A magical video. You have to take the dive. {via Royal Quiet Deluxe}
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advice
No one ever gets talker’s block. No one wakes up in the morning, discovers he has nothing to say and sits quietly, for days or weeks, until the muse hits, until the moment is right, until all the craziness in his life has died down.
Why then, is writer’s block endemic?
The reason we don’t get talker’s block is that we’re in the habit of talking without a lot of concern for whether or not our inane blather will come back to haunt us. Talk is cheap. Talk is ephemeral. Talk can be easily denied.
We talk poorly and then, eventually (or sometimes), we talk smart. We get better at talking precisely because we talk. We see what works and what doesn’t, and if we’re insightful, do more of what works. How can one get talker’s block after all this practice?
Writer’s block isn’t hard to cure.
Just write poorly. Continue to write poorly, in public, until you can write better.
- the marvelous Seth Godin, writing about the myth of writer’s block .
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Thoughtful career advice from designer Jessica Hische, illustrated smartly by Chris Piascik. Isn’t it lovely?
My procrastination techniques include – making coffee, organising my room, planning exotic holidays, writing fiction, watching Come Dine With Me while writing up notes… It’s all an endlessly inspiring loop though. Writing is my passion, and whether that manifests as writing perfume reviews (check!), crafting websites at a digital agency (check!), or noodling away at a cookbook (one day!) – it’s all good. Knowing what I really love to do is a real blessing. How do you guys while the hours away?
{via Fancy! NZ Design Blog}
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When you sit down to write, is that what you do? Just say, “Okay, I’m starting a book” and then sit down and keep writing until it’s done? Do you take breaks? Do you ever get writer’s block?
No. No writer’s block. Never had it. Don’t believe in it. Doesn’t exist. I don’t buy that one.
Ernest Hemingway said it… If you’ve got writer’s block, write one sentence. And if you can write one, you can write two. If you can write two, you can write three. If you’ve written three, you have a paragraph. There’s just no such thing as writer’s block.
I work all the time. I write all the time. No days off, not for any reason. I get up in the morning and I start at it, get into the afternoon, I work out. I work at it at night. I work on it until I go to bed at eleven. I keep a notebook by my table and I write in the middle of the night sometimes. Sometimes I’ll write from maybe 4AM to 6AM and go back to bed, but I write all the time. And I always have. That’s the way I’ve always done it.
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Did you know this little trick for sprucing up your bicycle? If the chrome parts have started to rust and look a bit icky, simply roll up a ball of tin foil and gently rub it on the chrome. The blemished patches are abrasive against the foil, making it come off and mask the rust; yet the foil is gentle enough not to scratch the rest of the metal. It really works – your bike will be looking shiny again in no time!
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John C. Jay is a renaissance man in the creative community, turning his hand to advertising, marketing and film, and generally turning everything he touches into gold. These are his top 10 rules for creating:
- Be authentic. The most powerful asset you have is your individuality, what makes you unique. It’s time to stop listening to others on what you should do.
- Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort.
- Get off the computer and connect with real people and culture. Life is visceral.
- Constantly improve your craft. Make things with your hands. Innovation in thinking is not enough.
- Travel as much as you can. It is a humbling and inspiring experience to learn just how much you don’t know.
- Being original is still king, especially in this tech-driven, group-grope world.
- Try not to work for stupid people or you’ll soon become one of them.
- Instinct and intuition are all-powerful. Learn to trust them.
- The Golden Rule actually works. Do good.
- If all else fails, No. 2 is the greatest competitive advantage of any career.
Photo by Piero Fissore
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…When you get a new notebook, rip out the first few pages, stamp on it, get dirt on the edges. This is an exercise an art-teacher friend of mine makes her students do with their sketchbooks. It is to say: this sketchbook is not holy. It is not being created to be shown in the Louvre. It is a place of work and practise, where a lot of mistakes will be made.
{A great tip for writers and artists from acalthla on Ask Metafilter,
pristine moleskine photo by Sean McGrath.}
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Sheets from the calendar are tumbling. In New Zealand, the days are getting longer and longer. Before I know it, it will be high summer and I’ll be sitting on beach with friends in Pauanui, toasting in the New Year with lashings of Veuve Cliquot. But that’s still a good 5 weeks away!
