Another blog post in the mini-series of 'Life as an introvert' is here and it's all about the victory formula to help you communicate your true value whilst networking. If you've read the previous two blogs in this mini-series, you will know that earlier this year, I attended a virtual summit about being an introvert. During the summit, lots of guest speakers spoke about being an introverted entrepreneur and how to succeed in the business world when much of life is conditioned for extroverts. As introverts, we're generally more reserved people. This makes it harder to communicate with others and network as well. But during the summit, there was one thing that stood out to me. It was the Victory Formula. In general terms, it aims to help introverts convey their true value whilst networking, which can be rather difficult. Now because I am an introvert myself and found this helpful, I thought I'd share it with any other fellow introverts who read my blog. The Victory Formula Networking is one of the biggest challenges introverts face in the working world. We often don't like approaching other people for our benefit and intrusive thoughts can also creep into our minds. The universal idea of introverts being shy and not wanting to speak up is just a myth. Introverts often want to but don't have the tools to do so to excel in promoting themselves, not like extroverts. But the Victory Formula helps introverts use their own, personal methodology to promote themselves in a way that is comfortable to them. It means that introverts don't have to put pressure on themselves to show up in a certain manner that may not feel authentic. Instead, they can network for the right reasons and feel confident in how they do so. So let's get into what the Victory Formula really is. V - Visions and Values I - Intentions C - Courage and Confidence T - True Self O - Obstacles R - Rules Y - Yes, You've Got This! Visions and Values: The first step in the Victory Formula is Visions and Values. This means working out why you're networking, what the purpose of it is and how you want to be remembered. Think of the values in life that mean something to you and utilise them to convey yourself. Don't try to be what you think others want you to be. Intentions: This is slightly similar to Visions and Values. However, it focuses more on setting yourself some goals/missions that you want to achieve. For instance, if you're at a networking event, make it a goal to get three different people's contact information. Or perhaps hand out a certain number of business cards. Courage and Confidence: This step in the Victory Formula is one of my favourites. Networking and approaching people you don't know can be scary. It takes courage for you to be able to make the initial interaction. But once you've made it, your confidence will start to grow and the more you show up and network, the bigger your confidence will be. True Self: Life nowadays works in a way that carries expectations for everybody, whether it means we're expected to act a certain way or look a certain way etc. However, the best version of ourselves that we can be is our true selves. Show up to an event as your true self and do the things you want to do. Don't force yourself to be extroverted and speak to as many people as possible; follow your intentions and use your visions and values to be your true self. Obstacles: There are obstacles in every aspect of life and for introverts, there are definitely some in the working world. But if you can identify and understand what the obstacles are, what your typical 'wobble moments' are and how you can manage them, it'll help you in the long run. Rules: This step doesn't only apply to the working environment and networking. No, it can work in every aspect of life. As an introvert, create your own rules that'll help you overcome your fears and build that courage and confidence. For example, doing something every day that scares you, and it doesn't have to be a big task. It could just be phone calling someone instead of emailing them or sending them a text (I know I'm not a big fan of talking on the phone, haha!). Yes, You've Got This: Now this step isn't really something you can do. But it is something you can believe. Have faith in yourself and believe you can achieve your goals and what you set out to do! I hope if you're a fellow introvert, that the Victory Formula inspires you and can maybe help you in the networking industry. Let me know if you have any more tips on how to succeed down below. Until next time..

