Feed your curiosity with the Loose Threads Blog

Read essays from Wonder Work newsletters and my other writing about brand strategy, creativity, and the importance of strategic communications. 

A rustic wooden stool with a weathered finish, holding a black ribbed vase filled with dried flowers, and several balls of yarn in black, white, and marbled colors, placed against a white paneled wall on a hardwood floor.

Recent Posts

Nancy Martira Nancy Martira

How to Take a Break

I knew that to truly rest and recover, I'd need to take a break from the entire internet and screens as much as possible. Which made me wonder: what does it mean to rest when the world keeps spinning faster and louder, and when that anxious voice whispers what if staying informed could prevent the next catastrophe?

Read More
Nancy Martira Nancy Martira

How to Write About Violence

“We built palatial forts in the snowdrifts after the plows went through. Lawn sprinklers in summers became portals to different realms and time periods; we ran through the strands of water with towels tied around our necks as capes.”

I texted this quote from Kristen Radtke’s article, “I Grew Up with Alex Pretti” to my childhood best friend, Jason.

Read More
Nancy Martira Nancy Martira

Two Ways of Thinking About Putting Fans First

Ever wonder why some businesses inspire cult-like devotion while others fade into the background? Today, I explore two radically different approaches to putting customers first—and why the most powerful insight isn't choosing between them.

Read More
Nancy Martira Nancy Martira

Smash The Gates: Exposing Industry Barriers at Gatekeeping

What if the "requirements" that define professionalism in your industry are actually just elaborate hazing rituals designed to keep outsiders out? From unpaid internships to conference fees, every industry has its version of blurbs: obligations that masquerade as professional standards but really function to exclude people without the right networks or cultural capital.

Read More
Nancy Martira Nancy Martira

From Generic to Distinctive: Strategic Brand Naming

“It's often hard to see your own value proposition clearly, but the process Nancy laid out—and her emphasis on authentic language—helped me hone in on what's most important about my business and my work style.”

Read More

“OMG, babe. Just trust me.
Take the thread.”

“Theseus and Ariadne.” Undated. Angelika Kauffman (1741-1807)

When Theseus entered the labyrinth to defeat the Minotaur, a lovestruck Ariadne gave him a clew — a ball of yarn — so that he could find his way out again. Join me as I untangle ideas and tie myself up in knots. Maybe together we can weave something amazing.

Oil painting of Theseus and Ariadne painted by Angelika Kauffman, undated. Ariadne offers Theseus a red ball of yarn but he looks confused about why he would need this to fight the minotaur. A club lays at his feet.