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How this blog can help you
If you're doing creative work, I can help you develop more awareness about why and how you're doing it so that you have more choices, make better decisions and ultimately feel good doing it. This is because I'm working hard to achieve all of this myself and sharing everything I learn.
Praise for The New Workday
“There is something about Harrison’s writing that feels so unforceably knowledgeable, intimate and friendly.”
- CansaFis Foote, Media Consultant and podcaster, writing at Thee CansaFis Foote Show.
“I needed to read this.”
- Miche Priest, former art teacher, financial advisor and product manager, writing at Started on Tolkien.
“Quite amazing how good you are at solving your own problems through writing.”
- Linart Seprioto, maths graduate and B2B Marketing Management Trainee, writing at Better Meant.
“whoa. i have never felt so relieved and motivated by one article. wonderfully written with your personal reflections mixed with public reality.”
- Maria Kim, Head of Insights, activating human potential and building stronger teams.
“Keep conquering that saboteur, as you're so clearly meant to be doing this!”
- Rob Tourtelot, product leader and entrepreneur, writing at This Very Moment.
“I need to incorporate the mantra of "this is the wisdom not of usability, but of discoverability" to my daily parenting. This was a great read, Harrison.”
- Alissa Mears, former travel writer and gear-reviewer gone international English teacher, writing at Pitching a Tent Without Poles.
“This line, ‘And you! brave enough to say them! when you had so much to gain and so much to preserve by not saying them.’ How true and apt. One of those brilliantly laid out articles, which made me want to scroll up and read it all over again.”
- Paudan Jain, commercial advisory in infrastructure and construction, writing at Paudan’s Substack.
“I might print this article and crumple it into a tiny ball and try to eat it because that’s how much it resonates. Or I’ll just read it a few more times.”
- Emily Sokolow, Integrated Communication Strategy, ex Wix, Ogilvy, Deutsch, writing at Emily’s Notes.
“So love your writing, had to subscribe to support! Keep on the juicy path Harrison.”
- Kevin Brennan, capital raising and investor relations, surfer and athlete, writing at Life Notes.
5 popular essays I’ve written about creativity
Emotional Niche-Crafting. Are you a writer who struggles to find your niche? Despite what you may’ve heard, you can have your cake and eat it (📣 my most popular post).
Fear disappears when I'm grateful. I forced myself to feel lots of gratitude and then tried using it to help me write, but something unexpected happened.
What you hate will show you the way. How keeping a “rant list” can help you find the people and projects you really should be working with.
Toddlers with a new toy. Stop trying to write and edit at the same time, they’re different processes!
Two types of writer. The pros and cons of writing for yourself versus writing for others.
Occasionally, I write about other stuff too, like people who have an answer for everything, the realities of life as a digital nomad, and food packaging that doesn't open intelligently.
All of my essays are available freely. I publish new posts when I have something to share and I try to respect your time by keeping them as concise as poss (mostly under 10 mins).
A quick bit about me
I’m originally from Sheffield (UK) where I was working as an electrician until I threw away my tools and went to art school instead (it was the right choice). I studied at two of the world's best schools—Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art—and it gave me the permission, confidence and resourcefulness to work on projects of my own.
I've exhibited art in over 20 international galleries including Palais de Tokyo Paris and The Gallery for Social Art Jerusalem (and I once presented my sculpture to the Queen of Norway! It was terrifying!).
After art school, I built a VC-backed technology business that improved communication on large construction sites and, after that, became a full-time working traveller with my wife Corina.
I was awarded an O'Shaughnessy Scholarship for my writing, which enabled me to participate in the Write of Passage (one of the world’s leading online writing courses) where I’ve since been hired as an Editor, Workshop Facilitator, and Writing Mentor.
If you’ve got two more minutes, I’ll share my long-term plan for The New Workday and how you'll be helping me (and others) by becoming a subscriber.
My big plan for The New Workday
I have a clear vision for my career and The New Workday is central to it. I call it my "three-legged stool."
1.
The first leg is the cohort-based course I'm running with my former mentor and radical strategist, John. It's called Reboot and we're helping people develop small businesses and creative projects. Reboot is more art school than business school—a place where mess, mistakes and rebelliousness are encouraged. Projects can be profit-making, but they don't have to be; they need only be self-directed and exciting for the students. You can join the waitlist for the next cohort now.
2.
The second leg is my mentoring practice for nonfiction writers—building on my time as dedicated Writing Mentor at the renowned Write of Passage school.
3.
The third leg is this blog—my writing practice that informs everything else. Me and Corina will be trying for a family next year and I'd love to be able to work from home and choose my hours so I can be a present dad.
My goal is to write full-time, so if you get value from my work and can afford to support me with the price of a couple of coffees each month, I’d be really grateful.
If you can’t afford to pay anything, don’t worry, the people who are paying enable you to read it for free. That’s what’s so good about the Substack model. Everyone gets a blog. I earn an income. It’s a beautiful thing indeed!
Let's connect!
I’m always happy to chat and collaborate: harrison@thenewworkday.com
And I'd love to know who you are, where you are and what you're working on, so please leave a comment below this post and share a bit about you.
Looking forward to chatting,
Harrison 🙋♂️