Russell Davies

on originality, and my lack of it

I reckon I've had two decent ideas on this blog.

The first was a bit advertising focused. It was the advice, somewhere on a YouTube video, that if you really wanted to influence creative people you had to surrender credit for your ideas. To get your ideas into the process you have to convince the creatives they were their ideas. Not a big thought in the scheme of things but decent advice for a junior planner. And then, the other day, re-reading Jon Steel's Truth, Lies And Advertising, I realised that he gives precisely that advice. That must be where I got it from. (I guess me assuming it was my idea is testament to his skill as a planner.)

The second was the central point to the most popular post I've ever done - How To Be Interesting - which seemed to be taken a lot more seriously than I'd intended.

It was the idea that 'the best way to be interesting is to be interested'. I thought that was pretty smart. Then, this weekend, I was leafing through Paul Arden's It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be, at the checkout at Borders, and I realised that it's right in there, big and bold as a very big, very bold thing. I don't think I've ever bought a copy of it but it's definitely my favourite book for leafing through in Borders. I feel like I should get a copy now, since I've obviously, unconsciously, purloined it wholesale.

I don't really have a point to make. Other than that originality is hard. Certainly harder that I thought. And to apologise for the thievery. And to fess up since that Interesting post seems to be getting popular again.

get your daily monsters

I've been wanting to write about Stefan's Daily Monster book for ages, but felt, for some reason, that I ought to wait until you could get it in actual UK bookshops first. And then, we spotted it, in the Oxford Street, Borders. And you can get it at the UK Amazon. it's a fantastic thing, even more fantastic for those of us who've followed it from the beginning, seeing the idea arrive and take off. The book is also the story of the book, if you see what I mean. It's an excellent thing, a genuine and creatively successful product of the power of organising without organisations. I hope it sells and sells.

interesting schwag

The Design Conspirators have exerted themselves to maximum effect and designed a new logo for Interesting2008. Well, they've designed an 8. But what an 8. It's good isn't it?

In our constant search to make the whole conference thing easier to do we've decided we won't be making t-shirts or handing out goody bags, or pens or anything. But, if you want those things, we'd be absolutely delighted if you'd make your own. The logo's available in various formats on Ben's blog. Ben's offering a tiny prize for the best use of the logo.

And, and, and, there are still tickets available for Interesting Amsterdam on June 14th. The speaker list is magnificent. Who could resist hearing about the physics of quicksand from a man who does demos with a Tazmanian Devil?

bkkeepr

James Bridle writes a lot about the future of books and publishing and all that (here). And very wise, well-written and prescient writings they are too. But his words gain massively greater weight from the fact that he also does something about the future of books and publishing and that. All sorts of things in fact, from the innovative way he promotes Cooking With Booze (having actually written it first ) to organising the London Lit Plus festival to his latest thing - bkkeepr. (Which, in case you hadn't spotted is a disemvowled version of 'book-keeper').

It's a splendid and ingenious little thing, letting you keep track of, and share, your reading via your phone and twitter. It integrates with everything you might want it to. It's simple to do and it recognises that many people have their phone near them when they're reading and many don't have their computer.

And it's another perfect example of the sort of little service that some large corporation should have done, if only they had the nouse. I bet there are all sorts of publishers and book-sellers attending conferences about 'branded utility' and sitting in brainstormings about what they could do to extend their relationship with their readers. And James is just doing it. Because Doers like James are building the future, not just writing about it.

the do lectures

I was lucky enough to go the Howies Little Big Voice lectures last year. It was a completely excellent thing. Great talking, splendid people and a fantastic location. They're doing something similar this September, they're calling it the Do Lectures and they're offering free places to people who write them a convincing and imaginative letter. If you're looking for inspiration about things to Do to change the way you work, or consume, or make, or live it'd be a great place to start. More information here.

interesting practicalities

Just a note / reminder for everyone who's bought a ticket for Interesting. You should all have had a confirmation email from eventbrite. This is your actual ticket, just print it off and bring it along. As it says:

We won't be sending any sort of physical ticket anywhere, so if don't have the right address on your paypal account or you've moved house or something don't worry about it. We do not post the tickets.

(And I can't tell you how pleased I am that I've finally managed to build a sentence out of all these words I've been collecting.)

muxtaping news

A couple of people have asked what's happening with the muxtaping, more than reasonably. The ups and downs of muxtape slowed  me down a little but I think they're all finished now. So, if you left a muxtape address you now need to send me your postal address and I'll get your tape to you. (send it to russell at russelldavies.com)

demanding books

I was listening to this episode of On The Media the other day; all about the future of books, publishing and the media. None of it's especially new stuff but it's all interesting. I was especially struck by the conversation about the Espresso book making machine and how it might re-orientate book selling back to the specialist book-seller/lover. Maybe.  (I really like the invention story primarily being about glue. That's the great thing about invention; the problem you have to solve is never the one the outsider imagines it would be.)

And then I was at Borders on Oxford Street the other day and realised they're already practising for this world with their software on demand store. And it's a simple and good experience. It takes them about five minutes for them to knock you up your software, which isn't a pain because you're in a bookstore and you can have a pleasant browse around in the meantime.

more interesting speakers

There are a few more people to add to the speaker list. I'm very excited that this lot are going to be talking too.

First there's Younghee Jung, who, last time I saw her said she was going to talk about toilets, but might have changed her mind by now.

Then there's Lea Becker, who's going to talk about scribble drawing.

And Joel Gethin Lewis. I'm not sure what he's going to talk about but it's bound to be good.

Then, James Wallis is going to do a geophysical survey of World of Warcraft,

Jim Le Fevre is going to show us his DIY Zoetropes.

And finally we have Collyn Ahart Chipperfield who's going to talk about 'empty spaces and make believe games'.

It's all looking good. Now, who wants to make some scones?

last 50

There are fifty more Interesting tickets on sale here. Have at it.

UPDATE: Sold out I'm afraid.