Hello out there —- I introduce myself as Dennis G Coleman, freelance writer, publicist of a type, lecturer,IELTS examiner,collector, love of the arts, people watcher , radical and traditionalist—- based in Adelaide-although I’ve broken those boundaries occasionally by working overseas and I’ve certainly met a lot of “off the planet” people ( perhaps you may be one of them as I am naturally drawn to people who are a bit wild at the edges)
In one aspect I span 3 centuries in Adelaide –yes, my ancestors arrived in 1838 — and NO, as we South Aussie Croweaters are always at pains to point out —we were NOT convicts —- pity I can’t find a couple back there to spice things up —but I can’t —no doubt there are plenty of other skeletons in our 170 year old closet though! So –yes I am very pro Adelaide —no cultural cringe for me in this city of FIRSTS in Festivals, Fringe Festivals, World Music ( WOMADELAIDE), OZASIA,Cabaret Festival and now an impending first Aussie Cello Festival — blah blah -blah
OK enough of the dribble –let’s get down to business – First —Why the wacky ‘dont-eat-the-cardboard.com ? Well, I found myself using the word ‘cardboard’ at least 5 times a day -and that was on a good day —- what about? well, Mc Mansions —cardboard looking, thrown together statements of having made it in society by erecting a Disney Land set in the middle of a drained swamp or by razing whole communities to the ground and building these most UN Environmental of structures —would be on the top of my HIT LIST and the cardboard people with cardboard dogs they attempt to take for walks -who live in them —-I’ll explain examples of what I mean by ‘emotional constipation’ in later articles, blogs or whatever transpires from all of this.
Essentially, when I use the term ‘cardboard’, I mean stereotyped, lacking humanity, lacking life, conforming just for its own sake, trying to be in the so called “A List”, celebs that we shouldn’t even be reading about, catered food with no soul,articles which mirror and pitch word by word to all this.
That doesn’t mean I won’t ‘eat the cardboard’ myself occasionally –after all ” we all have to ‘eat’ and pay the bills–and I do LOVE people so I don’t want to be a recluse — but I do attempt to get behind the story and tease out what it is that the person I am interviewing is actually wanting to say ( and to want in print).
SO —- if you’re wanting a human interest story, a promotional brochure made up, an advertorial, some public service gobble-di-gook de bugged, —or even perhaps something more creative — I’ve spun out some quirky lines for various occasions –and lot’s more, then – fair chance you’re in the “write” spot.
I’m in the process of uploading excerpts from articles I’ve written for a string of mags and other publications –just keep watching the space and it will unfold in the fullness of time.
By the way, I move in all strata of society and have a considerable network in Adelaide and beyond —have travelled widely and have contacts world-wide –I’m into quirkiness where it counts but I’ve worked on projects which required the utmost discretion and I’ve lived up to that — the record and the proof of it is all at hand.
This is my foundation stone of a brave new foray into actually having a virtual shop front for my product — I will still lug my briefcase around with real paper ( not cardboard) mags with my real articles in them to share with people over a coffee before we proceed with interviews but now at least part of my body of work will be in one virtual space.
I’m approachable and adaptable and I’m still touted as being ‘nice’ —but not as nice as I used to be b4 the onset of this’cardboard’ age we live in —fortunately –when you probe beneath the cardboard, thereare still a lot of really decent people out there .
Enough said for now –I’ll wait for my very capable web agent and co-photographer for articles—Michael Kubler, to upload more of my gear so You can judge for yourself.
Cheers and more soon,
Dennis Coleman