Writing

malcolm (n.) A folksy anecdote used to begin a chapter in a popular nonfiction book, in an attempt to draw in uninterested readers. (Named for Malcolm Gladwell (b. 1963), who popularised the technique and spawned many less sure-handed emulators) I recently read Paul Johnson’s excellent Follow the Money, a book…

The secret behind great brands and products. — When people ask me what I do for work, I tell them I’m a writer. It’s not my job title. But it is my craft. It’s the skill I bring to digital product design teams. Yet the label, while true, always feels incomplete. It doesn’t really capture the scope of…

A new magazine dedicated to the madness of politics and the unlikely search for truth while the country burns — “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” — Martin Luther King, Jr It’s not often you are witness to the fall of an empire. As the story…

You need to know which countries are supported in the Program — On Quora, I got asked: Why was my Medium.com partner program rejected 2 times? I applied from Pakistan. Here’s my short and sweet answer: First of all, to apply for the Medium Partner Program (MPP) you need to have 100 followers. Second, Medium can only accept you if you’re from a Stripe country. …

We have all been there, or at least most of us have. With stars in our eyes, and desperately desiring a career in writing, which we love, we made the ultimate sacrifice of both our time and money, just to get our proverbial feet in the door. Was it worth…

One Day, I Will Never Have This Moment Again! — Journey through June writing prompts, with Keeley Schroder! June Writing prompt 1: Share some glimmers from your day. I was tagged in this prompt by, Bruce Coulter , who indeed is an excellent writer, if you haven’t already done so, please go check him out! Next up, My sweet little…

Who was the most influential gay author in U.S. history? You might think first of Walt Whitman, James Baldwin, or Langston Hughes. But you could also make a strong case for Maurice Sendak, whose Where the Wild Things Are forever changed children’s literature with its radically new way of telling…

Being blocked should be viewed as a badge of honour. — Just the other day, I was having a little chinwag with Robin Wilding about Medium, and how we’re both feeling about it at the moment. A certain writer came into the conversation. One of the most well-known and respected writers on Medium. To which I told her that this person…

This is where my anxiety starts. This is where my soul can finally let go. I will write, because that is where I find safety. The words say the things my mouth cannot. I will write, my heart has found peace. The weight is off my chest because I wrote. …