Emmy-nominated filmmaker and artist Adam Westbrook on Adam Westbrook

I’m alone up here, but what a view

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reflections on the un-belonging of the creative life.

The Chorus Of The Woodland Realm

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A new song about a longing for belonging.

Notes on Failure

Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Plus a new short story and a fun experiment!

The Final Regrets of Glyndwr Michael

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A short story about death and life set in World War 2.

Buy My Farts! 💨

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Now You See Who I Really Am

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Stories have a habit of exposing their authors.

In a very real sense, naked.

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Read my new graphic novel and watch my first YouTube video in nearly 10 years!

Fart In A Jar, Make $10,000!

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Or, why there’s no such thing as good or bad art

I wrote a song!

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I can’t think of a better way to declare my artistic intent.

Naturally Dear, Naturally

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I just recorded my first-ever song. Here’s how I made it — without using A.I.

We're Doing The Calendar Wrong!

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The surprising benefits of starting the year in March

Big Changes To The Newsletter

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Important announcements about this newsletter plus three new pieces of art.

Bedroom-able Art

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

My theory about how innovative art gets made.

At The Midway

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A millennial’s midlife crisis, from a mythological perspective.

Always Be Leaping

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Taking big leaps of faith are essential for improving your life, here’s how to do them.

A Ticket To Nowhere

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The power of rituals to affirm meaning in your life.

Wilderness

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I’m embarking on a season of intentional solitude.

Mezzanines In Eternity

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The moment the deepest waters in me changed direction.

Surrender

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A funny story about my broken heart and the nature of death.

The Price Of Entry

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The heartbreaking cost of choosing ourselves.

Inferno

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Feeling lost, I receive guidance from ancient poet.

The Dream

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A train to catch, a mysterious trickster and I meet my Anima.

Everything Has Changed

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

It’s time to tell you the story of what’s happened this year.

All Aboard!

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The mindset required for leaping into the unknown.

Have No Idols

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Treat famous people like cats please.

This Is Everything

Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What’s the best comic I’ve ever read?

Between The Sky And The Sea

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Some thoughts on homesickness and finding home.

The Work Is Done

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

My litmus test for knowing when a project is finished.

Now Is The Time Of Choices

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Our choices mean something now.

Fog

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I feel stuck between two worlds. Thoughts on how to be comfortable when you’re lost.

The Factory of Broken Dreams

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What happens when you can’t achieve your dreams?

Unique and Brilliant and Deeply Flawed

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What art does the world need to see right now?

The Art Of Surrender

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The secret to great creative collaborations.

Love and Gratitude

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Advice for staying motivated through long projects.

The Case for Optimism

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This is a hard time to be an artist. Here’s why I keep going.

Thanks for your message!

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for getting in touch! I’ll try to get back to you within 3 business days, but it may take a little longer if I am on a deadline or travelling.

Now you can go back to the homepage, read a newsletter or enjoy a comic!

The Moral Weight Of Death Row

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A former detective meets the man he wrongly put on death row in this powerful film about justice and forgiveness.

Napier's Law

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What a Tudor mathematician taught me about visual storytelling

Strawberry Fields

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The myth of the creative sabbatical.

Work Flow

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Three principles for optimised creativity (Updated!)

Write What You Know

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

How to find your original voice in this noisy world.

Page One

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Thoughts on managing multi-year creative projects.

My A.I. declaration

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Last updated: June 2026

Artificial Intelligence does not form part of my core creative process. Every video, comic and newsletter I have published has been generated with my own heart, head and hands.

Here I will keep an updated list of any cases where I have integrated A.I. into my process as a tool.

In my song The Chorus Of The Woodland Realm, the voice of the narrator is A.I. generated. I wanted a voice that had the timbre and texture of an old recording from the 60s or 70s which is difficult to reproduce with digital filters. Using A.I. allowed me to quickly produce this demo of the song. The words are all written by me and the music is written and performed by me with no A.I. assistance.

Daily Rituals

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This creative routine works for me, it might work for you.

The Long Game Manifesto

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Reflecting on a decade of playing the long game

Magic Is A Choice

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

And you don’t have to justify it to anyone!

