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Creativity and the arts

Abstract painting with colourful overlapping straight and curved lines on a light background.

Creativity

guide

How to be lucky

Most of us think that luck just happens (or doesn’t) but everyone can learn to look for the unexpected and find serendipity

by Christian Busch

Black and white photo of a man and woman sitting at a café table in conversation, looking thoughtfully to the side.

Film

guide

How to find great films to watch

Bored with Hollywood and Netflix? Becoming an adventurous and informed explorer of the cinema world is in everyone’s grasp

by Geoff Andrew

Cubist painting of fragmented books and a glass on a table with geometric shapes in blue, brown and grey tones.

Stories and literature

guide

How to gain more from your reading

There’s more to words than meets the eye. Deepen your appreciation of literature through the art of slow, attentive reading

by Robert DiYanni

Abstract collage painting with colourful geometric shapes, text and patterns. Includes elements like a pear and “ENTRADA” sign.

Stories and literature

guide

How to plan your novel

Inspiration rarely comes as a mysterious visitation from the muse. Far better to learn the techniques and habits of the craft

by Jason Whittaker

Painting of a woman in a yellow dress and hat sitting with a guitar against a green background.

Music

guide

How to start making music

It’s never too late to play an instrument or learn to sing. Take the leap from listener to maker in the way that suits you

by Gayla M Mills

A candid photo of three smiling children slightly out of focus, showing joy and togetherness against a dark backdrop.

Laughter and comedy

guide

How to laugh more

You don’t have to wait to be amused, there are ways to train yourself to enjoy the ‘cheap medicine’ of laughter every day

by Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky

Photo of wooden bookshelves filled with books, small decor items and framed pictures in a cosy room setting.

Stories and literature

guide

How to nurture a personal library

An escape, a sanctuary, a place of pleasure, a memoir. Take these steps to ensure your library is just what you want it to be

by Freya Howarth

Black and white photo of a woman leaning out of a window in a building with closed shutters.

Focus and attention

guide

How to wait well

Instead of fuming in subjugated irritation, turn wait times into chances to connect, muse and think big about the future

by Jason Farman

Watercolour painting of a person writing at a table with a cup, clock and decorative objects in a cosy room.

Memoir

guide

How to heal through life writing

Learning to write about trauma helps you to process the painful experience, and gives you the life skills to overcome it

by Uddipana Goswami

Black and white portrait photo of an older man with curly hair and deep-set eyes, looking intently to the left.

Stories and literature

guide

How to create compelling characters

It’s not only writer’s intuition. Use personality psychology to create just the right blend of surprise and believability

by Kira-Anne Pelican

Music

guide

How to listen to, and enjoy, classical music

Whether you’re a newbie or an aficionado, these ways to navigate and approach the genre will enrich your experience

by Lawrence Kramer

Black and white photo of a man with white hair seen through abstract lines looking intently at the camera.

Thinkers and theories

guide

How to deconstruct the world

Don’t believe everything you hear, read and watch. To puncture received ideas about culture, start thinking like Jacques Derrida

by Peter Salmon