The interviews and photographs, captured at a drop-in center and safe haven in Manhattan, tell deeply personal stories of pain, addiction and loss but also of hope and ingenuity. Creatives Chris and Simon discuss the project as a reclamation of what it means for something to be “essential.” They also talk about the importance of setting aside creativity for the sake of creativity in favor of an authenticity that serves the stories of their subjects.
Read MoreYou Might Be a Creative, But You Don't Own Creativity
“Refusing to look for potential in those we work alongside is just plain shortsighted… Creativity isn’t a precious commodity to be protected… If anything, creativity is exponential—the more we engage in being creative together, the more creativity there is to go around.”
Read MoreWhat’s It Like to Freelance? Myths vs. Real Talk
"Now, having just ended a seven-year freelance career to go back to a full-time staff position, I’d like to help anyone considering making the same leap I did years ago. When it comes to freelancing, here are the myths and here’s some real talk."
Read MoreThen We Really Came To The End: On Andrew Essex’s "The End of Advertising"
What is advertising when there’s no more advertising to be found? Now that ad blocking software zaps banner ads. Now that cord cutting has killed the 30-second spot. What are traditional concepts, anyway, in the face of DJ Khaled posting a story on Instagram about Weight Watchers?
Read MoreHow to Lose Your Mind Finding Your Next Freelance Job
My mind has always been a fair-weather fan, cheering me on when I'm producing wins at work. "You're so smart, Nick. A stable genius I tell you." But at my first mental fumble, he turns on me. It doesn't matter if I've given him two Super Bowl spots. Or that I'm a great dad. Or that I'm happily married. To the fair-weather fan in my head, I'm a failure.
Read MorePeter Rosch Shows You Creatives & Agencies How To Use Your Egos For Good
"It’s a pretty simple premise. When I have the time, I let agencies know that I am available to crush it for 48-ish hours on a range of very specific asks in exchange for a minimum donation of $1000." So far, 3 agencies have enlisted Peter's ego for more than $7,300 in donations to CASA for Children.
Read MoreOkCupid's First Ad Campaign Is Down to Focus On More Than Just Hookups
We interview WNW Members Dana Davis, Designer at OkCupid, and Jessica Shriftman, Wieden+Kennedy Art Director. As Dana tells us, "The DTF campaign is a great extension of OkCupid’s mission to focus on substance and depth -- and to reflect back on the issues and passions that people care about."
Read MoreAndrew Jasperson's Short Roasts Silicon Valley's Self-Importance
It's cool to want to change the world for the better. It's amazing to actually do it. But it's super annoying to act like you're doing it and talk about you doing it while you do it. Silicon Valley and Madison Ave are some of the biggest exporters of this often hilarious self-importance.
Read MoreHow Steph Price Uses Her Ad Background to Run a School in Haiti
WNW Member Steph Price was on a well-trodden path as a copywriter in New York's advertising industry. Then, in 2010, a massive earthquake rocked Haiti and Steph took a beat. "29, single, some money in the bank, and a job I could quit at any time… I knew I could do more. So I reached out to a friend in the non-profit world and soon enough, I bought a one-way ticket to Port-au-Prince." Her decision would drastically alter her life.
Read More
How to Make People Give a Shit About a Napkin
WNW Member Jeff Scardino is keeping napkins cool with the latest "How Lovely" campaign for Vanity Fair napkins. As Jeff points out, it's no easy task. "No one uses napkins anymore. Especially younger people who just rip off a paper towel.
Read MoreMeet the WNW Members Named to Adweek's 2017 Creative 100 List
Congratulations to the Working Not Working Members and all creatives and artists named to Adweek's third annual edition of the Creative 100. The annual list celebrates "the masters of creativity" and "profiles 100 unique and fascinating problem solvers from the worlds of advertising, branding, media, technology, pop culture and more." Get to know the names and work of the featured Working Not Working Members below.