One Day You'll Be Ready Too

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

On finding the focus and commitment to write a book

The Next Stage

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

How I wrote the first draft of my graphic novel

Return, Stop, Peak, Start

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Endings, beginnings and an exciting announcement

Pearls Of Wisdom

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A personal story about a brush with cancer and a conversation with death.

Connection Error

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Scientists on the verge of a major discovery are thwarted by an HP Printer.

SteAm EngIne

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A victorian inventor is about to change the world, but not how you think!

Portrait Mode

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I’m back in the sketchbook for the first time in more than a year!

Fresh Eyes on Old Memories

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Rewatching some videos I haven’t seen in nearly a decade!

The Permanence of Paper

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Will my art outlive me?

Biteguard Fever Dreams 2

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Five new short stories, hand-drawn and painted, shipping worldwide!

Welcome To Shit Hill, Population—Me

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

My brand new short story collection is now available!

When Your Story Rewrites You

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

An incredible tale of creative transformation.

Creative Friends

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

You don’t have to look far to find inspiring musicians, painters and poets in your world.

What Do You Actually Want?

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

It’s one of the hardest questions to answer. Here are some exercises to help you to figure it out!

Equanimity Visualised

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A new story from me, plus some extra thoughts on finding your voice

Silence The Influencers

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Some notes on the challenge of finding your own voice in this noisy world

Aquanimity

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A grouchy swimmer learns a dramatic lesson in acceptance in this new short story

You Can Draw Anything!

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Lessons I’ve learned from creating & publishing my first zine

Make Art, Get It Seen

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I’m thrilled to announce my debut short story collection is now on sale!

Biteguard Fever Dreams 1

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Strange, dark and funny — I’m really proud of the five original stories that make up my debut collection!

Hibernation Contemplation

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

As the nights draw in, I’m learning the value of some intentional wintering.

Goals vs Systems (Part II)

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

How I use systems to power my creative work and be productive and fulfilled.

Visual Storytelling (in Three Acts)

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A step-by-step guide to the many choices a filmmaker or comics artist makes in telling a story.

Aquanimity

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The power of radical acceptance; or - what I talk about when I talk about swimming

The Storytelling Stick

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Sticks, Twitches, Gifts and Touchstones — let me show you how these simple devices can make your stories rich with meaning.

Poor Miss Lonely Hearts

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Let me tell you about The Golden Action — visual storytelling at its most creative and potent.

Making The Invisible Visible

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I attempt to explain visual storytelling - with emojis! 🤯

The Way You Do It

Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Something for the artists who strive to be interesting and original.

Ink and Inspiration

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

New drawings from my latest sketchbook and inspiring quotes from great artists to spark your creativity.

Sometimes You Have To See It, To See It

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I’m excited to reveal a new creative storytelling project and a pop-up newsletter!

Instantaneous Paper Rebellion!

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In praise of a medium that is at once unmeasurable, hopelessly unscalable and algorithmically unfathomable.

Taking The Boat Out

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The unexpected benefits of writing and drawing short stories and some advice from the masters.

New Shoots

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

On creative bereavement and new beginnings - plus some important announcements about this newsletter.

What If The Opposite Is True? ↔️

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This week, a very short letter with a big idea.

Fear Takes The Floor

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This week’s letter is from a special guest writer

Three! New! Things!

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Two videos and a comic short story - all finished this week.

Boris Johnson Is A Liar

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This angry and sweary collaboration with comedian Tom Walker surprised and delighted New York Times readers around the world.

Sour Cream

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A collaboration with myself — thirty years apart! A short story about an angry kid out for revenge.

Songwriting With Sir Paul McCartney

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A good set of instructions for any artist.

Noticing What You Notice

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Trusting that something is interesting simply because you find it interesting…a radical act of self-love.

A Compendium Of Courage

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s what courage looks like to you in 2022.

Curiosity And Courage

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A challenging question to begin your new year.

Silence, Please

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Notes on quiet from the midst of self-isolation.

One Thing At A Time

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Some thoughts on productivity and visual storytelling.

Reasons To Be Optimistic

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A video every creative person should see about the future of the creator economy.

Dread

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Three americans reveal how “normal” was not working out for them and why they’re dreading a return to post-pandemic life.

Space

Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

An urgent message for whoever needs to hear it.

March 26th, 2013

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I realised there was something that I really wanted to do…and then carried on doing other things — for eight years!

