How the focus and joy of writing a novel helped me overcome my PTSD
Breathing life into my characters made me want to live fully again, and finishing the final draft gave me a profound sense of fulfilment
When the pope offers writing advice, should you listen?
You can’t blame the pontiff for pontificating, but his tips annoyed me
Top 10 books about the night
From Shakespeare and Brontë to ‘nightwalking’ guides, nature writer Tiffany Francis-Baker sheds some light on her favourite books about the dark
Amrou Al-Kadhi: ‘Being a drag queen healed me’
Growing up in a strict Muslim family, Amrou Al-Kadhi felt worthless, but found a new freedom and community in the world of drag
The Undying and Notes Made While Falling review – how to write about being ill
Beyond the horrific surgery stories ... Anne Boyer and Jenn Ashworth innovate with form in their remarkable books about the experience and business of illness
Indistractable by Nir Eyal review – letting tech off the hook
The author of Hooked, a bible of addictive tech design, now offers advice on how not to be distracted. But is his self-help argument convincing?
Home review – gutsy doc charts harrowing, heroic journey by sea
Like Cheryl Strayed in Wild, Sarah Outen bravely explores mental health issues and grief as she chronicles her four-year round-the-world adventure
Hottest ticket in town: the mega sauna hosting a Euro theatre contest
A drama competition for 200 naked people in a giant sauna? Our writer gets a sweaty taste of ‘aufgass’ in the Netherlands
‘I’d rather forget a guitar than the breast pump’: Emmy the Great on touring with a baby
For Parents and Carers in Performing Arts, the indie musician kept a diary of her first gigs with a newborn daughter in tow, full of breast milk, sleep deprivation and snatched joys
Breaking and Mending by Joanna Cannon review – clinical diagnosis
A compelling view of modern medicine