Read MoreCOPYWRITER BRITTANY POOLE OFFERS HER OWN WRITER'S RETREAT
COPYWRITER BRITTANY POOLE
OFFERS HER OWN LOCAL
WRITER'S RETREAT
If you're a writer, you're most likely currently struggling to make sufficient progress on a project. If you're a writer and you don't struggle, get in touch with us so we can share with others how you bottled that magic. WNW Member Brittany Poole knows that for most of us, external and internal distractions do what they do and get in the way. Which is why she started hosting Local Writer's Retreats out of her creativity-tailored home in Santa Monica. So to the 99.9% of writers: What are you doing this Saturday?
Below, we talk to Brittany about this latest endeavor. In 2015, she co-founded HUSH, a database of the world’s best spots for a digital detox. So she's essentially an expert on combatting distraction. "Most creatives, myself included, are already masters at putting barriers in their own way. We like to make things black and white. Like, one day I’ll be so rich, I can quit my job, get a villa in Tuscany and finish that novel. When really, you could start this Saturday. It just might not be as sexy. So I felt like a local retreat could help bridge some of those barriers for people and eliminate some of those excuses."
What separates Brittany's eight-hour retreats are the minimal price tag (which includes lunch, a happy hour, and a fresh, bottomless mug of coffee), and the no-bullshit simplicity. (There are no critiques or unnecessary lectures.) She has a space that has helped fuel her creativity and she wants to share it. "The Local Writer’s Retreat is super personal. People are making a commitment to themselves to show up and put eight solid hours into their work (whether it’s a screenplay, an article, a standup set, a blog post, or even just some personal journaling). It’s their time. So I don’t really have a lot of rules, except maybe don’t blast the Black Eyed Peas through your headphones. Rihanna’s probably fine though."
Sign up for a retreat this Saturday, or one (or both!) of the two that Brittany is hosting in July. You can use the code 'WNW' to get $10 off if you sign up for this Saturday's retreat before Friday.
Tell us a little bit about your creative background. Who is Brittany and how did she get here?
I'm an advertising creative and brand consultant, currently freelancing in LA. I cut my teeth at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, working on campaigns like JELL-O Pudding Face and Burger King’s Whopper Lust, before heading off to Saatchi and Saatchi London. Like most creatives in advertising, I like a constant buzz of side projects to soothe my creative soul. So I also recently began hosting one-day writing retreats out of my house in LA.
What lead you to open a writer’s retreat in your Santa Monica home?
Honestly, chasing the perfect coffee shop around LA is the pits. You’re spending tons of money on coffee, only to quickly realize people are staring you down for the table. Or else you get caught eavesdropping on some Hollywood drama for two hours and then spend the next two hours tweeting about it. We all do that, right? :)
That said, I’ve experienced firsthand how inspiring and effective a writer’s retreat can be at catapulting a project forward. It’s amazing what you can do when you physically remove all other distractions. Also, I’m just obsessed with my house. I realize that’s an obnoxious thing to say. But the space is so bright and calming and I’ve found it easier to work here than anywhere I’ve lived before. So I wanted to share that with other people.
Historically, writers have always been holing up in the woods to get words on the page... I’ve just found that nowadays, the retreats you find online are in exotic places with a very high price tag.
How does it work?
It’s basically like an adult study hall that you pay for. It’s intentional writing from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a thirty-minute break for lunch. No critiques or unnecessary lectures. Just an experiment to see what people can get done when they commit real time to their writing. (Lunch and an afternoon happy hour are included. And there’s always plenty of fresh coffee in the kitchen.) Other than that, it’s all about the work.
What do you think the average writer’s retreat does well? What areas of improvement did you want to get right with your own?
Historically, writers have always been holing up in the woods to get words on the page. So a retreat is really nothing new. They can be incredibly inspiring and rewarding. I’ve just found that nowadays, the retreats you find online are in exotic places with a very high price tag.
Sadly, most creatives, myself included, are already masters at putting barriers in their own way. We like to make things black and white. Like, one day I’ll be so rich, I can quit my job, get a villa in Tuscany and finish that novel. When really, you could start this Saturday. It just might not be as sexy. So I felt like a local retreat could help bridge some of those barriers for people and eliminate some of those excuses.
What are the golden rules of your writer’s retreat?
The week before, I’ll ask all participants to write down their hopes for those eight hours. Then, they break those down into hourly goals. We’ll share those goals at the beginning of the day for a bit of accountability, and then we get to it.