Have you ever read a book and loved it but when you've gone to reread it, you like it less? Or perhaps it's been the other way round; have you gone to read a book but couldn't get into but when you've tried it again, you've really enjoyed it? I was at my book club the other day and we were talking about all the different books we've read recently. Now there was a variety of books discussed from A Man Called Ove to several romance books At book club, I introduced them to Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster novel, which was her debut and has recently been turned into a movie on Amazon Prime. I first read Beautiful Disaster many years ago, I think when I was in my final years of high school. At the time, I absolutely loved it! It was recommended to me by my sister and I enjoyed the cliché bad boy romance. Plus the fact that the female main character had the name 'Abby' spelt that specific way made me like it even more because that's how I spell my name and I rarely ever see it that way. But anyways, enough about my name. When reading Beautiful Disaster, I liked the college aspect of it, the thrill of an enemies-to-roommates-to-friends-to-lovers trope. Also, I remember Travis Maddox being one of my favourite fictional men. However, now I'm rereading the book before I watch the movie and I have to say, my mind has changed. I don't know whether it's because I'm older and have different views on things now. Or if it's because I'm studying Creative Writing and aspiring to write my own novel that I notice things about the way Beautiful Disaster is written that I'm just not a fan of anymore. Beautiful Disaster is still a good book, don't get me wrong; one could easily read it and be swept up in the romance of Travis and Abby. But I just don't enjoy it as much as I used to. Which is a completely different story to the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. This dystopian series spans six books and I remember the first time I bought book one. It was mainly because of the cover, pictured below, but also because I love dystopian novels. But when I came to reading Shatter Me (Book 1), I felt disappointed. I actually think I didn't finish it the first time. If you know me though, I rarely ever get rid of paperback books that I've bought. So fast forward a few years and I tried reading Shatter Me again. And this time...boy was I impressed. I devoured the whole series - once I'd ordered the rest from Amazon - and it is hands down one of my favourite series of all time. I was telling my book club about these two experiences and it's weird how over time books from your childhood that you loved, can become ones you never read again; but similarly, books you disliked can soon become your favourites the older you get. Have you ever had a book or series that you liked and when you reread, you found you liked it less? Or vice-versa? If you have, let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Movies are key in society's entertainment in the modern world and they have evolved over time as technology has improved. And I for one, love a good movie. If you've read some of my blogs before, you'll know that I love movies. Every week, my family and I try to have a movie night where we spend ages deciding on a film to watch. But lately, due to social occasions and the Formula 1 calendar, we haven't been able to add many to our 'Movies Watched' list. However, so far this year, since January, I have watched 29 movies. I've even watched a couple of them twice because I enjoyed them so much. So with us nearing the halfway point of the year, I thought I'd share my top movies of 2023 so far. Top Gun: Maverick It's no surprise that Top Gun: Maverick is at the top of the list of my best movies of the year so far. The action-packed movie is also one of the films I've watched more than once this year. I could talk about Top Gun: Maverick all day, but I don't want to bore you, so I'll point you to my review of the movie. For me, this sequel has everything one could want in a movie and I'll never get bored watching it. Hamilton One thing to know about me is I love musicals. I have a dedicated playlist on Spotify to my favourite songs from musicals and I can probably recite a few as well. Hamilton is one of my favourite musicals after listening to the soundtrack on repeat during lockdown. Since then, I've watched it numerous times and I watched it this year whilst I was isolating with Covid. Lin Manuel Miranda's musical about American history is amazing. The story, the acting, the lyrics...everything about it, to me, is so good that it's one of those musicals everyone should watch. Ticket to Paradise This film I actually only watched last weekend and I have to say, it was really good. Ticket to Paradise is a romantic comedy where two parents, who are divorced and seemingly hate each other, work together to stop their daughter's wedding. Whilst watching I found this film very funny and was laughing a lot. It's a heart-warming romance that will definitely make you feel like booking your own trip to Bali, swim with dolphins and enjoy sunsets on the beach. Plus, George Clooney and Julia Roberts played their roles exceptionally well. Shotgun Wedding Shotgun Wedding is one of the films I've watched more than once this year. I first watched it with my sister and then we forced our parents to watch it because we found it hilarious and loved it. This movie is an action comedy about a wedding in the Philippines between Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel that is taken hostage. The action aspect of this film as well as the comedy had me smiling and laughing throughout. Purple Hearts Whilst the previous two films are comedies, Purple Hearts is not. I would say this movie is a contemporary romantic drama, with a hint of musicals, and oh wow...is it emotional. If you want a good cry or to watch a touching, emotional movie, this is definitely the one. I love this film because it isn't a typical romance movie, it has layers and deeper meanings to it than two people just falling in love. Up Now I love Disney and Pixar films and Up is probably one of the best they've ever made. I actually watched this movie as research for my degree and also read the script. Having a deeper understanding of screenwriting and how a script transfers to screen has made me appreciate Up more. The way the story is conveyed with the animation is just perfect. It's heart-warming, light-hearted but also emotional. Have you seen any of these films before? If so, what did you think? Until next time...

