ROOFTOP banter

Technology: The Writer’s Frenemy

Posted By: 

Julie Jones

Date: 

April 7th, 2011 /// Inspiration

Technology is great for a creative writer, but it also can drive apathy. Don’t take me wrong; I’ll take my MacBook over a quill and parchment any day. But technology can rob a writer of the fundamentals, namely having a weighty toolbox of words – spelled correctly – at the ready, right in the old noggin.

Moderation may be key, but just try catching a misspelled word without spell checker flagging it. Can’t think of a synonym? Thesaurus is a click away. If you even start to type a word on a smart phone, a menu of options come up – singular, plural, past and present. Moderation is tough with the pusher man always waiting in the wings.

In truth, I find these tools helpful, particularly as I supply creative writing on demand 40 hours per week. But I still need to actively build my core word knowledge; otherwise I may be at a loss for words when I should be waxing poetic.

What’s a writer to do? Funny enough, the Words with Friends app is helping my cause lately. Not only does it require me to spell correctly, but it also challenges me to tap into my bevy of word knowledge. Plus, other players teach me new words. Who knew the word “suq” means “open-air marketplace?” I’ll tell you who: Mascara26.

So, I guess technology kills, and it saves. Thanks, Words with Friends. Or should I say, deepest gratitude or much obliged.

Check it out for yourself – available for iPhone and Android.

Look for me: jmjones202

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Will The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Sell Us Out?

Posted By: 

Brandi Hensler

Date: 

March 31st, 2011 /// Industry Insight, Inspiration, Marketing Trends, Uncategorized

“So what I want to do is make a film about product placement, marketing and advertising where the entire film is funded by product placement, marketing and advertising.”

From Morgan Spurlock, the director of Super Size Me, comes a documentary that plans to reveal all the dirty details of the true world of advertising. I would guess that many in our industry are responding with a deep sigh or an “uh oh.” People are going to see who we really are. What we really do to make them want what we have. All with complete transparency.

This girl? Not worried. Excited, actually.

Advertisers today aren’t necessarily the same malicious manipulators that I grew up hearing ranked right next to lawyers on the Scale of Evilness. Today, if you’re smart, you know better.

The gap between social media and PR is closing everyday. Information sharing is increasing exponentially. Consumers trust word-of-mouth 60% more than traditional advertising. With all this, brands are being forced to be more transparent and honest… or else (cue the Nestle palm oil push back).

There’s no hiding who you really are anymore, and I don’t have a problem with that. It’s only pushing us all to do what the best of the industry have done all along – find the truth about your product and communicate it to those who will take interest. Work harder. Be more creative. This documentary may be perfect inspiration to take it even further.

In any case, the film and related aftermath promise to be wildly entertaining. So stock up on name-brand munchies and update your Fandango app. This is an extravaganza we won’t want to miss.

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The Copy D. Word of the Week

Posted By: 

Copy D

Date: 

September 12th, 2010 /// Copy D. Word of the Week

Smurf [smerf]
-n.; v.; adv.; adj.
1. small blue creatures who live in Smurf Village somewhere in the woods.
2. a word to describe any of or relating to smurfs, their things or their actions.

Yeah I saw him smurfing when I smurfed into town to get some smurf for later; he was pretty smurfed up.

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The Copy D. Word of the Week

Posted By: 

Copy D

Date: 

December 28th, 2009 /// Copy D. Word of the Week

skul⋅dug⋅ger⋅y [skuhl-duhg-uh-ree]
–n. plural -ger⋅ies.
1. an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick.

I knew there was some skullduggery afoot when I noticed my chair was on the ceiling.

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The Copy D. Word of the Week

Posted By: 

Copy D

Date: 

December 21st, 2009 /// Copy D. Word of the Week

tar⋅ra⋅did⋅dle [tar-uh-did-l]
–n.
1.    a petty falsehood; a fib.

I don’t know what you’re so mad about, I just told a tiny tarradiddle.

You told my niece you had a unicorn farm so that she would choose you as her favorite!

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