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The unexpected, unforeseen, and unintended
NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen When Hurricane Sandy came hurtling toward the East Cost, we tried to prepare as best we could. When Sandy tore through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,...
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Super Bowl 2013 Commercials: Touchdowns, Fumbles, and Questionable Calls
This past Sunday night, millions tuned in to CBS for the 47th Super Bowl. And if you managed to make it all the way through Alicia Keye’s “stirring” rendition of our national anthem, you eventually...
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In Commercials or Poems, Be Specific!
I have mentioned before on this blog that different types of writing often need to follow the same rules, and can often benefit from the same methods. Thanks to a 7th- and 8th-grade English teacher in...
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Who Do You Think You’re Talking To?
Or, who are you writing to? Whether you write advertising copy or novels, video scripts or poetry…I’m talking to you. Forgive me for indulging in a little cathartic rant in today’s post, but I felt...
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After years of hard work, it’s time to cut corners
Why is it some folks feel that advertising is simple stuff? I subscribe to a number of blogs, news feeds, and online groups, and recently came across a question an author had posted, which made me pull...
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Commercials: It’s the little things that mean so much
After spending April celebrating National Poetry Month, I’m glad to get back into one of the other aspects of this blog: advertising! But as you might know, I try to offer something for all writers...
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Commercials: The little things are starting to pile up
Last week, I wrote about details in writing - whether it’s for commercials or creative writing. I spotlighted a couple of commercials that I thought could have been improved and one that I felt was...
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If you have a great message and no one hears it, does it make a sound?
As a children’s writer still searching for that first publishing deal, I know what it’s like to write and write and write and wonder if anyone knows or cares. This blog is helpful in making known my...
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Direct Mail Can Be Hazardous to Your Health – Your Marriage’s Health, That Is
It was an enticing offer. It seemed so innocent, yet perfectly-timed. Coming from a reputable company, it offered exactly what I thought my wife was looking for. It was, in fact, the last thing she’d...
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An ace up your sleeve: making clichés work
“Quality ingredients!” “Friendly staff!” “Just like homemade!” I think if I hear another restaurant commercial with these phrases in it, I’m going to do something embarrassing, loud, and possibly...
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Truth, honesty, and shredded cheese
It has occurred to me how easily annoyed I am by bad, confusing, or poorly-written commercials. Some folks would just let it be. Not me; I’m in this biz, after all. I try to turn these lemons into...
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A good story, well-told, always trumps the gimmicks
This is going to be a short post; as you may know, my wife gave birth to her second child a mere 3 weeks ago, so neither of us have been getting much sleep lately! Granted, I get more than my wife...
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When a good story, well-told, doesn’t tell the right story
I wasn’t planning on posting another commercial critique today. I had customer service, rate integrity, and children’s books on my mind. But then I came across a new commercial for Chipotle Mexican...
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The stand-up comedy rule that can make you be a better writer
photo courtesy of Linda Baie At the “Highlights” workshop I told you about last week, we discussed a variety of things, from how to write better poetry to how to better perform our poetry. One of the...
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From torn tendons to tenderloin: a week’s worth of life lessons
This past week has been another crazy-busy one. I know everyone has more and more responsibilities weighing them down these days, but for me, sometimes it’s hard just keeping those responsibilities...
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The importance of being earnest…enough to advertise
Most dictionaries would probably define “earnest” as “serious in effort” or ”sincerely passionate.” If someone is earnest in what he or she is doing, they put their full heart, body, and soul into it....
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One busy night
I’m a day late. Sorry. Once upon a time, not too long ago, I had blog posts written a week or more in advance. But with a right knee still recuperating from a torn ACL, stay-at-home dad duties for a...
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National Poetry Month: Thinking Like a Poet
I get asked many questions many times by many folks…all about the same subject: “Isn’t poetry hard to write?” “When did you start writing poetry?” “Why do you write poetry?” …and so forth. The answers,...
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Someone spent a lot of money promoting their competition
I think I’m a fairly low-key, easy-going guy. I tend to take things in stride, but every now and then something will get me all worked up to the point where I’m jumping around, hollering like an idiot....
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In copy writing, it’s all about the details
Last week, I wrote and produced a short video commercial for my wife’s business. There are two problems with that statement. Advertising: These folks know how to do it right. First, I’ve never produced...
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