Portrait Of A Year

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I drew myself every week for a year - and now I see myself transformed.

You Don't Have To Start At The Beginning

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Spending time with Hayao Miyazaki has kickstarted my comics storytelling!

Fill More Sketchbooks!

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A new year is a perfect time to start a new daily sketchbook habit. Here’s some more advice on how to make it work.

Negroni With A Twist

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The negroni is my favourite cocktail. What better tribute than this dark story about a professional killer in a not-too-distant future.

How I Made a Comic Short Story

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A step-by-step breakdown of making my four-page comic Negroni With A Twist - with lots of pictures!

Negroni With A Twist

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I wasn’t expecting to draw a whole short story in 2020 but here it is - I hope you enjoy it!

The Fauci Awards!

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In the midst of a pandemic we should be giving our health workers awards. Instead, they’re getting death threats.

Another Story About The Universe

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Big Magic is everywhere, if you know where to look. Plus a new film I’ve made is now out!

Remember Me?

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I’m back from a short hiatus with two new films to show you.

Don't Make Work Out Of Things You Enjoy

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Some thoughts on creativity and work, plus an important announcement about the future of this newsletter.

The Professional Beginner

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As we get older, it gets harder to be a beginner - but that is where the adventure lies!

This Is The Time To Be Slow

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Some advice for artists who feel they should be more productive this year

Psychoterratica

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A joyful moment with sweat on my brow, my blistered hands caked in thick dirt, interacting with the earth in a meaningful way.

To Stand A Little Apart From This Life Of Mine

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Here are a few of my favourite newsletter writers I recommend following.

Storytelling Panel By Panel

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The third and final guest letter, with some useful advice on plotting out the panels of a comic.

Birds And Words

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Continuing a summer of guest letters, Jess shares a personal story from their career in the military.

Get Better Faster

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The first in a short series of guest letters from Third Something readers, sharing their own ideas about creativity and visual storytelling.

More Advice On Filling Sketchbooks

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve finished three sketchbooks and I have learned a lot about building a sketchbook habit. This letter’s full of practical advice!

Do It On Purpose

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Did I actually choose the life I’m living? Some thoughts on intentional living, with help from Dolly Parton.

Hair!

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Two very different approaches to facing your fears.

A Leap Into The Void

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

If making a piece of art is transformative for you, then it will be transformative for your audience.

Would You Like To Write A Letter?

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

If you have something to say about making art, telling visual stories and the creative process, I’d love to share my platform with you.

Midpoint

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Are we really only halfway through this thing?

Miles And Miles Of Squares

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A fun warm-up exercise for your sketchbook that improves your technical skills at the same time.

White Supremacy Interlude

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Some quiet thoughts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and all that has followed.

Fuck Fish

Sun, 31 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Why do I suddenly give up on something right when things seem on the verge of taking off?

Solitary Refinement

Sun, 24 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As the lockdown continues, I’ve been thinking about what things from this period of self-isolation I want to keep.

Maybe It Is Not What You Achieve, But Who You Inspire

Sun, 17 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Apparently seeing inside my sketchbook has inspired lots of you start drawing again - and that’s wonderful!

The Lockdown Diaries

Sun, 10 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve been keeping a visual journal during lockdown and I’ve learned to pay attention to the little things.

Asterios Polyp

Sun, 03 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I break down the visual storytelling in this radical and fascinating graphic novel.

What A Good Idea Feels Like

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A good idea feels like a visitation and a chain reaction all at once!

Perfecting The Theory

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve lost too much time trying to study the craft instead of just getting my hands dirty and making mistakes.

The Sketchbook Problem

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Sketchbooks are supposed to be a place for creative freedom. But rarely feel like that. A very long post with lots of pictures!

The Grief In Our Lungs

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The world locks down, we are left with little choice but to sit alone with our pain. Some thoughts on grief.

You Don't Need To Make Art Today

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Some thoughts from the first days of lockdown - should you be making art out of all this chaos? Don’t feel guilty if you can’t.

We're The Extras

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I feel insignificant in the face of extraordinary events.

Eating Toilet Paper for Coronavirus

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This week I made a satirical video for The New York Times about this new coronavirus thing.

