Apparently at Rio Ferdinand's first Manchester United training session Roy Keane yelled at him for picking the easy pass. For those of you who don't know both of these men were players but Roy was the captain and apparently he shouted something along the lines of: 'Youre not at Leeds any more! Play the right … Continue reading Rio’s first day →

It sounds quite paradoxical but constraints can be very liberating when it comes to creativity.For example when I was doing masters I hated writing the essays.Because they were never finished.There was always something you could improve.Thank God there was a submission deadline otherwise I would still be there tweaking and perfecting myself into insanity.In that … Continue reading Creative constraints →

I didn't financially plan well for one of my holidays and it was terrible. I couldn't enjoy myself. It didn't matter how beautiful the scenery was, it couldn't make up for the mounting anxiety inside me. The possibility of going broke before the end of the holiday dogged my thoughts constantly. It was paralysis in … Continue reading Broke on holiday →

The lottery is a cruel mistress - she lures you in with the prospect of billions but beats you over the head with her apathetic maths. And I think there is a similarity in the creativity on the internet. Some people are playing it like the lottery. They’ve seen the billions of views a viral … Continue reading The internet lottery →

I think the internet provides a fantastic platform for the creative to develop courage.Now just because you post to the internet doesn’t mean everyone will see it but everyone can see it.Some will argue that it’s not art until an audience is involved and I can see what they mean. It’s not a play until … Continue reading Practicing judgement →

After a session of Prosecco and painting I came to realise that painting wasn't as difficult as I previously thought.Although there are parts of my finished painting that I deem atrocious and loath, there are also parts that I am pleasantly surprised with how they turned out.I found that easy to follow instructions de-mystified painting … Continue reading Prosecco & painting →

You watch on in horror as your masterpiece is torn to shreds.The committee makes sure that they systematically strip your work of any personality.They sand off the edges and round off all the corners.When they are finally done, the piece barely resembles your meticulously crafted prose and a tiny part of you dies inside.It is … Continue reading Autonomy in creativity →

I bought a pair of Adidas boots once because I saw Dan Carter wearing them. I didn't tell anyone this but I secretly thought to myself 'now I'll be able to play just like Dan'. It took me a few pairs of boots to realise that Dan's genius did not lie in his footwear. I … Continue reading Dan’s boots →

I think 'write what you know' is good advice only if what you know is extraordinary. I don't think anyone wants to read how to unblock a toilet or how to start a Facebook campaign. I think people read novels or watch films for the escape. Can you imagine the movie that included all the … Continue reading Write what you know →

'I just need John's approval and then I'll start.''Once I get the promotion then I'll get going''I'll just wait for the kids to get out of school and then I'll begin!'It's the gosh darnedest thing every time these people go to start, something pops up and has to be dealt with.On a completely unrelated note … Continue reading Frog taming and duck organising →