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This is the absolute first blog article that I am penning on my WordPress site. And I hope at least one person chances upon it.

While I’ve got a Medium account, I decided to write straight from the site to provide prospective clients and readers with easier accessibility to my writing style. Here’s also where I’ll share my passion for language, culture, and the arts.

Now, just a few things to address in this concise pilot post. I’d like to clear up what it is that I actually do. I must say with nothing short of amusement that I’ve met incredulous faces on innumerable occasions when I state that I’m a professional writer. They actually ask what it is that I do. Well, I write, darling.

The good news for me is that I’m expanding to the teaching and training pathways. So, I’ll probably have fewer awkward encounters at business network meets. Probably.

What Do You Write About?

I write about fashion and how it shapes the human mind and society as a whole across diverse zeitgeists. To me, fashion isn’t simply what you toss on your body for modesty. What you wear shows how much you care about yourself and the world around you. Designers are powerful influencers of civilisation, subtly shaping beauty standards, self-confidence, and other human values. Christian Dior is my fave designer because I understood his vision of accentuating and empowering the feminine form. The New Look attempted to dispel the darkness of war-torn poverty so women could look and feel amazing again. I love it. I specialise in bridal content, which gives me tremendous satisfaction by preparing couples for their big day.

I write about inclusive hiring. There’s still so much work to be done (an understatement) to ensure that employers connect with the right talent regardless of background. I had the blessing of collaborating with Ongig, a transformative company that uses AI to eliminate inherent JD biases that are quietly costing companies the most qualified candidates. Employers and recruiters can optimise hiring quality by integrating Ongig’s Text Analyzer tool into their career pages and applicant tracking systems (ATSes). Text Analyzer automatically flags and suggests improvements for wordiness, jargon, and biases (e.g., gender-related, ableist, or ageist). It’s a game-changer for enterprises dealing with thousands of JDs a year.

I write about leadership and employee/workplace engagement. Few people are natural-born leaders. Leadership for the rest of us takes time, effort, training, and lots of empathy. That’s why I’m truly blessed to have the opportunity to work alongside StrengthsAsia. StrengthsAsia is a professional training company that focuses on yielding the best performance from individuals and teams through the art of effective communication. Their immersive training sessions include CliftonStrengths and SoundWave, which boosts confidence and minimises conflict through proven concepts such as active listening.

I write about social commentary and etiquette. I believe they’re interconnected topics. I consider etiquette a vital component of being a good human. To me, carrying yourself appropriately/civilly in a social setting shows respect to the people around you. And in turn, you deserve the same respect. Sadly, I think etiquette is lacking in the age of the internet, where people are obsessed with mindless trends and dressed-down comfort (which shows in slobbish fashion) rather than constantly refining themselves. Social commentary serves two purposes for me: 1. To voice my opinions freely. And I feel everyone should have an outlet to do so, lest they implode. 2. To inspire healthy discussions that challenge people to think for themselves and not immediately subscribe to media reports, gossip, or what’s flashed on their social feed.

I write about many other things too, but the ones above sum up my niche.

What Sort of Content Do You Write?

I write short- and long-form articles, press releases, email drip campaigns, white papers, and social media/website copy. and social media promotions (e.g., blurbs, reel captions, posts). I also copyedit from time to time and dabbled in personalised poetry requests in my earliest writing days. I soon realised that poetry writing is a deeply personal process, and I would much rather publish this sort of work under my name. They’re like pieces of me, priceless fragments of thought.

How Did You Begin?

I started writing non-professionally when I was 5, when I scribbled lines in a drawing block. I was inspired by Greco-Roman mythology, parables, and tales from fabulists like Aesop and Hans Christian Anderson. While I adored the English language and its expressions for as long as I can remember, I never truly acted on my passion for writing. I wasted many of my good years trying to fit into public perception since there were no creatives in my family or friend circles to inspire me. If I could turn back time, I’d probably pursue writing all out, from secondary school to junior college (I always wanted to join the all-white crew at RI), and obtain a degree in English literature and art history or education from a prestigious university in the UK (typical Oxbridge goals, really).

Alas, reality took a much different turn. I experienced multiple setbacks and identity crises as a creative living among civil servants and got into multiple odd jobs that I could never hold down. I finally made my first coin in writing by contributing to the blogs of local director Ray Pang’s innovative Premise TV project. The collaboration was pivotal in my writing career, which was previously nothing more than a distant thought to a classic Pisces with grandiose (but unfulfilled) dreams. I soon developed the confidence to write for content mills (useful for familiarising with briefs and deadlines if you’re starting out as a writer but break free as soon as you can if you wish to earn decently).

The exposure to writing eventually opened doors to clients from every industry: manufacturing, real estate, logistics, software, IT, cybersecurity, education, luxury travel, etc. In time, I found my calling in the topics that I excelled in and delivered the most value to my audience.

Why the Move to Teaching and Training?

Many writers would readily blame AI for their downfall. While my feelings about the emerging technology are lukewarm at best, it’s not the primary reason for expanding my services. I’ve always enjoyed communicating with people – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I say this a lot because it is a mantra of mine. While written discourse allows me to convey messages and ideas to people, it still lacks a je ne sais quoi found in vis-a-vis interactions.

As a writer, trainer/teacher, I intend to leave a more profound impact on my key subject areas. As an English teacher, I can inspire future generations of authors and creatives to realise their dreams and masterpieces. And yes, provide the mentorship needed to overcome the pitfalls and hurdles that fazed me in my professional journey.

Let’s Work Something Out!

I am seeking new writing collaborations to build brands and shape lives. I’m also open to English teaching opportunities and etiquette training (on-premise in Singapore or remotely for other parts of the world). Hit the button below for enquiries, and let’s start cracking on a project with solid engagement and conversions!