Spotlight on Quality Blogs: Gaping Void – cartoons drawn on the back of business cards

Today’s spotlight is on “Gaping Void” – cartoons drawn on the back of business cards.

spotlight

Most blogs I select to spotlight because they deserve more exposure have a common attribute of writers who “Tell it like it is”. Like me they have strong opinions and are not afraid to publicise them even if they’re challenging the status quo.

I’d previously seen “Gaping Void” cartoons by Hugh MacLeod on various websites and blogs across the internet and remembered them because of the pithy statements and distinctive “scribbly” drawing style similar to veteran Australian cartoonist Bruce Petty

Gaping Void: tiny ship of order vast sea of chaos

Gaping Void: price of being a sheep is boredom. price of being a wolf is loneliness. choose one or the other with great care

Hugh MacLeod is a cartoonist and professional blogger, known for his ideas about how “Web 2.0” affects advertising and marketing.

After a decade of working as an advertising copywriter, Hugh started blogging at gapingvoid.com in 2001. He first started off just publishing his cartoons, but as time wore on he started blogging about his other main interest i.e. marketing.

Since 2006 Hugh has been constantly engaged as a public speaker, giving talks in both Europe and the US, talking about Web 2.0 and the ramifications it has on business.

Hugh’s basic mantra about blog marketing is “Blogs are a good way to make things happen indirectly”, a point lost on many corporate types.

Hugh’s “Gaping Void” cartoons are often accompanied by insightful writing eg: these are a selection of his tips on “How To Be Creative“:

Gaping Void: It's OK to act like a sheep (just so long as you act like a COOL sheep

  • Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.
  • Keep your day job
  • Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside
  • Merit can be bought. Passion can’t
  • Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually
  • Remain frugal

WARNING: quite a few of Hugh’s cartoons contain strong adult language so if you’re put off by that don’t go to his website. I’m not a fan of swearing etc but I still have a regular look at his new cartoons because of the gems which can be found in his “cleaner” work.

I strongly urge you to subscribe to the Gaping Void RSS feed

The Internet is like panning for gold in a stream, you’ll find a lot more dross (worthless, commonplace, or trivial matter) than gold nuggets. That’s why I’m asking for your help – please suggest quality sites for me to spotlight in the future in the comments area of this article


Comments

3 responses to “Spotlight on Quality Blogs: Gaping Void – cartoons drawn on the back of business cards”

  1. I’d never heard of Gaping Void (or maybe I have and don’t remember it!), but I checked it out and I’m liking it. Neat site to spotlight.

  2. Hi Neerav,
    Thanks for noting my previous comment…I can’t believe that only one person has commented on your Gaping Void recommendation. It is one of my favorites. Rough and tumble as you note, but the truth is a harsh mistress.

    BTW, this one of my favorite “Void” cartoons alleged moral failings

    Best, Paul

  3. […] with previously spotlighted cartoon blog Gaping Void, understanding each and every XKCD comic is unlikely, however when you do get them they are […]

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