Feeling rather depressed today, since I am a writer, and writers by nature get depressed.
Anyway, to cheer myself I wrote two songs...one is for people who are following the majority-leader scandal,
and might remember the Roger Miller (early '60's) hit, "King of the Road":
For Tom Delay...
"Old cronies I have found
short and not too big around
I'm a man of means, by no means,
King of the Hill."
I don't recall the rest of the words, and am too depressed to find them...so if you would like to
add a verse, please do so.
I also wrote another song today, and this one goes out to all the stressed moms and dads out there.
It's called, "Some of my least favorite things" and is sung to, you guessed it, the tune of "My Favorite Things"
from Sound of Music (courtesy of Lerner, ??)
"Stuffed up toilets
and boogers in washbowls
Kids who argue and
deny that they did so
dirty dishes and socks all over the house
These are a view of my least favorite things
When the cat purrs
When my hopes up
When I'm feeling glad
I simply remember my least favorite things
then I simply feel so bad"
Friday, September 30, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
How is copywriting like writing and not
I just read this wonderful article on writing by one of our modern masters of the short story, Raymond Carver. Carver takes the most mundane subjects and makes them mysterious, using an economy of words. I wonder if Carver was a copywriter. The real difference, if you ask me, is that his words aren't selling a product. The words are selling, if you will, themselves. Carver goes on to say that "Some writers have a bunch of talent; I don't know any writers who are without it. But a unique and exact way of looking at things, and finding the right context for expressing that way of looking, that's something else."
Context means "with the text" So instead of winnowing out copywriters with questions like, "Do you have any experience writing about actuarial accounting for genetic testing labs?" it would make more sense to ask, "do you have a unique way of understanding this thing I'm selling that would resonate with my customers in context of their needs and desires?"
Marketers also need to think of their customers as an audience, when communicating with them. Think how you would feel if you were at a concert and suddenly, you're interrupted with a message from the sponsor. Would you want them to yell "FREE FREE FREE" three times. Ask yourself:
"Do I want to be yelled at?"
"Do I believe that?"
"Does that sound true?"
"Am I giving the person an idea they can focus on?"
"Am I putting the person to sleep with too much information?"
"Am I giving the person too little information?"
"Does the information relate to a need or desire the person has?"
"Am I wasting this person's time by using the same words my competitor's use?"
"Do I like listening to 'corp speak' or do I prefer conversations?"
To read Carver's article, "Principles of a story", visit http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7001&AuthKey=b6b862ce388f6e04e96ff65b9802f970&issue=509)
Context means "with the text" So instead of winnowing out copywriters with questions like, "Do you have any experience writing about actuarial accounting for genetic testing labs?" it would make more sense to ask, "do you have a unique way of understanding this thing I'm selling that would resonate with my customers in context of their needs and desires?"
Marketers also need to think of their customers as an audience, when communicating with them. Think how you would feel if you were at a concert and suddenly, you're interrupted with a message from the sponsor. Would you want them to yell "FREE FREE FREE" three times. Ask yourself:
"Do I want to be yelled at?"
"Do I believe that?"
"Does that sound true?"
"Am I giving the person an idea they can focus on?"
"Am I putting the person to sleep with too much information?"
"Am I giving the person too little information?"
"Does the information relate to a need or desire the person has?"
"Am I wasting this person's time by using the same words my competitor's use?"
"Do I like listening to 'corp speak' or do I prefer conversations?"
To read Carver's article, "Principles of a story", visit http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7001&AuthKey=b6b862ce388f6e04e96ff65b9802f970&issue=509)
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Please, Read
My heart goes out to the many fine journalists who recently lost their jobs. It is sad evidence of the stupefaction of society when two of the best newspapers in the country, if not the world, are cutting staff due to poor circulation. What will happen to the Fourth Estate, the watch dog of democracy, as newspapers lose their individual voices?
The Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times are laying off hundreds of journalists. 75 journalists were cut from the Inquirer... That's 15% of their editorial staff. The Inquirer's sister publication, The Philadelphia Daily news, lost 19% of its editorial staff. The New York Times cut 500 jobs, representing 4% of its workforce. And, the New York Times is the #1 online mass media publication for readership, according to Technorati.
As circulation declines, newspapers are losing ad revenue. According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, the impending closing of the venerable Strawbridge clothing stores don't help (See: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2005/09/19/daily22.html) Philadelphia. But, I wonder, what about pass-along readership. Doesn't that count? I know I sound desperate, but perhaps sponsored content and embedded advertising is the answer.
God help us copywriters, too. This harkens less advertising for us to write. Or at least, less money for the ads we do write.
