were better edited) treatise about the campaign to discredit her--and why she's staying the course.  Read it on her website, http://www.krystalballforcongress.com/.

Hers appears to be a single lapse of judgement in a private setting. Politicians of the future--both men and women--will likely share her youthful history of hijinks.

Too many of us are voyeurs, hypocrites wagging fingers.  Too many of us stand silent.  Too many of us are unwilling to expose our often foolish actions to scrutiny.  

Regardless of your politics, applaud Ball for having the--well, the balls--to fight this sexism.  She could be your daughter, niece, cousin, friend. 

I say hooray for her sexuality.  It's not incompatible with intelligence.

Apple-licious.

This past weekend, I--and everyone else from Atlanta, apparently--headed to the North Georgia mountains for the Ellijay Apple Festival.  The traffic was heavy, but my heart was light.

Actually, I wasn't headed for the festival, but rather for Mercier Orchards, about an hour and a half north of Atlanta in Blue Ridge. 

Trust me, it's worth the ride.

The place was pleasantly abuzz with tractor rides to the fields for U-Pick apples. Inside, I made a beeline for the apple cider, apple cider donuts and pimento cheese (with the surprise of corn and pimento peppers). 

I can also report they've added refrigerated gourmet products including cave-aged feta chese, tasso ham and French sea salted butter.  Perfect fall picnic fare.

They are open 7 days a week.  Log onto:  http://www.mercier-orchards.com/.

The Power of the Unexpected. Or Why I Want to See Katherine Heigl as a Hooker.

Actrss Katherine Heigl's new movie, Life As We Know It, opens tomorrow.  The advertsing budget must be enormous, as it seems every other ad is for this apparent twaddle.

Snore.  Wake me when it's on DVD--not.

Why pick on the lovely Ms. Heigl? 

Because she is predictable and boring. So, naturally her commericals are, too. 

Even before the inevitable publicity deluge, I know what movie she will make (derivative rom-com), what role she will play (sunny but brittle singleton), who her co-star (interchangeably bland but handsome) will be.

She needs to bust an unexpected move.  Fast.

Maybe play a blue collar mother fighting a good cause in a gritty drama (a la Charlize Theron) or make a self-deprecating guest appearance on a popular prime time sitcom (a la Amy Ryan).

Then, I might just tune in or shell out. 

The unexpected is what keeps us hooked, in life and in movies.  And in marketing, too.

Charisma = Success.

It's that something special that magnetizes people.  

You know it when you meet someone who's charismatic.  Their charm is infectious--think Bill Clinton or Oprah--and mightily contributes to their success.

According to Ronald Riggio, PhD, professor of leadership and organizational psychology at Claremont McKenna College, charisma has three main ingredients: expressiveness, emotional control and emotional sensitivity.

The latter--the ability to pick up on other’s people’s emotions--is key to forging both personal and professional connections.

If you already possess charisma, congratulations.  If you want to hone yours, check out Riggio's book, The Charisma Quotient:  What It Is, How to Get It, How to Use It:  http://www.amazon.com/Charisma-Quotient-What-How-Get/dp/0396089631/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266244419&sr=8-13.

Underused Words.

Today's candidates include:

Spellbinding
Mouldering
Distraught
Cock-eyed

Go forth and use these under-spoken gems!

Two Three Word Movie Reviews.

The Town:  Bloody Boston Valentine.

Winter's Bone:  Kickass Hillbilly Heroine.

Tooting My Horn.

I was thrilled to pen a cover story on Charleston, South Carolina (pg. 52) in the October issue of National  Geographic Traveler.  It's one of my favorite cities.

I've added the PDF to my travel website, http://www.wanderwomanonline.com/. 

Check it out!   The issue is on newsstands now.

Appetite Suppresant?

It may kill your appetite, but Diet for a Hot Planet is fascinating reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Diet-Hot-Planet-Climate-Crisis/dp/1596916591.

Rockin' at The Boulders.

Just back from four days at The Boulders, an iconic resort hideaway north of Phoenix in the Sonoran desert.

The landscape is singularly stunning:  think Flintstones gone glam in private casitas hugging the rock piles with giant saguaro cactus reaching for the cornflower blue sky.  Saw a rattlesnake, cottontail rabbits, quail, lizards and piglike javelinas.

Fred & Wilma would be jealous:  the food, the drinks, the spa!  Oh, and the hot air ballooning, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, The Heard Museum North, shopping, hot air ballooning.

There's a reason the town is called Carefree:  http://www.theboulders.com/.

A Great Question for our Times.

Katie Byron, author of A Thousand Names for Joy, asks, Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?

Is America Angry?

There's a man I've known for a long time, a man who people say looks bad. 

Folks are right: he does look bad.  Anger has settled in his face.  He looks calcified.

When I read Graydon Carter's column in the October issue of Vanity Fair it struck me how angry many of us are.

http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2010/10/graydon-201010

Things are tough, true.  But anger is toxic. And deeply unattractive.

Aaaah, the Smell....

...of green chiles roasting.

Just back from ABQ, New Mexico.  My pal Phil took me to Corrales, a quaint rural community just minutes from the city, for the real deal.

Then dinner at Indigo Crow Cafe, http://www.indigocrowcafe.com,/ for a phenomenal meal including charlbroiled quail in a mint balsamic sauce, oven roasted duck breast with a cherry zinfandel sauce and New York strip with gorgonzola green chile sauce.

Land of Enchantment, indeed....

Memory loves to go hunting in the dark.

"I am interested in knowing the secrets that connect human beings," writes David Shields in Reality Hunger, A Manifesto.  "At the very deepest level, all our secrets are the same."

Shields maintains that all the best stories are true.  But how we tell them is changing. He packs a lot of contemporary wisdom into his pint-sized essays.

"We all need to begin figuring out how to tell as story for the cell phone.  One thing I know: it’s not the same as telling a story for a full-length DVD."

Lipstick Red Cowboy Boots.

