Why too many ideas screws up your story — Sometimes I can’t type fast enough. My fingers can’t keep up with my brain. I need an extra pair of hands. There’s too much I want to say. Do you get that? You’ve got a sensible idea for an article. And yet your brain does its best to sabotage it…

Are you a sharenter too? — How many of you regularly post images or videos of your children on social media? Hands up! A lot, I guess. According to a study in the Healthcare Journal, 46% of parents in the UK shared photos of their child while still in utero. Another 39% continued to share photos…

Whose side are you on? — Mike Peters looked up at the 22nd floor of the Carlton Building. Up there, he knew his colleague would already be sitting in front of his screen looking at data. He finished his cigarette by the fountain that always smelt faintly of urine, before entering the building. In the elevator…

Why I thought Thanksgiving was Christmas — When I was growing up in the UK, I thought Thanksgiving was Christmas. Why not? The meal was the same. It was always cold outside. So I just assumed it was Christmas by another name. It was only at university years later, when some American students were having their Thanksgiving…

And what’s wrong with just having a job! — My sister recently qualified as an Air Traffic Controller. Being the caring older brother, I naturally congratulated her and wished her all the best in her new career. After a few more bits of fraternal advice, like how she can now replace that bashed-up Volkswagen, she turned to me and…

The death of a runner — The playing fields were a mismatch of old farmland that after 140 years of careful management, were now an expanse of lush greenery that wrapped itself around the old school like a soft blanket. In winter, the boys played rugby and football on it. In summer, cricket. For those boys…

Why I started writing on Medium — People write on here for lots of reasons. Self-flagellation, self-promotion, self-loathing, self-employment, self-assessment. Some folk do it for money. Some do it for love. Some do it for pleasure. Some do it because they’ve nothing else to do. I did it because I had an idea for a book. The…

Short-staffed? — It’s 8:30 in the morning. My colleague has just phoned in sick, so I know I’ll never get home tonight. I may as well sleep here. Sometimes I do. My office is on the 22nd floor of the Carlton building. A grey 30-storey high-rise that looks like the Houseman and…

This might not get past Fanfare’s editors, but I’m going to try it anyway — rock ON! — Irritating, puerile, juvenile, and stupid. And that’s just teenage boys! Add in sexist, sordid, moronic and senseless, and you’ve got Beavis and Butt-Head. Two teenage boys frothing with sexual desire and not much else. Two boys who, if they were yours, you’d probably want shooting. It’s easy to dismiss Beavis…