It is Mental Health Awareness Week with a focus on anxiety this year. Since Covid-19 locked down our world, levels of anxiety have increased so I thought I'd share some top tips to improve your mental health. This past week, I've seen lots of talk about mental health and anxiety, really driving the message of Mental Health Awareness Week. I've also seen posts on social media about anxiety as well; on LinkedIn, there have been top tips for freelancers and those in the business world. My sister, who is a Spanish-to-English translator, shared some great posts on her LinkedIn about different sorts of anxiety. She included income anxiety, anxiety about marketing and also imposter syndrome, which I have felt before in my life. Whilst I have shared a blog post about Mental Health Awareness, my sister's posts inspired me to share some of my own top tips to cope when you're having a poor mental health day and are not feeling quite yourself. So here are some of WriteWatchWork's top tips to improve your mental health: Dance it out Now, this technique I've technically stolen from Grey's Anatomy. In the show, Meredith and Cristina have this process of dancing it out whenever they feel down or stressed or confused about something. So when your mental health isn't where you'd like it to be, put on some music and dance it out. It can be to any song of your choice, personally, I find rock music to be the best when I'm stressed and songs from musicals to be the best at cheering me up. Once you've danced it out, hopefully, you'll feel better with a rush of endorphins. Let it out Whilst the stigma around mental health has decreased in recent years, it is still present. As a result, there are still a lot of people who hide their emotions and put on a front for others. But it's not good to bottle up all your emotions. So to make you feel better and release some tension, let it out. Scream, shout, cry, find a punching bag, whatever will make you release your emotions, do it. Then once you've let it out, you can start fresh. Journaling I actually wrote a blog on how journaling can help your mental health last year when it was Mental Health Awareness Week. As a writer myself, I can understand how writing out our thoughts and feelings can help us and also allow us to think clearer. I know that I can be writing out what I'm feeling and even end up with a new story idea based on what I've written, so if you like words and writing, give journaling a try. Track the positivity A lot of the time, it's easier to feel negative feelings and have a pessimistic view of the world. Whilst that may be the less challenging route through life, it doesn't mean it's the best one. Everyone at some point will feel a bit down, have a 'meh' day and also feel like they're not good enough. However, one way to improve these feelings and turn to optimism is to keep track of the positivity. Make a note of compliments you receive, of positive feedback in the workplace, of achievements you've completed. If you remember the positive things in your life, it'll make it easier for you to focus on the good and feel better. Be you My final tip to improve your mental health is to be you. Don't try to change for anyone or fit into others' expectations of the person you should be. Embrace who you are, do things that you like to do to feel better whether that be going out with friends or staying in under the covers to watch a movie. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Today is the last day of Mental Health Awareness Week. I hope these tips help you improve your mental health and if you have any more of your own, feel free to let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15th - May 21st) and the topic of conversation is anxiety. To spread the word about mental health and also to help others, I thought I'd share some feel-good movies that you can watch when you need a pick-me-up. In the modern day and age, mental health is much more widely spoken about than it used to be in the past. Celebrities are talking about it, there are books on it and people are learning to share their experiences with it. However, there is still a certain stigma surrounding it. Many still don't fully understand exactly what it means to have a mental health crisis or a mental illness. Yes, there is information out there for us all to read, but it can be quite confusing. Many people I know struggle with their mental health, even I have low moments throughout the week. But by doing things that make me feel good and make me smile, I can overcome those tough moments and improve how I feel mentally. One way in which I overcome feeling down and having poor mental health is by watching movies I love and know will make me smile. And because it's Mental Health Awareness Week, I thought I'd share some of these movies with you all in case you ever need them. Mamma Mia I am a big musical lover and love to see shows in the West End and binge-watch musicals; in fact, I'm currently watching Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies on Paramount+. But nothing will ever beat the movie version of Mamma Mia. Everything about this film, and even the sequel Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, makes you just want to embrace your inner dancing queen and sing-a-long to Abba. I could probably recite the whole film and definitely all the songs, so it's no surprise that this movie makes my list of feel-good films to improve your mental health. If you're feeling low, give it a watch and have a little dance to Abba! Harry Potter Franchise The Harry Potter franchise will always be one of my favourite movie franchises. All eight films give