I've got a fondness--okay, a weakness--for cowboy boots. Red ones, at that.

Twenty years ago, I bought a used pair straight out of a window in a second hand store in Seattle's funky Capitol Hill neighborhood.

It was a Cinderella story: the boot fit, much to the snotty shopgirl's suprise. This would-be cowgirl then galloped back east with her prize, wearing and resoling the boots many times.

Now, I've got to break in my own fire engine red pair of Luchese: http://www.zappos.com/lucchese-n4525-5-4 for my trip to New Mexico.

Boots, not diamonds, are this girl's best friend.

A Pair of Obscure (Cool!) Words.

Just in time for weekend socializing, impress your pals with these two ten-dollar words:

Estivate: Summer hibernation
Muzzy: Blurry, fuzzy

I'm a Believer.

As a food critic, I usually scoff at gluten-free attempts at gastronomy, dismissing the results as insipid.

But Christy Nolton, managing chef at Westside's Yeah! Burger, has mastered gluten-free onion rings(!)  I swear they are better than the top-notch "regular" battered version:  crunchier, with a liberal dash of pepper.

I gobbled them down with the Southern dog--kosher beef slathered with pimento cheese, relish and chopped onions. 

Bliss on a bun.

As their tagline declares:  they are keepin' it real.  Real GOOD.

http://www.yeahburger.com/

True West. In the Deep South.

Five hours. 

That's how long my pal Dory and I spent at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville yesterday.

Five, air-conditioned, aesthetically enriching hours enhanced by (employee) Robert Hyde's storytelling.  When you go, ask him where the phrase "read between the lines" came from.  Hint:  it involves the Civil War.

This privately funded, expertly curated museum--with the largest collection of Western art east of the Mississippi--rivals the world's finest. And it's located less than an hour north of Atlanta.

You'll be transported to the West--with a Southern drawl.

Visit:  http://boothmuseum.org/

Tender Writing from a Tough Chick.

As an angst-y teen, I read and re-read Patti Smith seminal Babel.

In her memoir Just Kids, she writes tenderly of her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe during the late 1960s in NYC through his death in 1989.

Of a sketch he gifts her she says, "He gave it to me without hesitation and I understood that in this small space of time we had mutually surrendered our loneliness and replace it with trust."

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Kids-Patti-Smith/dp/006621131X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280843543&sr=8-1

When Writing is Flaccid.

Case in point: HBO's miniseries Hung.

Ahem.

The performance are stiff, the writing limp, the characters one-dimensional. All altogether unsatisfying. Which is ironic, given the provocative subject matter.

For crackling dialogue and acting that delivers, tune into Dexter or In Treatment.

The Power of Half.

"Are we raising consumers or citizens?" author Kevin Salwen wonders in his book The Power of Half: One Family's Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back.

It's co-written with his teenage daughter Hannah, who set the Atlanta family on their transformative journey.

I'm just beginning this book, but already its message is resonating.

http://www.thepowerofhalf.com

Eating As a Locavore.

Enjoyed a fine, five-course dinner last Friday at Loews Eleven restaurant. The focus was on frommage from Georgia's own Sweetgrass Dairy Farm.

Though the blue cheese ice cream was a bit outre for my tastes, the restaurant's gouda and aspargus risotto was served perfectly al dente, rich and creamy when paired with a mineral-ly quaff, vineaux blanc from North Georgia's Frogtown Winery.

It's heartening to see local restaurateurs embracing our state's farmers and vitners. Do you part and order local.

Takeout & Vino.

As PR stunts go it was unique: let us deliver lunch to your door, along with wines paired to typical "takeout" food.

Why, sure.

The good folks at Turning Leaf (their are affordable, food-friendly wines) brought fried chicken with merlot and a Greek Salad and baklava (!) with sauvignon blanc.

I enjoyed both. Gussied up the grub by a measure.

Other suggested combinations: riesling with pad Thai, cabernet sauvignon with a cheeseburger.

www.turningleaf.com

Underused Words.

July's list:

Winsome
Diabolical
Pernicious
Elan
Precipitous
Dumbstruck

Listen to This Man.

Stumbled across Bobby Pinson and am completely hooked by his whiskey-soakeed voice and heartfelt lyrics.

Every single song on Man Like Me is deeply relatable. If pressed, my favorite song (today, at least) is "Don't Ask Me How I Know."

I chop vegetables to it with great vigor, singing out loud with abandon. It's also great music for a road trip.

Even if you think you don't like "country rock," the man deserves to be heard.

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Like-Me-Bobby-Pinson/dp/B000IONJ4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1278800842&sr=1-1.

Adult Cinematic Fare.

Saw a clutch of movies over the long holiday weekend: Cyrus, Mother & Child, Please Give.

All are intelligent, challenging, character-driven and emotionally honest--unexpected summer fare for adults. Critical reviews have been positive for all of them.

The theme that connects three very different movies might be: charity begins at home.

Conquer summer's cinematic drivel and hang out in a dark, cool theatre, supporting independent filmmakers.

It Pays to Procrasdonate.

Love, love, love the idea of "time well spent."

But let's face it, I spend too much time in front of the TV, shopping, playing video games, Facebooking. The list is endless.

Enter a charitable incentive to stop procrastinating. Procrasdonate gives you a reason to feel good about being online.

Check it out at www.procrasdonate.com.

Chill Out.

"The weather is your enemy," emailed my cousin Svenja from Germany in response to my cyber-whining about the heat and humidity.

Well, yes. Svenja, you nailed it.

Eating light helps.

My friend Erin, who lived in Spain for eight years, had a dreamy look when recalling a chilled soup made with cucumers, almonds and green grapes. She likened it to gazpacho.

I did a bit of Internet sleuthing and here's the recipe: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/green-grape-and-marcona-almond-gazpacho/print.

It's easy to make and the lovliest shade of mint green. I've been eating it for three days and I can attest: it'll bring your body temperature waaaay down.