I always want to achieve my resolutions and goals. Live, work, create. But more than that, I want to finish what I’ve started. Big and little. That’s my focus for the rest of the year (and beyond into 2011). Here’s what is on my list:
- Mend those dresses, sew buttons back on, and send that giant box of clothes to charity.
- Clear the drafts folder of my inbox.
- Take a peek at the drafts folder of my blog!
- Finish decorating my apartment. And take photographs of it.
- Print the Bad Crushes zine properly and distribute it.
- Finish the short stories I’ve started writing, otherwise abandon them in a bottom drawer.
- The large pile of half-devoured novels by the side of my bed? I’d love to put a dent into that.
- And all those other little things…
How about you? Anything lingering in the corners of your life that you need to wrap up? It’s going to be hard, but I’m going to tie all those loose ends up, double bows and all.
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In an attempt to break the record number of people I can fit into my apartment at once, I am planning a dinner party. 3 guests + me. It might be tight! I want it to be special, so I’ve been scheming hard. Here are a what I think are the essential elements of hosting a great dinner party – scalable to any number of guests:
- Formal invitations are important (as in don’t just say “Hey wanna come ’round sometime?” – get specific). Create a sense of importance, anticipation, and give people ample time to work it into their diaries. I think two weeks is good notice as far as invites go.
- Choose your company wisely. Just because so&so is always welcomed by other people doesn’t mean that you’re obliged them to have them at your house. That said – don’t be afraid to introduce new blood! Mix and match friends. Invite someone who fascinates you that you haven’t gotten to know well yet.
- Lots of booze and a good mixture of it – wine, beer, spirits – with fresh garnishes, like lime etc. Jugs are a classy way to serve cocktails (Pimms, Mojitos, Sangria). Individual bottles of ginger beer or limonata are a lovely touch for non-drinkers. Make sure you have ice.
- Friendly lighting. Nothing too bright/eye-gouging. I always think overhead lighting is the enemy – so turn your lamps on and the ceiling lights down. For romance, add candles. For whimsy, add fairy lights (especially for outdoor settings).
- Brian Eno mused once on music choices: “If it’s bad, nobody talks – but if it’s good, nobody listens”. I definitely agree – choose something less intrusive than metal, like jazz or blues and play it at a conversational level. My dinner party albums picks: Ernest Ranglin’s Below The Bassline and Oh No’s Dr. No’s Ethiopium.
- Mandatory: make sure your bathrooms are clean. Seriously, put that in the cupboard. And buy some toilet paper.
- Don’t buy a bunch of stuff – simply use what you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to use mismatched silverware or cups, or use the vintage lace tablecloths you’ve been saving forever. Let high and low work together. Sure, put in the effort to make things special, but pay more attention to the people than to the things.
- Ensure the host stays relaxed. That’s you, baby! Keep it simple for yourself by buying two, and making one e.g. cook the main course but buy the snacks/entrees and a plate of macarons for dessert. Also plan to take time out before your guests arrive by putting your feet up for a second or have a glass of wine. Breathe. Smile. Have a good time.
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Tomorrow I’m off with friends to Splore – a three day music festival where we’ll camp, dance and make like merry hippies. Hence I thought now is the perfect occasion to talk a little about what I’ve found works and what doesn’t when it comes to executing a fabulous festival outfit. After a lot of oh-so-tedious (not!) research at a multitude of concerts and gigs, I think I’ve got the basics down.
My picks for love a festival in a cold climate – it’s all about layers and balance (look good, keep warm):
- A simple merino wool dress will keep things looking cute; and whip away any moisture if you get damp. Merino is also notable for its “breath-ability” – it acts as a second skin with temperature control. Perfect for changing environments and crowd density.
- All the rest are just layers – a scarf to wrap on and off, a cloak or a gilet to loose yourself in (I am so partial to faux-fur right now), stockings, chunky motorcycle boots etc etc. You know the drill!
- I like the idea of fingerless gloves – they let you easily nip into your bag and grab things… It’s good to be dexterous!
- A clutch with a strap is also useful. Ever tried to get into a bag that’s hanging off a arm encased in a coat? Well, if you’re anything like me you’ll find coats hinder all movement. A clutch on a strap keeps things where you can see it, and makes for easy access.
This is my fail-proof uniform for an outdoor love-hippies-at-one-with-nature event, a la Splore*:
- Covered shoes (preferably sneakers with thick soles) to protect my feet from the elements.