you something different and for many, including me, they're actually comfort films. Harry Potter is iconic and timeless - it's for any and all ages - so if you want to feel a little better, immerse yourself in the fantastical and magical world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Just out of curiosity, if you like the Harry Potter movies (and books, of course), which one is your favourite? The Holiday Dubbed by many as a Christmas film, The Holiday is among many people's favourites. Yes, it takes place close to Christmas and it involves snow and hot chocolate, but The Holiday is a heart-warming romance that'll make you laugh and smile along with the characters. Also, if you need to have a rant or a scream, you can join Cameron Diaz whilst she shouts along to Mr Brightside. Encanto The Disney musical Encanto rose to fame with its catchy songs and heart-warming tale. The movie is a comfort film for many, as Disney films are often, and it is one I wouldn't mind watching when I feel down and need a pick-me-up. The songs are all well-known, especially We Don't Talk About Bruno and the familial feel of the movie works its Disney magic and will be sure to make you smile. Top Gun: Maverick Now, I like a lot of different movies in all genres and Top Gun: Maverick has to be my favourite film of all time. I can rewatch it and never get bored. Whilst an action film may seem a bit strange to be on a list about movies to improve your mental health, I can assure you it's not...trust me. This film has everything a film needs: great actors, a fantastic plot, good music, comedy, romance, action (and plenty of it), a bit of sadness, and a happy ending. So if you're having a dip in your mental health and aren't quite feeling yourself, give some of these a watch and hopefully, you'll feel better. Also, if you have your own movies that are your go-to choices, let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Living and working as a writer means that your work will, most likely, at some point be shared with the world. But the concept of having your own words, your own writing, out there can be rather daunting. Most of my life revolves around writing. As a Creative Writing student, writing is what I study in various forms from prose to screenplays and as a journalist, writing news articles and feature articles is part of my day-to-day routine. My experience of writing means that I have some of my work in the public domain. For instance, WriteWatchWork - this blog - is free for anyone worldwide to read; my journalism for FormulaNerds and Debut Media as well as my poetry anthology are also in the public domain. When it comes to my journalism, I'm not anxious or scared of it being read by other people because a lot of it is based on facts and is news. However, when sharing my prose, poetry or scriptwriting, I become nervous and I don't like others reading my work because it's my own ideas, my own creativity that's on the page. As an aspiring author (and now scriptwriter), I know that having my work read by other people is non-negotiable. Readers, directors, reviewers and alike would eventually read my manuscripts. But it's only recently that I realised the full benefits of sharing my work and receiving feedback on it. With my degree being online, I don't have the typical lectures that other students do. Instead, I have workshops and group work seminars. Most recently, I attended a group work seminar where each student sends in some of their work - either prose, screenwriting or poetry. Everyone in the group reads each other's work and provides feedback on it - both positive and things to improve/work on. I had attended a couple of these before but the most recent one was only myself and one other student, plus the tutor. This actually worked really well because we were able to have a lengthy discussion on both our pieces of work and provide a thorough analysis. From sharing my work, I was able to see how others interpreted my writing. Receiving their feedback was not only insightful but it made my writing stronger because we each had different opinions and aspects of my work that we would pick out and highlight. As a result, I was able to edit and redraft with more confidence, making my writing even better. It is daunting at first and can be rather nerve-wracking because when writing fiction, the words come from inside - that sounds cliché and probably a little bit cheesy but it's true. When we write, we write from within, we write what we know and what we want others to read. So having that on display and available to others is scary because we never know how one might react. Everyone has different preferences on what they like to read; some love light-hearted romance whilst others prefer gruesome, dark and twisted crime thrillers. Not everything will be for everyone. But taking that leap of faith and showing your writing to other people can be really beneficial in making you a stronger writer but also more aware of what others look for. I know that the first time, I was so nervous. I spoke really fast, my heart went crazy and I was hesitant to speak about others' work. But now, I love those workshops because I get to help others and they get to help me. So if you have some writing you want to share but are hesitant to, trust me...it'll be worth it. Even if you get feedback on things you can improve, it could help you. As someone who has shared their work and also is a beta reader, who critiques others, having fresh eyes and fresh opinions can be incredibly helpful. Let me know in the comments below if you've had a similar experience of sharing your writing. Until next time...

