My friend Dave Nanney of Art Effects Framing took this picture of this person in a wheel chair waiting in line for the drive thru and sent it to me a while back asking me to come up with some headlines. And now it is your turn to come up with a headline for this photo.

HERE’S YOUR CREATIVE CHALLENGE: Comment with a headline for this image.

Click the thumbnail for a larger image.

Here are posts so far from LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc…
People will do almost anything to get a cup of McDonald’s bistro coffee! -Grant

Height of Self Confidence …! The best example for treating ourselves as no less than others. -Arun

Gives new meaning to Meals on Wheels. -@tkpleslie

Drive Thrus Not Just for Drivers. -@myladida

Get that truck out of my way! High School Musical 3 is out on DVD! -Casper

This is how I roll !!  -Kevin

Goin Green! -Tom

5 cents per galloon baby - F you GM!! -Josee

Surely, the drive thru window is faster. -Anthony

Due to the credit crunch Ford felt their no frills single seater would go down a treat at $300. -Richard

Apparently Medicare is being billed directly by Burger King. Charges still in dispute. -Kristin

Now she’s wishing she would have upgraded to the premium package which includes cupholders. -Kyle

It’s all about confidence. Just be the car! -Brian

Mom, time for your Lipitor…..Mom? Mom? Has anyone seen Mom? -Janet

Apparently she already blew through the settlement money from the first coffee spill -William

The 2012 Goremobile from Federal Moter Company. Aren’t you ashamed to be driving anything different? -Herb

1. Axle Rose Visits Drive-Thru. -Cindy
2. Exhaust-ed? We Offer 24-Hour Convenience. -Cindy
3. Special Orders Drive Up Service. -Cindy
4. Diners Downsize at the Drive-Thru. -Cindy

First thing you do after escaping from the Nursing Home, buy that Big Mac with extra cheese! -Gail

We Serve Fast Food, the Fastest way…..It feels bad to look at our elders suffering….isn’t it ??? -Amit

This is your brain. This is your brain on fast food… -Mark

Vatican opens Drive-Thru; Super-Size Your Salvation. -Jonathan

being upset by the lack of a disability entrance to Burger King, Alice decided to get her whopper her way, with this way being the drive through. -Tim

Mc Donald’s drive-thru barriers! -Fabio

Drive electric ;-)  -Babak

…I think I can… I think I can -Randy

Excess Fast Food weight, blamed for reduced mobility scooter performance. -Nicholas

This waiting in line is Soooooo Exhausting!!!!!! -Brian

Auto industry in recession - Fast food continues to grow. -Anand

Holding a spot in the line while the driver rushes back home to get the wallet on the kitchen counter. -Rena

sod it….I wanted the cashpoint!! -Ian (cashpoint in the U.S. is a cash only register)

I love the smell of CO in the morning. -David

Deciding to start at home, Ethel figured out how to stimulate the economy and Go Green at the same time…the only problem is that rainy days cause her fries to get soggy! -Monica

1) The new hybrid
2) What did Joe Biden say this time?
3) Standing in line is for the politically correct. -Joseph

So I am always buying these Spicy Thai potato chips and encouraging others to try them. And today, I have a craving for them, and since I can’t get out right now to go get some, I had the bright idea to go to their website. Low and behold there was a “find your flavor” link and this is what I got from my answers…..

I am Ginger With Attitude

Ready to go at the drop of a hat, I keep my traveling shoes handy. I seek the unique, but for me, more than half the fun is in the seeking. The thrill of the search, the tingle of the unfamiliar as I round an unknown corner, that’s what life is all about for me. I might be considered a bit enigmatic and my motto really is “mystery is the spice of life.” I seem to smirk at life and my whole being says, “Go ahead, give me a challenge. I’m up for it.”

Since most of my sales come from people finding out about me on the online social networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and a million others. One of the most used is Twitter. I think mostly because it is short, to the point and it makes you think about what you are going to say. On the other side people are more apt to get your “elevator pitch” of what you are up to received in an easier manner. I know I’m often told I can make a short story long myself. :)  I’ll be doing posts on the other networks later, but Twitter seemed like the best start.

Now for me I use twitter to connect with people I have interest in and to push out free creativity tips. I see others now doing that now as well, or have been. Nothing new under the sun I guess. But what intrigued me to start this thread of posts was that a single vehicle of communication is used in a myriad of ways. Many share common thoughts, others have no connection at all to how others are using the program.

Before you say it, yes I could have done a search on Twitter, but then that would have been me telling you what is a creative use of Twitter. Which I’m happy to do at a future date. But for now, I put out a call for you all to tell me what you think is creative, and here’s the list. Although I did cut some twitter names out, they were really NOT creative uses. Got more for me to post? Send ‘em in.

