I once read that Hunter S. Thompson, as a young and ambitious writer, tried to improve his writing by copying word for word the opening chapter of The Great Gatsby. At that age, long before he became a literary legend, Thompson considered Fitzgerald’s book to be the great American novel, or close to it. So […]
Read More »Archive for writing
Strange Days – A Pandemic Journey
As if times weren’t strange enough, my artist friend, Karen Wippich, and I have created an art book together. “Strange Days: A Pandemic Journey” attempts to capture through images and words a sense of the surreal experience we’re all living through. It features 48 of Karen’s reality-bending paintings matched with my brief ponderings on our […]
Read More »A KILLER STORY
I don’t know how else to explain it but a few years ago I got a wild hair and summoned up the gall to try writing a novel. Nobody stopped me and now it’s done. The “book” is called A KILLER STORY. In short, it’s a first-person crime noir with a memoir undertone. It takes […]
Read More »What my gut says
It’s true, I’ve got a gut. It’s not a huge gut, but still I must admit it is indeed a gut. Unlike a washboard gut, it’s more of a “washtub” gut, as my wife jokes. My gut has instincts like our President’s gut, but I would never make life or death decisions based on those […]
Read More »SEE BEHIND THE CURTAIN – LES OVERHEAD EMAIL SIGNUP
Sign up for the Les Overhead Email List and get the real truth. Receive one vintage, handcrafted Les Overhead email every few weeks or so. Topics include copywriting, advertising, art, music, movies, humor, spelling, robots, kangaroos, and other tidbits of fascination. Click your heels together or click the link below to sign up. https://mailchi.mp/3b68236fbd6e/lesoverhead
Read More »Les Overhead in “Wall Street Journal”
30 YEARS SERVING THE ENTIRE EARTH Many thanks to clients and associates who have made it possible for Les Overhead to exist for 30 plus years. As mentioned in the “Wall Street Journal”. It’s amazing what you can achieve with passion, hard work, creativity, scissors, and double-stick tape. Les Overhead Do more with Les
Read More »Why I no longer hate typos
Somewhere, a robot is laughing at me. Typos used to bug the holy bejezus outta me. They drove me berserk. Whenever I saw one on a sign I wanted to tear it down. If I saw one in a news story or magazine ad I wanted to set fire to it. Once when a Portland […]
Read More »The Importance of Knees
As a competitive basketball player for untold years (48), I know well how important knees are. I would never have blocked as many shots (11) or swished so many countless jumpers (1,393), or dunked in so many opponents’ faces (0), without my knees rising to the occasion time after time. Go ahead and laugh. But […]
Read More »Bus 75: Hidden Portland
There’s a line to get in. It’s not long but it’s lively. Everyone is excited for the doors to open. It’s like this every Sunday evening at six o’clock when NWA Blue Collar Wrestling takes the stage at the Eagle’s Lodge on North Lombard. Bus 75 goes right by, within shouting distance. It’s performance art […]
Read More »Grandpa Lazlo played for the Copywriters
Found this old photo of my grandfather, Lazlo Overhead, who played college football for the Nebraska Copywriters, before they became the Cornhuskers. Copywriting and football run in the family. Okay, I’m lying. Lazlo played for the Carlile Copywriters, not Nebraska. And before being called the Cornhuskers, Nebraska’s team was known as the Bugeaters (no lie). […]
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