Category Archives: Poetry

Apostrophegeddon

By tom | Published: 07/05/2013

Writing is not about rules, but communicating ideas. Any company that rejects a job application because of a misplaced apostrophe is barking up the wrong tree. The most original thinkers I work with struggle to tie their shoelaces.

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A Christmas Cracker

By 66000 | Published: 09/12/2012

Rochester House, home for The Story Museum, was a magnet for roving Tale Tellers, Yarn Spinners and Gossip Mongers who arrived from far and wide to feed off the Oxford Gyre; the storytelling energy that has made the city of dreaming spires such a Mecca for writers.

Also posted in Authors, Books, Education, Families, Free speech, Health, History, Reading, Storytelling, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Responses

Leaders and Speechwriters

By Brian | Published: 27/11/2012

‘You start by writing down the headline you want to see in the paper after you’ve delivered the speech. Then you write the two press releases for the articles you want to appear as follow-up stories to the speech. Then you sit down to write the speech.’ Paddy Ashdown

Also posted in Campaigning, Politics, Speechwriting, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Responses

Words in the airways

By Mike | Published: 17/10/2012

From a glowing Bakelite wireless in the distant 1950s to the latest digital receiver, my ears have experienced an onslaught of millions of multi-layered words.

Also posted in Art, Authors, Education, Families, Free speech, History, Reading, Storytelling, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Responses

Rubbish story

By Andy | Published: 09/10/2012

For the past few years, I’ve collected handwritten notes that have been abandoned on London’s streets. Now a new form of writing is born – ‘litterature’

Also posted in 26, Art, Design, Letters, London, Reading, Storytelling, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Responses

You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!

By tom | Published: 09/07/2012

Just back from touring Italy with The Ham and Cheese Company – part of the breakaway faction from Borough Market now trading in Spa Terminus – Bermondsey. We travelled from Bologna to Parma to Siena to Roma meeting people whose lives revolve around making marvellous food. The idiosyncratic hams and cheeses we sampled along the [...]

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Buskers told to Foxtrot Oscar

By tim | Published: 22/01/2012

‘Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.’

Also posted in Authors, Copy analysis, Design, Free speech, History, Jargon, London, Plain English, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Responses

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, Books, Brand, Business, Campaigning, Copy analysis, Design, Food, Free speech, Graffiti, History, Jargon, Letters, London, Magazines, Photography, Reading, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Workshops, Writing | 5 Responses

Postcards from Paradise

By tom | Published: 07/07/2011

Who needs the hassle of traffic jams, rammed airports, heaving ferries and bloated beaches when you can hang out at the Southbank. This glorious rolling festival has been the hit of the summer with thrilling exhibitions, ambush fountains, curious pavilions, an allotment in the sky, and an intriguing language installation that has set everyone talking [...]

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Colourful language

By tim | Published: 21/06/2011

I saw this lovely shop in Delft. I was rather taken with the poem they have in the window – a characterful piece of DIY brand writing.

Also posted in Art, Brand, Business, Design, History, Photography, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Responses