Safi believes that writing has three components: style, story and process. He achieves style and story through having a good process, which he breaks down into five “hats”, or forms of behaviour: two in the research and reading phase, and three in the writing phase.
Read MoreAmerican General Stanley McChrystal commanded America’s Joint Special Operations Command and ISAF. He was the pre-eminent soldier of his generation and has written three books. Leadership is the theme that runs through all three of them.
Read MoreThere are tales reminiscent of the Greek and Roman Gods, of Christianity, of Hinduism. A reminder, perhaps, of their common roots, or they might have evolved multiple times because of man’s need for stories that make sense of the world.
Read MoreIn June/July 2014, I joined Levison Wood for the Sudan leg of his Walking The Nile expedition. Due to security restrictions, we had to cross the Bayuda Desert at the edge of the Sahara. I wrote the article up for Etihad Inflight Magazine, and you can read it here.
Read MoreWe’ve been here before: trying to make Shakespeare accessible by making him faster and colloquial. Dupré’s approach is to take strong acting talent, some outstandingly fast MC’ing, and combine it all with a clever, funny and accessible script.
Read MoreAs I mulled over these insights, I gazed out over the delicately manicured outfield at Lord's; a venue in which the true essence of the gentleman has been codified and distilled in the laws of a ball-game.
Read MoreThe first time I saw a Lichtenstein, I was underwhelmed. A blown up comic book?! What's so great about that?
Read MoreLight is uniquely able to influence our perceptions and mood, so a showcase of light as the medium was irresistible.
Read MoreHe's one of my favourite actors, from Dune all the way to having seen him in The Tempest, Antony & Cleopatra, Macbeth and The Merchant Of Venice at the RSC.
Read MoreBut, the programme didn't investigate a significant question deeply enough: why would you only marry a person of your own faith?
Read MoreIt has elements in common with my project - the interface between immigrant culture, race and national identity.
Read MoreThe play is an exploration of belonging and Englishness - the theme of modern Englishness captured me - soul-less housing estates, disenfranchised youths, bureaucratic council officers - what is England? Byron's character taps into a sense of mystery and longing for something more interesting than the meaningless of existence that simmers beneath the surface of modern life; it taps into the hunger for mythos rather than the logos that society tells us should be the only concern.
Read MoreSimply being able to meet others in the same position (or who once were), to reassure yourself that you're not the only one suffering setbacks, is extremely reassuring.
Read MoreBeing a man who writes of (and occasionally participates in) fairly masculine adventures, I thought I'd explore this concept. The inference is two-fold: if talking is girly, then solitude must be manly; and solitude results in achievement.
Read More