Francsart 1st Birthday
Almost exactly one year ago; on the 1st of September 2021, I published my very first story on this website.
To all my readers, thank you.
Stay tuned for what’s coming next and read the most popular articles of the year!
The Pace of Summer - Humans and their Environment
It’s been years since the last time I spent more than a few days in Italy during the Summer.
I had forgotten how present, how real, how alive a season can be.
The Helsinki Bus Station Theory
The Helsinki Bus Station Theory is a popular metaphor used by the Finnish photographer Arno Rafael Minkkinen to explain the artistic journey towards originality.
It is powerful.
It is true.
And I live by it.
26 hours on the road with my wife, baby and dog
I’m ok.
I am, seriously, but I’ve been awake too many hours in the last 3 days to write a full-length article; I hope you’ll understand.
Instead, I wanted to share the fact that even my life is following the 3 act structure.
How? I’m glad you asked
Why Quantity Leads to Quality
The more I dived into writing, the more I understood the concept that “Quantity leads to quality,” but I needed to find my own “pottery class” to fully appreciate how improvement and practice are closely linked, even in subjective pursuits, like art.
What Happens at a Great Writing Festival
A second-person account of my day at the I AM Writing Festival, Winchester, in June.
That’s a festival like no others, and the amazing Sarah and Elane managed to exceed my already sky-high expectations.
I hope to see you all there next year!
Don’t be ashamed of what you like
At the end of the day, you don’t have to like Dostoevsky to consider yourself a reader. Read what you like, watch what you like, and listen to the music you like. Life is too brief to worry about judgment.
What it’s like to have a kid
I’ve always assumed that becoming a parent was like an on/off button. One day you’re an irresponsible teenager with a mortgage, the following you crack dad jokes and get aroused by the sight of barbecue grilles for sale, but I was wrong.
Love to Automate, Automate to Love
Automation of labour has been, since the industrial revolution, probably the worst nightmare of the working class. But if for decades the threat was only addressed to manual skills, easily out-powered by the relentless force of steel and fire, the advent of personal computers has extended the menace from muscles to brains.
The Advantage of Responsibilities
My wife’s my greatest supporter. She goes to the extent that, I think, I wouldn’t be writing at all if it wasn’t for her. She wanted to make sure that I would write as much as I could while relieved of father's duties; and yet, this has been my least productive week since my daughter was born.
We Got Writer’s Block Wrong
Treating writer’s block as a disease is like taking anti-acids for your stress-related indigestion. It’s a quick fix, yes, but doesn’t solve the problem.
How to write your first novel
During my first year of university, I decided I wanted to write a novel. So I thought about a story, opened up a word document and—BOOM—believe it or not, two years later the novel was still unwritten.
After years of writing consistently in the gaps of a busy life, I think I found a set of tricks that work very well for me, keeping my writing nearly consistent even during the most challenging times.
How Bullet Journaling Changed My Life
I can’t lie, I am a spoiled brat, but even I could see that during lockdown I was in a privileged situation, and I was ready to do whatever it took to take advantage of it.
Enter, the Bullet Journal.
Should you keep an Idea Journal?
“This is probably the most controversial opinion I have about writing practice, although I’ve got one big name on my side.
Should you always keep an idea journal with you?
Well, it depends.“