Ask the Author: Drew Neisser
Answered Questions (10)
Drew Neisser
While I enjoy the craft involved in turning a phrase or composing a lyrical sentence, my favorite part of writing is when someone reads what I've written and actually enjoys it. This is particularly gratifying for a business writer like myself.
Drew Neisser
No doubt, I'd want to drop into Milo's adventures in The Phantom Tollbooth. This was a childhood favorite and I'd be happy to jump to "Conclusions" or find myself in the "Doldrums."
Drew Neisser
In three ways: First, I stop trying to write and go get some exercise. Second, I read something completely irrelevant to my writing task. And when all else fails, I follow Ray Bradbury's recommendation and figuratively "throw up into my typewriter." Even if its complete drivel, seeing words removes the panic.
Drew Neisser
Here are a few book on my summer reading list:
Caste: the Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham
Caste: the Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham
Drew Neisser
Hey Steve -- believe it or not, I'm just seeing these questions now! A lot has happened in the last four years! My second book Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands, contains a number of surprising CMO stories and I can't wait for you to read it. Should be out in late September. Let's catch up soon.
Drew
Drew
Drew Neisser
My second book, Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable Brands is coming out this fall. It's the culmination of over 400 interviews, tons of primary research, and four decades as a marketing practitioner.
Drew Neisser
Hi Karen -- sorry for my delayed response. I write for two main reasons. First, I write to understand. The mere act of writing helps me clarify what I'm thinking about and what I'm learning from the CMOs I interview. Second, I write to help others understand marketing and in the process hope I inspire a few marketers to have the courage to do better, to drive purpose in their organization. Thanks for asking. Cheers, Drew
Drew Neisser
I love the expression "writers write." If you want to call yourself a writer then you better make the time to write. I know two bestselling novelists who started their careers in advertising doing something other than writing yet both found two hours a day to write. Their discipline and talent eventually allowed both to drop their "day jobs" but only after years of juggling.
Drew Neisser
It's really less about inspiration than habit. About 9 years ago, I decided I wanted to write an article every week to help gain exposure for my agency (Renegade LLC). Since then I've pretty much dedicated one weekend day to writing. In order to have enough to write about, I started interviewing marketers and that proved to be the key for a lot of good things. First, I learned so much from these folks and the process of writing about them, taught me even more. Second, I met some amazingly talented people.
Drew Neisser
The suggestion to write a book came from someone I had just met who said, "Dude, you've interviewed over 100 senior marketers for your blog, there must be a book in there!" Two weeks later it occurred to me that great marketers are like chemists, blending just the right elements together for extraordinary results. From there it was an easy leap to the periodic table as an organizing principle and eight months later, The CMO's Periodic Table rolled off the presses.
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