The Narcissist Playbook: Their Tactics Exposed and Your Survival Guide
Have you heard the word narcissism or narcissistic or narcissist? Funny word. So many s’s, right? I didn’t know much about narcissism until back in 2017 when I discovered that my spiritual teacher at the time was one. I learned a lot about psychology after I discovered that he was abusing his close students in a kind of domestic-abuse / cult situation. (I eventually wrote a memoir about it. See info at the bottom of this post.) Now I see a malignant narcissist in the White House and the whole world is suffering from his behaviour, so it seems a good time to share some of what I learned. I’ve adapted a couple of articles I wrote back in 2019 or so on the Beyond the Temple blog in relationship to spiritual teachers, and have republished them on Substack. Given the situation in the USA, I felt it would be…
How to Stay Sane When the World is Falling Apart
The world is falling apart, and it’s easy to fall into crippling despair, but you can stay sane whilst taking steps to pull the world back together. Our mental health is always important, but it’s even more important during times of turmoil. This post gives you tips on how to stay sane when the world is falling apart. We are witnessing a significant time of upheaval that will be recorded as a pivotal period in world history. If you haven’t yet realised that something significant has happened in the USA that changes the whole world order, then it’s time to inform yourself. Essentially, the USA government under Donald Trump no longer stands for and protects democracy, freedom and the rule of law. Recent actions have made it clear that Trump is turning the US into a dictatorship and the US government now stands with Putin’s Russia against its historical democratic allies. There’s…
Thriving as a Multi-Passionate Creative: Embracing Multipotentiality & ADHD
I’m a multi-passionate creative, specifically, an editor and publisher, an author, an artist and a contemplative who is passionate about helping people with their psychological and spiritual lives – and also helping them write and publish top-quality books. As you can see from my diverse talents, I have many interests, and I have developed skills in all these areas. Someone like this is known as a multipotentialite[1], something that is both a gift and a challenge. Jack of all trades and master of all? Our society and social media algorithms demand that we choose one thing in the mistaken idea that we can only learn to do one thing well, and can only succeed in business if we have one clear thing to market. We should be an expert in one field, and we should sell one kind of product or service. But what if you have many interests and…
Magical AI Visuals for Meditation
This multipotentialite editor, author, artist and contemplative does many things. You can employ me as an editor, or you can buy one of my books or some of my art – and soon you’ll be able to visit my place and stay in a gorgeous tiny house. But today I’m sharing some of my AI video art, and the title ‘Magical AI Visuals for Meditation’ shows you how my multiple passions (creativity and spirit) join in this work of art. The actual title of the piece is ‘The Fog of Forgetfulness’, which is the name of the piece of music written by my husband Kris Newland. I’m lucky to have Kris’s music to use with my visuals. If you want to give him some love, you can find all his albums on Bandcamp. I can watch and listen to this kind of visuals for meditation many times – they’re in…
Script Writing for ‘The Threadweaver’s Prophecy’
Story is one of my passions, and the creative side of that interest (as well as my one for art) is presently satisfied by making AI videos. Although I’d like the videos to be purely visual storytelling – without words – some of the ideas I have do need some script writing. Script writing is a specialised field, and writing a narration voice over for AI video, which is still quite limited in terms of making the kinds of narrative films we’re used to, is a niche within it. When the aim is for visual story telling, the script needs to have enough words to fill in the gaps – the why an image is being shown or how it fits into the story – but not be so much that the words overwhelm the visuals or underline what is obvious. When visual storytelling isn’t enough Initially, I tried to…
Writing Tips for Outlining a Novel
Outlining your novel is an important step in writing as it helps you visualize the entire plot and ensures you have a clear roadmap to follow. Not every author does this, but I certainly found it helpful to have at least a rough outline when writing my novels. Here are some tips on creating an outline for your novel: 1. Brainstorm ideas: Write down all the ideas you have for your story, including characters, settings, and potential conflicts. 2. Organize your ideas: Group your ideas into related categories, such as character development, world-building, and plot points. 3. Choose a plot structure: Select a plot structure that resonates with your story and use it as a framework for your outline. 4. Develop your characters: Flesh out your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters, exploring their motivations and backgrounds. 5. Establish the setting: Create a vivid world for…
AI Art’s Dark Side: Stereotyping and Objectifying Women
As an author, editor and publisher, I have long been aware of the need to not contribute to stereotypical views of groups within our society, but as an AI artist, I don’t have the same control I have over my keyboard as I do when I write. In writing I create every word, letter by letter. In AI art, I tell the machine what I want and it gives me what it thinks I want based on the data it was trained on. And therein lies the problem. The data is biased in favour of a certain look for women. I am constantly battling with the sexualised data set that informs the art generator’s output whenever I request a woman or even a girl in my AI art. Can you see why I didn’t choose the image below for my latest angel video artwork? I never asked for this kind…
Blog Roundup: Latest Tips for Writers and Readers from Alkira Publishing
Alkira Publishing posts some great articles full of tips for writers as well as some fascinating information for readers, so I just wanted to share the most recent articles here to make sure you didn’t miss them. But before you scroll down to the links to those articles, have a look at this video I made to illustrate my post on the hero’s Journey plot structure. If you read that post, then this will serve as a summary and an example told in visual imagery. And if you like it, please do like, subscribe, comment, and all that on YouTube. But if it’s tips for writers you’re looking for, then subscribe to the Alkira Publishing YouTube channel. And below are some of the articles associated with the videos. For Writers For Readers I hope you all have a happy holiday season! And get lots of books for Christmas. Thanks for…
Christmas Gift Ideas That Aren’t Books
Hey fellow bookworms, let’s talk about something wild—Christmas gift ideas that aren’t books. I know, I know. Why would anyone want something other than a beautifully bound stack of pages filled with magical worlds, thrilling adventures, or swoon-worthy romances? But hear me out, because even the most dedicated reader sometimes needs to mix it up. Picture this: your or your friends or family’s walls looking as magical as your bookshelves. Over at my Etsy store, you’ll find stunning calendars featuring my artwork—think of it as a year-long gallery tour in your home! Each month greets you with vibrant, unique art to inspire your days (and maybe even your reading). And let’s face it, we readers always need a good calendar to track all those upcoming book releases and TBR challenges. But that’s not all! My Redbubble and Etsy stores are packed with goodies for every bookish soul. How about a…
Unveiling the Hero’s Journey: A Timeless Storytelling Structure for Captivating Narratives
The hero’s journey is a timeless narrative framework that has captivated audiences for centuries. Rooted in the seminal work of renowned comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell, this powerful storytelling structure has been applied to some of the most iconic tales in literature, film, and beyond. At its core, the hero’s journey chronicles the transformative odyssey of a protagonist as they navigate a series of trials, tribulations, and transformations, ultimately emerging as a changed individual. The Origins and Evolution of the Hero’s Journey The origins of the hero’s journey can be traced back to Campbell’s groundbreaking 1949 work, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” in which he introduced the concept of the “monomyth.” Through his extensive study of myths and legends from around the world, Campbell identified a common narrative pattern that he believed underpinned the vast majority of heroic tales. This universal structure, he proposed, mirrored the fundamental human experiences and…