Guides

I Made $20,000 on Tomato. Then I Watched It Choose AI Over Writers.
On September 7, Tomato released new rules. I was lurking in several writers’ groups. Messages came one after another. Some posted screenshots. Some cursed. Some said, “I’m done writing.” I checked my own dashboard. August earnings: 100 yuan. Around Chinese New Year, it was still 5,000 a month. I had one or two million-word books. I ran them for a year or two. Now this.
By Jin4 days ago in Writers
Remote Work Resorts
Let me be brutally honest: the traditional office is dying a slow, painful death, and frankly, it's about time. After spending the better part of two decades watching corporate Australia cling to outdated work models like a security blanket, I've witnessed something extraordinary unfold over the past few years. The pandemic didn't just force us to work from home - it exposed the glaring absurdity of forcing talented people into sterile cubicles for eight hours a day, five days a week.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Measuring Value
You are an employee that goes beyond the "craft to execution" and "problem-solving to initiative". You bring strategic impact along with your market vision that directly influences that company's bottom line. But your rank and net pay in the hands of your employer does not change. Not because you are not valuable to them but because they can not afford your services at the market rate nor can they re-design the upper echelon to accommodate your growth and talents without causing "waves". If you give far too much for the same old, you are the majority of the talent stuck within dormant companies that have no systems of recognition of talent based on merit.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Are You Building a Career or Just a Brand?
Let’s face it: we’re all living double lives. There’s the version of you that gets up, does the work, and delivers results. And then there’s the curated, polished, LinkedIn-friendly version of you - the one who seems effortlessly successful, constantly grinding, and always "on." Over time, it feels like this second version of ourselves has taken center stage. We’ve become performers in our own career dramas, and honestly, the show is exhausting.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Digital Graveyard Confessions
I used to pour my morning coffee, open my laptop, and genuinely trust the words staring back at me. Now, I sip my brew with a heavy dose of suspicion. I am being haunted. Not by spirits, but by soulless algorithms masquerading as articles written by ChatGPT otherwise referred as journalists that often name me in them for ranking. I am featured rich, poor, an aggresor or a victim depending who has written it.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
A Man's Guide to Thriving
The truth about aging hits different when you're staring at your reflection one morning and wondering when your eyebrows decided to go rogue. While Troy Breiland hilariously captures the "follicular betrayal" of middle age in his recent piece about men falling apart, there's another side to this story - one where you don't just survive the changes, but actually master them.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Addicted to Dirt?
It's 2 AM. My eyes are dry, my head hurts, and my laundry is growing sentient mold in the washer. I swore you'd just check one quick update, but now I know the complete voting history of a senator from a state you've never even visited.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Signed and Resigned
I just need enough to be solvent, but that may be hard without rescinding this letter and sacrificing my sanity To those reading my resignation while casually pushing policies that are supposed to impact our work culture, but they never do, I hope you find this letter. I seriously hope that after finding this letter you read it too.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Immigration Policy
Australians are now living an average of a decade longer than we were just ten years ago, with women benefiting the most from this increase in life expectancy, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' report, Life Expectancy . While this is a remarkable achievement and something we often celebrate, it comes with a sobering reality: our standard of living has significantly declined. Although we may be living longer, many are living lives far poorer than they had envisioned - something the media rarely addresses openly.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
AI Jobocalypse
Artificial intelligence has sparked intense debate about the future of human employment. While headlines warn of mass job displacement and corporate leaders predict shrinking workforces, the reality is far more nuanced. AI isn't simply replacing workers - it's fundamentally transforming how we work, what we do, and the skills we need to succeed.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Visibility as Hidden Cost
Think you’re more productive in the office? Research suggests otherwise. You’re likely gaining visibility just by showing up and appearing busy. However, this unspoken performance expectation often pushes your actual work to after-hours, leaving you catching up at home.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers
Trailer Trash McMansions
Feeling poor? Sometimes it’s a matter of just not being able to land a job with a good pay cheque. Or sometimes it’s a matter of refusing to tolerate corporate bullshit even for a good pay cheque. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being poor.
By Narghiza Ergashova6 days ago in Writers