- Dark shorts – there might be a lot of sitting on dusty/grassy ground, so keep the colour dark to avoid stains. The short option keeps you looking ladylike – I’ve seen it a million times – a girl sitting on a hill in a skirt, flashing the world. Don’t be that gal.
- This is the place where you can afford to have jangly, pretty jewellery – as hopefully there will be enough space for you all to wiggle to the music in peace – and therefore not rip any one’s skin to pieces with your accessories. Bon.
- An analog camera. Keeping it organic.
- A satchel big enough to carry all my junk while I’m away from camp.
- A big ass sun hat to keep your neck and face happy. Don’t forget to put SPF everywhere else though, including the backs of your hands!
* That is Laza sitting on the Tree Of Life at Splore 2008. I am conveniently standing behind the outfit.
For an inner city summer stomp think of the Girl Scout motto – “Be Prepared” – for any weather, any crowd:
- This is the place where you can afford to wear cute shoes. The ground will usually be paved so you can survive with a little heel, or some wedges. Want something strappy but tough? Try a Roman sandal, like you used to wear at school, they take a lot of punishment!
- I am a massive fan of the onsie – they’re playful, look good and you only have to make a single decision. Just make sure it isn’t too hard to slip in and out of when you pay a visit to the port-a-loo. Also, choose a playsuit made out of cotton rather than your fancy Karen Walker silk one if you’re worried about festival damage.
- Nylon raincoats scrunch up to fit in even the smallest bag. Bring your own if you don’t want to end up wearing a cheapie poncho, or worse – a garbage bag! I adore my Moochi raincoat.
- Packed festivals are no places to party with a digital camera (especially a DSLR). Unless you’ve got a tether and hella good protection, go disposable! If it gets lost in the fray, no worries. Diamante encrusted throwaway anyone?
And in brief…
BAD: Silk play suits, jeans, complicated wraps, bulky handbags, mega expensive/cherished garments, delicate accessories, pastels (careful careful), flashing the world.
GOOD: Sundresses, cotton stretch onesies, small satchels, disposable cameras, skin protection, merino wool, flexibility, deodorant, layers, cardigans (tie them round your waist, make a turban, whatever!), happy attitudes, good friends.
Agree? Disagree? Do you have a fail safe festival costume you rock every time, perhaps experiment depending on the event, or do you always show up in the same thing you usually wear out?
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“In this competitive era, choosing company and product names is the single most important marketing decisions businesses face”
Jack Trout, Business 2.0
Whether you’re naming a baby, a label, a product, blog or a band, a great moniker can propel your little fire-starter to new heights. Great names are a powerful branding force that can work to differentiate you from your competitors, provide creative marketing inspiration, sell a benefit and emotionally connect with customers. This applies to people too! Would Norma Jean have met the same success as the bombshell Marilyn Monroe did?
While many well known brand names appear to have been coined with a touch of luck and some great minds; dig deep and you’ll find most of them have been through rigorous development to get to the magic. The best thing however is that names are free! Taking the time to develop one could be one of the most valuable investments a company ever makes.
So, what makes a great name? While they can come from anywhere, it pays to develop one that has entrenched significance within your company and the service or product you offer. This is a fantastic opportunity to hook people in, because every name tells a tale. Is there a connection to family, place or a technique? Vogels bread taps into a tradition of health and wellbeing – as championed by naturalist Alfred Vogel (who has lent his name to all sorts of other products, including vitamins).
Another kiwi name favourite is 42Below. The vodka peddlers developed a modern name with a great shape (to design to) that tells a great story.“42 Below what?” – it gives them a chance to talk about the origins and purity of their product. Look for a hook into your wider brand story.
It’s also important to create a name that’s in it for the long haul. In 1990 including the numbers 2000 after your brand name seemed to be in vogue and future forward. In 2009, it’s not such a good look. New Zealand company Rakon, makers of GPS chipsets, were named for ‘radio control’ in 1967 – despite giant technological advances, their name still stands in today’s market. Consider playing with your name a little bit – mash-ups can be fun!
The sound has got to match the spelling. The most marketable names are ones that are easily spelled. For example, you could call your range of designer lunchboxes “Kool Kyds Bentos” – because k’s look edgy. It’s an extreme example, but do consider the sales potential if someone could find your website or phone number after overhearing a conversation. Making sure your brand name works both verbally and on the page is vital.
Twitter – playful, easy to spell and easy to find.
At the end of the day, names are like first impressions, they can be changed; and actions will always speak louder than words. A fabulous handle never hurt anyone though!
