You can’t make this sh*t up:
Before penning iconic novels like “Satanic Verses”, Salman Rushdie was a copywriter who crafted famous ads like the Naughty but Nice slogan for fresh cream cakes in 1985.
I love origin stories!
Thanks to Kenneth Roman for pointing this out in his book “The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the Making of Modern Advertising”.
Watch “Naughty but Nice” Ad by Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie’a Copywriting Career
Here’s the list of ad campaigns I could find that Rushdie played point on:
Ogilvy & Mather
Fresh Cream Cakes
- Slogan: “Naughty but Nice”
- Year: 1970s
Aero Chocolate
- Slogan: “Irresistibubble”
- Year: 1970s
Ayer Barker
American Express
- Slogan: “That’ll do nicely”
- Year: Before 1982
Burnley Building Society
- Project: Advertising record
- Song title: “The Best Dreams”
- Collaboration: With musician Ronnie Bond
- Vocalist: George Chandler
- Recording location: Good Earth Studios, London
- Year: 1970s
Other Notable Work
Daily Mirror
- Slogan: “Look into the Mirror tomorrow – you’ll like what you see”
- Year: 1970s
Rushdie’s Transition from Advertising to Book Author
Rushdie wrote his Booker Prize-winning novel “Midnight’s Children” while working at Ogilvy & Mather, before becoming a full-time writer in 1981.
His time in advertising taught him valuable writing discipline, as he stated:
“I now write exactly like that. I write like a job. I sit down in the morning and I do it. And I don’t miss deadlines”.
Rushdie Friend Angela Carter Was Also a Copywriter
Rushdie’s experience in advertising also influenced his literary career.
He first became friends with Angela Carter when she was at Ogilvy & Mather (she later became an acclaimed author whom Rushdie calls “the first great writer I ever met”.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc