The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 12 with guest Will Hudson
Will Hudson (@WillHudson) is the Co-Founder and Director of It’s Nice That, a publishing company that champions creativity across the world of art & design. Together with Prescott, he discusses how It’s Nice That began as an art school project and grew into a publishing empire cum creative agency in London. We also hear about Will’s productivity habits, and how he manages the assault of so much email.
Show Notes & Links
Prescott and Will met a few times, in New York and in LondonIt’s Nice That began as a university projectINT publishes about 9 articles per day, across art, design, fashion, film, animation, etc.The difference is “creative expertise” and giving all submissions equal weightPrinted Pages, quarterly magazineHere London, annual creative symposiumNicer Tuesdays, a monthly eventFirst Broadcast, audio-visual siteCompany of Parrots, a shopThis At There, London events listingStudio Audience, weekly podcastCore offerings: online, monthly events, the magazineINT Works is a creative agency that now operates independently from It’s Nice That publication methods“Don’t get too content with the way we publish content”Will’s background is graphic design and photography, but there was “academic interest”Alex runs INT Works and client projects; Will runs editorial. Happened naturally that way.It’s Nice That’s editor-in-chief, Rob Alderson (@RobAlderson)“… become the Ambassador of the company, rather than the Sergeant Major.”the commute from Brighton to London“Email seems so defunct for a 21st century operation.”Email: 10% need a reply; 20% get a reply for politeness; the rest is rubbishOnline editor Liv Siddall (@LivSiddall)An article exists to: showcase the work, and to give context (not just a gallery)Special effects dad creates videos of his sonGoogle’s search algorithmsFacebook’s sharing of page contentBanner advertising vs. new, interesting contentViceSteer, web development coursesWorkOutOfWork.comTools
One sheet of A4 paper (double sided) for the weekPaper and Pen, to make sure.Macs, with email.EvernoteA3 sheet of paper for Editorial planningGoogle DocFolders of screen-grabsHighrisePocket (formerly Read It Later)Techniques
Mix old-school and new-school methodsT.R.A.P. your email (Toss, Reply, Action item, or Pass). Leave off the last P for procrastinate.Pick up the phone to save time on EmailHave a Monday morning meeting with everyone. Keep it to under an hour.Build a system that will be stressed down the roadHost editorial meetings to preview ideas and prioritize publishing orderWrite your blog posts with future discovery in mindApproach change positively, as a challenge, even when it’s from FacebookMove email conversations to Twitter to keep them shortHabits
Do an hour’s work on the train during the morning commute; use the time to clean up thoughts and work through emailIf someone emails you personally, respond. Even if it’s short.Take a screenshot of your [company's] website everydayGet the early start — 1.5 hrs in the office before everyone else arrivesChange your routine so you can see things differently, and re-evaluate priorities
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