I love cooking. I find it very therapeutic. Producing something that gets immediate feedback (usually positive). Very different from my day job… I’ve taught myself to cook. Mainly from TV programs: Ready Steady Cook (loved that show). Masterchef (the UK one. Still the best, I...
I loved my MX5. Bright red. Bose speakers in the headrest. One of the first mobile phones in Australia to be installed into a convertible. Separate hard top, as well as soft. Polished within an inch of its life. Why would I swap it for...
Here’s a strange piece of advice. When you have to start writing, the last thing you need to do is write. By which I mean the last part of the writing process is putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). No. There’s homework to...
This is something I do in my workshops. Just before lunch, when everyone’s tired. ‘C’mon,’ I say, looking at their bleary, wary eyes. ‘Let’s come up with 30 ideas in 30 minutes.’ You can imagine their surprise (and lack of enthusiasm). And that’s the point....
Punctuation. It’s a passion of mine. It has the power to completely change the sense. Take this well-known example: ‘Let’s eat grandma’. Now, that’s a worry. Until we add in the right punctuation: ‘Let’s eat, grandma’. One of my favourite examples is: ‘A woman without...
I’ve shared tips on the copywriting process in several other articles. About the all-important preparation. Or the craft of writing. Even how important the brief is. What I haven’t considered is how to structure your copy. That’s pretty important. How do you organise the information,...
Ah. I remember school. Quite fondly, actually. My school was unusual. Founded in 1552, with a uniform that dates back over 450 years (and still worn today). Wonderful teachers and education. And I remember essays. Lots of essays. I always left them to the last...
Michelangelo was once asked how he went about the sculpting process. His answer? ‘I saw the angel in the marble, and carved until I set him free’. How amazing is that? To see a thing of beauty in an unwieldy block. For me, this sums...