Or maybe you didn’t really have a “life-changing year backpacking through Europe,” unless “life-changing” includes three questionable hostel decisions and eating a jar of Nutella with your fingers in a train station. But hey, we tell it better every year.

Orcas, the majestic, intelligent predators of the sea, have decided to take fashion advice from a rotting fish carcass.

Look, if you’re a writer, there’s a lot of fun to be had with the tech developments that are already upending our lives - and trust me, your characters could use a little upending right about now. Imagine the drama of a character who’s forced to grapple with AI relationships, or one who discovers their partner has been replaced by a highly efficient bot (and no, the bot does not “get” the jokes).

By the end of the episode, Tim and LeeAnna have dragged us through the labyrinthine mess of incel ideologies, the self-sabotaging behaviors, and the desperate cries for connection. But here’s the kicker: Tim’s golden nugget of wisdom is that writers can’t just write the fight between the incel and the world. No, no. Writers, you have to write the attempt to save sanity first.

And if a piece of Moon rock happens to crash through your roof while you’re writing? Well, then you’ve got one heck of a plot twist on your hands.

So, what if the asteroid does hit in 2030? Or maybe it doesn’t. But at least we can laugh, panic, and enjoy the absurdity while it lasts. And if it all comes crashing down, hey, at least we’ll have one heck of a story.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest tech gossip - shame on you - let’s take a moment to break the news: OpenAI and Jony Ive (yes, that Jony Ive, the one who helped design the iPhone and made you feel like a tech genius just for touching your screen) are teaming up to create something revolutionary. Oh, but it’s not a new app or another overpriced gadget to replace your perfectly functional one - no, no, no. This is a new device, a third device.

So, there you have it. Butterfield’s view on history - chaotic, unpredictable, and full of mistakes - isn’t just a historical lesson. It’s a writer’s goldmine.

The more improbable the situation, the more it often rings true to life.

Look, let’s be honest. Life’s full of narcissists, co-dependents, and all their messy, twisted relationships. 

In short: torture your readers—they’ll love you for it.

Because at some point in life, we all stand in a metaphorical phone booth, trying to make peace with a past that doesn’t give a shit if we’re ready.

Write your mess. Write your truth. Write what hurts. Someone out there needs it more than you know

Sometimes the most mythic moment in your book should be the leg of a drowning mythological figure waving from a distant corner.

The beauty of language doesn’t always come from sitting in your chair, sipping a nice tea, and waiting for divine inspiration to strike.

The beauty of fiction is that we get to explore those gaps, to discover the things we didn’t know we didn’t know.

Don’t be afraid to surprise your readers. After all, life is full of omnishambles—same for your stories

It was a regular day at the bar when James Joyce’s writer friend sat down, ordered a strong drink.

The fun, chaotic, and deeply human part of the story is what happens when ideals crash and burn

It’s about surviving the entire process, then standing on the other side with a wry smile, knowing you’ve done your time.