Many people think introversion can be a negative thing in today's society, but it is in fact something we can embrace and utilise to our strengths. In a recent blog post, I spoke about what being an introvert actually is and the different types of introverts. During the Quietly Influential Summit for Introverts, those who ran the seminars also spoke about the strengths of introverts. In my opinion, a lot of people think that being an introvert means that you're shy and reserved and also a weakness. And whilst introverts may portray themselves as shy, it is most definitely not a weakness. Both extroverts and introverts have their own strengths that benefit them in life. So for today, I'm going to share some of the positives of being an introvert because it can be difficult to accept being an introvert in today's society when so many people are expressing themselves on videos and photos online and a lot of things are catered to extroverts. For me, I've always thought identifying as an introvert is something good. And I want to share why with my readers, so keep reading for the strengths of introverts. Strengths of being an introvert Reflection and Introspection: Being an introvert means you spend a lot of time in your head and in solitude. This means you have a lot of time to reflect on yourself and life. Introversion allows you to analyse what's working for you and what's not, giving you the opportunity to better maximise your potential. It also means that you can grow as a person and, if you're a business owner, you can grow as a company. Great Listeners: Being an introvert means you're less likely to speak your mind because you think before you speak. It also means that you're really good at listening to others. Introverts tend to be rather observant people and being observant means you speak less and listen more. We're more perceptive people who listen to understand others. Observation Skills: As I mentioned above, being an introvert means you have great observation skills, allowing you to listen to others. Introversion also means you can analyse others, read their body language and pick up on emotions, meaning you can understand others better. This can help you form vital relationships with others and network well, all of which will help you succeed in life. Writing: As well as being good listeners, writing is also a strength of introverts. Introversion benefits people by giving them the ability to express themselves well through writing, whether it be blog posts, journaling or other such means. Being good at writing also results in us having good reflection skills (the first strength I mentioned). It allows us to reflect on both our business and personal lives together, making us a better version of ourselves. Sense of Calm: With introverts being more reserved people, we tend to have more of a level head in that we're used to regulating our emotions and keeping composure. This is a strength because it can help keep us calm in stressful or tense situations allowing us to think and organise our thoughts. Having read the above strengths of being an introvert, what do you think? Do you agree that these are all benefits? Can you think of any more? If so, let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

The Night Agent is a crime/thriller series on Netflix that was released this month and has gripped many viewers. TV is a dangerous thing for many reasons. The most common reason, however, is probably the way that it produces movies and TV series that hook you as a viewer, causing you to binge-watch them. I'm currently studying screenwriting for uni and writing my own script, so I find it fascinating how programmes and films grab a viewer's attention and keep you wanting to watch more. And most recently, my parents and I were binge-watchers ourselves. We have the streaming service Netflix, which has a whole multitude of things to watch. One of the most popular TV shows on Netflix at the moment is the new series The Night Agent. This 10-episode show is the one my parents and I watched in three nights because once we'd watched one episode, we needed to watch the next one and the next one and so on. The Night Agent is a crime/thriller series that follows FBI Agent Peter Sutherland as he becomes involved in a deadly conspiracy that threatens those who know too much. Now, before I give my full review, I just want to warn you that there will be some spoilers from here, so if you haven't watched The Night Agent and/or are planning to, stop reading here. However, if you have watched it, feel free to continue and see if you agree with me. My review of The Night Agent I'm a big fan of action movies and crime shows. So it was no surprise when I wanted to watch The Night Agent when it was released. Season one of the show is a 10-episode season, which in my opinion actually tied together all the narrative strands quite nicely by the end. The series follows the story of Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent who mans the phone that Night Agents ring when they're in trouble. It hardly ever rings, but one night it does. Rose Larkin was the CEO of her own tech company before losing her job. She stays with her aunt and uncle, who unknown to her are night agents. One night, they're murdered and Rose is forced to call Peter. From there, Rose and Peter are drawn into a conspiracy theory and threats against the US government. They're forced to go on the run as traitors are uncovered and the closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes for them. Each episode begins with a flashback. As a budding screenwriter myself, this was interesting to see. The general progression of the storyline throughout the episodes flows nicely and is natural. Each event and each action has a reaction and the flashbacks at the beginning provide us with the exposition (background information) that we need to make sense of everything that is going on. The Night Agent lives up to the genre of action. There is so much going on in each episode, I'm glad I binge-watched it because it made it easier to keep up with everything. The drama and multiple conflicts throughout will grab your attention and make you question things as you try to figure out along with Peter and Rose who the good guys are and who the traitors are. The show is action-packed, expertly created and written, funny (there is humour throughout it as well) and gripping. Once you start watching it, you'll definitely want to continue and watch it all till the end. The final episode wraps up the narrative strands and it ends in a way that makes way for season two of The Night Agent. If you haven't watched The Night Agent yet, you most definitely should. Until next time...