Otherwise, the Local Writer’s Retreat is super personal. People are making a commitment to themselves to show up and put eight solid hours into their work (whether it’s a screenplay, an article, a standup set, a blog post, or even just some personal journaling). It’s their time. So I don’t really have a lot of rules, except maybe don’t blast the Black Eyed Peas through your headphones. Rihanna’s probably fine though.
I also encourage people to wait until after lunch to get the wi-fi password. If you need it earlier, you have to ask for it out loud. A tiny bit of sadistic peer pressure on my part. But it keeps people thinking more intentionally about their computer time, and I’m just trying to help!
I also encourage people to wait until after lunch to get the wi-fi password. If you need it earlier, you have to ask for it out loud. A tiny bit of sadistic peer pressure on my part. But it keeps people thinking more intentionally about their computer time, and I’m just trying to help!
We’re noticing a trend, as you’re also the co-founder of HUSH, a database of the world’s best locations for a digital detox. Do you think the age of technology and information is an overall positive evolution that just needs checks and balances? Or would you permanently flip off that switch in a heartbeat if you could?
Ha, there is definitely a trend there. I can’t say a life void of technology is something I strive for. I’ve just always been pretty bad at multi-tasking. (I don’t really believe anyone’s made for multi-tasking, but that’s probably a discussion for another day.) So I think both HUSH and these writer’s retreats come from a place of being more mindful of how you’re using technology and where you’re putting your time. It’s like when kids used to take Adderall in college and then accidentally use all that focus on five hours of Facebooking. Creative energy is such an ebb and flow. I just like helping people be more considerate about where they’re directing it.
What advice can you offer to aspiring writers beyond maximizing the potential of their writing space?
1. Writers are dreamers. So we love fantasizing about the final goal. The screenplay becomes a box office hit. The novel earns its place among the classics. The blog has advertisers throwing money your way, and then you get to explain to all the dummies at your high school reunion what a “social influencer” means. These dreams are visceral and delightful. But if you can put that same romanticism into just getting 2500 words on a page, imagining how great that would feel, then you can start to chip away at the actual goal.
2. I think we lie to ourselves a lot. We say we’re going to get up at 6:00 like Hemingway and write every morning, when in truth, we’ve only ever done that once in 2013. So this year, personally, I’ve been calling myself out for those kinds of blatant lies. Instead, I’ve been trying to honestly acknowledge when and how I’m most efficient. I guess that doesn’t totally answer the question. But I think if you can reflect on those things more honestly, you can maximize your own progress. So you can admit that writing in the morning isn’t your thing. Or working from home isn’t your thing. Or even that working on a solitary project for months on end isn’t your thing. Then, you can optimize whatever it is that does work for you.
It’s like when kids used to take Adderall in college and then accidentally use all that focus on five hours of Facebooking. Creative energy is such an ebb and flow. I just like helping people be more considerate about where they’re directing it.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a writing project about my grandmother and her philandering ways. Recently, I’ve gained enough confidence to call it a novel. So I guess I’m working on a novel about that.
What do you do when Not Working?
I love taking classes when I can. This last year, I took an acting class for voice-over talent, which was a lot more nerve-wracking than it sounds. You can hear every mouth noise in that booth! I make a lot of gluten-free treats and force people to say it tastes like the real thing. Let’s see. I spend a lot of time traveling back and forth to Nashville to see family. I also enjoy gardening and emailing random bluegrass bands to see if they need backup vocals, so far to no avail. Call me!
What have you been reading lately that you would recommend to fellow WNW members?
I just finished Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s a fantastic read for creative minds. She points out how paralyzing it can be when everyone’s telling you to pursue your passion, especially for artists and writers. And she offers permission instead to “explore your curiosity.” It’s such a lovely phrase because it softens that calling and lets you get down to the business of making stuff—without knowing where it might lead. It’s a really refreshing book. I wish I could give it to everyone.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes! We still have a few spots left for our retreat this Saturday (June 3rd). And you can use the code: WNW to get $10 off if you sign up before Friday!
