Category Archives for Articles

The Sport of Writing: How an Athlete’s Mindset Can Help Bring Your A-Game

Picture this: a competitor in fierce pursuit of a goal, pulling off incredible physical and mental feats, and letting out a huge roar after a win.

Can you guess who this is?

If you answered, “An athlete,” you’re absolutely correct.

If, for some reason, you said, “A writer”… you are right as well!

Let’s face it: when we visualize writers, we don’t exactly think of impressive physical specimens like Dwayne Johnson or Serena Williams. Though some of us (especially me) could probably use a protein shake or two, we have every right to feel like a Grand Slam Champion.

Why? Because writers, in essence, are athletes.

I have been a sports fan since childhood, with basketball holding a special place in my heart. (I’m from the Philippines, you see.) After devouring so much sports content over the years, I can confidently say that the winning qualities of athletes are the same ones that drive writers to success.

In this article, I’ll assemble my own starting five by discussing the top qualities that writers can pick up from the world of sports. By adopting all these characteristics that define the mindset of an athlete, writers can get past every obstacle, beat the clock, and score a slam dunk. Or a home run. Or a touchdown.

Do we have to do the Griddy every time our work is published? Up to you. While celebratory dance rituals are short-lived, these five qualities will help you last long in the writing industry.

I Became a Writer at 40. Here’s What I’ve Learned

After the outbreak of COVID-19, many of us were forced to reassess our values and consider whether we had been happy and fulfilled in the first place.

I was one of them.

I had been a TV Producer for 20 years, starting from the bottom as a runner—my first job involved spending 14 hours a day in an old plane hangar helping people find the toilets.

Two decades later, I was working on some of the UK’s best-known shows with a book full of contacts. But I decided to turn my back on it all—while raising a toddler. 

Why? 

To live my dream of becoming a freelance writer. 

In January 2022, on my 40th birthday, I decided I was never going back to my old career. That I was going to become a writer.

So I removed all my details from job sites, stopped responding to potential employers, and focused entirely on becoming a writer. And despite only working part-time, I have already achieved my goal of being paid to do it!

I was terrified to make the jump, but I was able to overcome my fears. 

So here’s what I learned from this process and how you can do the same.

Watch What You Sip: A Beverage Guide for Writers

Admit it: you’ve got a cup of coffee in front of you right now.

As you sip that steaming foam of goodness, close your eyes and ask yourself the following questions.

Why am I drinking this?

Seriously, why am I drinking this?

A precious few writers might be able to give answers with substance. But the rest of us will probably just shrug and say, “It tastes good” before taking another blissful swig.

For sure, a nice beverage brings comfort to a writer facing a deadline. However, beyond the pleasure of our taste buds, we need to find more compelling reasons for the drinks that we choose. Different drinks have distinct effects, both good and bad. If we don’t watch what we sip—or, indeed, how often we sip it—the effects on our health and our writing will be undeniable. Now that would be tough to swallow, wouldn’t it?

In this article, it’s mugs and glasses galore as I take the drinks out of the fridge and into your consciousness. Having done my homework on the nutrition side of things, I present to you the physiological effects of beverages we tend to sip while working. I’ll tell you which drinks keep you sharp, which drinks stimulate your ideas, and which ones are, well, just plain trouble.

Thirsty for the facts? Let’s dive right in!

How To Properly Multitask as a Writer

Whether writing is a full-time job or not, as writers, we still have to do other things. For Jahlene Crisele, it’s about balancing between being a parent to a toddler and being a professional writer. For me, it’s about combining school and writing.

I have been a student for as long as I can remember. As a student, it can be difficult to do anything other than be a student and do just student activities, which are mostly studying, doing assignments or assessments, and partaking in extra-curricular activities. 

I enjoy being a student because I like learning new things and being around friends all aiming to succeed. Yet, I also love being a writer because having all my thoughts down helps me feel good—not to mention, I get to share those thoughts with someone else.

Whenever I share my non-school-related writing with people, I get questions like “How do you do it?,” “How do you find the time?,” “When do you write?”

But really, how do I do it? 

This article will walk you through some of my tips and tricks for combining writing with other activities. The key is to be able to multitask as a writer, but multitasking must be done properly.