Bon Appetit and Happy 4th of July!

P.S. I wish you were here to sip some, Svenja.

Ensuring Stories Are Heard.

About eight years ago, I was fortunate enough to travel to Burma in the cosseted comfort of Orient-Express's Road to Mandalay, http://www.orient-express.com/web/rtm/road_to_mandalay.jsp, a luxury river cruise through this forbidden land.

I was bewitched by the countryside and the people even in light of their great hardships.

You can read about it on my travel website, http://wanderwomanonline.com/pdfs/Burma.pdf.

The Oscar-nominated documentary Burma VJ, is equally affecting. It profiles the courage of reporters in the face of a repressive military regime and media censorship.

One haunting line, "Our stories are silent," reminds us of the importance of journalism. And the enduring value of telling stories.

Check it out at: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Burma_VJ/70113931?strackid=6bac1e6a984658c8_0_srl&strkid=907621913_0_0&trkid=438381.

Tasting the Soil.

First, a confession: I am a gin lover. I like tasting the notes of juniper or pepper or cucumber in my liquor.

Vodka, in my experience is odorless, and, by extension, largely tasteless. This is because most vodka is filtered so many times--a process made necessary because cheap, inferior raw materials, mostly grain and corn are used in its production.

Filtering strips the spirit of any of its charateristics, its origins. And no matter how pretty the label or how hip the spokesperson, it's not a satisfying drinking experience.

It wasn't always so.

Vodka was orginally made from potatoes. Potatoes that smelled of the earth, that tasted of the soil where they grew.

I recently had the pleasure of tasting Karlsson's Gold, a hand-crafted vodka made of 100%virgin new potatoes. Its creator previously launched Absolut. Now it's trying to take on the marketing behemoth.

You can read all about this upstart vodka at http://www.karlssonsvodka.com. But I suggest you plunk down $30 and try it for yourself.

I've served it twice to vodka lovers, who raved about its terroir , asking for second and third refills--without lime, easy on the rocks. They inhaled deeply before sipping.

While it may not appeal to the mass market, I suspect Karlsson's will find a clientele of discerning drinkers.

Though it hasn't supplanted my beloved gin, it has changed my mind--for the better--about a category I previously dismissed.

It Reads Like a Thriller.

It's been repeatedly said that fact is stranger than fiction. And that one person can make a difference.

In the case of Henrietta Lacks, both saws are true.

And the reality makes for absolutely riveting reading in Rebecca Skloot's nonfiction page turner, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the story of an African-American woman whose cells provided the basis of many modern medical advances and sparked a debate on ethics.

I've just started reading it and I can't put it down.

http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277245654&sr=8-1

Summer Staple: Smoked Olive Oil.

Summer is steamy here in the south. And extreme heat diminshes my appetite.

That's where smoked olive oil comes in.

Properly crusty bread dipped into this marvelous oil--there are three versions, my favorite is the Sonoma, with its bold smokiness--along with a glass of crisp white wine makes dinner. Also yummy brushed on grilled peaches.

And that's just for starters.

Visit www.thesmokedolive.com to order and donwload recipes.

Great Web Design is Only Half the Story.

I like pretty, shiny things. Always have, always will.

But not at the expense of functionality.

That's why I tell clients and prospects to beware: sub-par copy on a razzle-dazzle website will backfire. The two elements must work in tandem to succeed.

My friend and talented web designer Dale Dixon, of Gyrony Consultive, shared this article by a designer who makes a case for the importance of copywriting:
http://designshack.co.uk/articles/business-articles/the-importance-of-copywriting-in-web-design#comment-6938.

Do the Charleston Chew.

I'm just back from Charleston, a town with an accomplished, tight-knit culinary community. And far too many fine restaurants to cover in a four-day trip.

Though the thermostat was pushing 100 degrees, I tucked into summer's bounty on every plate: butter beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe and peaches.

I had terrific meals at Fish, O-Ku, Amen Street, Dixie Supply Bakery & Cafe, Oak Steakhouse and Caviar & Bananas, but my favorite meal was on John's Island at The Fat Hen, where Chef Fred Neuville coaxes the best out of seasonal produce and local seafood.

His oysters sauteed with country ham and wild mushrooms served over grilled bread are, in a word, life-affirming.

http://www.thefathen.com/.

Lifting the Tortilla Curtain.

I believe books have a "time," or perhaps we have a time to read books.

In light of Arizona's recent anti-immigration legislation, I picked up a copy of T.C. Boyle's The Tortilla Curtain.

It's a book I've tried to read on more than one occasion. Now, I can't put it down. It has as much--if not more--resonance--than when it was written in 1995.

The story is immediately absorbing and the writing itself is dynamic:

The man was Mexican, Hispanic, that's what he was, and he was speaking Spanish, a hot crazed drumroll of a language to which Delaney's four years of high-school French gave him little access.

Why Buy?

So, there I was: weighing the relative merits of two types of Tupperware (I mean that generically; neither was actually Tupperware). One was the right size and price, but unattractive. The other was the wrong size and more expensive, with an unexpected heft that felt good in my hands.

I bought the latter.

According to Lee Eisenberg, author of Shoptimism:Why the American Consumer Will Keep on Buying No Matter What, I am a "romantic buyer," instinctively drawn to the unexpected, to "thingness."

In other words, I have an aesthetic imperative that cannot be denied.

Yep, I thought: that's me.

I bought a marvelous-looking robin egg blue lemon reamer a few weeks ago. Even though I already own a perfectly serviceable, though plain-looking, wooden one.

I'm a sucker for looks.

Eisenberg says of this about collecting and collectors: It may not be the most direct means of healing wounds but it serves well enough.

Thought-provoking stuff to someone who has loved collecting since she was a kid. And who has several collections on display as an adult.

He also defines "buy scolds" and "buy polars." Turns out you either are one or you know one.

