Reading a Creative Review article about copywriter Nick Asbury (with his wife, Sue, a patner in Asbury & Asbury) reminded me we can do all kinds of writing, including some just for the fun of it.
The Asburys' projects. some self-initiated, some done for clients, include:
* The blog site "Mr-Blog.com," dedicated to all the "Mr" shops (like "Good-bye Mr. Chips" chip shop) in the UK. Mr-blog.com is now closed but you can still read the old posts.
* A Disappointments Diary:"A week-to-view appointments diary with a series of disappointing twists. Includes a weekly demotivational proverb, notable deaths, contact pages for people who never call, and space for your own pointless doodles. Designed in partnership with Hat-trick Design."
* A book of poems about different companies and brands, using words from the "About" pages of their websites. For example, this one for Lastminute.com, a site that offers tickets to various events:
You’ve got that dreamy look on your face.
You want to career down a mountainside
in a perspex ball: shake up the days,
dazzle the world with your escapades.
You wake up here, in a shabby career,
in a perspex ball, not travelling at all.
You can check out all of these at http://www.asburyandasbury.com/projects/projects.html
YOUR TURN
Why not let these inspire you to do some fun writing yourself? If it turns out well and you get really into it, maybe it will lead to some kind of publication. If not, so what? I suggest keeping it short. Here are a couple I thought of:
Headline Mix Poetry
Note to poets: I'm using the term "poetry" loosely. For this exercise, combine bits of two headlines. For instance, two from the New York Times:
"San Diego Mayor Expected to Resign, Officials Say" (He's been accused ot sexually harrassing a number of women) and "Municipal Bonds Demanding Attention Again" could become the first line, and other combinations continue:
San Diego Mayor demanding attention again--
Tanning, hot days, cold noodles.
Is there danger in ardor?
First Line Poetry
Combine the first lines of articles (or parts of them) into a poem. Again, from the New York Times:
Citing a problem with the system,
A constantly changing landscape,
Millions of women apply lipstick every day.
Have fun--and feel free to share your results or your other fun writing exercises by clicking "comments" below.
