Robin Wildings 10 Questions

New follower arse kissing.

I got a new follower the other day after I left a response to one of her articles.

As usual, whenever anyone follows me I go and have a look at them. Most of the time you can decide if you’re going to interact with them, by what they say in the little bio notes under their avatar. Then, as long as they haven’t used any of the following words/phrases; crypto, well-being, memoirist, creative non-fiction, funny, software engineer, poetry, Andrew Rodwin (this list is non-exhaustible), I will read a few articles and decide whether I am prepared to give them the time of day.

In the case of Robin Wilding 💎, I decided that I would read a few articles and she seems tolerable enough, so far, to persevere with, in spite of having to overlook the fact that she’s Canadian.

So, without further ado, I have returned the compliment of following, and decided to take on her 10 question challenge, if for nothing else to give me something to do until the footy kicks off.

What got your started writing — and how long have you been writing for?

Let us not concentrate on the spelling mistake and the redundant preposition at the end of the question (even people who are professional writers, for a decade, can make grammatical errors) and concentrate only on the question.

I can’t remember what got me writing initially, I was very young at the time. I imagine it involved crayons and the living room wall. That would put the period of time, I have been writing, at approximately 57 years.

Are you a professional or amateur writer?

It’s only the money, the time you receive it or whether you even get any, that distinguishes one from the other. Being either of those things has no bearing on the quality of your work. Professional means you had better be good, while many aren’t. Amateur means it is fine to be a poor writer (depending on how you might measure that). The two terms are designed to serve both, the manufacture of a hierarchy, and the objectifying of the subjective.

What is your favourite [please leave the “u” in] article/story that you ever wrote?

This one.

Why did you join Medium — and is that why you’re still here?

That’s two questions, meaning my title, and Robin’s is wrong. I’ll change mine if she does.

My son, Lee David Tyrrell told me about Medium. Take it up with him.

I’m still here because I’m having a great time, and getting enough money, on average each month, to buy approximately 6 gallons of strong European lager from Tesco, on my clubcard.

What are your best other complementary-to-writing skills (photography, design, any other creative talents)?

I consider myself to have a very good grasp of the correct English language. I am not perfect. I’ll just repeat that bit, for the benefit of the twat in the comments who never read it the first time. I am not perfect. However, I write the language to a higher standard than the majority of Americans do.

What are your best Medium tips for newbies? Or, what Medium lessons did you learn the hard way?

That’s two questions as well Robin. Fucking sort yourself out.

I am not qualified to guide anyone else. Try to have a good time, all of the time (Viv Savage: 1984).

What is one feature you wish Medium had?

More formatting options. Fonts, font colours, page layout options. A filter to correct American spellings to proper language. A robust appeals process for when some cowardly fucker reports one of your stories, getting it removed from the platform for no fucking good reason.

OK, that’s three features but, seeing as Robin can’t count, I’ve stopped giving a fuck.

What’s been your most successful story here on Medium — and were you surprised it did so well?

I don’t count my “About Me” because it’s boring and the antithesis of creativity. Therefore this is the most successful one.

I was surprised it did so well, considering the subject matter. Its success is down to it having something to do with a prompt, by the uber-successful Laurel B. Miller, I reckon. It has bought me 2.2 gallons of strong European lager so far.

Who are your favourite [I put the “u” in again for you] writers that you follow on Medium (and why)?

I am contractually obliged to say my son (see the fourth question).

I admire Smillew’s dedication to creating spaces for disparate communities to grow, on Medium. His 100 story and new Dead or Alive publication are, but two, testimonials to that.

Diversified Writer is great if you just want quick comic relief, from trawling through so much shit. His quintessentially English vignettes are little nuggets of joy.

Of course, my number one is Annie Trevaskis. She writes in the most brilliant, self-effacing manner. She does, exactly, what most (alleged) purveyors of “humour” on this platform cannot do; leave the reader to decide what’s funny. I would give my right bollock to work in an office with Annie and share all her “You’ll never guess what I fucking did this morning” stories. Tea break would be a scream.

To the other names, who I admire, I want to keep the reading time down a bit, so if you’re in the tag list, you’re in the admire list, enough said.

What are you most proud of about yourself here on Medium (views, followers, read ratio, friends you’ve developed, a publication you developed, etc.)?

I don’t believe there is a god. Religion is an illusion. That said, I was brought up in a predominantly Christian society and, therefore, I am well aware of the stories, and their place in our moral sensibilities. I can understand why pride is considered a deadly sin. Therefore, I am not proud of myself or my contribution to Medium. I’m moving toward the realisation that I might be an art project that’s gone on for too long.

I am determined to stand by certain principles, predicated on the ideas of civilisation. Therefore I will continue to express myself in the way I do, and if anyone struggles with that, you have the right to reach for the “block” facility.

Everything I do here is perfectly explained in my small bio on my profile page. Assuming you care to read it and read it properly.

Thanks for following me, Robin.

More from the author

My Favourite People On Medium

Krystal, Lee David Tyrrell, Smillew Rahcuef, Mike Knittel, BichoDoMato, Belcairn, Annie Trevaskis, Tai Le Grice, Bridget Stella Ruxton Wilson, Cristina Cattai, Rayne Sanning, ██████ ████████, Kirsty Kendall, ███ █████, May More 💜, Malky McEwan, Diversified Writer, Lysergic World Design, Elle McIntosh, Reuben Salsa,██ ███████, ████████ ████, Rachel A Fefer, Sylvia, Mark Suroviec, M.Ed., ████ ██████████, Raine Lore, Shirley Laffa, Jay C Wells, ██████ ██████ ███████, Jillian Spiridon, Laura Knapke (Nap-Key), Patrick Eades, David B. Clear, Rayne Sanning, Marsha Adams, Holly J See 🐩🐕🦜, Arpad Nagy, ██████ ██████, Marie A. Rebelle, ████ █████, Rocky Shores, Paul Mansfield, Preeti Ramachandran, Simon Dillon, Emily (Little Miss Right Now),███ ███, F. Leonora Solomon, Nikolaos Skordilis, █████████, Zatanna Dark, Steve Vernon, Philip Ogley, Henrik Ståhl, Carol Lennox, Carlo Zeno, Captain Obvious, Robin Wilding 💎,

Uvebruce if he stops being a twat that is.