Regardless of what you buy or what you sell, this is fascinating reading.

http://www.amazon.com/Shoptimism-American-Consumer-Buying-Matter/dp/0743296257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276057705&sr=8-1-catcorr.

Fly With Your Mind.

I've spent a mellow Sunday morning sampling and buying music online.

Some writers work with music in the background. I don't. I need silence to write.

But, oh, how lush it is to surrender to music. To concentrate on the harmonies and vocals. And not while driving car or folding the clothes or paying bills.

Though I'm office-bound, music lets me fly with my mind.

How True is This?

Sometimes in the unluck, there is luck.

Meat-ing Place.

Carnivores, how irrestible is this blog: http://yourmeattooth.com?

Seeing is Believing.

I've been fortunate to travel all over the world, both as a Navy brat and as a travel writer.

Which means, like everyone, I've stayed in some rooms that weren't...well, let's just say as advertised. Rooms with views of an alley. Or the AC equipment on the roof. Or an overflowing dumpster. Or the run-down building next door.

Which is why I was happy to stumble upon this website, where guests photograph rooms with stunningly unretouched views.

See for yourself: http://roomswithgreatviews.com.

Still Life With Blue Vase.

This composition is in my office. The vase reminds me of the Mediteranean.

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

East Coker: A Poem to Cherish.

T.S. Eliot's East Coker is one of my favorite poems.

There is so much ahunting imagery, so much wisdom in these stanzas. Perhaps my favorite line is We must be still and still moving.

Savor it: http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/coker.html.

Beautiful Sadness. (The MLK edition)

Reading Hampton Sides Hellhound on His Trail, The Stalking of Martin Luther King Jr. and The International Hunt for His Assassin, I am reminded first and foresmost that superior writing is craftmanship.

Every word is alive in this riveting nonfiction tale.

A taste, from the Introduction: For several miles, tens of thousands of mourners threaded through the somber downtown streets to city hall. Enveloped in the beautiful sadness, no one breathed a word. There was no shouting or picketing, not even a song. The only sound was leather on pavement.

Fashionable Prose.

Great writing can be found in some unlikely places.

This description, from the June issue of Instyle is as stunning as the dresses it describes: "The folding, shredding, banding and ruching of nearly weightless fabrics like chiffon, organza and tulle all give the illusion of having harnessed a low-hanging cloud."

Can't you just see that image?

A Random Act of Kindness.

While shopping at Macy's/Perimeter Mall yesterday, I found a super cute "Sunday Brunch" dress.

It was already on sale, so I was especially pleased.

When I got register to pay, a female customer complimented it as "classy" and "expensive-looking."

Naturally, I was even more pleased to receive validation on my selection.

Then, as I was ready to swipe my credit card, she graciously reached into her wallet and offered a 20% off coupon to me, further reducing the price.

I was beyond pleased when the cashier honored it.

It's worth remembering that a random act of kindness lifts spirits.

And, in turn, encourages more generosity.

More Favorite Underused Words.

Disquieting
Bombastic
Ephemera
Calamitous
Imperious

Happy weekend!

What Your Stuff Says About You.

Does your desk betray what you think or feel? Is space doctoring an effective strategy?

Absolutely and no, says author Sam Gosling in the book Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You .

Scientific snoops like Gosling poke around offices and bedrooms, gaining clues about character and personality simply by observing our belongings.

Read it to sharpen your perceptions of others--and ensure your stuff is telegraphing the messages you intend.

The book is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Snoop-What-Your-Stuff-About/dp/0465027814.

Like, Enough Already.

Is 'like" the new "um?"

The overuse of "like" as a verbal place-filler is killing conversation with its staccato interruption. And it's not just the kids doing it, though they are frequent abusers.

Used to be "like" meant a fondness for someone or something.

I, like, long for those days.

Just Because it's Wednesday.

Mid-week slump?

This song from RENT banishes a funk, heightens a great mood.

Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8iTeDl_Wug.

Productive Obsessions.

Creativity expert Eric Meisel claims that obsessing productively can lead to fulfillment rather than frustration.

An example of a positive mental energy expenditure, AKA productive obsession, would be pouring over the details for a new business launch.

It's a liberating thought. Dare I say, I'll be--aah--obsessing over the idea.

Check out his book, Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions
at: http://www.amazon.com/Brainstorm-Harnessing-Power-Productive-Obsessions/dp/1577316215.

A Revolution in the Streets.

Atlanta goverment is a party pooper when it comes to the permitting of street food.

Which means Atlantans have been missing out on an egalitarian culinary trend.

Packaged Facts, a leader in consumer market research, has just published Street Food: Culinary Trend Mapping Report, in partnership with the Center for Culinary Development (CCD), a full-service food and beverage development and research company. Their report shows three forces that are influencing the explosive growth of street food in America: going gourmet, globalization and street food fusion.

But there's a movement a-foot: The Atlanta Street Food Coalition is seeking to rectify the situation.

I attended the Urban Picnic at lunchtime yesterday at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, noshed on curry in a cone, popsicles and etoufee and felt the excitement.

Visit www. http://www.atlantastreetfood.com/ to sign the petition and learn about future events.

Your stomach will thank you.

When a Canard is Not a Duck.

Canard is the French word for duck.

But a canard is also a misleading fabrication or deliberated falsehood.

The French had a saying, "vendre des canards a moitie," literally, "to half-sell ducks," meaning to fool or cheat.

Regardless of usage, you'll be runnning a fowl/afoul.

Leadership Butterflies.

Dan Cathy, president and COO of Chick-fil-A, maintains that great leaders push themselves through the inevitable "butterflies" that come with pioneering.

I agree: all eventual achievement is initially accompanied by fear, anxiety and doubt.

Check out his blog at: http://www.dantcathy.com/2009/12/leadership-butterflies.

Pig Love.

I'm a bacon devotee.

And, really, I'm a bit suspicious of those who don't love the salty, greasy stuff.

