How to live now
How are you doing?
It's been a couple of weeks since I last emailed and like everyone else, I've been trying to make sense of everything and adapt to this new way of living.
I've found it almost impossible to articulate how I've been feeling in writing. And I am absolutely mystified by all these people who reckon they've suddenly got loads of time on their hands to be creative. This is as much a time for taking stock as spinning up side projects.
Anyway. Rather than write, I thought I would dust off the microphone and record some thoughts on the past couple of weeks. You should be able to listen to my ramblings via the audio player below. It's basically me reflecting on how I've spent my time and saying it's okay to not be okay.
I actually recorded this last Friday. But having four children at home and trying to deal with work projects being put on pause has meant I've not been able to put it out. And with that in mind, forgive me for the rather concise approach to listing links below. I plan to get back on schedule next week.
Two more things:
- Hello to all new subscribers! Thanks for joining us at this scary and unusual time.
- Let me know if you like the audio. It's how I imagined the podcast version of the newsletter could be. Just a bit less fun. Obviously.
That's it. Go find something useful below.
Links of the week
Every issue I collect and share the best advice, apps and other shenanigans that I find on my internet travels. Find something useful? Subscribe for free.
Make It Click – free learning resources to build your digital skills
Before I share the usual writing and publishing-related links, allow me to point you at Make It Click. This is a project I've been working on with the UK's biggest digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation.
Essentially, it's a growing list of free learning resources (courses, tools, templates) to help people build their digital skills. We've just added a 'working from home' section.
If you know someone who really doesn't have any digital skills at all, you might want to set them up on Learn My Way instead.
Stop Trying to Be Productive – seriously, do what you need to do
Metaphor Map: 100+ Metaphors, Similes, and Analogies for Writers – as described, this is one for you poets
9 ways to save indies now – important things you can do to help
Raindrop.io – All-in-One Bookmarks Manager – shared before, I've started using it
The Five Best Tools for Outlining Your Next Novel – we're talking pens folks
How To Sell Your Books Directly To Readers And Get Paid Immediately – practical advice from Joanna Penn
Creatives on Their Most Valued Habits – enjoyable fluff that's occasionally helpful
5 Ways to Read Faster That ACTUALLY Work – actually quite useful tips
The Shelf Life: A Podcast Sitcom – new show from Unslush reader and all-round good egg, Harry Marks
How to Build a Fan Base as an Author – some practical ideas that sadly include Facebook
How to be helpful
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Tweets of the week
Tweets are but terrifying textfruits in a tree of eternal, existential dread. But some of them are quite good. You can follow @iainbroome and @unslush on Twitter.
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Unslush is an email newsletter written by Iain Broome, freelance copywriter and author of the novel, A is for Angelica.
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