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
Overshare Podcast: Sara Shelton
Overshare Podcast: Sara Shelton
Overshare is a Working Not Working event series and podcast that features honest conversations with our favorite creatives about the tough stuff we don't talk about in public often enough. As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we're sharing Episode 7, which celebrates a project that builds awareness year-round. This conversation couldn't be closer to capturing what Overshare is all about. WNW Member #103 Sara Shelton sat down with our friend Claire Wasserman, founder of Ladies Get Paid, about her brave and very necessary project We Get Depressed. Having battled depression herself, and losing her brother to it, Sara knows better than anyone the importance of starting a cause that directly tackles one of depression’s false and most dangerous calling cards: that you're alone in your depression.
You can listen to the entire conversation on our podcast, sponsored by FreshBooks. Subscribe to Overshare on iTunes, and listen to all the other Overshare episodes with any other podcasting app via our RSS feed or follow us on Spotify.
Below, you can also read our Magazine interview with Sara from January 2016, when We Get Depressed was just getting started.
Magazine Interview From January 29, 2016
"I was walking my dog, thinking about how, statistically speaking, I was walking by tons of people who get depressed. And wouldn’t it be comforting to just know who they were, so we could do a little nod, like, 'Yep, I get you.' When I got home from that walk, I bought the URL for We Get Depressed, googled 'how to build an online store,' and now here we are."
In the interview below, Sara also discusses depression's link with creativity: "We’re thinkers! We over analyze and question things and sweat all the details... I try to think of it as a package deal. Being creative means that sometimes, I’ll struggle with depression. But it also means that sometimes, I’ll get to feel funny and smart and excited to make things. I try hard to be okay with that package because, for one, I don’t have a choice - I’m stuck with myself. But also because when I’m in a good place, I really like getting to be me."
Get your t-shirt here to let others know they're not alone.
Tell us a little bit about your background. Who is Sara Shelton and how did she get here? How did you become a copywriter?
I wasn’t lucky enough to be one of those kids who knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. All I knew was that I wanted to do something creative, something I cared about, and something that I could do while wearing sneakers. After growing up in Texas, I eventually found my way to Ft Lauderdale (okay, I moved there for a dude) and finished up my degree in Communications.
When I set out to find my first real job, I immediately regretted majoring in Communications. I hadn’t learned how to DO anything. But I loved writing, so I made a list of every film company, editorial house, and ad agency within 50 miles of where I lived, and started knocking on doors. My first job was as a personal assistant at a tiny, three-person ad agency. Then I moved to what I thought was a more legit agency, only to discover that it was basically scamming people with those “Click Here and Get a Free iPod” web banners. (Sorry, everyone).
My uncle is a copywriter, so I talked to him and he said, “you’re not really working in advertising, you know.” He told me about copywriting, and about Miami Ad School. I wasn’t too thrilled about going back to school, but I decided to give it a shot. After my first quarter in ad school, I was like, “okay, I love this and I want to be really good at this.” So I put my head down and got to work.
What do you do when “Not Working”?
There’s nothing I love more than sitting in a bar with funny friends laughing about dumb shit. I’m also a big lover of comedy. I’m so fascinated by standup, although I’ve never performed it. I used to do a lot of improv, but being part of a group is a huge commitment… and agency life makes that really difficult. So now I just perform in storytelling shows from time to time. It’s not as popular of an art form, but I love it. You should check it out! I also have this really awesome pitbull named Thor who I wander around Brooklyn with quite a bit. I can be a bit of a hermit, so it’s nice that he forces me to get out of the house. I actually had the idea for We Get Depressed while I was out walking him.
What led you to start this project?
Depression has been a “thing” in my life since I was in high school. I lost my brother to suicide when I was 16, so I’ve spent years thinking about his depression, and playing out ways I could have saved him. But since then, I’ve also struggled with my own depression, so it’s always top of mind. There was a time about four years ago when I had just moved to LA and out of nowhere, I got really depressed. Like, really depressed. I remember meeting my aunt for dinner and just hoping she’d be able to tell because I was too embarrassed to bring it up. Luckily, she noticed immediately, and she and my cousin put me in touch with a professional. I got on medication for a while, and once I was feeling better, I thought a lot about how ashamed I had felt for feeling depressed. I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone with my problem, and I was honestly too exhausted to google “therapists in Santa Monica”. Keeping it a secret had been so important to me, which in hindsight felt really messed up.
