If you have ever looked closely at a fully alive and enthusiastic chicken, you’ll know they evolved from dinosaurs.
When Jurassic Park came out, I was like WELL OF COURSE BIRDS EVOLVED FROM DINOSAURS LOOK AT THEM. I did not understand why this was such a controversial idea.
Anyway, I am kept by chickens and they are 100% little dinosaurs. Velociraptors.
Today’s lesson: they’ll lay their eggs wherever the hell they want to.
Despite the fact I once trained a previous chicken, Mrs Pickles, to fly up onto my outstretched arm, I’ve come to the conclusion that chickens are basically hooligans who won’t be trained.
They have a beautifully cosy coop and nest box to lay their eggs, so guess where they lay them?
Everywhere else.
For a little while it was a hollow under a blackberry bush on the hill.
Then it was on a very steep section of bank just above the garage roof, which required a belay and ropes to retrieve the eggs.
Now it’s the mower shed among the manky old tools (Birdney Spears) and under the box bush just outside the kitchen window (Ariana Grandegg).
God knows where Billie Egglish is laying hers.
It amuses me, because it’s like a little treasure hunt every day. Yesterday, I found a big pile of eggs next to the lawnmower.
The chickens follow us around chuckling at us and it’s both disconcerting and super cute. They love an anthill.
Okay, are you ready for the extremely awkward and forced segue?
Super, let’s go.
Brains are like chickens. They will basically veer off and do whatever they feel like doing, so we have to figure out how to rein them in.
If I were to confine my chickens to their coop, they would lay eggs in their nest boxes and that would be fine and dandy.
But that’s mean. We have a whole garden full of ants for them to play in.
Think of my Creative Playground as both the coop AND the anty garden: there are clear boundaries in the daily Power Hours — this is where you come and do the writing you want to do.
But also there are fun workshops, chitchats, Q&A sessions, and more — which is your tasty piquant anthills.
Look, I’m aware that didn’t make much sense so you might as well pop over here and find out what the Creative Playground is actually all about — and try us out for a week for just £1. (Yes that’s ONE ENGLISH POUND.)
Okay, ready for the Friday Goodie Bag?
Here’s what I’ve gathered for you this week…
Sharon Hurley Hall’s self-publishing masterclass
So you’ve written your manuscript, you’ve looked at publishing options — now what? Well, Sharon’s brilliant masterclass will walk you through everything you need to make an informed decision on publishing, and take you from “aaaaa how the hell does all this work” to “I am an informed writer and I am on the case with my book.”
If you’ve written a book with me in the past, this is an excellent complementary course to take.
Lance Corporal William Windsor (goat) + Sir Nils Olav (penguin)
Do crosswords, because you will learn all manner of ridiculous facts. Like — animals serve in the military. And not the obvious horses and dogs — I’m talking goats and penguins.
William Windsor is in the British Royal Guard and was demoted a few years ago because of his “lack of decorum” during the Queen’s birthday parade, which tbf is pretty standard behaviour for goats.
Sir Nils Olav — Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands — is a king penguin who lives at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. He is the mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard and his name and associated ranks have been passed down through three king penguins since 1972.
Do what you will with this information, but I am thoroughly delighted by it.
“Write to be heard” project on Crowdfunder
In their words: “Write to be Heard is a collective of writers who have experienced coercive control and/or post-separation abuse and who have been supported by Mums In Need. Unable to speak out about the injustices we have endured for fear of reprisal, we are working to share our stories anonymously in the hope of raising awareness of these issues whilst also to giving mothers a therapeutic outlet and a much-needed voice.”
It’s a brilliant idea and cause, and one very much in line with my mission to help people whose voices have traditionally not been heard (or have been suppressed) to tell their stories.
Find out more and donate here — even just a few quid will help.
Conversations about writing with ME — I’ve been on a podcast
When Julia Rogers bounded into my world and asked me to be a guest on her podcast, I immediately said yes, and not only because I am a total podcast ho who loves being interviewed (hit me up if you’d like a great guest!) Julia is delightful, funny, and thoughtful and her podcast The Dynamics of Everyday Life is a real treat. She is a nerd about psychodynamic theory and her mission with this pod is “to break down seemingly complex concepts of psychology and break them down into digestible, relatable bits that can apply to our daily lives.” Sounds good to me!
Listen to us talk about writing here.
Why Joan Didion kept a notebook (and why you should too)
Joan Didion was one of the greatest observers of people to come out of America. She was a magnificent writer and sharp, insightful watcher, and the world is poorer since she died. I recommend her books often. Then I found this video of her reading her own piece titled On Keeping a Notebook and I think you should see it too.
What I’m reading
Still engrossed in The DOSE Effect by TJ Power and loving it so much I’ve actually made some changes in my lifestyle and I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER FOR IT. This book has even got me taking cold shower blasts first thing in the morning and I never thought that would happen and yes it’s hideous but feels amazing afterwards.
I promise I won’t become an ice bath wanker.
What I’m writing
Currently writing a list of talks I could give, and starting to pitch them to events.
Got an event or a podcast you think I’d be great at? Please introduce me! I have things to say and the audience will love me (or possibly hate me, but either way there’ll be a reaction).
Word of the day
Tsundoku 積ん読
This lovely Japanese slang word means “the pile of books resulting from overbuying books” and I have no idea what they mean.
The word combines elements of the terms tsunde-oku (積んでおく “to pile things up ready for later and leave”) and dokusho (読書 “reading books”).
Quote of the day
“Decide what it is that you stand for, and stand for it 100% of the time.”
Attributed to Clayton Christensen.
That’s all folks!
Have a most beautiful long weekend (if you’re in the UK) and make something cool.
How to work with The MicroBook Magician
MicroBook Magic: Write your MicroBook in just 8 weeks — book for October 2025
Creative Playground: Write every day + get advice, support, and bonus access to my workshops! (1 week trial for £1)
Book Coach In Your Pocket: Let’s see how much you can get done in just 30 days
VIP Book Breakthrough Day: Make a quantum leap in book progress in just one day (or two half-days)
Nonfiction Book Ghostwriting: Idea to book in just 20 weeks
Buy My Book: How the hell do you write a book?