Writers' Nexus

Sticky City, aka Payola, aka Product Placement, is an everyday story of advertising folk. And, like any self-respecting ad agency, there are no hoops these boys and girls won’t jump through to promote their clients’ products and services.

Brand loyalty, however, is another matter.

As is all pretence at a coherent storyline. Basically any company that wants a mention – or mentions – in Sticky City, and is prepared to part with cold hard cash, will get their brand(s) or service(s) puffed for all they’re worth, plus a hyperlink to their own website. No business is too specialised, no activity to esoteric, that we can’t work it into the story somehow.

So don’t be surprised if a lead character, hitherto an outdoorsy type, suddenly develops a keen interest in flower-arranging. And don’t be surprised if this new hobby has (equally inexplicably) been replaced the following week by nights of stud poker with the boys. It simply means Interflora got cold feet, and Ladbrokes came on board.

Marvel! As Sticky City’s all-star cast stretch the limits of plausibility!

Gasp! As teetotallers turn into alcoholics, non-smokers into 20-a-day men and vegetarians into carnivores – and back again!

Swoon! As the creative director extols the virtues of rival cola brands – in the SAME SENTENCE!

Can you wear a Nike trainer on one foot and a Reebok on the other? In Sticky City you can!!

Somewhere on this page you’ll find buttons that take you to a “cast of characters” page, and Episode One of this mighty soap-opera. As you read Episode One, you’ll note that a number of company/product names provide hyperlinks to the appropriate company/product websites. No money has changed hands – yet – but the hope is that as Sticky City (and Writers’ Nexus International) grows, companies will pay to have their names featured. Quite how that’s going to work we haven’t quite figured out yet (this is the web, after all); all ideas gratefully received!

Still, forget all that for the moment. Sticky City is there for YOU. Writers’ Nexus International members: take it and run with it! Flex those writerly muscles!

© Jonathan Broom 2006