So when Robin Williams died last year, I posted something on Facebook, encouraging friends to get help if they need it. The last part of it said, “And don’t think, for a second, you’re alone. There’s probably more of us than there are of them, just no one ever talks about it.” I got so many messages about that post. Friends basically saying “hey, that’s really brave of you to admit that you get depressed. Nobody knows this, but I’ve struggled with it too.” I realized admitting it wasn’t just a problem for me, but for others as well.
Then a few months ago, I was walking my dog and thinking about how, statistically speaking, I was walking by tons of people who get depressed. And wouldn’t it be comforting to just know who they were, so we could do a little nod, like, “Yep, I get you.” When I got home from that walk, I bought the URL for We Get Depressed, googled “how to build an online store,” and now here we are.
We Get Depressed directly tackles one of depression’s false calling cards, that we’re alone in our depression. Do you see that feeling of loneliness in feeling alone as the most dangerous effect of depression?
I do, and social media doesn’t help. Online, we all present ourselves as these perfect people loving every moment. Depression makes you feel like you’re the only one on the planet who’s such a mess, so you go out of your way to hide it from all your “perfect” friends. Which, I’m telling you, is absolutely exhausting. And only makes it worse.
There seems to be a general consensus that depression is particularly prevalent in creative individuals. Why do you think this is? How has your creativity helped keep depression at bay? And how has your creativity perhaps opened the door to depression?
Because we’re thinkers! We over analyze and question things and sweat all the details. Creative people have heightened emotions. Sometimes that can work to our advantage, and other times it’s the opposite. That’s just the way it is. So I try to think of it as a package deal. Being creative means that sometimes, I’ll struggle with depression. But it also means that sometimes, I’ll get to feel funny and smart and excited to make things. I try hard to be okay with that package because, for one, I don’t have a choice - I’m stuck with myself. But also because when I’m in a good place, I really like getting to be me.
What’s been the reaction since you started this project? Any unexpected effects from sharing it?
The support has been so reassuring. Not only are people buying the shirt, but they’re wearing it. I found wearing it to be a bit intimidating at first, so I’ve been really inspired by those who throw it on like it’s nothing. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something, rather than just a lone wolf trying to make a point. One thing I wasn’t expecting to happen was how many people would reach out to me, and share their personal experiences with depression. People seem to really want to open up about it. Makes sense, because it feels pretty liberating.
What are some top tips you can give to fellow WNW members who suffer from depression?
I don’t know if I’m qualified to give tips, but here are some things I wish I was better at:
- Don’t wait until it gets really bad to admit it to yourself. Talking yourself out of a dark hole fucking sucks, and the deeper you’re in it, the harder it can be to motivate yourself to start crawling out of it.
- Make mental notes of what triggers your depression, so you can (try to) limit those things.
- When things are good, note the things that make you feel joy, and make those things a priority in your life.
- Don’t give up, you’re doing the best you can and that’s good enough. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
- Tell someone. (Maybe someone who you know can relate because you’ve seen them wearing that shirt around.)
Who are some other WNW members whose work you admire, and why?
There are so many! I’ve always admired Brian Moore, Rahul Panchal, and Graham Douglas for each having this fearless attitude towards making ideas happen. I’m a big fan of Tommy Noonan and his new bodega project. I’m obsessed with Donnell Johnson’s writing. And nobody has a better eye than Elizabeth Dilk. Anything she lays out, I want to buy.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
Make sure to follow us on Instagram or on Twitter, where we share more content like this.
GIF by WNW Member Joseph Alessio
What We As Creatives Can Do Now
This is not normal. We are in uncharted territory, and we need to fight.
We can and should march, protest, preach, call our representatives, stand up for what’s right, create meaningful words and images and experiences, hug our loved ones, look out for our non-loved ones, and probably make sure we have plenty of extra water and food and an emergency plan. That goes for everyone. But there are a few things those of us who are part of this particular creative community can do.
Read MorePROFILES OF THE WEEK: NOVEMBER 28TH
PROFILES OF THE WEEK:
NOVEMBER 28TH
Michael Ramirez, Producer. San Francisco.
Juliana Lynch, Art Director. New York.
Stuart Harricks, Art Director. New York.