And I'm talking pork, not turkey or tofu masquerading as bacon. I'm really suspicous of folks who try to pass that stuff off as an acceptable subsitute.

So, I was crushed to find out--too late--that I had missed BaconFest Chicago.

But you can bet your squeal my calendar will be marked for next year's event. I'm bookmarking http://baconfestchicago.com/.

Are You a Satisfier or a Maximizer?

Research has shown that there are two types of consumers: satisfiers and maximizers.

Whether I'm buying a mattress, a bottle of wine or a pair of jeans, I am a maximizer.

How do you know which you are?

Satisfiers are content to make decisions with minimal research. Once they have met basic criteria, they believe most of the time their decisions will be satisfactory.

Conversely, maximizers seek as much information as possible before making a decision. They need to exhaustively explore options to gain confidence that their decision is optimum.

If you have a gnawing feeling that there is something more just around the corner...or you buy things and have a change of heart...ahem, you are a maximizer.

My condolences.

Incidentally, satisfiers are happier than maximizers, who tend to experience a lot of anxiety over decision-making.

As a writer, I have learned that clients fall into the same two camps. As do projects. And it's important to recognize who's who so you can meet stated--and more importantly, unstated--expectations.

To Beat the (Brass) Band.

In the May issue of GQ, writer Tom Carson reviews Treme, HBO's new series about post-Katrina New Orleans.

Here's colorful line: "When [actor] John Goodman vents, even brass bands shut up."

Gets the point across--and brings a smile, huh?

A Memorable Simile.

Similes, if you'll recall from a distant English class, are comparisons of two unlike things using the word "as" or "like."

The technique is frequently employed in books, music, TV and advertising because similies have the power to vividly demonstrate a point.

Yet few are arresting to the ear.

In a recent episode of Modern Family, ABC's hit TV sitcom, a truly inspired simile was uttered: "I feel like I ate the sun."

As both a writer and a reader, I'm keeping my ear tuned for fresh similies.

Let me know if you "hear" a good one.

A Scintilla's Worth.

Twice in two days I heard a $10 vocabulary word, scintilla, used. Once in print, once in conversation.

It catches your ear, that word.

Scintilla means a shred or tiny particle. A scarcely detectable amount.

"Thanks to the neighbor's barking dog, I got only a scintilla of sleep."

No sleep, but I made my friends snap to attention with clever word usage.

No Shoes. No Problem.

In much of Asia, the Middle East and parts of Europe, there is a tradition of removing one's shoes before entering a home.

I've adopted this custom.

Sure, there are practicalities: guests don't track in toxins, dirt or pollen; hardwood floors stay scratch-free.

But the practice goes deeper.

Slipping out of one's street shoes (and possibly, into slippers provided by your hostess), is a sign of respect. It can also promote a more relaxed atmosphere. Some even suggest it helps guests leave their worldly cares at the door.

I've hung an especially polite, pretty sign outside my door as a gentle reminder. Find it at Flopping Fish, http://www.floppingfish.com/product.aspx?pid=618.

Along with a quick glance downward, guests usually agree to shed their footwear in support of an revered age-old, worldwide custom.

No Country for Old Ladies.

Can't shake the face--or should I say facelift--of Jane Fonda on her recent Larry King Tonight appearance. I was riveted.

And not in a good way.

She admits to succumbing to a little (though I suspect it was a lot) of nip and tuck. She looked like a marionette, her face pulled up by invisible strings. Smiling?  Nearly impossible.  Blinking?  Non-stop.

What a shame.  The original fitness queen, she has has a higly tuned sense of vanity.  But then who in Hollywood doesn't?

Still, it bums me out.  I thought she looked great for her age.  Or for a woman 15 years her junior.

My friend Susan was right when she referenced Cormac McCarthy.  America is no country for aging gals.

Calling all Goddesses.

Full disclosure:  Erin Susan Parks is my longtime friend.

That makes her a talented massage therapist that I get to have dinner with after she works her magic on my aching muscles.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, so I want to plug the two-hour Goddesss Massage she offers. 

If you've got a woman in your life who's under stress--and who isn't these days?--this is the gift she really wants.

Trust me on this. 

Erin works by appointment from her office in Roswell or on an outcall basis--the ultimate indulgence. Visit http://www.plumtreeyoga.com/massage.htm to book your bliss.

Sink or Swim.

The magazine industry has unveiled a print campaign (natch) to tout the power of print in the age of the Internet. 

The premise is that the two co-exist, complimenting each other. According to the ads, "we surf the Internet, we swim in magazines."

Print media has a PR problem, so I am pleased to see them directly address the issue with attractive, eye-catching ads.  They even include a few suprising facts such as magazine readership has risen 4.3% over the last five years.

As a writer, I agree that the mediums do enhance each other.

What do you think?  

Check it out at:  http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/magazines/42679/.

Hot Cross Buns.

A couple of days ago, I was in a grocery store and ran across hot cross buns in the bakery section.

I don't recall seeing them before. The children's nursey rhyme flooded back to me. 

Then I wondered, what is the tradition behind them?

Some say they were part of pagan spring festivals and later given the cross by monks wanting to give Christian meaning to the the tradition. Other accounts speak of an English widow, whose son went off to sea and she vowed to bake him a bun every Good Friday. When he didn't return, she continued to bake a hot cross bun for him each year and hung it in the bakery window in good faith that he would some day return to her. The tradition remained after her passing.

In many historically Christian countries, hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion.

That explains their late March/early April appearance.

Happy Easter!

Shock Value.

Using a shocking statistic or an incongruent image is nothing new in marketing. 

But, unlike the boy who cried wolf, shock must be done sparingly and with finesse.

The print and TV ads, which appear to be about texting and perfume are really about preventing cervical cancer.  They acknowledge their tactic at the outset:  "Maybe it's unfair to get your attention this way, but nothing is fair about cervical cancer." 

This is how it's done effectively:  http://www.helppreventcervicalcancer.com/.

