Published in ILLUMINATION·Sep 11, 2022Member-onlyHow to Make the Best Decisions for Yourself When Results are Not GuaranteedHow do you know you're making the right decision when the future is uncertain, and success is not guaranteed? This question comes up most regarding something you would like to happen, not something you have to do regardless. For things you know you have to do (like get that degree…Decision Making13 min readDecision Making13 min read
Aug 22, 2022Member-onlyMasterclass Notes: James Patterson — Part 3 — PlottingStory is about revealing character and causality (i.e., when one event leads to the next, which leads to the next and so on and so forth until the inevitable end). “Try to write every chapter as if it’s the first chapter of the book — try to write every chapter…Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Jan 9, 2022Member-onlyMasterclass Notes: James Patterson — Part 2Part one of this series can be found here. It’s important to note that the points below are a combination of what was viewed & the insights it stirred. Lesson 3: Raw Ideas Patterson doesn’t write realism, he writes whatever interests or excites him. His stories are usually the opposite of what you would…James Patterson2 min readJames Patterson2 min read
Published in Annotated·Dec 27, 2021Member-onlyMasterclass Notes: James Patterson — Part 1Lessons 1 to 2: passion & habit — James Patterson is a bestselling author of more than 100 books. Though he follows a unique ‘business model’ where a lot of his books are co-authored (or ghostwritten), his original works seem to have been penned solely by him. …Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Nov 14, 2021Member-onlyThe Most Important Personal Finance Habit Everyone Should AdoptPlus a Free Printable to Help You Establish It — The most important step in managing your finances is actually the basic first step that many fail to do: track their finances. Without judgement, without repercussions, just simple recording. But it’s that simple habit of documenting transactions that lead to huge insights which can create the biggest ripples of positive…Personal Finance4 min readPersonal Finance4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Oct 13, 2021Member-only12 Tips for Finishing Your NovelQuick reference of solutions to major problems authors face during drafting In honor of Preptober, below is a list of solutions to the major problems writers face while drafting: Choose one story. Working on one story cuts down on the time needed to refocus and makes it easier to achieve…Writing Tips6 min readWriting Tips6 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Sep 19, 2021Member-onlyDo AnythingDo anything to get you started. When you don’t feel like working and all the planners, routines, timers and complicated productivity systems aren’t helping, throw everything out and do anything. …Motivation5 min readMotivation5 min read
Sep 6, 2021Member-onlyMichael Phelps: “Putting Money in the Bank”Remain consistent with your actions to ‘put money in the bank’. — Stay Focused Through Wins “Yeah winning a gold medal is absolutely incredible. There’s nothing better than standing on the podium, listening to your national anthem play…but for me I’m somebody who knew that I had 7 other events after the first day. So I had to throw that to the back of my head…Success3 min readSuccess3 min read
Aug 15, 2021Member-onlyWhy is Writing So Hard?I don’t know about you, but I stop in my tracks when I come across a decision I can’t make. Writing is a series of decisions. For a ‘writer’ as indecisive as me, that’s quite the hairy pickle. What’s weird is that when I’m telling a story to a friend…Writing6 min readWriting6 min read
May 30, 2021Member-onlyI Am Now a Self-Published AuthorThe benefits of finishing what you write — In my ‘About the Author’ blurb that I sometimes write and sometimes don’t, I usually tend to say, “dreams of one day writing a story to ‘The End’.” It has now officially changed to “Once upon a time, she used to dream of writing a story to ‘The End’. Today…Books4 min readBooks4 min read