Spirals

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve just finished my first sketchbook of the year! Here are some things I’ve learned.

Once Through, Cleanly

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Some solid advice from designer Frank Chimero on how to make the most progress in the early stages of a project.

Stormy Weather

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A short comic about weathering my own personal storms this month.

Ink And Gifts

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Your hand-painted postcards are on their way! Here’s a step-by-step process of how I made them.

A Kind of Aliveness I Live For

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A crucial distinction for all artists - you don’t think in order to draw, you draw in order to think.

Endings

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

My life has a lot of endings in it right now. Some reflections on the passing of Kobe Bryant.

Negative Capability

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

On the inevitable uncertainty of making art and how filling sketchbook pages is helping me to tolerate it.

Sequential Art

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A look inside Berlin - one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read and my thoughts on what filmmakers can learn from comics artists.

Rock, Chalk and Ink

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

You share your advice on keeping a daily sketchbook practice and I try to do some simple drawing exercises.

Fill Sketchbooks!

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

My plan for 2020 is to fill as many sketchbooks as I can, starting with filling pages of collage. Plus some advice on keeping a sketchbook.

End of Season Finale

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I have published a newsletter a week for a whole year! But what next? Plus an update on my postcards project.

Banksy And The King

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A story about the time Banksy squared off against London’s greatest graffiti artist - and lost.

Ink and Card

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve just come up with an idea for an exciting project and I want to tell you all about it!

A Story About The Universe

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I believe that when you move towards your dreams, the universe will move with you. I see evidence of this everywhere.

The Future Of This Letter

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

My year-long experiment is nearly over, and so I need to ask you - what should I do next?

More Thoughts On Words And Pictures

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

From Tilly Walden to William Blake - some inspirational notes on telling stories with words and pictures.

Residency

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Artists residencies are a great way to find focus - but you don’t have to wait to be invited to one!

Goals vs Systems

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A radical rethink of how to achieve your goals, thanks to James Clear’s new book Atomic Habits

Cloud Bergs

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Some thoughts on striking the right tone in journalism and documentary. The world is a serious place, but sometimes a light touch is what’s needed.

Hobbies Update

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I’m nervous about this letter - I’m letting you see my first attempts at drawing real life models.

I'm Still Thinking About These Ideas

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A collection of ideas, quotes and provocations which are still lingering in my brain weeks after I saw them.

What Can You Organise Today?

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Faced with the climate crisis, hope and optimism are no longer useful words. Here’s a better strategy.

Jaron Lanier Fixes The Internet

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Fed up of having your data stolen by big tech? Silicon Valley’s maverick futurist has a plan to fix the internet.

September 29th 2009

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Reflecting on a decade of being a freelance filmmaker and journalist - and an update from the Emmy Awards!

Jaron Lanier Fixes The Internet

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Months in production, a new three-part series I have made with technologist Jaron Lanier is about to publish!

Warm Sounds

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Another musical interlude! I’ve made a playlist for you of strange and wonderful songs, which you can listen to while you work.

Things I Know About Visual Storytelling

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Sixteen tips to help you improve your filmmaking and comics art.

A Low Dishonest Decade

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Reflections on the anniversary of the declaration of war in Europe

The Ever Moving Mountain

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Why artists can never settle on a single idea - creativity wants expansion!

As The Electromagnetic Pulse Ripped Through The City, He Saw It Was All For Nothing

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

When I’m not scared of losing my life’s work, I think about destroying it.

Hobbies

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

How I have denied myself a hobby for most of my life - until this summer.

All Sorts of Things Become Possible

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Some lessons in filmmaking from the set of my latest video project.

A New Film I'm Proud Of

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A behind-the-scenes look at a new film I’ve made for The New York Times - plus some exciting news about a film I directed last year!

America's Unfair Felony Murder Law

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The story of Adnan Khan, who served 16 years at San Quentin prison for a murder the judge, jury and prosecution all agreed he did not commit.

The Time Orson Welles Met Hitler

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Some must-watch interviews from a golden age of television.

On The Thermodynamics of Creativity

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

An important message for artists - your work will not exist by itself!

I Don't Know How To Be Older Than This

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

How I lost my way and some advice for creative folk in their 30s.

