Hello,
Thank you so much for agreeing to be a part of The Writing Desk Blog.
Now, imagine I’m about to introduce you to an auditorium, filled with the smiling faces of folks fuelled by caffeine and an eagerness to learn. What would I say?
“Hello everyone, I’d like to introduce…
Lewis Houghton, Motorsport Copywriter
Here’s the part where we’d sit down and try and look comfortable next to the microphones. Are you sitting comfortably? Then let’s begin…
Can you name the business book that’s always on your desk? (I’m talking about the one that’s covered in pencil marks, coffee stains and has turned down corners…)
VeryGoodCopy by Eddie Shleyner is front and centre, always.
What’s your all-time favourite advertising campaign?
Early 2000s PlayStation campaigns were unbelievably weird.
“Everyone has a book in them…” Or so the saying goes. What do you think/know/believe is the secret to good writing?
If you like it, someone else is bound to, too. Trust your gut.
If you were just starting out, what advice would you give yourself? Which book or books would you read first?
I’d spend more time on spec work/outreach and less on a snazzy website that gets no traffic…
Silence? Radio? Or music while you work?
Music. Currently spinning a Vietnam War-era playlist.
What are your top three novels of all time – and why?
Dune by Frank Herbert, Poor Things by Alasdair Gray and Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. A mixture of childhood favourites and reference points for some of my favourite movies.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever written? Why did it rock your world?
When I had my work adapted into a script for one of my favourite games of all time, with zero amends, it was a pretty surreal experience.
What’s the last thing you bought? And yes, that packet of chewing gum counts.
A Sonos speaker for my office.
Who was your teenage crush?
Lucy Liu. Kill Bill was my favourite movie at that time.
Can you describe the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
The Spanish tapas on my first night in Barcelona hit particularly hard.
What’s your favourite tipple? Is it wine, beer – a cask-aged malt?
Not a big drinker, but it’d be an apple cider or a fruity seltzer if I’m feeling pretentious.
If I were to give you a private jet, David Attenborough as a tour guide and a month off work – all expenses paid – where would you go and what or who would you write about – and why?
I’d tour Europe. I love modern history, so I’d drag our David to the sites of Cold War-era conflicts.
What’s in your pockets?
Phone, lip balm, tissue.
Pen and ink, pencil and paper or keyboard and screen? What’s your writing style?
Keyboard and screen. Backspace gets some hammering when I work.
Do you read any blogs or magazines about writing? (And I mean read, not just subscribe to and delete/leave on your desk and recycle?)
I read Eddie Shleyner’s newsletter and visit Harry Dry’s Marketing Examples when I need a bit of inspo.
Tea – or coffee? What’s your poison?
Tea. Strong, dash of almond milk.
Do you have a favourite cup or mug? Can you describe it?
A handmade mug from Glaze Me Pretty. It’s coral green with a crystal glaze.
What was your most adored children’s book? And character?
The Twits by Roald Dahl. I loved the illustrations from Quentin Blake — they made my skin crawl. Favourite character – Alfie, the tortoise in Esio Trot. Spends his days munching on lettuce.
Your favourite word?
BOSH (as I close my laptop for the day)
Your most loathed word? (You know, the one that makes you shudder and say “Ew!”?)
Microsoft Teams
Where can we find you? – Browsing online or lost in the aisles of a bookstore?
YouTube wormhole about cinematography.
Favourite song lyric of all time? And why?
‘It feels like your entrance just caused the temperature to rise’ from The Element of Surprise by The Last Shadow Puppets. It’s the first band I saw with my wife, back in 2016, and I feel that way every time I see her.
Name the artist who’s guaranteed to get you up on the dance floor.
The Weeknd.
Do you have any strange writing rituals you’d like to share with us?
I double space and then hit backspace once after every sentence… don’t ask me why.
What are you working on today? What’s in the pipeline?
Today is the annual I-forgot-to-save-my-expense-receipts day as I prepare to file my taxes.
Can you describe the last photograph you took?
My dog using a pillow as a headrest, but at an impossibly acute angle.
What piece of advice really changed you as a writer?
Fear is the mind killer.
What was the last thing you wrote that had nothing to do with your job?
My mother’s day card.
What’s your favourite quote about the process of writing?
The scariest moment is always just before you start – Stephen King
Who is your favourite Mad Man – or Woman?
I need to watch this show! I’m fascinated by Greta Gerwig’s approach to adapting Little Women (one of my all-time favourite movies).
Can you name your favourite film – and tell us why you love it?
The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson. It’s an obvious choice, but it’s just bloody beautiful. The dialogue is perfect, the cast is brilliant. And I’m a sucker for an arty film.
Which book or books is/are by your bed today?
Writing Fiction by Gotham Writers’ Workshop. I’m working on my first novel.
Who was or is your greatest teacher?
Mrs Boyle was my sixth-form English teacher who saw the potential in me and nurtured it. She’s the reason I’m where I am today.
Who is your favourite artist?
Music – enjoying a lot of Bob Dylan at the moment
Art – my wife. She’s here: Sophie Amelia Design
Where do you like to work best – is it at a desk, in an office or in a coffee shop? And would you send us a picture of where the magic happens?
At my home office
🤖 AI, Chat GPT, Gemini, Claude—your thoughts as of today’s date, please? (Because it will all change in the blink of an eye, and – yes – the em dash is deliberate.)
Handy(ish) for research. Google has become a chasm of AI-generated slop and advertisements. I seldom use it. I wouldn’t feel good submitting work that had been created with AI.
And finally, where can this caffeine-fuelled audience find you?
LinkedIn, unfortunately. Wade through the business gurus and the entrepreneur bros and I’m there plodding along.
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