Reading

I don’t have an infectious disease but if I did, I imagine telling people you have one garners much the same reaction as telling people you’ve written a short comedy film. There’s normally some initial interest – even enthusiasm – but then a yawning chasm of social awkwardness opens as people think I might expect them to like the film or even worse – find it funny.

I’m a productivity nerd - nothing delights me more than a how-to guide on getting organised and getting things done. Over the years I’ve gathered a collection of titles that have inspired me to start writing, helped me deal with distraction, and offered advice on building a regular writing habit. Here’s my selection of those that made a difference.

Head of Google’s Creative Labs in Asia, Tom Uglow, is about as far at the cutting edge of emerging technology, art and design as it’s possible to be. This year literature and books in all their forms are the focus of his attention. We asked Tom to tell us why and what he sees the future of reading and writing to be.

From Shakespeare to Elizabeth Gilbert writers have been inspired by the works of the Stoics. Here’s a primer on the philosophy and some ideas about how it can help your writing.

Novelist Claire Dyer learnt the hard way how to give readers what they want. She shares her lightbulb moment and offers practical advice to help writers peer into the minds of readers.

Writers are told that if they want to write they have to read. Creative writing student Alex Cooper took the advice to heart and set herself the challenge of reading 100 books in a year.