Tony Melvin

I’ve never had writer’s block. I’ve never sat down and stared blankly at a screen. I’ve never felt the need to do something else instead of write. I don’t think I have any special ability. I believe the reason is because I know exactly what hat I’m wearing. hat noun , used to refer to a particular role or occupation of someone who has more than one. — Source Apple Dictionary I know I have a dad hat, another for being a hubby and many different hats in my businesses. The trick is to know what hat you are wearing and to not wear the wrong hat. I know from experience being “hubby” doesn’t work while I’m still wearing my “CEO hat.” And my kids don’t respond or enjoy my company if I don’t have my “Dad” hat on. Understanding this concept of hats early in my writing career, I identified 3 different hats I wear when writing a book. As long as I know the hat I’m wearing and don’t mix them up, the writing process is smooth, easy and fun. The hats of a writer are: The Writer or Crea...

My favourite word in the English language is “Insouciance” — pronounced in-shoo-see-ance. It means a casual lack of concern; indifference; playful. It comes from an 18th-century French word that means ‘not’ and ‘worrying.’ It encompasses a great philosophy and attitude for life as a whole. There are lots of ways to apply it. Several years ago I was undergoing a business mediation, although not a formal legal process it was nevertheless a distraction and annoying. In my rebuttal of the accusations against me, my written reply was done so with an attitude of insouciance. I wrote my response as a second-grade kid, pointing out things I didn’t understand and writing with “me thinks there is sum’mut wrong wid that.” It was hilarious, although the mediator didn’t really get it and my accuser became madder. The more insouciant I was about the whole thing, the madder and more threatening he got. I guess that was his aim, to make me  less insouciant  or to  make me worry mor...