Category Archives: Books

Comfortable among the clouds

By tim | Published: 24/01/2012

Joseph Roth’s What I Saw captures his impressions and observations as he wanders Berlin in the years between the two World Wars. He re-constructs the city before the reader’s eyes. But it’s very much his Berlin – one moment a hard reality of stone and traffic, the next a floating world of dizzying shapes and elusive symbols.

Also posted in Authors, Design, History, Writing | Tagged architecture, berlin, city, factual writing, feuilletons, Joseph Roth, journalism, language, linkedin, newspapers, optimism, progressive, reportage, urbanism, what I Saw, words, Writing | 1 Comment

Mad in America

By tim | Published: 25/11/2011

From Bedlam to chemical lobotomies; this is a harrowing history of the way people with mental illness have been treated in the US and other developed countries.

Also posted in History, Writing | Tagged book, mad in america, psychiatry, robert whitaker | 2 Comments

WORDSTOCK – One Amazing Day

By tom | Published: 14/10/2011

WORDSTOCK began as a twinkle in our collective eyes at a 26 Board meeting: Could it be possible to attract 70 people who are mad about writing and communications to a wordstorming Saturday somewhere in central London? And if so, who so, where so, when so? Approaching likely punters was the easy bit because 26 [...]

Also posted in 26, Art, Authors, Brand, Business, Campaigning, Copy analysis, Design, Food, Free speech, Graffiti, History, Jargon, Letters, London, Magazines, Photography, Poetry, Reading, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Workshops, Writing | 3 Comments

Calisthenics for the brain

By tim | Published: 05/07/2011

The writing process can help us to think through what we know and develop richer, more useful, more valuable, more considered interpretations of the world.

Also posted in History, Letters, Reading, Writing | Tagged brain, david mcullough, EH carr, History, ideas, jamie jauncey, learning, linkedin, thinking, thoughts words intellect, tim rich, Writing | 14 Comments

Between the lines

By tim | Published: 31/05/2011

Despite the Cold War editorial shadow play, much of what Encounter published seems thoughtful, considered and independent, and certainly bears reading today.

Also posted in Design, History, Magazines, Politics, Writing | Tagged cia, cold war, Design, editorial, encounter, encounter magazine, front covers, funding, journalism, linkedin, magazines, media, stephen spender, writers writing, Writing | 4 Comments

Visual editing

By tim | Published: 13/04/2011

A contemporary version of Swiss Design doesn’t have to mean clean lines and stark type, just the unremitting application of logic, analysis and clarity to the design process.

Also posted in Copy analysis, Design, History, Writing | Tagged Design, design week, designers writers, editing, editors, graphic design, graphics international, josef müller-brockmann, linkedin, minimalism, modernism, muller-brockmann, swiss design, swiss graphic design, visual editing, writing for design | 3 Comments

Write Copy, Make Money

By tim | Published: 25/11/2010

We copywriters need to invest full and proper time in commercial matters, as well as our commercial writing. But sometimes we forget about the basics of good business when we’re trying to hit a series of fast-moving deadlines.

Also posted in Authors, Business, Writing | Tagged 26, 26.org.uk, andy maslen, book, Business, clients, copywriting, freelance life, freelance writers, income, money, payment, write copy make money, writers | 6 Comments

A blazing star

By tim | Published: 05/11/2010

Despite the anti-popery, there’s something Bellocose about Lewes Bonfire’s combination of dark fuming and expressive zest, this farrago of black powders. Effigies of ‘Enemies of Bonfire’ – usually local officials – are paraded on pikes, but there’s also a sense of togetherness and vitality.

Also posted in 26, Authors, Free speech, History, Photography, Plain English, Politics, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged 26, bonfire, bonfire societies, cliffe, common ground, exuberance, fireworks night, hilaire belloc, language, lewes, no popery, november 5th, personality, plain english, political correctness, the fifth, Tone of voice, words, Writing | 2 Comments

Are you a ninny?

By tim | Published: 27/10/2010

Why is so much print advertising so very bad? Still. Today. After all these decades when Advertising with a cap A has enjoyed such success, glamour, adulation and influence?