The second draft of this children’s book I am writing has been a challenge. By ‘a challenge’, I mean a sweary, anxiety-fuelled, scribbly, dribbly challenge. I have set so many deadlines for myself to get it done, and I have Read more…
In a book, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Lamott says that ‘One of the gifts of being a writer is that it gives you an excuse to do things, to go places and explore.’ This quote was firmly in Read more…
Like many other new language learners, I have a big anxiety when it comes to speaking French to French people. I can speak French to my wife because she speaks… very … slowly … to … me in French and Read more…
Yesterday, I made a significant step in my language learning: I read a book in French! And by that, I mean I read the book (okay, graphic novel) in its entirety and understood what was going on. The book I Read more…
It is HOT here in France. Complete body soaked in sweat, brain melty kind of hot. It makes me realise how much I need certain comforts to be able to produce writing…
I’m currently listening to the new poetry podcast by Stranger Thing’s actor Dacre Montgomery. His deep, soft voice, it turns out, leads to some soothing poetry readings. I’m also trying to focus on not working – which turns out to be Read more…
I really like Stardew Valley. I’ve sunk a lot of hours into the game. As a result, I’ve been thinking a lot about the narratives that make up the game while I play it.
This year, at the NAWE conference, I attended an amazing workshop run by Carole Bromley all about writing children’s poetry. It was quite an intense hour and a half. She got us to write a selection of children’s poems in Read more…
I was recently in Edinburgh with my wife. While exploring the city – which is dripping with history, haggis and Harry Potter shops – an idea struck me.
I was facing the problem that I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in my career (or this website.) A next step seemed impossible. I kept separating myself into different roles (see my last blog post) and as a result, I was struggling to find a purpose. What did I want to do? What should I focus on? (more…)
Last Friday, I went to an event organised by a company called MindBody Breakthough. The event was called ‘Treating Generalised Anxiety and Panic Attacks.’ (more…)