Benjamin McEvoy

Essays on writing, reading, and life

Whip Yourself Up Into A Fury (Werner Herzog Writing Advice)

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Some writers can glide right into their story world at a moment’s notice. No warm up. No worrying about pulling a muscle. No “opening myself up to the Muse” bullshit. Just straight in there like a thief in the night. But other writers (probably 95% of us) need a pre-game ritual. Much the same way […]

How To Co-Author A Book With James Patterson (And MasterClass)

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Fancy a chance to co-author a new book with James Patterson? Well now you can! Masterclass have just announced their second James Patterson Co-Author Competition. After the competition’s success last year, resulting in a student called Kacia Bal becoming James Patterson’s co-author, Masterclass are giving us all another shot at teaming up with one of the […]

New Year’s Resolutions Suck. Do This Instead.

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New Year’s Eve is 5 weeks away. That’s another 5 weeks of people postponing their dreams and waiting to make New Year’s resolutions. The big glittery ball will drop. Fireworks will explode across the sky. Loved ones will kiss and cuddle and shake hands. And 45% of people will pledge that 2017 is the year […]

Werner Herzog Masterclass Review (Week 2)

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I’m now on the second week of the Werner Herzog Masterclass for filmmaking. This course has really helped me get through the week. I followed some of the lessons during my lunch break and have looked forward to a masterclass binge all week. The second week of the Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking Masterclass was just as […]

What Is Sublime? A Super Quick Introduction in the Context of Romantic Poetry

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We hear it all the time. “That picture’s sublime.” “That doughnut was freaking sublime.” “Darling, wasn’t that orgy simply sublime?” But what does “sublime” really mean? Is it really just an adjective for “very good?” Well, not really… Let’s take a quick look at what sublime really means in the context of Romantic poetry. And […]

How Being An Underdog Helps You Get Into Oxford University

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On paper I was an underdog. In reality, the very things that made me an underdog gave me a huge helping boost in getting into Oxford University. Many people bemoan the fact that they didn’t have a good enough upbringing or they didn’t know the right people or didn’t go to the right school or […]

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking Masterclass Review (Week 1)

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This Werner Herzog Teaches Directing MasterClass review contains affiliate links, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking one of my links. Signing up for the Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking Masterclass was a no-brainer. I’ve just finished Aaron Sorkin’s Screenwriting Masterclass, which I got tremendous value from. I’ve got […]

10 Writing Prompts That Don’t Suck

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I love writing prompts. Some people hate them. I totally get that. Bad writing prompts have a distinctly high-school English 101 flavour. But good writing prompts are fun, shake things up, bust you out of a writing funk, and help you hone your craft in new ways.  Sometimes all you want to do is write but […]