Good with words, crap with everything else

The regular reader of this blog will know that one of my favourite things to write about is the many differences between writers and art directors.

Well, in the early hours of this morning, as I tried to grope my way to the toilet and realised I’d painted my bathroom door shut, I thought of another one. Ability to do DIY (that's home improvement to you johnny foreigners).

Art directors, though often not the sharpest scalpel blades in the studio, are good at practical stuff like putting up a shelf, hammering nails and tying their shoelaces. Whereas writers, supreme beings who exist on a more ethereal plane, struggle with this type of thing.

It stands to reason. Part of an art director’s job is to make little things out of foamboard, papier maché and matchsticks, so it’s one of the (very few) job requirements. The other one is being able to make tea. (You don’t have to be able to draw, that’s a visualiser. An art director is a visualiser who can’t draw.)

I'm right about this aren't I? Or are there any writers out there who have put up a shelf?

Also, I wonder if another distinction is political leanings. A lot of art directors I’ve met seem to hold views somewhere right of Goebbels. Whereas all writers seem to be lilly-livered bleeding heart liberals.

Any thoughts on any of this anyone? No? Fine.

UPDATE: Willy at The smell of markers posted this in the comments but I was so delighted that someone actually went to some kind of effort for this blog AND was funny (double first!) that i've stuck it here.