Menu:

NEWS:
The Cranky
Typographer
at the Museum
of Printing

On March 26, 2022, join The Cranky Typographer at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Mass. Author/presenter R.W. Bacon and his well-tempered crankiness will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. hawking books and materials from the now-retired seminars at the "Gigantic Garage Sale" to benefit the museum. The Cranky Typographer's seminars are retired, but you can probably coax out some gentle commentary on the current state of typography and design.

NEWS:
Retiring
the Cranky
Seminars

Time has marched on for The Cranky Typographer, and the seminars for do-it-yourself designers are now retired. After more than 50 years in the field, the passion for the craft remains. But attention must now turn to (1) other revenue-producing editorial & graphics work, and (2) completion of at least three more books in other areas of expertise. The "Cranky Books" and this website remain to serve motivated designers and editors.

.................................

The Cranky
Typographer:
A rationale

Almost 40 years into the "desktop publishing" era, more people than ever have an awareness of typography. But despite the increased awareness, there has been a general decline in the craft, i.e. the attentive composition of type for optimal readability and communicative function.

How did we get to this point? In hindsight, it appears that the craft of typography advanced through the 20th century, benefiting from revealing studies of readability and comprehension. The beginning of the "desktop publishing" era in the 1980s brought promise, but the craft of typography, then mostly transparent to the layperson, got trampled in the stampede to the personal computer. Since the 1980s, just about everyone with a computer has become a "designer-by-default," but usually with no training. With the passage of years, the "Great Forgetting" of typography knowledge has intensified, because there are fewer masters left to teach the craft.

An innocent ignorance. At present, ignorance of the craft of typography is evident among amateurs, and even professionals, but there is no blame assigned. One cannot blame someone for not learning a craft if that someone never knew the craft existed in the first place. Type is a powerful tool that gives shape to thoughts and ideas. Using powerful tools --- like a chainsaw or jackhammer --- without some training and guidance invites catastrophe. It is the alarm over this state-of-affairs, the shortage of no-nonsense guidance in the craft of functional typography, and an urge to provide assistance, that shaped the rationale for writing the book and developing the seminar.

- Reginald W. Bacon
a.k.a. The Cranky Typographer

The SEMINARS are now retired, but
the BOOKS remain to serve the craft

The Cranky Typographer, R.W. Bacon, came to the rescue for years to help individuals and organizations improve the quality and effectiveness of their in-house, do-it-yourself design, printing, and web projects. The Cranky Editor, R.W. Bacon, (the same guy) also helped individuals and groups improve the quality and effectiveness of their in-house writing, editing, and web content projects.

The SEMINARS are now retired, but the BOOKS and this website remain in service to the craft.

Whether your aim is to sell widgets or save the world, the books will help you get better results from your do-it-yourself efforts.

At this website (1) you'll learn about the books, the now-retired seminars, and the author/presenter; (2) you'll be able to purchase the two-book set at a discount; and (3) you'll learn how the author/presenter got so cranky in the first place.

Speaking of typography on the Web: Typography on the Web is still in its infancy, and as such, there can be no claim to typographical elegance on this or any website. Different screen proportions and resolutions on different devices can change the text flow and even the relation of graphic elements. There is no doubt that conditions will eventually rise above adequacy, but until then, appreciate the information you find here, and tolerate whatever clumsiness may tumble forth on your screen.

The Cranky Typographer's Book of Major Annoyances: Helpful Graphics Tips for Do-It-Yourself Designers. Today almost everyone with a computer on their desk gets pressed into service as a "designer-by-default" --- but without any training in the craft. In The Cranky Typographer's information-packed book --- and in the former lively seminar, readers and attendees learn that there is more to typography than typing, and more to design than decoration. The author/presenter, R.W. Bacon, adopting an exasperated persona shaped by a long career as an editor and publication designer, first identifies the common missteps in typography and design --- the "Major Annoyances" --- and then, in his no-nonsense manner, explains how to avoid them. Hundreds of illustrative and entertaining examples, encompassing the good, the bad, and the hopeless, are derived from the author/presenter's five decades of varied real-world experience. The book, just like the now-retired seminar, illuminates the craft of typography and the still-current principles of functional, effective design.

The Cranky Editor's Book of Intolerable Fox Paws (Oops! Faux Pas!): Helpful Writing & Style Tips So You Won't Look Stoopid. This book is a planning guide, grammar coach, typographic stylebook, graphics tip-sheet, pep-talk, and a plea for literacy rolled into one. The author, R.W. Bacon, adopting the persona of The Cranky Editor, identifies --- in his no-nonsense fashion --- the common transgressions known as the "Intolerable Fox Paws" (faux pas). These are followed by the Fox Paw Remedies, with illustrative examples derived from the author's five decades as a journalist, writer, and editor. The aim of the book: To help motivated business and organizational writers address common troubles faced when preparing writing and printing projects. The former lively seminar was full of laugh-out-loud examples of stultifying business-speak, deer-in-the-headlights usage errors, and foot-in-mouth punctuation. Along the way, seminar attendees learned what they never knew about the craft of writing, editing, and typographic style. (That seminar is retired, but you can still cozy up with the book.)

You can begin "cleaning up your act" today! Interested and motivated do-it-yourselfers are welcome to take advantage of the 10 FREE Graphics Tips and the 10 FREE Editorial Tips. Don't let the crankiness scare you away --- These are categories of real insight for the motivated, not short-cuts to mediocrity, and they will improve the appearance and effectiveness of your work straighaway.

Enjoy exploring the website, and certainly if you have any questions about the books or seminars, you can contact the author/presenter directly at Variety Arts Enterprises.

Reginald W. Bacon has been a journalist, editor, graphic designer, and publication director for 50 years. He's seen a lot --- much excellence and too much junk. No wonder he's cranky.

For more information about the author/presenter's long and varied experience in the editorial and graphic production field, see About the Author/Presenter.