By now many know about the death of Paul Tilley, creative chief for DDB Worldwide Communications Group.  Tilley, 40, allegedly leapt to his death from the 27th floor of the Fairmont Hotel next door to DDB’s office in downtown Chicago on Feb. 24. Gossip blogs struck up the band immediately after learning of Tilley’s death, with all manner of finger-pointing ensuing. Some bloggers had written posts critical of Tilley. I didn’t know Paul Tilley, but I do know some of his work. Advertising Age says in 2000, Tilly oversaw Dell’s “Dell Dude” effort, and the campaign proved to be extremely successful. I remember wondering why Dell did away with the strategy, because the Steve character really drew you in. He just commanded your attention.One thing I often tell aspiring writers involves the psychological stress in any creative profession. It goes without saying that creative types bring lots more than new ways of expression to the table. I remember writing about poet and author William Packard for the literary site Alsop Review. “You can’t lead bunny lives and write tiger poetry,” Packard once said. The same holds true I think for any profession attractive to creatives. There’s a lot of psychological risk-taking in thinking creatively—it’s just not something we talk about a lot.Whether public ridicule can make a person harm himself is a question I can’t answer. I’d say most of the bloggers who’ve harped on this man and his death have serious egos and perhaps an issue or two themselves. I’d also say both of those qualities are essential to creativity, regardless of the profession you choose to practice your art.  Sometimes, all we can do is fumble our way through the dark, hoping to find a sliver of light. The trick is to believe the light is there, because it is. We just have to convince ourselves to see it sometimes.

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