HURL There’s the wallRun to it and Hurl yourself against itAgain and again and againDon’t waste it Til you’re completely bruised and batteredTil you fall to the ground all spent and splattered Here’s another Throw yourself at it tooLike a long-lost friendBack from world’s end Wrap your arms around itAgain and again and againDon’t relent It’s like … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #1
Email circa 2031: My dear sons, beware “The Toxic 12” – #6 The Name-droppers
Hey guys, How you been? I'll be honest. You both not making it back for meals on weekends? It's a phenomenon that's happening more often these days than your mom and I care for. Sighhh...this dad is hardly seeing his sons anymore. And to think it seemed like only yesterday I was still trying to … Continue reading Email circa 2031: My dear sons, beware “The Toxic 12” – #6 The Name-droppers
Margaret Atwood on Writers: “We’re duplicitous!”
Photo by CBS via Getty Images You sit and you slog, trying to write something brilliant for posterity. You dig deep to pull out the gems from the inner mines of your very heart and soul, your very being. Gems that you believe are there. Out of sight but waiting to be discovered, like a … Continue reading Margaret Atwood on Writers: “We’re duplicitous!”
Zadie Smith on Writing: “It’s a Performance!”
Picture from ABC.net.au Yesterday was the official start of our annual Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) happening between Oct 30 and Nov 6. As with most events this year, practically everything in SWF would be conducted online. Now the kick-off event last evening threw up a name that I had heard of but whose work I … Continue reading Zadie Smith on Writing: “It’s a Performance!”
Raw & unfinished? Just write what’s true and right
Earlier this week, I read something that sounded too goody-two-shoes to be true, but which made my blood boil and my resolve harden! But before I launch into a tirade, let me take a deep breath and consider why I nearly reached boiling point. Then I'll come back to explain what I mean. My Blog's … Continue reading Raw & unfinished? Just write what’s true and right
Email circa 2031: My dear sons, beware “The Toxic 12” – #5 The Bootlickers
Photo by Matthias Zomer on Pexels.com Hey sons Sorry I've been so caught up recently with my book tour and talks. I'd almost forgotten about this series which I promised to get done and over to you both before 2031 gets done! My bad. So let me come back to it now and hopefully ramp … Continue reading Email circa 2031: My dear sons, beware “The Toxic 12” – #5 The Bootlickers
“Right to Disconnect” – A Matter of Culture or FOMO?!
Two days ago, a letter I wrote to our local daily The Straits Times was published. In it, I supported a labour politician's recent call that our nation's leaders put in place a "Right to Disconnect" Law, such as what's found within the "El Khomri" Law in France, as well as in several countries worldwide … Continue reading “Right to Disconnect” – A Matter of Culture or FOMO?!
Writing is really hard work – let no one tell you different!
If you've been following and reading my blog for a while now, let me first say a big Thank You! Cos, make no mistake, writing IS hard work. So having an audience really affirms my efforts! Here's hoping as long as I keep at it and keep posting, you'll keep reading and (maybe) keep helping … Continue reading Writing is really hard work – let no one tell you different!
Three more months and Caleb will be 10. But really, my son with autism is more like 5!
There's something that happens to a parent when his child turns from a single-digit birthday to a double. At least it does for this parent. I'm finding out that as January 2021 approaches, when Caleb turns 10, I seem to be caught up with a feeling of increasing anxiety that I can't quite explain. All … Continue reading Three more months and Caleb will be 10. But really, my son with autism is more like 5!
No more excuses! Be “Consistent” and Write Daily
Since the start of July, I’ve not been writing after the kids go off to sleep, and it feels both natural and unnatural. Natural because before this year, I never had that discipline, so the 'me' right now is also the 'me' pre-2020. Unnatural because, since the year 2020 started, I wrote non-stop every night, … Continue reading No more excuses! Be “Consistent” and Write Daily