There are lots of different genres of books and even more sub-genres, but one particular genre that has grown in popularity since the rise of Bookstagram and BookTok is romance. Romance has always been a popular genre of fiction with classics such as Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice featuring love stories. But since social media and the rise of indie authors, romance has grown immensely in recent years. As a creative writing student, it fascinates me how fiction is written and why readers get hooked on different stories. With romance, there's the element of fantasy and the escapism that comes when reading a love story. It's hard to date in the modern world and find romance when dating apps take away in-person interactions and more and more people are seeking 'short-term fun'. That's where romance books fill the void because they provide that connection as readers get hooked on to the characters. Trust me, I know - my list of book boyfriends and empowering female protagonists is rather long! But when it comes to romance books, there are many sub-genres involved, which creates a deeper focus within the plot. Some of the sub-genres include sports romances, small-town romances, dark romances, and mafia romances. Today, because I've read a few this month, I'm going to give you some of my favourite mafia romances. Sinners Anonymous by Somme Sketcher Somme Sketcher was actually a new author to me this year. I'm attending the RARE23London event at the Excel later this year; Somme is one of the authors going and one of the ones I want to meet, so I thought I should read her books. And I'm so glad I did. Her Sinners Anonymous series currently consists of three books available to read (the fourth is coming out later in 2023). It centres around the Visconti brothers, who are part of the Cosa Nostra in Devil's Dip. The eldest brother, Angelo, is the Capo whilst Rafe and Gabe are his consigliere and underboss. Book 1, Sinners Anonymous, follows Angelo and Rory's story, whilst books two and three (Sinners Condemned and Sinners Consumed) follow Rafe and Penny's story. Gabe's story will be the fourth book, Sinners Atone. It's a mafia series with six central characters, lots of tropes including enemies to lovers and forbidden romance. If you haven't read Somme's books, I definitely recommend this series as a good introduction not only to her as an author but to mafia romance as well. Dark Verse series by Runyx The Dark Verse series by Runyx is probably one of the first mafia romance series I ever read thanks to my friends on bookstagram. It consists of five different books: The Predator, The Reaper, The Emperor, The Finisher and The Annihilator. The first two books are about Tristan Caine and Morana Vitalio, both involved with the mafia but are from rival families. Their story is a duet as history resurfaces bringing the two together to face truths that have been kept hidden for years. The third book tells the tale of Dante Maroni, the heir to the Tenebrae Outfit, as he tries to infiltrate the group called the Syndicate whilst uncovering truths he didn't want to know and navigating a relationship with his childhood friend, Amara after tragedy strikes. The Finisher follows Alessandro Villanova and Zephyr de la Vega as they fall in love turning Zephyr's quiet life and Alessandro's lonely one upside down. These are two side characters with the whole Dark Verse world, in my opinion, but their story is still enjoyable to read. The Annihilator is the fifth book in the series and it ties the mafia world together, bringing together all the different characters and narratives. It focuses on Tristan's sister, Luna, and the Shadowman, both of whom have been at the centre of the mysteries throughout the series. The Dark Verse series is a really enjoyable mafia read and once you start reading, you'll get hooked! Rina Kent's Monster Trilogy and Throne Duet Rina Kent is one of those authors who gets you hooked immediately. Once you've read one book by her, you'll want to read the others and both these series are no exception. First up, the Throne Duet. This duet is a two-parter story that follows Kyle Hunter, an assassin, and Rai Sokolov, the daughter of a member of the Brotherhood, the Russian mafia in the States. The duet follows the two of them as they navigate an arranged marriage and the restrictions of the mafia. Kyle begins the series as Rai's enemy but the dynamics soon change with Rai taking the position of power, which is rather unusual in the mafia. There are ups and downs, lots of chemistry, sweet moments, and angst. The Throne Duet is in my opinion some of the best work of Rina's. As for the Monster Trilogy, I must admit at the time of writing this blog, I haven't actually read the trilogy in full. However, that being said, I know Rina's writing and I've already met Sasha and Kirill (funnily enough, they're in Rai's story)! The Monster Trilogy, as I understand it, follows Sasha as she enters the military and masquerades as a male with Kirill as her superior. The whole trilogy has Mulan vibes with major slow burn but the first book begins by showing the first time Sasha and Kirill meet, giving us their backgrounds. Book two picks up straight after book one and it continues to explore Sasha and Kirill's relationship right into the third and final instalment of their story. I can't wait to read the whole trilogy and get up to date with Rina's books! Question: Have you ever read a mafia romance book? If you haven't, give the ones above a try but if you have, let me know in the comments what books you've read. Until next time...

