I’m not doing super well. Financially, you might say I’m broke. I’m working 10 hours a week and getting paid $30 more than how much my rent is. I live by myself and don’t split expenses with anyone. …

My mum once told me that I am an old person trapped in a 30-year-old body, because I seek pleasure in the little things. Even if it came out wrong, she meant it as a compliment, and that’s exactly how I took it. It’s true. I love the little things…

Is having less stuff the only way to spaciousness? — I’ve been craving minimalism again. I am quite minimal. Yet, every time I look around, at all the things I have in my house, I feel overwhelmed. In my defence, this house came furnished and, as it used to be an Air B&B, it also came with kitchen appliances, cutlery…

After publishing my book and attending the Kāpiti Writers Retreat, I thought I’d be riding a wave of inspiration. I was full of ideas, and thought I’d be writing every day — hence my self-imposed challenge of posting on Medium twice a week. That’s not exactly how that worked out. …

Writing to fight climate change — “People think I’m strange because I know all the names of plants, but I think that’s just the natural state of being.” I’m standing by the Waikanae river, notepad and pen in hand, staring at a tree. M. is behind me, talking to K., and when I hear her say…

A weekend at the Kāpiti Writers’ Retreat — I’m at El Rancho, the last place on earth I thought I could ever feel enlightened. When I first arrive and park my van outside the main office, I am welcomed by a horde of screaming children. The space is huge. Behind the office, there’s a campground where all the…

People have been shitting on Medium a lot recently, arguing that if you want to make a living from writing, you should try somewhere else. This might as well be true. I have been here for less than two years, and the algorithm has already changed countless times. …

The truth about getting to where you want to be — Do something towards your goal every single day. There, I said it. I considered adding an elucidatory preamble, but fuck it. Do something towards your goal every single day. That’s how you’ll get there. There’s no way around it. Do it. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Even if it’s just 5 minutes…

It’s time to abandon that baby — It’s hard to let go of your work. You’ve spent all this time — months, YEARS– putting it all together, word after word, sorting and fixing, patching and adjusting. Why would you not keep on doing that, even once your work is out? Don’t. Your work is not your baby…