Your Questions, Answered

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A Q&A session with Third Something Readers - I answer questions about filmmaking and my creative process.

The Threshold Of Awareness

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

This diagram helps me tell visual stories that make the audience both think and feel. Here’s how to use it.

The Sacred Stage

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Are you feeling creatively blocked? You might be thinking about your ideas all wrong.

A Vague Haze of Malaise

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve been feeling depressed lately and I wonder if it’s connected to how much time I make for myself to create.

Looking and Seeing

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a useful exercise in using drawing as a form of meditation and awareness. Try it out!

My Storyboarding Process

Sun, 26 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A step-by-step look at my previsualisation process for making a video for The New York Times.

You're Weird

Sun, 19 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Exceed algorithmic description - make art the computer cannot categorise!

Five Miscellaneous Things

Sun, 12 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Poetry, filmmaking, graphic novels and visual storytelling - take your pick!

Planned Improv

Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Notes on the balance between preparation and improv in the creative process, while shooting a film for The New York Times.

Practicing Scales

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Some practical advice on how filmmakers can build a daily practice habit that improves their craft.

Keep Hanging On, Kid

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Remembering Lyra McKee, a fellow journeyman who lost her life too soon in Northern Ireland.

The Gift

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A quick note on Patreon and the power of generosity in the Creator Economy.

Outsider's Luck

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Do people who aren’t trying so hard have some kind of outsider’s advantage?

Three Thoughts on Visual Storytelling

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

On Spiderman Into The Spider-Verse, the nature of juxtaposition and writing screenplay dialogue.

Musical Interval

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Playing around with loops and ossilations, I discover whale music inside a 95-year-old song.

Five Days

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A day-by-day account of writing and designing a film for The New York Times.

Building A Body Of Work

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

You’re not just publishing into a never ending stream, you’re building a library of work

Barbecues On The Titanic

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

On climate change and how stories create aesthetic emotion to comprehend what’s happening.

On Being Busy

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Is busyness really a trap? Or is a sign of a life well-lived? Is creative energy a finite resource or something abundant?

Haiku

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A great example of The Third Something at work — in words, not pictures!

The Sleep Consultant

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Robin Sloan asks a critical question for creators — what does it mean to love something on the internet today?

The Screenplay Problem

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The problem with screenwriting as a creative pursuit, and three ideas to fix it.

It's Telling You What It Wants To Be

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Thoughts on the creative process and letting the work tell you what it wants to be.

Movies Made In Slow Motion

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

How graphic novels and films are sister mediums, speaking the same language.

Trust The Process

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Thoughts on patience and the creative process on months-long projects.

Towards the door we never opened

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Paris vs London and reflections of place and placelessness in the 21st century.

The Third Something

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Introducing The Third Something newsletter - reflections on visual storytelling and the creative process.

Operation Infektion

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

This Emmy-nominated documentary traces the history of fake news back to the KGB in rip-roaring style.

Parallax

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This strange, dark Sci-Fi documentary imagines an advanced alien species watching earth from afar. What do they make our planet — and us?

The Peter Principle

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

We live in times of seemingly unending progress - and yet somehow things still always go wrong. Here’s why!

The Unluckiest Man In History

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

From the ruins of Hiroshima, an incredible story about history itself and who it chooses to remember.

Bananas, Sardines and Sharks

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

This remarkable true story of a Cold War coup warns us that no matter how cheap and stuff is, there is always a price to pay.

Cause And Effect: The Great War

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000

I made this as an experiment in telling an old story in a new way. It offers a new spin on the causes of The Great War.

He Turned Paper Into Pixels

Sat, 14 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Everything in our information age - from email, to Facebook, to YouTube, is all based on the most simple of ideas.

The Long Game

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

How do you make art without an audience? How long does it take to achieve greatness? This series answers those questions and more.

☑️ Confirm your subscription!

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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A big update to The Third Something

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Last updated, January 2026

The skinny

After three years using the newsletter platform Beehiiv, I have moved The Third Something over to a new provider, called Buttondown. They’ll be holding the mailing list and firing out my emails. If you signed up to my newsletter on Beehiiv (or Substack before that), I have ported your email address over to Buttondown. My mailing list on Beehiiv will shortly be deleted.

(If you’ve never subscribed before, here is the new signup form!)