There are many types of people in today's world but generally we can all fall into one of three categories: Introverts, Ambiverts and Extroverts. Recently, I attended the Quietly Influential Summit for Introverts online. The summit occurred over five days and involved seminars run by different people talking all about introverts and being introverted entrepreneurs. The seminars covered a variety of different topics from what an introvert actually is to how to communicate in the best way whilst networking. My sister and I both attended the summit and I must say, it was a fascinating way to spend my afternoons. We both class ourselves as introverts - although sometimes I feel a bit like an ambivert - so learning how to utilise our introversion as best we can to maximise our performance whilst working was incredibly helpful. After learning a lot from the summit, I thought I'd share some of my key takeaways on WriteWatchWork in case there are fellow introverts out there. One thing that piqued my interest was knowing the many types of introverts - there isn't just one. In fact, there are four. They are the: Thinking Introvert, Restrained Introvert, Social Introvert and the Anxious Introvert. Now, before I share what the different types are, let's take a look at the definition of an introvert. Oxford Dictionary defines an introvert as: "A shy, reticent person" Or the psychological definition which is: "A person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than with external things." And whilst these may be true, I prefer my definition: 'An introvert is someone who thrives on being in solitude and having an inner focus.' From the summit, I learnt that one key difference between introverts and extroverts is the effect of social interactions. Extroverts are more outgoing people who thrive on socialising, whereas introverts, as above, are the opposite. During the summit, we were given a metaphor to help convey this difference. For example, imagine having five spoons. Each day an introvert would wake up with those five spoons, fully energised. As the day goes on, with each social interaction a spoon is used up so that by the time the day ends, an introvert has no spoons left. For extroverts, they would wake up with zero spoons. For them, as they go about their day, each social interaction would provide them with a spoon because they get energy from interacting with others. With that in mind, let's take a look at the different kinds of introverts. Thinking Introvert: The thinking introvert is someone with high levels of thinking introversion. What that means is generally during social interaction, they're the quieter ones. They like to think and ponder and process. Thinking introverts also tend to be good strategists, making it easier for them to analyse and communicate their personal brand. Restrained Introvert: Now a restrained introvert is probably what you think it is. These people are not very good at being spontaneous - they're restrained. Restrained introverts like to have a plan and prepare themselves for the day ahead and for every eventuality. Social Introvert: Typically, people think all introverts are very shy and rather anti-social and whilst some may prefer to not socialise, it's not a definite trait of introverts. Social introverts are those that find socialising easier, compared to the other types. They are also the ones who find themselves happy in small groups as well as in their solitude. Anxious Introvert: The anxious introvert is the type of introvert that can be misconstrued because of its name. In truth, the anxious introvert isn't always a sufferer of anxiety. Instead, they're introverts who seek more solitude and try to take the focus off of themselves and place it on someone else. For example, in the business world, an anxious introvert would focus more on their clients and spotlighting them. What type am I? Now you know the main four types of introverts, do you see yourself in them? I took a quiz and it revealed that I'm a social introvert. My results said: This actually suits me as I do express myself as an extrovert sometimes but do find being on my own refreshing and recharging. Also I am a bit of a people pleaser so the final sentence about not overloading myself and accepting that I can't make everyone happy is something I should probably take onboard a lot more. If you think you're an introvert, let me know what type. It's not something to be ashamed of, no matter what society may convey. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be writing more blogs about introversion and things I learnt from the Quietly Influential Summit, so if you enjoyed this post, stay tuned. Until next time...

Stacey Solomon has a TV show called Sort Your Life Out and it's one of the more motivating and inspiring television shows. Have you ever watched a TV series, a non-fiction one at that, and felt as though you've learnt something or have been inspired to do something? Well, watching Sort Your Life Out by Stacey Solomon did that for me. I've written a post before about the American show Get Organised: The Home Edit and whilst this show is similar to Sort Your Life Out, it's also very different. In Stacey Solomon's show, you see Stacey and her team help out UK families by sorting through every single item in their house, cleaning the house and repurposing each space. Whilst watching it, you do pick up tips and tricks as well as feel inspired to get off the sofa and work on the space around you. In the TV show, Stacey and her team go through steps with each family to ultimately give them the best home possible. To start they sort everything inside the house - and I mean everything - into boxes, which are then taken to a warehouse. There, the family has to sort through each item deciding whether to keep it or get rid of it. As the family is doing the sorting, the rest of the team is cleaning the house and building different bits of furniture to utilise the rooms as best they can. Once everything has been completed for the family, they then have a house that is tidy, organised and practical for them to live an easy, stress-free life. The effect of Sort Your Life Out My family and I watched an episode of the show the other evening after dinner, which was lovely. However, once I'd watched the episode I had a new spurt of energy and motivation to begin sorting through our house and organising things. I'm writing this post because it's incredible how watching one thing can alter your mindset and perspective on life. One thing I want to do this year is to sort through one room in our house and reorganise and restructure it so it becomes a sort of 'hobby room'. What I mean by that is a room that's part library and part art studio. My sister and I would love a library in our house - when we get our own, that's a must-have - and so when we reorganise the spare room, we want to have a big bookcase and a comfy chair to be able to sit and read in. For our parents, our mum is amazing at cross-stitch and our dad is an incredible artist so having a space to do cross-stitch and draw would be great. Watching Sort Your Life Out has made me realise that a) I need to start actually doing, not just thinking/talking, and b) we need to go through the essentials for what we want to include in the spare room and section off an area for each aspect. The only problem I had watching the show was that it was in the evening. Usually, watching a TV show in the evening is fine, it can be relaxing; however, Stacey Solomon motivated me to start sorting but because it was before going to bed that I watched it, I couldn't start sorting. However, I have since begun making plans and lists of how to tackle creating my own episode of Sort Your Life Out. If you have never seen the programme before or if you have a space in your home that you want to spruce up and repurpose, give it a watch. Once you do, you'll (hopefully) feel the same as I did and be inspired and motivated to get up and start doing because after you've transformed a space into its best possible version of itself, you'll feel calmer and happier. Let me know if you've watched the show before or if you haven't and if you end up doing a bit of your own Sort Your Life Out episode. Until next time...

