Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Beautiful Voice.

Truly gifted writers bring their own unique voice to whatever they write, in whatever format.

Cheryl Strayed, author of the best-seller Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is once such writer.

Her voice is distinctive and authentic, powerful and moving.

Her book Tiny Beautiful Things, Advice on Love and Life From Dear Sugar, a collection of advice columns, wrest the form from frumpiness.

To wit, in a multi-page reply to a devastated woman who miscarried: "It's a place of montrous beauty and endless dark and glimmering light. You have to work really, really hard to get there, but you can do it. Your ability to get there is evident to me in every word of your bright shining grief star of a letter."

Those words are a balm, a healing balm, from a fierce writer with an unmistakable voice.  

 

Monday, October 1, 2012

When the Words are the Picture.

I'm loving Crate & Barrel's new TV ads. 

They are free of visuals, using only words and great music to telegraph their branding.  And, of course, their recognizeable typeface.

Like Target, they can do less with more.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/business/media/a-crate-barrel-campaign-with-an-emphasis-on-the.html?_r=0
  

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cool Words.

The latest list of words that impress includes:

Scurrilous

Devoid

Surreptitious

Sodden

Micturated

Friday, September 7, 2012

Library Love.

According to the American Library Association, the average number of books an individual checks out annually is just 7.

Last year, I checked out 179 books from 3 public libraries.

I know: I'm an over achiever.

I have loved reading and, by extension, libraries since I was a school-aged girl.  I continue to love them today.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month.http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card

Get in the stacks.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Both Donkeys & Elephants Like a Swig.

I'm tired of political coverage, aren't you?

This witty campaign for Maker's Mark bourbon capitalizes on voter fatigue.

http://www.makersmark.com/#!/cocktail-party/platform

Monday, August 20, 2012

In the Beginning.

Grabbers are what entice readers into your story.

It doesn't matter if your story is told as a blog or in novel, in a marketing brochure or as a direct mail piece.

Here's a great example of a grabber, from the critically acclaimed best-seller The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker:

"We didn't notice right away.  We couldn't feel it."

Don't you want to know more?  Wouldn't you keep reading?