About Adam

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m a British artist, writer and visual journalist, currently based in The City of Stories.

I’ve written and drawn dozens of short stories and published two collections. In the spring of 2026 I am publishing the first act of my debut graphic novel Absolute Legend, To Be Fair, a story about four British men getting naked and talking about their feelings.

Ask Me Anything!

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fill in this form to ask me a question! I will respond to as many as I can in my newsletter.

Body of Work

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Video Essays

▶️ The Peter Principle (2016)
▶️ The End of the Line (2016)
▶️ The Long Game Part III: Painting in the Dark (2016)
▶️ Distracted! (2015)
▶️ Money For Nothing: the Universal Basic Income (2015)
▶️ What Are These Things Called Love? (2015)
▶️ The Unluckiest Person in History (2015)
▶️ A Briefer History of Time (2015)
▶️ Bananas, Sardines and Sharks (2014)
▶️ Cause and Effect: The Unexpected Origins of Terrible Things (2014)
▶️ The Man Who Turned Paper Into Pixels (2014)
▶️ The Long Game Part II: The Missing Chapter (2014)
▶️ The Long Game Part I: Leonardo DaVinci was a Loser (2013)

Body of Work

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

With The New York Times

▶️ This Innocent Man Has Just Days To Live (2025)
▶️ A.I. And The Hurricane (2025)
▶️ America First? Not When It Comes To Your Health (2025)
▶️ ‘Motherhood Should Come With A Warning Label’ (2025)
▶️ They Were The Watchdogs (2025)
▶️ How Tyranny Begins (2025)
▶️ The Democrat’s Demographic Problem (2024)
▶️ Why Trump Won (2024)
▶️ Allan Lichtman’s (Incorrect) 2024 Election Prediction (2024)
▶️ Junk Science Put The Wrong Man on Death Row (2024)
▶️ He Killed My Mom, But He Shouldn’t Be Executed (2024)
▶️ I Put This Man on Death Row. He Shouldn’t Die (2024) 🏆 EMMY NOMINATED
▶️ Good Riddance To Britain’s Terrible Tories (2024)
▶️ Talking About Mental Health Is Making Us More Anxious (2024)
▶️ Criminalising Homelessness Won’t Make It Go Away (2024)
▶️ The Deep State Is Actually Kind of Awesome (2024)
▶️ The Life Span of Loneliness (2023)
▶️ How Britain Ruined The Greatest Thing It Ever Created (2023)
▶️ Israel, Palestine and The Two-State Platitude (2023)
▶️ I Ran While Pregnant. The Internet Had Thoughts (2023)
▶️ The Unintentional Tragedy of America’s Opioid Crisis (2023)
▶️ The Life-Saving Policy No Politican Will Touch (2023)
▶️ The Great American Labor Trap (2023)
▶️ Greg Abbott and the Art of Failing Up (2022)
▶️ Elon Musk Has Terrible Ideas (With Adam Something) (2022)
▶️ The Conservatives Ruined Everything in Britain — Even The Weather (2022)
▶️ How Does It Feel To Be Russian Right Now? (2022)
▶️ Putin Showed Us His Hand - And The West Kept Shaking It (2022)
▶️ Jonathan Pie: ‘Putin Has Been Using Britain’s Greed Against Us’ (2022)
▶️ Jonathan Pie: ‘Boris Johnson Is A Liar’ (2022)
▶️ We’re Cooked: The Harm Caused By Food Production (2022)
▶️ Are You Dreading Returning To Normal? You’re Not Alone (2021)
▶️ Why Do We Let Corporations Profit From Rape Videos? (2021)
▶️ January 6: Stop Pretending ‘This Is Not Who We Are’ (2021)
▶️ The Fauci Awards 2020! (2020)
▶️ “It’s Like You Want to Stop People From Voting”: How U.S. Elections Look From Abroad (2020)
▶️ The Great American Covid Success* (2020)
▶️ There’s Still One Sport Where You Can’t Protest Racism (2020)
▶️ “I Feel So Sorry For The People”: How America’s Coronavirus Response Looks To Foreigners (2020)
▶️ The Leader We Wish We All Had Right Now (2020)
▶️ Beware Politicians Who Declare “War” On Coronavirus (2020)
▶️ A Definitive Account of Trump’s Coronavirus Lies (2020)
▶️ People Around The World Are Panic Buying…Toilet Paper? (2020)
▶️ What I Learned From Scanning The Brains of Potential Terrorists (2020)
▶️ You Should Be Freaking Out About Privacy (2019)
▶️ How Ireland Faught the Anti-Vaxxers and Won (2019)
▶️ Jaron Lanier Fixes The Internet (2019)
▶️ I Didn’t Kill Anyone. Why Did I Just Serve 16 Years for Murder? (2019)
▶️ I Co-Founded Facebook. It’s Time To Break It Up (2019)
▶️ I Will Not Stay Silent: Our Leaders Are Failing Human Rights (2019)
▶️ Happy 15th Birthday, Facebook (2019)
▶️ Operation Infektion: Fake News from the Cold War to Kanye (2018) 🏆 EMMY NOMINATED
▶️ If You’re Not Scared About Fascism In The U.S., You Should Be (2018)