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a timeless novel that has some of the best prose I've read. Despite being an avid bookworm, I must admit I am a bit behind the times with reading Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It grew in popularity last year on social media and I kept seeing it recommended on TikTok, but I never actually got around to reading it. It's been on my bookshelf for a while but after reading lots of hockey romances (which are amazing by the way), I decided to read Seven Husbands to make my brain work a bit more. And boy do I regret not reading it earlier. This year I'm trying to review every book I've read and because I loved Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo so much and think it's a novel everyone should read, I thought I'd do a blog post of my review. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Interview/biographical novel: 10/10 Historical romance: 9/10 Forbidden romance: 9/10 Tragedy: 9.5/10 Taylor Jenkins Reid is a one-of-a-kind author, who captivates you like no other and leaves you reeling from her work days after. That is how I felt reading Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It was my first book by Taylor and I’ve never read anything like it. It is a truly unique novel that not only demonstrates the highest quality of prose and characterisation but essential lessons in life everyone should be aware of and learn. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo tells the tale of Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood icon from the 50s to the 80s, who is ready to tell the world her truth. Evelyn hires Monique from the magazine Vivant under false pretences and persuades her to write her biography. The novel itself is split into parts focusing on the development of Evelyn’s life, detailing how she came to Hollywood and her career right up till the point she decides to leave. Each part focuses on a different marriage as well, detailing the seven husbands of Evelyn and also the impact the this interview has on Monique. It's written in an interview/biographical style, which Taylor has mastered. This novel is the first I've read written in this style and I wasn't quite sure about it at the beginning. However, once you start reading you honestly get hooked and you won't be able to put it down. The changes between the interview and Evelyn's telling of her life are not perplexing or difficult to understand - it is seamless. Taylor's portrayal of Evelyn’s story makes each and every character and the entire narrative feel real. It almost felt as if Evelyn Hugo was an actual part of our history. Taylor executed it beautifully. Evelyn is a character you grow to love but also dislike at points, but that is what makes her human. As a reader, we see where she excels but also her flaws. Evelyn is ruthlessly ambitious, going after what she wants no matter what. She's not afraid to use her assets to her advantage and can be mean sometimes, but Evelyn is also fearless, loyal till the end and a survivor. Monique is completely different to Evelyn at the beginning of the novel. She is quite timid and not as fearless to go after her ambitions, unlike Evelyn. However, throughout the novel we see the path Monique is on alter and her character arc begin to take place. Monique learns a lot from the interview and by the end of the novel, she is her own person, taking her life into her own hands and not letting anyone get in her way. Not only is Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo a novel detailing Evelyn’s glamorous and scandalous life, but it also features everything you need from a romance novel: soulmates, die-hard love, passionate love, forbidden romance, heartbreak and tragedy, and scandal. It has everything. The emotions dropped off the page and the way each character’s emotions are conveyed is exquisite. None of the characters felt superfluous or unrealistic. They could all be very real celebrities and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. It honestly felt like a true celebrity story. The writing of each relationship, the depth and detail of the characters, the plot twists, the pacing, and the seamless flow of it all were perfect. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a classic and literary perfection. If the plot and characters don’t captivate you, the prose will. It’s not only a novel to indulge in and enjoy, but it’s also one to learn from and I for one, will continue to love and reread this novel. If you've read Seven Husbands, let me what you thought of it. If you haven't read it, give it a go because you won't be disappointed. Until next time... (Click the cover to buy the book from Amazon UK)