So, on with the show… er, wait a minute. I’m @garyunger for those of you about to read.

Basic Categories:

TIPS:

@Palacinkabeauty Beauty tips and related. NOTABLE: Also uses Twitter posts to keep track of previous URL’s as a cataloging system. This way, they don’t have a hundred thousand bookmarks to search for in their own browser, they can simply go to their Twitter account and do a search for “that topic.”

@TantraPM ummmm, tantric sex tips and links.

@Organizedaily Tips on how to be more ogranizde.

@Promotioncodedotorg Promotion codes for discounts, free stuff, misc.

@Askastripper Just like it says.

PUBLICITY:

@publiside Each post leads to another. Great PR. Lots of sports items.

@DrWright1 Posts segments of her show TV show.

@Encouragement4u Creative uses for the letters in your name. Has a book.

@Startmysong Free songs and article links.

@bondgyrl Music PR and misc.

@Rathacat Twits from fictional characters from her book.

@Rocketman46 Publishing, movie, book tips and links.

@Holidayworld Theme park updates and news.

@mccPR Public Relations etc.

@ccarfi Social Media Guru. Well apart from me. But then again who isn’t these days.

EDUCATION:

@klauher Most posts point to more info on blog. Great basic info for using social media. Pocasts!

@ThatPassionGuy Interviews and links.

@LSATtweet Tips on the LSAT test.

@Sciencechannel Links, updates, TV shows, etc. (Discovery Channels). I love the fact that a TV Network is tweeting about its shows. I think channels should develop a tweet for reminders about special shows and such. Great links and info.

@check_MD Check in on if your Doctor has disciplinary actions against them, and misc. info.

@PrivusMobile Mobile phone links, info, apps.

@PoiPriestess Fire dancing. And I was told not to play with fire.

RELIGION:

@Audiobible Links, updates and of course the audio Bible. I’m really surprised there were not more religious Twitter profiles submitted.

FOOD:

@MarketstreetDFW Food!

Twittertastelive Wine!

FUN:

@DingoWannabe LOL! posts from a dog. Dog lovers would like this.

MISC:

@Mdurwin Misc. tips, links, info. I had a few emails back and forth with this guy. He can’t be very specific with some Twitter account he’s managed for clients, but as a fellow advertising junky. I’d say check him out.

COLLECTIONS of OTHERS

Creative Uses of Twitter Links collected by others of creative Twitter users.

10 Examples Links collected by others of creative Twitter users.

Radio Article Blog on how a radio station used Twitter

*on a side note, when I sent out a request on the PR services and received emails from people I noticed that about 2/3’s of the respondents did not have a link to their Twitter page in their email. So I had to ask for them. Is Twitter embarrasing?

As a published author I get a lot of requests for advice on how I got published, how to find publishers and more. With the recent hits to my blog on “publishers on Twitter” I took the opportunity to have Wendy Burt talk about her book “The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters.” I’ll note here that she mentions things I try to tell others about creativity too is that rejection or “failure” is part of the game. Wendy has some great tips here, not only for writers but for anyone wanting to pitch an idea to investors, galleries, media etc. Read on…

Gary: Tell me about your book?
The book was a great fit for me because I’d been teaching “Breaking Into Freelance Writing” for about eight years. In the workshop, I covered a lot of what is in this book: writing query letters to get articles in magazines, to land an agent, or to get a book deal with a publisher. Since I’m a full-time freelance magazine writer and editor with two previous books, this was incredibly fun to write because it didn’t require tons of research. I was lucky enough to receive lots of great sample query letters from writers and authors that I use as “good” examples in the book. I wrote all the “bad” examples myself because I didn’t dare ask for contributions that I knew I’d be ripping apart!
In addition to the ins and outs of what makes a good query, the book covers things like why (or why not) to get an agent, where to find one and how to choose one; writing a synopsis or proposal; selling different rights to your work; other forms of correspondence; and what editors and agents look for in new writers.
It was really important to me that the book not be a dry, boring reference book, but rather an entertaining read (while still being chock full of information). I was thrilled that Writer’s Digest let me keep all the humor.

Gary: I had mixed responses from my query letters. Why are good query letters so important?
Breaking into the publishing world is hard enough right now. Unless you have a serious “in” of some kind, you really need a great query letter to impress an agent or acquisitions editor. Essentially, your query letter is your first impression. If they like your idea (and voice and writing style and background), they’ll either request a proposal, sample chapters, or the entire manuscript. If they don’t like your query letter, you’ve got to pitch it to another agency/publisher. Unlike a manuscript, which can be edited or reworked if an editor thinks it has promise, you only get one shot with your query. Make it count!
I see a lot of authors who spend months (or years) finishing their book, only to rush through the process of crafting a good, solid query letter. What a waste! If agents/editors turn you down based on a bad query letter, you’ve blown your chance of getting them to read your manuscript. It could be the next bestseller, but they’ll never see it. My advice is to put as much effort into your query as you did your book. If it’s not fabulous, don’t send it until it is.