Flaunting Tradition?

Maker's Mark has a long and distinctive history of effective advertising in print mediums ranging from magazine ads to billboards.

The bourbon has solidly hewed to its tradition as a gentlemen's sip.

So what to make of their prominent new billboards with two words:  Friend Us.

Does it weaken the overall brand image?  Is it eye-catching for all the wrong reasons? Can Maker's Mark reach a younger audience this way?

What do you think?

Getting it Wrong.

Pairing spokepeople with causes is tricky business. Ditto celebrites doubling as award show hosts.

Case in point: Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop) as emcee of the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards.

In advertisments, he comes across not just as an inappropriate choice but slightly creepy (really? a middle-aged man grinding his groin at the camera?).

It's worth remembering that there are lots of ways messaging can go awry.

And worth remembering that a professional with an outside perspective can avert that.

Welcome, Popsicle Weather!

Happy Spring!

A Cool Cat's Writing Tips.

Remember Jack Kerouac, Beat novelist, poet and iconoclast?

He set down 30 tips for writing. Some may reinvent your writing; others may simply confound you.

I especally like #2, 18 and 29.

1.Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy
2.Submissive to everything, open, listening
3.Try never get drunk outside yr own house
4.Be in love with yr life
5.Something that you feel will find its own form
6.Be crazy dumbsaint of the mind
7.Blow as deep as you want to blow
8.Write what you want bottomless from bottom of the mind
9.The unspeakable visions of the individual
10.No time for poetry but exactly what is
11.Visionary tics shivering in the chest
12.In tranced fixation dreaming upon object before you
13.Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition
14.Like Proust be an old teahead of time
15.Telling the true story of the world in interior monolog
16.The jewel center of interest is the eye within the eye
17.Write in recollection and amazement for yourself
18.Work from pithy middle eye out, swimming in language sea
19.Accept loss forever
20.Believe in the holy contour of life
21.Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind
22.Don't think of words when you stop but to see picture better
23.Keep track of every day the date emblazoned in yr morning
24.No fear or shame in the dignity of yr experience, language & knowledge
25.Write for the world to read and see yr exact pictures of it
26.Bookmovie is the movie in words, the visual American form
27.In praise of Character in the Bleak inhuman Loneliness
28.Composing wild, undisciplined, pure, coming in from under, crazier the better
29.You're a Genius all the time
30.Writer-Director of Earthly movies Sponsored & Angeled in Heaven

Russet Beauty. And an Almond-Shaped Face.

Judith Newman, writing in the April issue of O magazine, interviews Norris Church Mailer about the publication of her book A Ticket to the Circus.

Mailer was blessed with a "russet beauty," according to Newman. Presumbably, this was one of the charms that attracted her husband, Norman Mailer, philanderer and novelist.

It's also a marvelous way to describe a redhead.

I was also struck by Newman's description of the male Mailer in the accompanying photograph as having "an expression of lordly possession."

Just last night, my sweetie called me beautiful.

How? I asked.

"Your almond-shaped face," he replied.

For years, I just thought my face was narrow.

His assessment was a new and welcome perspective. It changed my outlook. And it earned him some brownie points.

These are reminders that right words delight, conveying details that are spot-on and memorable.

True Names.

Compassion--and compassionate writing--are hallmarks of Buddhist monk, activist and author Thich Nhat Hanh. His poem Call Me By My True Names is an eloquent and resonant work.

Call Me by My True Names
Thich Nhat Hanh

Don't say that I will depart tomorrow --
even today I am still arriving.

Look deeply: every second I am arriving
to be a bud on a Spring branch,
to be a tiny bird, with still-fragile wings,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,
to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
to fear and to hope.

The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death
of all that is alive.

I am the mayfly metamorphosing
on the surface of the river.
And I am the bird
that swoops down to swallow the mayfly.

I am the frog swimming happily
in the clear water of a pond.
And I am the grass-snake
that silently feeds itself on the frog.

I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,
my legs as thin as bamboo sticks.
And I am the arms merchant,
selling deadly weapons to Uganda.

I am the twelve-year-old girl,
refugee on a small boat,
who throws herself into the ocean
after being raped by a sea pirate.
And I am the pirate,
my heart not yet capable
of seeing and loving.

I am a member of the politburo,
with plenty of power in my hands.
And I am the man who has to pay
his "debt of blood" to my people
dying slowly in a forced-labor camp.

My joy is like Spring, so warm
it makes flowers bloom all over the Earth.
My pain is like a river of tears,
so vast it fills the four oceans.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughter at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart
can be left open,
the door of compassion.

1989

What's in a Name?

Can your name pull you to certain professions? Yes, says Psychology Today in the March/April 2010 issue.

I can attest to this.

When I hand people my card or introduce myself, I am often get a cocked head or a quizzcial double-take. Then, invariably, the a comment about my last name.

Yep, I'm a writer with the last name Wright.

And that's not a fluke, says Dr. Lewis Lipsitt of Brown University who has collected names that matched their bearers' vocations, such as Dr. Fish who founded the Oceanographic Insitute and Robin Fox who authored a book on animal behavior.

But why? Lippsitt believes we may be oriented toward the "calling" of our name, become more interested in the subject.

He's working on a book about his theory.

Friends Make Friends Look Cool.

I hate having my picture taken.

But my talented photographer friend Dave Fisher made it easy (and his wife Julie served homemade lasagna).

In addition to several business pix, he created this cool image.
Check out his extensive portfolio at www.JandDImages.com.

The State of "NOW."

My cool  friend David Cohen is planning Atlanta's first #140 Conference. 

The New York-based founders say the #140conf events "provide a platform for the worldwide Twitter community to: listen, connect, share and engage with each other, while collectively exploring the effects of the emerging real-time internet on business."

David attended one of the early 140 Conferences and says, "I saw people like Gary Vaynerchuk and Jeff Jarvis speak along with cool mommy-preneurs and music and TV people and just thought it was a great, different, weird event."

