Platonic — Blog of Paul Syng

Chapter 5 — On Writing

Paul Syng’s SQUAD

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Chapter Five

On Writing
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Read Time: 3 minutes

Hello

Welcome to Chapter Five of SQUAD. Access the Locker to read old Chapters or T–S–F to download 365 open files. (Password: topgun)

The title for today’s chapter is a blatant rip-off from Stephen King’s book (review below). I couldn’t help myself. You’ll, and Stephen (if he were a squadron), would modestly agree, this is by far, an attempted textbook appropriation.

Or in other words, borrowing a book title, worth millions of dollars in copies sold, to elevate and prime my reader’s inbox experience. Is it working? Are you tickled?

Writers, copywriters and writing tools are the subjects of our talk. These essays, articles, books, works and apps have been passed down by friends, colleagues and, drum roll please, internet trolls (ahem, David).

As a kid, I loved reading Goosebumps (hottest book covers, ever) and comics–mostly Superman, Spiderman, Chacha Chaudhary and, my favourite, Batman. Back then, I mostly read stuff because I liked the book jacket cover art.

Whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover,” had no idea what they were talking about. Ask the 12-year-old me, he’ll tell you the glossy emboss on the cover of Jurrasic Park by Michael Crichton fermented my shallow, judgemental and pretentious general attitude towards books and life in general.

A bit of a stretch there. Coming back now. I was kidding. Ok, seriously now. Twenty-two years later, I find out the cover was designed by Chip Kidd. Watch his Ted Talk.

Even today, the smell of printed books (or petrol or wet cement or wet armpits)–type, chemicals, ink and paper never fail to disappoint my addiction.

Writers

☞ The Case of The Four And Twenty Blackbirds by Neil Gaiman (A short story)

☞ The Internet Is A Playground by David Thorne (27bslash6) is a compilation of email conversations–you’ll piss in your pants funny, promise.

☞ Neil French, a copywriter, is one of my biggest inspiration from advertising. His long copy ads are such a treat.
☞ Write Like You Talk by Paul Graham (A blog post)
☞ The Element by Sir Ken Robinson (If you need help figuring out your passion–the why– in life)

Pocket Novels
☞ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is story narrated by an autistic kid. I’ve already said too much.

☞ Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite by Paul Arden debunks conventional wisdom in bold typography.

Reviews

☞ On Writing by Stephen King

☞ Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

☞ Why Men Lie And Women Cry by Allan & Barbara