The universe doesn’t owe you a living.

The universe doesn’t owe you a living. That’s the sad truth for every artist — be that musician, writer, or otherwise. I’m…

I’m a spoonie.

I’m a spoonie. There’s something very comforting about being able to say this and it make sense to people. If…

Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know, can you repeat the question?

Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know, can you repeat the question? All I know is that I love They Might…

According to Medium I’m a Top Writer in Humor

Stop laughing! Continue reading on 1-One-Infinity »

Even Goodreads Authors think Goodreads is broken.

Even Goodreads Authors think Goodreads is broken. I’m a Goodreads Author and I’ve been on Goodreads since 2010. They recently…

So You’ve Been on Medium for Two Weeks and That Suddenly Makes You an Expert on the Subject

How to gain followers like a money-grabbing sociopath Continue reading on The Partnered Pen »

What’s my point? My point is that you’re an asshole.

How do you make friends?

Just add tea.

What can introverts teach people about being alone?

What can introverts teach people about being alone? Nothing, thanks. We’re fine over here quietly minding our own business. Reading…

Will Medium ever embrace Anonymous?

Will Medium ever embrace Anonymous? The journalist in me always thinks that anonymity can be a positive thing for sources…

Insecure about something?

Insecure about something? You should be! Here’s the secret truth about something you don’t know but feel insecure about anyway.…

I Love Music More Than I Love You

A love letter to music from a misanthrope Continue reading on P.S. I Love You »

So you’ve been on Medium for two weeks and that suddenly makes you an expert on the subject?

So you’ve been on Medium for two weeks and that suddenly makes you an expert on the subject? That’s nice.…

It’s the economy, stupid.

It’s the economy, stupid. Or so the saying goes. We should have universal healthcare, universal basic income, and universal education…

Calendars are a Hellmouth for other people’s expectations

Calendars are like to-do lists that everyone can add to. The best use of a calendar is to fill it…

One compulsion displaces another.

One compulsion displaces another. One habit displaces another. One addiction replaces another. Whatever works, works. At least for a while.…

The Burning of the Amazon Rainforest Is Directly Related to Patriarchy

No. The burning of the Amazon rainforest is directly related to corporate greed, capitalism, and the destruction of the planet.…

Sex sells but who’s buying?

Sex sells but who’s buying? There’s so much bizarre hypocrisy and repression around sex. If you want to know the…

If you want to delete Facebook then delete it.

If you want to delete Facebook then delete it. If you’re not sure then deactivate it for a month and…

Let Them Eat Fish

Taking the Pescetarian Continue reading on Brain Food Magazine »

There’s Nothing Correct About Political Correctness

But it is political Continue reading on The Progressive Edge »

For the Love of Good Music

Turn off your phone Continue reading on Publishous »

This makes me think of that picture of two dinosaurs looking up at a meteor shower in the night…

This makes me think of that picture of two dinosaurs looking up at a meteor shower in the night sky.…

What’s in Your Drafts Folder?

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours Continue reading on 1-One-Infinity »

Haiku for Her

By James Garside Continue reading on The Poetry We Live For »

Colours of a Bruise

Fiction Friday Continue reading on P.S. I Love You »

Acceptance Speech

A poem by James Garside Continue reading on wrlds »

The Field

Short story by James Garside Continue reading on Book of Commoners »

Boiled Lobster

A poem by James Garside Continue reading on Curiosity Never Killed the Writer »

What’s Your Story?

Everyone has a story to tell Continue reading on Street Rat Tales »

One Minute Reads for Writers — 30 Posts in 30 Days

The obligatory list post Continue reading on 1-One-Infinity »

We Are Full of Humans

Even Muppets get the blues Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Notes from a Conversation I Never Had with Paul Auster

I do have a few unusual writing habits — I’m a dinosaur now. I write everything by hand and type it up…

Notes From a Talk by Timothy Leary

Your mission if you choose to accept it Continue reading on graffitiliving »

The Hero’s Journey in 27 Chapters

A useful rule of thumb for writing a novel Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Tick Tock

James is sleepy Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Aw, Shucks

Flattery will get you everywhere Continue reading on graffitiliving »

You Edit Your Work

Correct it yourself first, lazy bones Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Books are Speaking to Them

Read yourself through reading Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight

Never give up Continue reading on graffitiliving »

How Random is Random?

Use random input in your writing Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Remember What The Dormouse Said

Feed your head Continue reading on graffitiliving »

What’s your Textual Preference?

If you don’t know what to write, think about what you love and hate in fiction. Continue reading on graffitiliving…

Campfire Stories

Stories are there to be told but none of them are original. Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Book to Film

Can a film ever be better than the book? Continue reading on graffitiliving »

To Do List of a Non-writing Writer

I don’t write for you, it’s more like letters to myself Continue reading on graffitiliving »

How to Get Inside Your Character’s Head

Character, author and the alienation effect Continue reading on graffitiliving »

John Gardner’s Fictive Dream

Don’t wake the reader up or you’ll put them to sleep Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Can Writing Be as Fun as Playing Video Games?