David thought Atlanta should be "next." So he got a greenlight to launch #140 here.

Says David, "I'd like to see a great event that cross-pollinates different communities touched and strengthened by the cultural ripple these technologies cause.  I'd like to hear stories of leadership and innovation (not necessarily just tech innovation) and idiosynchratic, delightful surprising uses.

Get involved at:  http://www.facebook.com/140ATL?ref=search&sid=657675503.1192990190..1

The Power to Choose--a Child.

Some years ago, I wrote an essay called "Childfree by Choice."  I later wrote about the same topic for WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/child-free-couples-thriving-without-kids.

I've been happily childfree for years.  In fact, I knew at age 12 that I didn't want kids (this, after an exhausting bout of baby-sitting).  I've never once regretted my decision.

Though I would like to say that I like some kids--especially the Mazanecs in Florida, the Finchers in Tennessee and the Kayas in Massachusetts. And kids often like me.

Still, in the mass media, being childless is treated as a condition that needs...well, curing. 

The media saliciously tracks every pair-bonding couple for their procreation potential.  Well-meaning friends and family urge us toward breeding.

That's why I was thrilled to read actress Lisa Edelstein's (Dr. Lisa Cuddy on House) musings on the subject:  I'd love to be a real-life mother, but my life would be just as valid and rich if it doesn't happen."

Bravo, Lisa.  Lives are not only defined by children--or a lack of them.

Holding Up the Sky.

There's an African (or is it Chinese? A number of nations lay claim to it) saying:  Women hold up half the sky.

In honor of International Women's Day, celebrate the movement that's changing the world one woman at a time with songs and stories inspired by the the best-selling book of the same name. 

Sponsored by CARE, it's one night only--MArch 4--in theatres nationwide. 

Visit http://www.halftheskylive.com/ to buy tickets for yourself and the women you love.

An Ugly Tomato is a Beautiful Thing.

February is a tough month (and I'm not even talking about Valentine's Day).

But on a recent cold, dreary day, I found an fat, bright red, flavorful ugly tomato. At a Publix. In the dead of winter.

I did a double-take. Then I bought three--along with bacon, lettuce, mayo and sourdough bread and made a delicious BLT.

It was an unexpected delight that provided outsized pleasure.

So why am I relaying this produce-related fable?

Because it reminds us of the power of surprise. As a writer, I try to give readers word-related delights.

I think of them as verbal ugly tomatoes.

The Line Between Design and Writing is Blurry.

I am often asked where writing ends and design begins.

In my opinion, you shouldn't be able to tell.

Everyone knows that for communication to be most effective, words and images must be effectively balanced.

And while my title is writer, I often serve as a de facto creative director for smaller clients, helping conceptualize everything from a new logo to a web redesign to the layout of a brochure.

As I am writing, I often "see" how this could be achieved. For example, I might suggest that a particularly strong phrase be used as a graphic element, as a call-out or boxed item. Or I may suggest photograph that could further illustrate a point.

After years of working closely with other creative professionals--illustrators, photographers, web designers--I've developed a pretty infallible design aesthetic.

And I'm happy to share that knowledge with my clients to improve the overall impact of the messaging.

Because there's nothing worse than powerful words languishing in poor design.

What Bad Accents Teach Us About Authenticity.

Nine times out of 10 I cringe when an actor is attempting an accent--often a Southern one--in a film.  They usually get it wrong.  Hootingly, eye-rollingly wrong. 

Such was the case with Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds and appears to be so with Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island.

The result?  A distracted viewer.

The same is true for a reader. 

The right words have an authentic voice.  Pick the wrong words or string them toegether in artifical ways and authenticity suffers.

That's why reading aloud is so valuable.  Your ear can hear a clunker.

Beautiful Morocco. Beautiful You.

Those who know me, know I love Morocco.  As proof, visit my travel website, http://www.wanderwomanonline.com/ and check out the picture of me in the Sahara and read my essay.

So, I was thrilled to discover Kahina, a line of argan oil beauty products from the country.  Highly concentrated with nutrients, the oil is extracted from the nut of the argan tree which only grows in Morroco.  It's sustainable and its saving forests in southwest Morocco.

Everything is 100% organic, the outer packaging is made from 100% post-consumer waste and 25% of the profits are donated to support the women who work in the cooperatives.  I was touched that each blue bottle bears the signature of the women who are taught to write, use cell phones and navigate local bus routes.

This is fair trade at its finest, spurred by the founder's journey to Morocco.

I recommend the travel basics kit, which includes a 1-2-3 skin care regime that meets TSA flight regulations.  I've been using argan oil at my hairline to combat winter itching and flaking.

Visit http://www.giving-beauty.com/.

Words That Work.

According to Dr. Frank Luntz, author of the book Words That Work:  It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear, there are 10 rules of effective language.  I offer these sound communication tips here:

Use small words

Use short sentences

Consistency matters:  it creates credibility

Offer something new

Sound and texture matter:  Alka-Seltzer's famed Plop, plop, fizz fizz

Speak aspirationally:  Martin Luther King Jr's speech "I have a dream"

Help the reader visualize:  i.e., Lexus's slogan, "The relentless pursuit of perfection"

Ask a question

Provide context and explain relevance:  American Express's campaign, "Don’t leave home without it"

Get Your Dose of Good.

I've become a fan of the magazine Good, an intelligent, themed quarterly (Winter 2010:  Slow Down) with the mission to help people live well and do good.

It's great, trust me;  it was nominated for two National Magazine awards in 2008. 

Taste Good thourgh the publication's talented bloggers. In particular, I like Carole Coletta riffing on cities: http://www.good.is/series/urban-renaissance/ and Mark Peter's Wordtastic,  http://www.good.is/series/wordliness/.

Direction Matters.

The Academy Awards nominations were announced yesterday.   It coincided with the arrival of a badly titled Netflix rental called State of Play.