Gary: You’re also a magazine editor. What is your biggest gripe regarding queries?
Queries that show that the writer obviously hasn’t read our publication. I’ll admit that I did this when I was a new writer too – submitted blindly to any publication whose name sounded even remotely related to my topic. One of the examples I use was when I submitted a parenting article to a magazine for senior citizens. Oops! A well-written query pitching an article that’s not a match for the magazine isn’t going to get you any further than a poorly written query.

Gary: Do you think all new writers should get agents?
Probably 99% of new writers should get an agent. There are lots of reasons, but my top three are: 1) Many of the larger publishing houses won’t even look at unagented submissions now; 2) Agents can negotiate better rights and more money on your behalf; 3) Agents know the industry trends, changes and staff better than you ever could.

Gary: What do you think is the most common reason that good writers don’t get published?
Poor marketing skills. I see so many writers that are either too afraid, too uniformed, or frankly, too lazy, to market their work. They think their job is done when the write “the end” but writing is only half of the process. I’ve always told people who took my class that there are tons of great writers in the world who will never get published. I’d rather be a good writer who eats lobster than a great writer who eats hot dogs. I make a living as a writer because I spend as much time marketing as I do writing.

Gary: What are some misconceptions that writers have about getting a book deal?
That they’ll be rich overnight, that they don’t need to promote their book once it’s published, that publishing houses will send them on world book tours, that people will recognize them at the airport. Still, you can make great money as an author if you’re prepared to put in the effort. If it wasn’t possible, there wouldn’t be so many full-time writers.

Gary: What must-read books do you recommend to new writers?
Christina Katz (author of “Writer Mama”) has a new book out called “Get Known Before the Book Deal” - which is fabulous. Also, Stephen King’s “On Writing” and David Morrell’s “Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing.” Anything by Anne Lamott or my Dad, Steve Burt.

Gary: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a full-time writer?
Seize every opportunity - especially when you first start writing. I remember telling someone about a really high-paying writing gig I got and he said, “Wow. You have the best luck!” I thought, “Luck has nothing to do with it! I’ve worked hard to get where I am.” Later that week I read this great quote: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” It’s absolutely true. And writing queries is only about luck in this sense. If you’re prepared with a good query and/or manuscript, when the opportunity comes along you’ll be successful.

Gary: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Writing the “bad” query letters. I’ve read – and written! – so many horrible ones over the years that it was a little too easy to craft them. But misery loves company and we ALL love to read really bad query letters, right?

Gary: What do you want readers to learn from your book?
I want them to understand that while writing a good query letter is important, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You can break it down into parts, learn from any first-round rejections, and read other good queries to help understand what works. I also want them to remember that writing is fun. Sometimes new writers get so caught up in the procedures that they lose their original voice in a query. Don’t bury your style under formalities and to-the-letter formatting.

Wendy Burt-Thomas is a full-time freelance writer, editor and
copywriter with more than 1,000 published pieces. Her third book, “The
Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters” hit stores in January 2009. To
learn more about Wendy or her three books, visit GuideToQueryLetters.com. If you have a writing-related question, you can also post it on AskWendy.wordpress.com.

So, yes creativity can be used with bad intentions. And of course in the current spirit of unity and inclusion, I thought I’d put together a little list of some of the top evil geniuses. I have purposefully left off some of the usual suspects in an effort to be a bit creative with my top ten evil genius list. And no, I won’t add “W” because you haven’t read the list yet, and well… just read the list. Feel free to add names….

10. You. I know what you are thinking!

9. Prosperity Preachers for duping those with what little hope they have left.

8. Hugh Hefner for convincing women they’ll be role models for being naked, and charging men to see the results.

7. Adolf Hitler for doing what most politicians really want to do, kill their detractors and make it look like its a good thing for the country/world.

6. Just about every U.S. President after Ulysses S. Grant. They’ve all tricked us into believing in they’re the ones who can get us out of “this mess.” And then brilliantly blame us for not attaining that goal.

5. H.H. Holmes for literally doing what many world leaders do figuratively.

4. Vlad the Impaler for obvious reasons.

3. Vladimir Kosma Zworykin and Philo Taylor Farnsworth for inventing the television. I think they knew they had the word’s greatest hypnotic device ever. (Muuwhoowaaa! We’ll “amuse” them into submission)

2. Rasputin for imitating Lucifer.

1. Lucifer (brilliant move to question reality to the first woman, and then for making humanity not believe he himself is real)