Some thoughts on writing and gamification Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Composting

My writing and highlighting process Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Just Write

Alright? Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Homework

Writing prompts Continue reading on graffitiliving »

PS. In the interests of full disclosure here is the reply that I made to the ‘satirists’ original…

PS. In the interests of full disclosure here is the reply that I made to the ‘satirists’ original post. Which…

Hi Donna, This is so much better.

Hi Donna, This is so much better. Biting satire but also informative and informed. I read that writer’s very piece…

Dialogue Exercises

Six sound writing prompts Continue reading on graffitiliving »

The First Draft

Because you can’t edit a blank page Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Voice

Write it like you’d say it Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Should you really write for the garbage bin?

Should you really write for the garbage bin? I’ve heard it said before that journalism is the first rough draft of…

What Are Your Excuses For Not Writing?

Inquiring minds want to know Continue reading on graffitiliving »

How many characters do you really need?

The answer may surprise you Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Always happy to hear suggestions on how to make my profile better — or to have people respond to my…

Always happy to hear suggestions on how to make my profile better — or to have people respond to my writing. I’ve…

Writing Critiques Without Tears

In criticism of critics Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Lovecraftian Observational Humour

Found my brand Continue reading on 1-One-Infinity »

Good grief, Goodreads

I’m a Goodreads author and I’ve been on Goodreads since 2010 — even longer if you count a previous account. Wait, that…

Write Or Die

Writer’s Roulette Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Advice on Getting Published

From someone who worked in publishing Continue reading on The Writing Cooperative »

Does The Size Matter?

Of stories, I mean Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Red light warning

“Allow. Allow whatever is in the moment to be there. It is what it is. Once you begin observing and…

Five minutes of silence

“If only one line in the poem has energy, then cut the rest out and leave only that one line” — Allen…

They Call Me Mister James!

My double life as Jim or James Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Good communication? That’s just good business.

Article published online at ROI Overload

The Devil and the Wolf by Richard L Pastore

Review by James Garside Continue reading on Literally Literary »

The Devil and the Wolf

One day a wolf made a deal with the Devil Continue reading on Indie Writers Co-Op »

Welcome to Sarcasm

Please enjoy your stay Continue reading on Medium »

Don’t Give Up — Get Better

Why can’t writers sell their work? Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Chicken and the Road

Short story by James Garside Continue reading on Arroyo »

A message for young people from a grumpy old man

Get off of my lawn Continue reading on Mid Life Survival Guide »

This is my courageous life, show me yours

What’s your vision of your best possible self? Continue reading on Simple and Practical Leadership »

Digital Zuihitsu

Blogging and Ranting in the Information Age Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Heavy on the magick

What happens is allowed to happen Continue reading on Pagan Depth Watch »

Review: ‘Antifragile’ by Nassim Taleb

Things that gain from disorder Continue reading on graffitiliving »

I Wrote a Letter to God

Which is unusual for an atheist with writer’s block Continue reading on graffitiliving »

Buy Me a Drink and I’ll Tell You a Story

Write how you speak Continue reading on graffitiliving »

American Policeman

A short story by James Garside Continue reading on Storymaker »

Life is a Game — Press Button and Insert Coins

How do you win at the game of life? Continue reading on Lucid State »

Life is a Game: Insert Coins & Press Start

How do you win at the game of life? Continue reading on Super Jump Magazine »

I’m writing on Medium

I’m an independent journalist and writer currently writing for publications on Medium. I’m a member of the Medium Partner Program…

Graffiti Living is now a Medium Publication

After more than 10 years I’ve decided to kill my Graffiti Living blog on WordPress.com sniffle Don’t get too upset…

A Review of ‘Operation Enough!’ by Anita Dhake

How to Retire Remarkably Early Continue reading on Life On The Road »

Possum Living

How to Live Well Without a Job and with (Almost) No Money Continue reading on vanlife »

I’ve contemplated suicide every day of my life since the age of eleven

My ability to procrastinate knows no bounds Continue reading on Real Life Resilience »

Good communication? That’s just good business.

It’s all about context Continue reading on ROI Overload »

I got published in Hacker Noon!

I got published in Hacker Noon — #3 in the Top 100 Publications on Medium. This is a big deal…

You can now join me on Patreon

I’ve launched a Patreon campaign to support my writing. April fools Day marks the official start. They say that you should…

Fat Man Blues — Review by James Garside [The Magical Buffet]

Would you sell your soul to the Devil? At what price? How about if you knew you were dying and…

Review: Mark Thomas – Showtime from the Frontline, West Yorkshire Playhouse

Mark Thomas flips the attitude about Palestine with his new show What is the protocol for trying not to stare…

The latest updates from Time to Shine – June 2018

The latest updates from Time to Shine Making Leeds less lonely for older people In this edition: Three Years of…

The latest updates from Time to Shine – May 2018

The latest updates from Time to Shine Making Leeds less lonely for older people In this edition: Time to Shine…

The latest updates from Time to Shine – April 2018

The latest updates from Time to Shine Making Leeds less lonely for older people In this edition: More than a…