Laurel Stark Akman, Copywriter. San Francisco.
Beck Hickey, Art Director. New York.
Thomas Pregiato, Designer. New York.
Greg Dalbey, Art Director. New York.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
PROFILES OF THE WEEK: NOVEMBER 21ST
PROFILES OF THE WEEK:
NOVEMBER 21ST
Monica Welsh, Art Director. New York.
Eun Bin Park, Designer. Seoul.
Caitlin De Angelis, Producer. New York.
Michelle Hirschberg, Copywriter. Brooklyn.
Charles Haggas, Creative Technologist. Austin.
Miro Klasinc, Motion Designer. Los Angeles.
Corey Koberna, Art Director. San Francisco.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
THIS COPYWRITER BUILT HIS OWN WRITING SHED
THIS COPYWRITER BUILT HIS
OWN WRITING SHED
It's important for a creative to have a space that's actually conducive with being creative. Sometimes this can just mean a big desktop, some framed inspiration, and an ergonomic chair. But WNW Member and copywriter Brock Kirby decided to go about a thousand steps further, well beyond adding a new bookshelf or some air-purifying plants: he built his own writing shed.
Brock tell us the whole process took about a year. He had been considering going freelance for a while, and the writing shed was a big part of that dream. Now he freelances, from his backyard. In our interview below, Brock admits that he got a big boost from his father-in-law. "He’s a master builder; that’s not just hyperbole, that’s his official title. He’s incredible at what he does and basically built the entire thing. I held the other end of the measuring tape and made runs to the hardware store, but without him I’m sitting in a prefab. He’s a saint."
Obviously, not everyone has the space or energy or father-in-law to construct their own creative shed. But Brock has some priceless advice that should help everyone up their creative levels. "Have a designated drawer for your phone and keep it in there most of the day. Other than that, just have fun and wear sweat suits."
Tell us a little bit about your background. Who is Brock Kirby and how did he get here?
I’m an Oregon boy. I graduated from the University of Oregon and went out to JWT New York for a couple years, but Portland was calling me back. I landed in a pretty sweet situation at Wieden+Kennedy and learned from the best in that beautiful building. And now, freelance, in my backyard.
What was the impetus behind building a writing shed?
I had been considering freelance for awhile and the shed was part of that dream. I love my 1-year-old and 4-year-old kids very much, but I knew I’d need a quiet space away from the Thunderdome that is my house.
I looked at a ton of pre-fab units, but realized my father-in-law and I could probably do it better and cheaper.
What element of the finished product are you proudest of?
The cedar ceiling. In the process of building it we decided to extend it to the eaves out front. I love that it brings the outside and the inside together.
What was the biggest challenge in making this creative retreat a reality? How long did it take?
The whole process took about a year. We poured concrete summer 2015, started framing in Spring 2016 and finished the whole thing by end of Summer 2016. We did the majority of the work on weekends and evenings, so just finding the time was the biggest hurdle.
Have you considered a career in architecture and carpentry?
I took some college level engineering classes in high school and worked as a general laborer during the summer for my father-in-law. He’s the one with the skills. He’s a master builder; that’s not just hyperbole, that’s his official title. He’s incredible at what he does and basically built the entire thing. I held the other end of the measuring tape and made runs to the hardware store, but without him I’m sitting in a prefab. He’s a saint.
What are the essentials for your personal creative feng shui?
Books and a couple comfortable chairs. I’ve left some space on the shelves and walls to remind myself that I still have lots of time to fill it with cool stuff.
Have you come up with a set of rules that you must abide by while in your creative retreat?
1: Write
2: Read
3. No fantasy football.
Everyone works best under their own set of circumstances. But what are some tips you can offer to creative to make their creative spaces conducive to being just that?
Have a designated drawer for your phone and keep it in there most of the day. Other than that, just have fun and wear sweat suits.
What projects have you been working on in your new digs?
Agency work, short films, the shed itself. Now that I have this big personal project out of the way I can move on to the more cliché ones, novels and pilots and such.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Seriously, get yourself a really comfortable sweat suit or five. At any moment you’re ready to write long copy, do calisthenics or sprint after the godforsaken cat that keeps digging in my fall vegetables.
