A Simple Solution to Writer's Block, a 4 Letter Code to Sell Anything and 24 hours in the Life of Artists

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10 stories we've enjoyed this week

The painting is of a man on a poster. The poster is ripped and underneath the poster is another poster featuring the chest of a man pulling open his shirt to reveal the letter 'A'. It's a superhero-like pose.

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Hi All,
One last call for this job before we close the post.

We're looking for an editorial assistant. The successful applicant will be providing specific support for the Editor of a quarterly digital publication we produce for a global payroll client. They'll also work across other Storythings editorial projects, such as proofreading slide decks, proposals, podcast scripts, and our weekly newsletters. Apply now or share this with anyone you think will fit this role.

The last year has been really good for Storythings. We've taken on a lot of new clients. As a result, our team is constantly growing with more really smart and talented people joining us in the coming weeks. So, if you need help with audiences research, content strategy, or production, speak to us. We'd love to help.

Have a fabulous weekend.
Hugh

The Short Story

You Don't Have Writer's Block. You Have 'Reporter's Block'
(5 min read)

The Four-Letter Code to Selling Just About Anything
(12 min read)

The Rise and Fall of Cultural Appropriation
(20 min watch)

Twenty Four Hours in the Creative Life
(Interactive)

Can Documentaries Change The World?
(8 min watch)

Because a World Designed For All of Us Is Priceless
(70 sec watch)

A Human Library That Publishes People as Books
(2 min read)

A Gorgeous Video That Uses Collage and a Horizontal Scroll Aesthetic
(3 min watch)

It's Not About Lacking Self Doubt. It's About Appearing Confident
(2 min read)

5 Brilliant Examples of 'Show, Don't Tell' in Advertising
(Tweet)

Video collage of protests in Chicago. The video is scrolling horizontally from right to left

How can we help you?

Storythings is a strategy and content company based in Brighton and London. We'd love to help you with some creative and bold ideas.

Here's 3 reasons to get in touch.

1. You want to talk to us about content production: podcasts, videos, animations, illustrations, editorial.

2. You want to talk to us about content strategy or format development.

3. You want to create a brand or an identity that makes it easier to communicate your message.

We do other things too. We're very friendly and always enjoy meeting people, so get in touch.

The Full Story

You Don't Have Writer's Block. You Have 'Reporter's Block'
We've all been there. We're trying to write something and the words just won't come. We think of this as writer's block. But if you're writing non-fiction it could be that you are suffering from 'reporter's block'. According to Wired writer Clive Thompson, when you’re writing nonfiction, the words flow from the research. If the words aren’t flowing, usually the problem is the research isn’t there. To say something, you have to have something to say. And there's a really simple solution. Do more reporting. If you want some clues on how to get better at the research side of writing Matt recommends Robert Caro's book Working, which he's currently loving.
(5 min read)

The Four-Letter Code to Selling Just About Anything
I'm reading Derek Thompson's Hit Makers - How Things Become Popular. It's been out a few years so I'm a bit late to the party. Anyway. It's really good! You really should read it. There's a great chapter on a theory developed by designer Raymond Loewy. Loewy designed some of the world's most recognizable logos, modernised the classic Coca-Cola bottle and designed NASA's Skylab. His theory was based on a balance in design that perfectly straddles the familiar with the new. He called it the MAYA theory. Thompson has just written a piece for the Atlantic on what makes one-hit-wonders successful.
(12 min read)

The Rise and Fall of Cultural Appropriation
I've been enjoying Kirby Ferguson's video essays for over a decade now. Whilst I don't always agree with everything he has to say, I do really enjoy his approach to storytelling. As someone who has spent a large part of his career writing about how creativity is based on some form of appropriation in his Everything is a Remix series, Kirby argues that the boundaries that separate cultures deserve respect, but too much respect could damage culture itself.
(22 min watch)

Twenty Four Hours in the Creative Life
The New York Times followed a group of artists — musicians, chefs, designers, writers and others — throughout the course of a day, exploring the intimate moments of their lives that contribute, in ways small and large, to their creative process. The result is this epic feature, packed with wisdom and tips from brilliant artists. Bookmark this for when you might need some inspiration.
(Interactive)

Can Documentaries Change The World?
Documentaries used to be a niche kind of film. But in 2002, Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine broke box office records. His follow-up, Fahrenheit 9/11, became the highest-grossing documentary of all time. More people watching meant they could have more impact. Blackfish almost bankrupted Seaworld and pressured them to end their orca breeding program. Making A Murderer almost got Brendan Dassey out of jail. But in this video essay, Eliz Mizon argues that whilst documentaries are great for starting or amplifying conversations, they can’t spark real change alone.
(8 min watch)

Because a World Designed For All of Us Is Priceless
It may only be 70 seconds long but this video does four things really well. It demonstrates a fantastic design idea. It incorporates visual descriptions for its core audience. They've paid a lot of attention to sound. And it uses the brand's tagline really well.
(70 sec watch)

A Human Library That Publishes People as Books
If you want to chat with someone you wouldn't normally get the opportunity to speak to, this Copenhagen-based library allows you to check people out. It's an interesting initiative that helps people understand the experiences of an alcoholic, a homeless person, someone into extreme body modification, someone with autism, and more. Thanks to Michael Newberry for sharing this.
(2 min read)

A Gorgeous Video That Uses Collage and a Horizontal Scroll Aesthetic
This is really nice. The continuous horizontal scroll and the collage approach really elevate it.
(3 min watch)

It's Not About Lacking Self Doubt. It's About Appearing Confident
I liked this short thread from journalist Grace Blakely on what she learned about communication following her appearance alongside Jacob Rees-Mogg on Question Time: "If you can master the art of portraying calm and confidence, without losing your ability for self-reflection after the fact, you’re on your way. If you can do both of those things simultaneously, while reacting rapidly, you’re basically set. I’m still a work in progress."
(2 min read)

5 Brilliant Examples of 'Show, Don't Tell' in Advertising
They are all great but I loved 'Highlight the remarkable' most.
(Tweet)

We hope you've enjoyed this week's newsletter. I'm sure some of your friends would love to read it. Sharing it would be really appreciated. If you've received this from a friend you can subscribe here and get it direct to your inbox every Friday.

Thanks for reading and see you all next week,

Hugh, Matt, Anjali and the team at Storythings

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other Storythings editorial projects quarterly digital publication global payroll client proofreading slide decks One last call The Short Story Twenty Four Hours The FourLetter Code

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A Simple Solution to Writer's Block, a 4 Letter Code to Sell Anything and 24 hours in the Life of Artists

10 stories we've enjoyed this week

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