Lessons from my most significant writing achievement you can steal for yourself. — Writing fifty thousand words in two short weeks is entirely achievable. But not for the average writer. Even the best writer, I hate to admit. That is unless you’re prepared to fuel yourself with energy drinks, forgo sleep and succumb to carpel tunnel syndrome. To achieve this feat, something I…

Lessons of growing up, bubbles and cheaters who win in the end. — Some people pretend they know talent when they see it at a young age. Those people often wear rose-coloured glasses. They see attributes within people they hope are there. They project their hopes and wishes onto this young person. And I’m not sure they’re always right. At least, that’s what…

Lessons in learning about marketing the hardest way — I used to be an influencer on Instagram. I used to be; I’ve retired. Before I continue, I politely ask you not to judge. It was a short-lived hobby that, as you’re about to learn, wasn’t a position I intended to become. More than most, I appreciate the stigmatism surrounding…

I’m living proof you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. — I recognise the look. A person will raise their eyebrows at me. They will screw up their face. And then question my every decision. When I say I don’t drink coffee, it’s like I have shattered their perception of the world. These interactions commonly occur when caffeine addicts seek their…

Are we friends? Are we lovers? What does ‘Henry’ want? — I listened intently to the ones who had gone before me. Welcome, they said, to the land of unlimited boys. There is enough for everyone; don’t be shy, enjoy the plethora at your disposal. And here I was thinking university was for getting a degree. What a rookie error. After…

Fear, frustration, doubt, it’s all normal in the marketing game. — It’s one of the hardest things you ever do. No, not starting a business, not even coming up with a business idea, or even developing the product. Whilst challenging aspects, they don’t compare to what I’m talking about. The hardest thing you will do in your business is marketing. Promotion. …

It should be a story of a flirtation misunderstanding. Yet, it’s never that simple. — Midnight. “You’re flirting with me,” the young, barely pubescent man quipped as I adorned his lap. I felt my face contort, my quizzical expression seemingly unjustifiable as I straddled him in the middle of the raucous house party. People were watching his insistence as much as they hung off my denial…

And the rollercoaster we ride once we want something, and we want all of it. — Most parents will reach a time where they will encourage you to stop wasting your time on ‘nonsense’. Playing video games. Watching juvenile movies. Collecting useless junk, they see no value in. A distraction, these activities are coined and demonised by our parents, turning these innocent pastimes into behaviours we…

And from my experience, we’ve big problems when we assume it is. — Everyone will tell you that writing rejection is perfectly normal. Expected, if you will. All part and parcel of being a writer. When starting any business, your mentors, leaders and advice-sharing writers will prepare you for inevitable failure. It’s as predictable as death and taxes. And it becomes your expectation…