[this article was originally written for Puttylike] Once upon a time, my parents took me to the zoo. This day is full of memories which have stuck with me ever since—the sunshine, the excitement, the ice cream… even holding hands with my dad, watching eagerly as he unfolded the map. One of the sharpest and […]
When Every Day Is The Same… Make Each Day A Little Better
[this article was originally written for Puttylike] Last year, life was tedious. It was like my own personal Groundhog Day, except I actually got older and I barely learned anything. Each day was the same: I awoke, I worked in my little office, I slept. And repeat. At least, that’s how it felt at the […]
Six Lessons from Writing the Book I Swore I Wouldn’t Write
[this article was originally written for Puttylike] “Never again.” – Neil Hughes, after writing one book… and before writing another book. After winning four Olympic gold medals, Steve Redgrave famously said that if anyone found him close to a rowing boat again, they could shoot him. Four years later, he won a fifth gold. Let’s […]
The Shop Before Life – A Novel by Neil Hughes
” This is one of those books that I’m sure will stay with me for a while, if not for the rest of my life. There’s just something so unique and real about it and I just felt very connected to the themes it presented. ” – review The day has finally arrived – my […]
The Shop Before Life – PREORDER NOW!
Most people don’t remember their visit to the Shop Before Life. Somehow, we forget the time we spent in the prelife, perhaps nervously traipsing through the long, dusty aisles of the Shop, choosing from countless jars of human traits while deciding who to become during our upcoming lives on Earth.But even if you don’t remember […]
You Might As Well Do The Thing: How to Make Decisions While Anxious
[this article was originally written for Puttylike] As a standup comedian who talks a lot about anxiety, I frequently get asked the same question: “how are you SO great?” But after that, people often ask how anyone with anxiety can possibly do something as terrifying as standup. For a long time this confused me, too. […]
How to Tolerate Uncertainty When Waiting
[this article was originally written for Puttylike] Ding. You’ve Got Mail. Later, you will think, “I really ought to turn off that notification. It’s not 1997.” But right now, other things are on your mind. Your throat is tight, your heart is thumping, and you’re nervously staring at that bold subject line which has appeared […]
A Simple Trick to Sidestep Self-Criticism
[this article was originally written for Puttylike] Sometimes I’m ashamed to share my work. You might think that’s understandable (particularly if you’ve been exposed to many of my posts before!) but this isn’t just a healthy sense of shame at my evident limitations. Often, it’s fear of my own unoriginality. That inner voice of shame […]
Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence and Anxiety
Just something I’ve been thinking about…
The 3 Ways My Ideas Die
[This post was originally written for puttylike.com] Sometimes I grow tired of the constant hum of random failure. Most of my dreams end up as flops. I’m sure I’m not alone in this—we all struggle with the guilt of not finishing from time to time. It might be unambitious, but occasionally I think it would be nice […]