There's a tendency when setting out to create great ads to look at other ads and try to emulate them. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Howard's book hits the nail on the head, and suggests instead we start where all great ads (which is to say, non scam and great) do: with a great brief.
The advice it gives is excellent; the examples some of the best you'll find and the writing style clear and compelling.
The variety of briefing formats, from a bunch of great agencies, shows there's more than one way to skin a cat. What binds them though is the passion of the people writing them (nameless in most cases, but that's a small quibble - perhaps all suits should sign their briefs though?). Without this passion, there's not hope of a creative team striking gold, and without that, there's no chance Mr and Mrs Shopper will pay attention to what you're saying and pull out their wallets.
If there are any shortcomings in this great little book, they're in the packaging, not the content. The layout is at times inelegant and the printing on my copy was poor in places. The author tells me there's a reprint on the way that will address the latter issue, but if your career depends on helping create great ads, don't wait - order this book today.
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