But that's another entry altogether.
Thank you to one of my favorite WPHT radio talk show hosts, and Inquirer Columinist, Michael Smerconish for alerting me to this news. He mentioned FOX News ratings are up. More evidence what he called the erosion of the fourth estate. I call it the "Stupefaction Factor".
Granted, most Americans need news to fit into their crowded schedules. But, I implore my fellow citizens to please turn off the TV and start reading. When my TV was broken I personally experienced peace, contentment and more time.
We are taking the TV out of the living room. It's a huge effort to get my children off the couch when the boob tube is just a click away. They are constantly fighting over who gets to watch what, even though I've instituted an odd-even day system for which child has control. If it were up to me, I'd throw the thing out the window and yell, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
The Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times are laying off hundreds of journalists. 75 journalists were cut from the Inquirer... That's 15% of their editorial staff. The Inquirer's sister publication, The Philadelphia Daily news, lost 19% of its editorial staff. The New York Times cut 500 jobs, representing 4% of its workforce. And, the New York Times is the #1 online mass media publication for readership, according to Technorati.
As circulation declines, newspapers are losing ad revenue. According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, the impending closing of the venerable Strawbridge clothing stores don't help (See: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2005/09/19/daily22.html) Philadelphia. But, I wonder, what about pass-along readership. Doesn't that count? I know I sound desperate, but perhaps sponsored content and embedded advertising is the answer.
God help us copywriters, too. This harkens less advertising for us to write. Or at least, less money for the ads we do write.
But that's another entry altogether.
Thank you to one of my favorite WPHT radio talk show hosts, and Inquirer Columinist, Michael Smerconish for alerting me to this news. He mentioned FOX News ratings are up. More evidence what he called the erosion of the fourth estate. I call it the "Stupefaction Factor".
Granted, most Americans need news to fit into their crowded schedules. But, I implore my fellow citizens to please turn off the TV and start reading. When my TV was broken I personally experienced peace, contentment and more time.
We are taking the TV out of the living room. It's a huge effort to get my children off the couch when the boob tube is just a click away. They are constantly fighting over who gets to watch what, even though I've instituted an odd-even day system for which child has control. If it were up to me, I'd throw the thing out the window and yell, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
<$stupefied$>
<"Martha Stewart's Apprentice">
On this morning's "Today Show" Martha Stewart's apprentice "Howie" shows up with his shirt hanging out from below his suit coat, which I guess is the new sartorial elegance; A style influenced by bands like "Wheezer". I wonder what Katie Couric is actually thinking, as she stands there in those ridiculous shoes with her calves bulging.
The day just started, but I'd give Howie my vote for "Stupid of the Day."
Perhaps Martha's next guest will be wearing her version of prison stripes. I can just see Martha's apprentices (or is it apprenti) tailoring prison garb for Koslowski, Swartz, Lay, and their ilk. Must we suffer constants assault by this barrage of stupid? I hear of a little Saville Row tailor that's getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere lately (http://englishcut.com/) which was featured on BoingBoing -- the #1 blog on the net, FYI. So perhaps good taste and craftsmanship is in the real world not yet dead.
What do you bet Martha comes out with a new fragrance, "Notoriety". The headline: "It really stinks!"
For all of you struggling on a daily basis with stupidity, my heart goes out to you. Stories of incredible stupidity -- of the cultural sort -- are welcome here. If you would like to join "The Society Opposed to Stupefaction", please add your comment and email address.
On this morning's "Today Show" Martha Stewart's apprentice "Howie" shows up with his shirt hanging out from below his suit coat, which I guess is the new sartorial elegance; A style influenced by bands like "Wheezer". I wonder what Katie Couric is actually thinking, as she stands there in those ridiculous shoes with her calves bulging.
The day just started, but I'd give Howie my vote for "Stupid of the Day."
Perhaps Martha's next guest will be wearing her version of prison stripes. I can just see Martha's apprentices (or is it apprenti) tailoring prison garb for Koslowski, Swartz, Lay, and their ilk. Must we suffer constants assault by this barrage of stupid? I hear of a little Saville Row tailor that's getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere lately (http://englishcut.com/) which was featured on BoingBoing -- the #1 blog on the net, FYI. So perhaps good taste and craftsmanship is in the real world not yet dead.
What do you bet Martha comes out with a new fragrance, "Notoriety". The headline: "It really stinks!"
For all of you struggling on a daily basis with stupidity, my heart goes out to you. Stories of incredible stupidity -- of the cultural sort -- are welcome here. If you would like to join "The Society Opposed to Stupefaction", please add your comment and email address.
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