Turns out, it was badly acted as well. 

All the A-list stars were uniformly awful:  Russell Crow dialed it in, Ben Affleck was flat, Rachel McAdams was miscast, Helne Mirren was shrill. In other movies, all have given top-notch performances.

This makes me think it was the director's fault. 

And that brings me to the point:  a weak, inexperienced or unskilled hand at the helm--even with top talent--can spell disaster.  It's true in movies and it's true with writing.

The best creative processes are collaborative, no doubt.  But you must ensure that the particpants are well matched in terms of skills. And, if things start to sink, you have to be willing to make changes to guarantee great results. 

A good writer knows that.  And so does a good client.

Your Brain on Technology.

Technology is weakening the brain circuitry controlling people skills, say the authors of iBrain:  Surviving the Technological Alternation of the Modern Mind, Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan.

Research has shown that  obsession with computer technology and gaming appears to be stunting frontal lobe development in many teenagers, impairing their social and reasoning abilities. 

That's right, technology is altering how young minds develop, function and interpret information.

Furthermore, a divide has developed in the span of just one generation between so-called "digital natives" who are hardwired for technology from toddlerhood and older "digital immigrants," who will be left behind politically, socially and economically if don’t adapt to technology.

So whether you are struggling to keep up or hankering to slow down, it bears repeating:  human contact remains the strongest way to strengthen your brain.

Staying the Course.

NBC debuted Parks and Recreation last year to withering reviews. The audience--folks who dug The Office and 30 Rock--didn't tune in. It looked like the comedy was doomed, regardless of its premise and talent.

Then, a funny thing happened.

The network stuck. They gave a show with promise something rare and valuable: time.

Time for the writers to find their groove, time for the actors to find their rhythm and time for the critics to come around. Viewers affirmed NBC's wisdom: they began to watch.

It can be tempting to pull the plug on a failed experiment. Especially in an age of immediate gratification. But as Parks and Recreation reminds us, sometimes the experiment isn't failed--it just needs time to jell.

Keep that in mind during your when you launch your next ad campaign or kick off a PR effort or redo your website.

If all the other elements are in place, give your effort time to succeed. Tinker with it, sure.

But trust in its promise.

The Art of Non Conformity.

"Hope is a better message than fear or scarcity," says Chris Guillebeau, a self-described non-conformist, world traveler and writer.

His website, http://chrisguillebeau.com, is beyond cool in both look and content.

And his missions--to help people make unconventional choices, to visit every country in the world--really resonated with me.

Jewels and Dust.

Beautiful words--like these from the 12th century Persian poet Sa'di of Shiraz--stand the test of time because they speak truth.

Jewels and dust
If a gem falls into mud, it is still valuable.
If dust ascends to heaven, it remains valueless.

Market to Me.

I'm a single gal with no kids who has never visited Disneyland.

So why do they market to me? It's annoying.

I'm not their target--which they would know if they had studied my behavior and patterns--and never will be. They are wasting their money on prospecting me. I throw away and delete their stuff without ever opening it.

CVS, however, markets very smartly to me.

Every time I scan my CVS card, data about my purchasing habits is collected. They then use that data to email or mail me coupons of interest about products I am a good candidate for. Most recently, it was a topical analgesic.

I appreciate their slice-and-dice efforts. I always read what they send me because they have demonstrated they know who I am.

All customers are not alike. One size doesn't fit all. Ask yourself if you are using your data and marketing in the best way to solidify relationships with your current clients and win new ones.

If you aren't, make a change.

We'll all be better for it.

Crazy Heart. Crazy Good Writing.

Actor Jeff Bridges has already won a Critics Choice award for the role of Bad Blake in Crazy Heart and may well nabe the Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar.  I saw the film today.  His role is a tour de force of poetic power.

In Entertainment Weekly, movie critic Leah Greenblatt writes with her own knockout poetry:  

"Bridges croons of wrong turns and ruin in a whiskeyed road-warrior warble; he's a man who's used up his second, third and fourth chances."

Paints a hell of a picture, right?

Her review made me want to see the movie. 

Which is exactly what impactful words can do:  move people to action.

Beauty in Bhutan.

In the February issue of InStyle magazine, supermodel Christie Brinkley discusses furrnishing her home with souvenirs from her many travels, including paper lanterns from Bhutan.

So it was the toothy blonde that I met on a hiking trail in Paro in 2008.

Visit my travel website to learn more about this incredible country and read about my run-in with the friendly Ms. Brinkley at:  http://www.wanderwomanonline.com/stories.htm.

Think Like a Marketer.

That's the name of a new book written by Houston-based consultant Lauren Sonnier.

This easy read has practical advice on how entrepreneurs can ramp up marketing opportunities--"stirring the pot"  as she calls it.

Whether you are a novice or a veteran who's lost her marketing mojo, you will pick up useful tips to kick-start your year.

Use 'Em This Year!

Here's 2010's first short list of my favorite underused words.  Google 'em, then dazzle your friends by using them in casual conversation!

Strident
Feral
Gormless
Sanguine
Peckish
Porcine

Cold Enough For You?

Brrr. 

Atlanta has been plunged into the mid-teens for the past week.  The rest of the country is also shivering. And more frigid weather is forecast. 

Indoor pursuits are in order. Movies are always at the top of my list.

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival doesn't bow for a week, but planning ahead--from the warmth of your home--provides the kind of distraction we need in this unseasonably cold season.

http://www.ajff.org/.

Is Morning Stress a Myth?

Did you know that before the invention of the lightbulb the average person slept 10 hours a night?

Damn that Edison!

I am, by nature, a night owl, like many creative types.  Living in an early-bird culture.

But I recently read that the stress hormone cortisol peaks around 7 a.m.  Is that why my blood boils when I have to rise early and leave my warm bed?   Is that an excuse to grab some more Zs?

Regardless, I was up early(ish) to great the New Year and New Decade. 

And I'm not the least bit angry about it.