Perennial dreams: the Horologium FloraeThe Horologium Florae – the flower clock – is botany’s most whimsical contrivance. As certain species of flower open and close at certain hours of the day, a cleverly assembled flowerbed could allow an onlooker to tell the time. Or so the theory goes. . . . more
Tolkien & LewisA quiet delight of history is the fact that so many literary greats knew each other. In England, at least, this is less happy coincidence and more a side effect of the country's cloistered bunch of elite universities. Still, just for now, let's not hold that against the memory of young men, smoking pipes like… . . . more
The Truth Shall Make Ye FretEach month, we read one of the Discworld novels, going in chronological order; we then summarise, dissect and discuss it in front of a microphone, in three parts. We point out literary devices, track character development, highlight bits we liked (and, more reluctantly, bits we didn’t), and go down tangential research rabbit holes. . . . more
How to write a sample voice-over scriptA corporate video can be business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C), or the manifestation of an executive ego with too high a budget (EE2HB). . . . more
An unlikely source of namesI can’t vocalise why particular combinations – Matthew Grief, Gloria Swarm, Jebediah Vault – sound so funny, but they are very satisfying. Often, the results of trying to find these names are trounced by coincidence. . . . more
15 Tips for Self-Employed ProcrastinatorsWalk the dog. Pine forests are best for really long walks. The needles make a springy, well-drained soil which is easy on the joints and never too muddy. . . . more
How to Proofread, Part 1: Proofreading Your Own WorkSubmitting a piece of writing feels sublime. The slog is over, the deadline has been hit (or missed, but at least it’s not getting any missed-er), it's out of your hands. But the satisfaction glistens with greasy anxiety. How many mistakes did you miss? Checking your own work is hard. Once you’ve stared at a… . . . more
Keeping Track: Freelance Writing with ADHDADHD affects an offensively large section of behaviour called executive functioning. Executive functioning, when it’s, er, functioning, helps you plan, keep track of time, pay attention and — importantly for this article — bolsters your working memory and helps you think creatively. . . . more
Podcasts for freelance writers & editorsPodcasts are double-uppers. They entertain me while I rinse dishes. They educate me as I stride, with an air of misleading purpose, from house to coffee shop and back again. I was introduced to podcasts late in the game – bored, exhausted and sans television after a move in 2015, I Googled "QI facts radio… . . . more
Blue light blocking glasses: worth the weirdness?There were lots of choices for blue light blocking glasses – some more legit-sounding than others (I'm not sure if my chakras need realigning through light therapy or not, but I'd like to keep the issues separate). . . . more
Perennial dreams: the Horologium Florae The Horologium Florae – the flower clock – is botany’s most whimsical contrivance. As certain species of flower open and close at certain hours of the day, a cleverly assembled flowerbed could allow an onlooker to tell the time. Or so the theory goes. . . . more
Tolkien & Lewis A quiet delight of history is the fact that so many literary greats knew each other. In England, at least, this is less happy coincidence and more a side effect of the country's cloistered bunch of elite universities. Still, just for now, let's not hold that against the memory of young men, smoking pipes like… . . . more
The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret Each month, we read one of the Discworld novels, going in chronological order; we then summarise, dissect and discuss it in front of a microphone, in three parts. We point out literary devices, track character development, highlight bits we liked (and, more reluctantly, bits we didn’t), and go down tangential research rabbit holes. . . . more
How to write a sample voice-over script A corporate video can be business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C), or the manifestation of an executive ego with too high a budget (EE2HB). . . . more
An unlikely source of names I can’t vocalise why particular combinations – Matthew Grief, Gloria Swarm, Jebediah Vault – sound so funny, but they are very satisfying. Often, the results of trying to find these names are trounced by coincidence. . . . more
15 Tips for Self-Employed Procrastinators Walk the dog. Pine forests are best for really long walks. The needles make a springy, well-drained soil which is easy on the joints and never too muddy. . . . more
How to Proofread, Part 1: Proofreading Your Own Work Submitting a piece of writing feels sublime. The slog is over, the deadline has been hit (or missed, but at least it’s not getting any missed-er), it's out of your hands. But the satisfaction glistens with greasy anxiety. How many mistakes did you miss? Checking your own work is hard. Once you’ve stared at a… . . . more
Keeping Track: Freelance Writing with ADHD ADHD affects an offensively large section of behaviour called executive functioning. Executive functioning, when it’s, er, functioning, helps you plan, keep track of time, pay attention and — importantly for this article — bolsters your working memory and helps you think creatively. . . . more
Podcasts for freelance writers & editors Podcasts are double-uppers. They entertain me while I rinse dishes. They educate me as I stride, with an air of misleading purpose, from house to coffee shop and back again. I was introduced to podcasts late in the game – bored, exhausted and sans television after a move in 2015, I Googled "QI facts radio… . . . more
Blue light blocking glasses: worth the weirdness? There were lots of choices for blue light blocking glasses – some more legit-sounding than others (I'm not sure if my chakras need realigning through light therapy or not, but I'd like to keep the issues separate). . . . more