GPY&R Sydney_proves_ByronBayWriter’s Festival’s_passion_for_words_in_the_digital_age
GPY&R Sydney has created what is believed to be a digital first: links written in prose.
The concept, developed for the Byron Bay Writers Festival, reflects the festival’s commitment to the new digital age of literature – proving that a passion for words can live anywhere – even in an html link – which normally would just be gibberish code.
Executive CD: Julian Watt
Creative director: David Joubert
Writer: Kate Burt
Art director: Dean Mortensen
Digital art director: David Jackson
The links will be disseminated via email databases, facebook and twitter and will drive sign up and participation at the upcoming festival.
Says Patts ECD Julian Watt: “It’s a quick and simple idea we had and nice to do our bit to fuel Australia’s enthusiasm for writing and creating.”
Earlier this year Amazon reported that Kindle e-books were outselling hard and soft cover books on Amazon at a ratio of nearly 2:1. But while traditional books sales were on the decline, writing and ideas are stronger than ever.
“Finding new ways to be passionate about words is what this festival is all about. And being able to turn a cold, unreadable link into a place for words to come to life is amazing. It proves a passion for words cannot be confined,” says Candida Baker, director of the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival.
The festival, which runs from August 5-7, is the third largest in Australia and this year has attracted international names such as Louis De Bernieres, John Pilger, Fiona McIntosh, MJ Hyland and James Redfield.

31 Comments
Deadly simple idea, and some very nice copy!
This is why you hire copywriters.
SMucking FArt
yes, yes , yes – but does it help pay any gpy&r wages fellas ?
What a
nice idea. Dammit I wish I thought of that! Dammit.
What a
nice idea. Dammit I wish I thought of that! Dammit.
2.28 It won’t pay the wages I am sure but what it does do is fuel that little thing called passion. Sometimes it’s just fun to do some stuff. Nice idea.
that’s very clever and nicely written.
Sorry to sound cynical but this feels like much ado about nothing, even to the point where I wonder if the positive comments were posted by the people involved with the campaign.
The copy itself is nothing special; feels more like rudimentary execution of high school english writing class exercise. Didn’t really feel anything.
I get the relevance yeah, which makes it an idea, but it’s just a link and that’s why it ain’t nothing special.
http://sour_grapes/TWO-fiftyone?
2:51, where did you go to high school? Hogwarts?
i agree.
good idea.
but lame execution for a festival that’s passionate about the use of words.
3:41, Dickens, is that you?
It’s no surprise the Festival are so enthusiastic about this. Creating a creative space for language in a previously functionality based one is simple but it is also innovative and thoughtful.
Yeah nice idea. Simple. Writing could have been a bit better. But it’s always tough when ‘write something brilliant’ is the brief
Michelle – you a suit?
Yep. It’s fucking nice.
It’s a really cool idea for a writer’s festival. Simple. Smart. Well written.
Not sure about the art direction…
Not sure what the negative vibe towards the writing is all about. That’s some of the best written copy I’ve read in ages! Good work.
I for one would like
to see a haiku website
refrigerator
Wow, these comments ought to have the Patts logo beneath them.
http://www.gpyr.fucking.GET. OVER. YOURSELF.
I don’t work at Patts and I think it’s great. Simple.
Hey 5:37PM, It’s been done. See 3:04PM.
This is nice.
If it’s the first time it’s been done, then it’s really nice.
Actually, that’s pretty well written.
Very lovely indeed.
My goodness, Patts staff really are busy on the blog.
It’s a link. With copy. Move on.
It’s a neat idea. But I don’t think it will fit on twitter…
Dear GPYR, you should mix your indulgent compliments up instead of pasting them from here to the Mumbrella site. Makes it less obvious that you’re writing about your own work. Awards juries remember this sort of thing. Okay? Understand?
Nicely done KB. No wonder they keep saying you’re the agency’s most talented writer.
Don’t writers use computers these days?
The Dillema… Isn’t that Jim Beam?