Now we’ve discovered what’s in a name; here’s a basic naming process for you to follow:
RESEARCH: Do your research – analyse your strategy/business plan, for clues, investigate current names out in the market and explore your point of difference.
SCOPE: Scope out several different territories based on your research.
These may include -
• Abstract/random non related territory/unique and original.
• Descriptive territory of product/service proposition.
• Emotional focus/benefit.
• Future focus to territory (not numbers, think advancements).
• Word/spelling play, clever manipulation of words and sounds, mash-ups.
What are the emotional/functional needs of the territories explored?
CREATION: Come up with a range of names within each territory explored. No name is too silly or obscure – pop them all down on your list!
Outline and rank names in relation to project through shortlist.
Conduct a name search – has it been taken and linguistic appropriateness – culture etc.
ELIMINATION: Narrow down to two directions – check for availability on websites, company register, Google search results.
TESTING: Test your names – pitch them to friends, family and potential clients. Swirl the names around in all situations. Like a fine wine – what’s the mouth feel? Does it work with your elevator pitch? Are there any potential spelling disasters?
Finally, name it!
This article first appeared on Etch Magazine – New Zealand’s online business and lifestyle magazine for young Kiwis. Check it out.
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Today’s hot shopping tip is to turn your shopping experience global. It’s time to take advantage of the plethora of online stores and your geographic location, to snag some bargains. So, say you’re like me, currently twiddling your cold little fingers in Oceania, there’s no better time than to plug in some Northern Hemisphere sites and check out what summer frocks they have up for sale. It’s also a fabulous opportunity to investigate new brands and designers.
To get you started, I’ve listed a few suggested shops that do ship over yonder seas. Explore, save and hang out eagerly waiting for the delivery of some new threads by your letterbox.
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere:
- In case you were under a rock, a Southern Alp or on a self enforced break from the Internet (ha!), you’ll know that Topshop now ships to New Zealand and Australia! Summer frocks and rompers ahoy.
- American Apparel is great for boys, basics, nerdy accessories and ice skating dresses for summer. Hint: Find a shipping/discount code to make your purchase that much sweeter.
- Pixie Market is the home of many fantastically creative fashion designers. Plus there’s free international shipping for all orders over US$250.
- The Outnet, La Garconne and Shopbop are my picks for high end designer garments. It’s possible to find huge discounts on all the brands you covet at the end of season.
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, obviously you kids have hella more choices when it comes to stores & shipping. However you may like to check out these options:
- Witchery is an Aussie chain store – good for simple, elegant pieces. They love neutral colours and their jewellery/scarves/bags are fantastic.
- Cool as a… General Cucumber. A good place to pick up the best pieces from New Zealand’s darker designers. Highlights include Gothic stalwarts Zambesi, the luxe leather work of Deadly Ponies and Jaeha – Alex Kim’s brilliant label.
- MyCatwalk stocks a plethora of cute Aussie & Kiwi designers – including Romance Was Born (get in there for their new tights!) and Elke Kramer’s heart stoppingly awesome laminate jewllery.
(Inspired by Rural Report, New Zealand Fashion Quarterly, Summer 2008)
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If you’re anything like me you’ve got a whole stack of cheap but precious jewellery stashed on your dresser. Mood rings, beach trinkets, costume jewellery and vintage buttons on a chain. Here’s a couple of tips to help you take care of your accessories and treasure your bling for longer!
+ Use a clear nail varnish to seal your accessory – you’ll prevent the metal tarnishing quickly. This action will also help prevent naughty metals like nickel causing an allergic reaction (fabulous for those tacky rings).
+ Keep the cheap goodies away from water. This means showers, baths, spas, pools and saunas! The deadly combination of chemicals and water is one way to ensure your “jewels” disintegrate quickly.
+ Stay organised. Treat your cheap bling like real gems – keep your necklaces separated, rings on ring tree, etc. Chains need to be fastened before you store them, and earrings need to be kept as a pair with their butterflies/backs.
If you’ve got a huge box of accessories and nowhere to hang your various necklaces, I recommend the use of small plastic craft bags – one bag per item – to keep everything separate and easy to view.
+ Love it? Buy two! If it’s really that special (and cheap), why not buy two? Just in case… If it’s chain store or vintage, chances are you’ll not find the gem of your collection again.
“All that glitters is not gold.”
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