What to think about this campaign? Not sure.

Check out my post about this issue over at Under The Microscope, a blog by Science Creative.

And as good as the other stuff is, this long form music video for the Swagger Wagon takes the cake. Damn funny stuff.

I wanted to share this new work. I’m really proud of the creative. The campaign was fun and the client is great. These are the first set of outdoor executions. The idea behind the “Unapologetically Campaign” is to capture the spirit of the Texas attitude which lies at the heart of the tournament, the region and the people of the state.

This is great. Aldous Huxley narrates his book A Brave New World as actors perform sections from the book to the music of Bernard Herrmann, the great composer who worked extensively with Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Scorsese and other great diretors.

This is a digital conversion of the original LP so there is a lot of noise, hisses, pops and scratches, but this is brilliant to listen to nonetheless.

Find the MP3s here.

The most important thing to know as a writer is that you have to write, a lot. Write every day, every morning, write when you’re on a break at work, write before bed, write at lunch. Scribble the words on napkins, in journals and into your writing program of choice.

The one resource that I really love is The Lie That Tells A Truth by John Dufresne. No other books has had the impact this book has had on how I approach the craft of writing fiction. His book is full of great information, first-hand examples of how he tackles tough writing challenges and best of all the book makes for a great read. Dufresne’s style is funny and personal. He writes like he gives a damn. And, he knows what hell he’s talking about.

If you write, read this book. Of course, do it while writing. Read it in the nooks and crannies between putting ink to paper (or font to form?) and I think you’ll find that the insights will give you fuel, help you find certainty and just enough hubris to do the unthinkable: write a novel.

That’s my plan. I will write a novel this year. I’d hate to let John down.

The idea is simple: starting November 1st, you write like a maniac for 30 days and before you know it you have a novel, or at least a draft, or at the very least a ton of words on paper from which to craft the shell of a novel, hopefully. But hope is critical in such endeavors. 

Because the truth is writing a novel is damn tricky stuff. Completing one has eluded me and I’ve been writing for all of my adult life. I’ve written professionally for a long time, covered bands, written for music videos, TV shows, documentaries, advertising and I’ve even completed a pretty decent screenplay, but the novel. Ah, yes, the novel. Creatively speaking, this has been the one that has gotten away. 

So maybe this year I’ll dive in, using November as the catalyst for finally pulling it off. I have ideas. A folder’s worth of them. I have the desire. But, it’s sticking it out when you hit that wall, that place where the story sputters or the plot gets thin, that is the part that gets most writers. You gotta see it through, hit it head first. You gotta be willing to be okay with the “shitty first draft” Hemingway wrote about. But most of all, you’ve got to have conviction that you will not stop. Reach the end. Tell a story. 

Any takers? If so, today is the day to start. And what about me? Should I head once more into the breach? Who is with me?

Here are some of those books.

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Zinsser’s book is an absolute classic. No other book has better insight into writing clear, concise, fluid and forceful prose. Perhaps it’s best advice however is the section on the true secret of really great writing: self-editing.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

This amazing book by Daniel Pink is about ideas, creativity and the symphony of fusing design thinking, story and the over-arching notion of aesthetics to create a new model for collaboration. Great stuff.

The Elements of Style by Strunk & White

Strunk & White’s ubiquitous book is one of the true grammarian classics. A writer’s bookshelf seems unbalanced without a copy resting somewhere among the books and issues of Print and Creativity. Plus, it’ll help you write more precisely and can answer those pesky little grammar questions we all have from time to time.

A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets. Her style and command of language will dig deep into your soul. Give her a read and you’ll see. This book is just what it claims to be, but on a deeper level her deconstruction of great poems, her attention to the nuances of language and sound and the shape of words as they roll off the tongue will help any writer craft more impactful copy. Thing about the meter and rhythm of language. Thing about how this impacts a headline, tagline or any piece of copy and you’ll be all the better for it.

The Lie That Tells a Truth by John Dufresne

A great book on writing fiction by novelist and teacher John Dufresne. What really makes this book great is that it’s one of those writing books that doesn’t feel like a writing. The essays read more like inspirational mantras on the ins and outs, dos and don’ts of the craft of writing. Chapters are filled with great insights, wonderful quotes and tremendous tools for creating great prose. For the copywriters out there read this book for the perspective, the style and because it’s a really fun read.

So that’s my top 5. Ask any other writer and they’ll likely have five different choices as their favorites. The truth is, you can’t go wrong as long as you remain curious and never stop trying to be better at what you do.

And that’s just aesthetics. The recipes themselves are amazing. This book, along with Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet provide an incredible Vegan one-two punch of delicious, natural, earth and animal friendly cooking with flair, flavor and tons of taste.

In The Conscious Cook, we get to see what the new face of Vegan cuisine looks and tastes like. There are no bland, boring or dull dishes here, only rich, savory and satisfying dishes.

Before I became a vegetarian I had this fear that I’d get easily bored with the cuisine. I also had a sense that the faux meats where horrible. I was wrong on both. Granted, the psuedo-saugage, veggie burgers and other veg-meats have made great strides. So much so that I’ve dined at veggie restaurants where you’d never know you were eating chicken or beef if you weren’t paying attention.

This is a great cookbook. It’s full of photos, information and dynamic recipes. The layout is clean and fresh. Designwise, this is one of my favorite cookbooks ever.