A very short, British girl trying to wriggle herself into the writing world.
Hello Medium Reader! My name’s Olivia (or Liv for short, if we’re being friendly), and I’m a part time writer, part time Computer Scientist. This my first plunge into the online writing world and — in true Olivia fashion — I’m both terrified and elated.
My Story
I grew up in a small pocket of the Cotswolds in England — the place with the pretty rivers, rolling hills and quaint houses that you see on postcards — and attended University in the same place to study Cyber Security. Honestly, it was a bit weird. I’d always fancied myself as a lawyer, but…
What can ancient work teach modern writers?
Four thousand years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, a high priestess of Sumer sat down to write the first piece of authored work in history. Enheduanna’s poetry was the first spark in a writing revolution that developed writing into the art form we know today, pulling it away from its practical beginning. Emotive, powerful, and passionate, Enheduanna’s voice still speaks to us from its distant origin in the Bronze Age.
But how did Endehduanna write such revolutionary words? And what can modern writers learn from her, sitting at their computers thousands of years in the future?
Below are three lessons writers…
What is ‘Fuck-it ‘ writing, and how it will keep you sane?
This week, I’ve read so many articles about “How to Make it on Medium” that I’ve teetered on the edge of insanity. If I see one more headline that reads “Make x amount of dollars writing this month!” I’m going to plunge into the pool of insanity, and I may never return.
Staying sane is like walking a tightrope when you’re a writer — except it isn’t just a normal tightrope. The tightrope is on fire and you’re being shot at by people in front of you and behind you. …
Jobs are a crucial part of everybody’s lives: they’re responsible for people’s wealth, happiness, and health. But, less than 50% of US citizens actually enjoy their job — meaning the rest of the population find their jobs mediocre at best, according to a study reported by Forbes.
What does this mean? Are we in the middle of a career-crisis pandemic? Coronavirus lockdowns have inspired — or forced — people out of their jobs and into new careers. But how can you tell if now is the right time for you to try the same?
1. You have no other choice.
Are all writers doomed to suffer?
“I write best when I am either falling in love, or falling apart.” — Rudy Francisco
The first time I found myself inspired to write, I was about thirteen and staring at a picture of Oscar Wilde in English class. It was a faded photo of him reclined in a fur-covered armchair, looking into the middle distance as if he was staring down a man called “Writer’s Block”. There was a quote plastered below the photo, written in bold:
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
What can your dog teach you about positivity?
As I sit here at my desk today, ready to grind out another two thousand words of material, a small, black, fluffy Cockapoo is snoring on the bed behind me. It’s a proper snore, not a quiet one — he’s lying in the sunlight, on his back, with his neck curled around to his side. The resulting noise is nothing short of ungodly.
Merlin is a major part of my life, just as all pets are a part of their owner’s lives. According to Petpedia, 95.5% of dog owners in the US consider their pet to be members of the…
Why writers should stop mistaking high statistics for happiness.
After listening to Elizabeth Gilbert’s viral TED Talk yesterday, I realised two things about myself. Firstly, I want nothing more than for my writing to be successful. Secondly, I fear nothing more than my writing becoming successful.
It sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? But look beyond the dream of ‘going viral’, and you’ll see it’s a totally rational fear to have.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s talk is a beautifully written, poignant speech about creativity being hindered by the fear of failure. Her book ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ has sold over nine million copies worldwide, and was developed into a movie starring Julia Roberts and…
When self-improvement turns into a superiority complex
In this age of revolution, there are political landmines hidden in every conversation you have. You have to be careful with where you step — or rather, with what you say. Whether it be a conversation about recent battles for racial equality or a simple debate about veganism, it seems there’s a fine line between what you can and can’t say these days without being ridiculed.
Thankfully, most people these days— no matter their political standing — understand the value of democracy and the sharing of opinions. Indeed, most people who consider themselves ‘woke’ are rational and easy to talk…
The key to getting regular engagement from followers who care about what you write.
Creativity comes with responsibility — especially when it comes to writing. There’s an expectation that readers who come across your work should finish it knowing more than they did before, and that they should feel fulfilled by your writing. As a writer, this is a hard expectation to fulfil consistently. How do you find the balance between writing what you love and writing content that people want to hear? How do you write material in such a way that people are interested in what you’ve got to show?
A writer’s main goal is always to be heard. This is only…
An exploration into sexism and the beginning of eating disorders.
The first time I remember noticing my weight was when I was four. It was the first day of school, and me being me, I was eager to make new friends: I’d been playing with another new boy in my class. About halfway through our play session, he asked me — in all sincerity — “Are you pregnant?”
Looking back, it’s laughable. But at the time it stunned me, and not because he was trying to be mean — because he wasn’t. …
Olivia Petris
Novelist, computer scientist and cockapoo owner. When I'm not on the computer, you will find me in the back of a bookshop that nobody's heard of.