Colophon

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the colophon! A hidden corner of my website for technical miscellany and such like.

💻 This website

This website is built with the Hugo static site generator, with a simple theme that I designed myself. It utilises Bootstrap 5 and Hugo’s responsive image processing to load quickly without using much of your data. The content is written in Markdown which is my favourite writing tool. The site is hosted on Github and delivered by Netlify.

Contact Me

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Would you like to start a conversation? Please use this form to get in touch.

Intro Comics

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dark and strange comic stories

I came late to comics, only discovering their beauty and potential in my 30s. As a filmmaker I find them a fascinating sister-medium: similar and yet different. As an artist, drawing comics has become a way to explore darker and more complex parts of myself. Here you’ll find short stories, self-published zines and other works I have created in my sketchbooks over the years.

Intro Delve

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Video essays which have inspired thousands

I have written and directed a dozen original video essays which tell vivid stories about history, creativity and science. My series The Long Game — a radical reexamination of great artists, from Leonardo DaVinci to Vincent Van Gogh — has inspired thousands of people to make art, no matter their age. I still receive emails from strangers telling me the videos shone a light for them in dark times. Making these films trained me in telling compelling stories with complex ideas.

Intro Newsletter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Third Something is my newsletter, which I have been writing since January 2019. Now in its eighth year, I send roughly one letter a month to more than one-thousand readers, with original stories, art and ideas. My writing is personal and sometimes intimate. Over the years, many readers have become friends and collaborators. Join us!

Intro NYT

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Award-winning documentary films

I’m a staff video producer at The New York Times, writing and directing beautiful videos with strong opinions. In 2018 we released Operation Infektion which received two Emmy nominations and won an ONA Award. The challenge with these videos is in taking sophisticated arguments — meeting the high standards of the Times — and using the film form to shape them into visual stories the audience can both see and feel.

Intro Parallax

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Genre-busting science fiction

In 2017 I wrote and directed a five-part series about life on earth — imagined from the perspective of a superior alien species. In Parallax — a video essay smashed with science fiction — the earth is upside-down and the planet is ruled by sentient skyscrapers; the aliens’ unusual view challenges our human-centric idea of how the universe works and our place in it. Parallax features an original score, composed by Dale Nichols, and the voice talents of Jennifer Munby.

Support my work

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you for your support ❤️

Welcome to The Third Something!

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

✅ You’re all signed up!

Welcome to The Third Something, a newsletter for my art, stories and ideas.

You’re joining one thousand other artists, filmmakers, writers and students who want to make space for magic and creativity in their lives.

The tempo of this newsletter changes but right now, you can expect a carefully written email once a month.

⚠️ Be sure to label adam@newsletter.adamwestbrook.co.uk as an approved sender in your email account.

Explore the archives

I’ve been writing The Third Something since 2018 and there are more than 165 letters which trace the path of my creative journey so far.

What Am I Doing Right Now?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Last updated: March 2026

I’ve just published issue #168 of my newsletter, which launches two big projects I have been working on for a long time.

The first is the publication of the first act of my graphic novel Absolute Legend, To Be Fair: a story about men trying and failing to talk about their feelings. I have spent two years drawing it and a year beforehand writing the script. I’m very proud of the story and publishing a new chapter every Wednesday through April and May.

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Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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