My husband and I had fun coming up with ironic business names after seeing a sign on a building that just said "Under New Management" and nothing else. "Space For Rent" was another one.
I’m guessing the photo of the bow tied artist — which makes *no* sense — was your CEO story inspiration? You have a knack for taking “WTF?” photos and putting tales behind them. 💚
My strategy as well,Mark. Sometimes I don't even know I have a story in me until see a provocative photo that sets it free. This morning's find is a photo of a neon sign. The sign says, "FUCK KALE". And who doesn't want to write about that?
I loved the lurching, 5-legged purple buck made by our hero 😂 ... and all the rest of this Monday frivolity. The list of obsolete skills is frightfully long! And still I can’t manage to pry the stuck food off my nonstick pans! When I do figure it out at last, they’ll swap out the pans again, won’t they? 😭
And donuts. Nothing has changed about those but the spelling. I predict they will outlast us, though they could be spelled )foxtwig( in another couple of generations.
Haha, loved the final story! 🤣 And in regards to “Obsolete”...last year I learned that I’ve become...old. While talking with some students, I taught them about CDs and cassettes (the trio I was chatting with didn’t have a clue)! Oh well. 😄
Thanks, Justin. You are still a kid. I rocked vinyl and 8-tracks in my teens. Then cassettes came along. What? I can rewind? Then CDs were like magic when they came out. Random access to the songs? No clicks or pops? No “click-click” between tracks? No winding tape back into the cassette with a pencil? Good times.
🤣 Brilliant! This story makes me think of the ‘branding’ for writers stories that I’ve been reading lately on Substack. No need to say more because your story makes the point very well.
I honestly think that this is the only way for them to sell writing courses. It might work for bloggers but I don't think it works for fiction writers or philosophers or thinkers who need to stand out for their ideas not their brand.
Writer branding is basically “sell yourself, no one else is going to do it anymore.” They have a point. It is just a popular way of saying “You are a business. Your business is you.” Name recognition works. If you can get well-known, your writing will sell better. But your writing should sell you also.
Yes, branding does work better for some types of writing than others. A technical writer or a textbook writer is probably not too concerned with their “brand.” Only pleasing their boss.
Name recognition works after a valuable work was released on the market. And even in that case, people will recognise more the work than the author itself. My examples are the book 'The Martian' or the fiction podcast 'Limetown' which were both turned into films. The audience fell in love with the work not with the authors. But that's what I think as a non-writing guru.
Give me your Pac-Man pattern if you ain’t using it.
I am willing to negotiate. 🤣
This issue KILLED ME 🤣🤣🤣🤣
That's the power of art. 😂
Thank you, Elle. 🤓
Obsolete too soon? Man, that touches a nerve, Mark. I,myself, am obsolete too soon. And I am just hitting my stride.
Another true cliche: youth is wasted on the young. 🤣
My mother still uses an adding machine.
My husband and I had fun coming up with ironic business names after seeing a sign on a building that just said "Under New Management" and nothing else. "Space For Rent" was another one.
If it works, stick with it. Not a bad strategy. 🤓
I like the ironic business names idea. How about, "Closed Permanently" or "No Soliciting."
"everyone thinks you are a joke and despises you". Especially the CEOs in show business.
The purple deer, Daddy-O and pic-a-nick basket were all nice touches.
Thanks, David. Artists are so misunderstood! 😉🤣
I’m guessing the photo of the bow tied artist — which makes *no* sense — was your CEO story inspiration? You have a knack for taking “WTF?” photos and putting tales behind them. 💚
You know me well. I often surf the stock photo websites looking for inspiration. It also makes finding an appropriate photo easy. 🤣
My strategy as well,Mark. Sometimes I don't even know I have a story in me until see a provocative photo that sets it free. This morning's find is a photo of a neon sign. The sign says, "FUCK KALE". And who doesn't want to write about that?
Photos make great prompts. I think many writers overlook the old cliche: every picture tells a story. It’s true.
Always so fun! Thank you 😜
Thanks, Alexa. I appreciate you reading. 🤓
The relationship between cassette tapes and Bic ballpoints…
I so enjoy your work, Mark!
I usually used pencils. They gripped better.
Thanks, C.L. 🤓
I loved the lurching, 5-legged purple buck made by our hero 😂 ... and all the rest of this Monday frivolity. The list of obsolete skills is frightfully long! And still I can’t manage to pry the stuck food off my nonstick pans! When I do figure it out at last, they’ll swap out the pans again, won’t they? 😭
Thanks, Tara. The pace of obsolescence seems to be increasing, doesn’t it? Few things are made to last. Except art! 😉
And donuts. Nothing has changed about those but the spelling. I predict they will outlast us, though they could be spelled )foxtwig( in another couple of generations.
Do-nuts. Doughnuts. Now you are talking! ( a rose by any other name would smell as sweet)
Donuts are timeless treasures. 🤣
Haha, loved the final story! 🤣 And in regards to “Obsolete”...last year I learned that I’ve become...old. While talking with some students, I taught them about CDs and cassettes (the trio I was chatting with didn’t have a clue)! Oh well. 😄
Thanks, Justin. You are still a kid. I rocked vinyl and 8-tracks in my teens. Then cassettes came along. What? I can rewind? Then CDs were like magic when they came out. Random access to the songs? No clicks or pops? No “click-click” between tracks? No winding tape back into the cassette with a pencil? Good times.
🤣 Brilliant! This story makes me think of the ‘branding’ for writers stories that I’ve been reading lately on Substack. No need to say more because your story makes the point very well.
This was such a fun read!
Thanks, Claudia. I am not sure why writing gurus love branding so much. I try to avoid branding irons. That has to hurt! 😉
I honestly think that this is the only way for them to sell writing courses. It might work for bloggers but I don't think it works for fiction writers or philosophers or thinkers who need to stand out for their ideas not their brand.
Writer branding is basically “sell yourself, no one else is going to do it anymore.” They have a point. It is just a popular way of saying “You are a business. Your business is you.” Name recognition works. If you can get well-known, your writing will sell better. But your writing should sell you also.
Yes, branding does work better for some types of writing than others. A technical writer or a textbook writer is probably not too concerned with their “brand.” Only pleasing their boss.
Name recognition works after a valuable work was released on the market. And even in that case, people will recognise more the work than the author itself. My examples are the book 'The Martian' or the fiction podcast 'Limetown' which were both turned into films. The audience fell in love with the work not with the authors. But that's what I think as a non-writing guru.
Yes great writing can make you a name (as it should be), if the right people see it.