Writing about the Iolaire

Writing a short story about the Iolaire Disaster affected me in unexpected ways. Māori writer Tihini Grant, calls it ‘the deeply saddening burden’. The more you enter in stories like this, the more the burden grows.

On mentors you never meet

The famous investor, the late Charlie Munger, wrote in depth about developing his 'latticework of mental models'. Finding mentors was part of this, and he made the point that you don't have to meet a mentor for them to have a profound impact on your life.

Sùlaisgeir after the War.

After World War Two, the men of the village of Ness in Lewis would race in open boats to the island of Sùlaisgeir, to take part in a centuries old tradition.

Developing a Writing Practice

On why developing a writing practice is highly beneficial, and how to go about it.

Taigh 'An Fiosaich - The house on the moor.

On the moor in Ness, Isle of Lewis, on the edge of a cliff, there is a house. Iain Fiosaich’s House.

Mentors

There’s a compulsion. Maybe it's writing. Taking photos. Making music. Whatever your compulsion is. How do you take it and turn it into a life doing it.

Indigo and the Island

The Isle of Skye and its close connection to the Indigo industry in the 19th century.

How Brecht became Brecht.

“This is my first attempt at a sonnet. I must work harder”. (Bertolt Brecht).

Reasons you shouldn't get ChatGPT to write your essays for you.

And also one big reason why you should still use it.