Commentary on Cranes and Their Creations
Dueling Threats by Jann Alexander © 2013 In 2008, as today, the building cranes loomed everywhere in Austin, giving us an unusual...
top of page
Welcome to Pairings
Pairings by Jann Alexander include creativity, inspiration, books, writing, photography, art, history, travel, Texas life, lore and more
Search
Jann Alexander
Nov 30, 20152 min read
In 2011, It Became Official: Austin’s Vanishing
Austin Business Journal made it “official” four years ago, in its year-end issue: Austin’s Been Vanishing Over the Last 30 Years. As...
Jann Alexander
Jun 23, 20154 min read
Making the Call: Go Big or Go Indie?
David Beheads Goliath, 1650 by Guillaume Courtois [ Public domain via Wikimedia Commons ] When you’re nearing the finish line with...
Jann Alexander
Jun 16, 20152 min read
Top 5 Things a Writer Learns at a Publishing Conference
Ah, elixir of life: I Need Coffee by Jann Alexander ©2014 1. Bring your own coffee. There may be none. Even if there is, there will...
Jann Alexander
Jun 14, 20152 min read
Platform. Got One? You Need One.
What You Need: An Author Platform by Jann Alexander ©2015 “Platform is a very helpful thing.” — Karlyn Hixson, St. Martin’s Press ...
Jann Alexander
Dec 27, 20142 min read
Yes, Austin, Funk and Swank Can Coexist
Mean Cat Meets Condo by Jann Alexander © 2010 As Austin, Texas marks its 175th birthday, and as we head into another boom year for...
Jann Alexander
May 19, 20142 min read
Yes, Ideas Flow from Life—And Also from Inspirational Aids
“My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living.” ― Anaïs Nin Anais Nin by Elsa Dorfman , c. 1970s Though she...
Jann Alexander
Apr 3, 20148 min read
There Is Nothing Fair About Fair Use
Too Late to Look for the Spear by Jann Alexander © 2013 Royalty-free art is everywhere. Why rip it off? One of my cherished,...
Jann Alexander
Apr 1, 20143 min read
Attention Small Brands, You Can’t Waste Time on Facebook Anymore
Fans: 1,022. Reach: 1. Creative types have relied upon Facebook ‘s free brand pages to spread their word for a long time. Remember how...
Jann Alexander
Mar 14, 20142 min read
Why It’s Called Social Sharing
Branch Out After You Plant Your Roots by Jann Alexander © 201 How I finally learned to be as sociable online as I am off If you’re an...
Jann Alexander
Sep 11, 20134 min read
What’s the Big Deal About Creativity?
© 2013 Jann Alexander The business world seems determined to improve its creativity. If you don’t believe it, visit Inc.com to search...
Jann Alexander
Sep 5, 20131 min read
Raise a Glass to Pressgram: An App That Plays Nicely With Cava and Creative Control
Cava! by Jann Alexander © 2013 Thanks to a new iPhone app by John Saddington called Pressgram , creatives are able to publish their own...
Jann Alexander
Aug 19, 20131 min read
I Want to Make Beautiful Things
“I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares.” —SAUL BASS, graphic design icon ♣ SAUL BASS: “I want everything we do to be...
Jann Alexander
Aug 16, 20132 min read
Turned On and Powerful Once Again
Austin Power : “You can’t turn me on.” Austin Powers : “Au contraire baby, you can’t resist me.” Austin Power by Jann Alexander © 2013...
Jann Alexander
Aug 9, 20131 min read
Austin: Truly in Hues of Blue
True Blues by Jann Alexander © 2103 Blue is the color of summer in Austin. Blue skies. Blue pools. Blue lakes. Blue neon. Blue...
Jann Alexander
Aug 8, 20133 min read
Dumping Facebook, Dating Twitter, Avoiding LinkedIn and Flirting with Google+
Flirting with Google+ (Since Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook Are All So Demanding) Dear Diary, Just between you and me, I’m feeling a bit...
Jann Alexander
Jul 29, 20134 min read
How To Assess Where You’re At
Where are you heading? by Jann Alexander © 2013 “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.” —Yogi Berra Being...
Jann Alexander
Jul 19, 20132 min read
What’s Vanished Since 2004?
A lot of Austin has gone missing since I began my Vanishing Austin photo series in the spring of 2004. For one reason or another—...
Jann Alexander
Jun 14, 20131 min read
The Pattern of Change
The Pattern of Change by Jann Alexander © 2013 It takes a whole lotta cranes to hoist up a new Marriott in downtown Austin, where...
Jann Alexander
May 31, 20131 min read
So Long, SoCo Trailers
So Long, SoCo Trailers by Jann Alexander © 2013 Sign of the Thaimes? Neon green picnic tables and a fallen Coat & Thai sign are all...
bottom of page