Neetha Joseph's Blog

An interest triggered by a fee-free course titled ‘Introduction to Cybersecurity’, completed to just refresh my knowledge about the topic, led to another avenue for further exploration known as ‘Behaviour Analytics’. Walking down the lane of the basics of behaviour analytics, I though this could be an interesting theme for my next composition in my current project. Even though, I do not rely on Artificial Intelligence for my creative projects, which include character portraitures, I certainly use prompt engineering skills for the research stage of my writing projects since the successful completion of Google AI Essentials although this time I chose Co-Pilot to test my skills.

It’s been a few days since I have been mulling about the cybercrime storyline in my head and influenced by my research my thoughts strayed to the foyer of the fear factor. Hence, I drafted my prompt or input as, “If I am trying to understand the behaviour of a cybercriminal and am studying him, then I need to know if he, being clever and intelligent, will be clueless about cyber profiling, offender profiling, and geographic profiling. When he knows he could be tracked, evidence of his malicious intent be collected, analysed, investigated and reported, what makes him believe that he could successfully pull off the criminal act and escape law enforcement?” The output opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. The cybercriminals or threat actors though knowledgeable about the different types of profiling depend on the slow system that find it overwhelming to keep up with the rapid increase of cybercrimes in the world, which explains their dauntlessness.

Image taken from https://beyondevidence.blogspot.com/2024/11/from-crime-scenes-to-cyber-screens.html

With innumerable ways of avoiding profiling, the cybercriminals thrive and stride the world with increasing confidence. Operating from countries that refuse extradition while dodging arrests as borders restrict law enforcers’ movements and actions; exploiting the inability of the cyber analysts to link an attack with a specific individual through the use of advanced technologies like VPN and Tor, encrypted communications, cryptocurrency laundering, botnets, and shared IP addresses; taking advantage of the political limitation when it comes to revealing the sources of intelligence in court; counting on the struggles of the under resourced cyber investigation teams against the massive case volumes and the systemic weaknesses; and concluding that the high profits outweigh the low risks are some of the “rational calculations” with which the highly specialised and well-resourced cyber gangs get away with their crimes.

In addition to this, the conversation proceeded to the six cybercriminal archetypes known as the profit-driven cybercriminal which comprises the fraudsters, scammers and ransomware operations; the thrill seekers which include young hackers, script kiddies, and gamified offenders; the ideologue consisting of hacktivists, political actors, and social justice hackers; the insider threat which covers employees, contractors and system administrators; the nation-state or state-sponsored actor and the cybercriminal mastermind encompassing the organized crime leaders, ransomware cartel bosses, etc. Pondering about the suggested techniques to elevate cybercriminal characters such as personal logic or their rationality, their operational habits, and their flaws which will lead to their downfall, and while continuing in my creative philosophy which is “Creativity is a sign of rebellion”, I chose to explore the hidden realms of the cybercriminals with craft and rebellious intention.

Entertainment, for me, not being synonymous with movies both national and international extends to documentaries, docudramas, TV shows, serials, and most importantly reality shows. Having viewed a variety of reality shows like ‘Selling Sunset’, ‘Australian Idol’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’, ‘The Biggest Loser’, ‘Farmer wants a wife’, ‘Bollywood Wives’ and recently ‘Desi Bling’ and ‘Dubai Bling’, I wondered about the most influencing and captivating factor in these shows until I put my finger on ‘the drama’ which encompasses chaos, disasters, internal politics, conflicts, the social and professional culture, and alliances or partnerships. Besides this, I realised that the engagement factor rests mainly on two factors – “authentic storytelling” and “business-driven narratives” through which the production companies establish a meaningful connection with the viewers who could transform into prospective customers, recruiters, influencers, investors, resellers, besides contributing to build brand awareness.

Reality shows that focus on organisations and industries revolve around business transformations, financial growth, reputational salvation, in addition to rescue operations. Such shows follow a workplace-reality format; ensure episodic structures like the call out, the walk-through, the confrontation, the fix, the reveal, and finally, the scorecard; employ several built-in drama hooks both scripted and unscripted; focus on high stakes; include a transformation arc apart from a roster of charismatic experts with their bios; demonstrate industry value, franchise potential, and cross industry relevance; and attract industry partners as well. Being qualified in Data Analytics, I searched for datasets that reveal how workplace-reality shows boost business performance and record business growth or outcomes, however the ones that I found were general datasets, AI/Workforce datasets, and Shark Tank investment datasets which contained only pitches, industries, investment amounts, equity deals, and outcomes. Unable to find datasets that tracked post-show business growth, revenue uplift, brand impact, customer acquisition, longitudinal performance, etc., I moved onto other information available on the internet such as case studies when I stumbled on Accio’s blog post that highlighted the success of company retreat reality shows which provided me with some insight on the aforementioned.

Most attributed the formula for success to identifying authentic workplace scenarios to unveil products in a natural and non-promotional manner to varied target audiences, to adhering to episodic structures incorporating user scenarios which guarantee repeat viewership, especially if it is launched during identified peak seasons, to ensuring the narrative arc breaks down complex business information into smaller chunks that enhances viewers ‘comprehension of products’ features and qualities leading to trust building and to create engaging corporate-storytelling-segments which show their true company culture via video content aimed at increased professional purchases. No wonder companies are allocating a few millions towards “reality-inspired” or “documentary style” engaging marketing campaigns which empower them to use authentic-partnership-attracting narratives. Definite ROI!

The historical moment that is destined to change the fate of the state of Tamil Nadu, with the swearing-in of the new Chief Minister, gives rise to the political experience vs political inexperience debate which replaces the initial debate about whether or not the leading actor’s popularity will translate into actual votes. This is not the first time a well-known entity with little or no prior political experience has made it to the politician’s office relying heavily on context and individual skill. The superstar-turned-politician’s success lies in his “professional credibility” in the film industry as he used his “name recognition” and “communication skills” to enhance his “visibility”. Like several other world leaders, who hailed from business, military, scientific, or entertainment prominence with absolutely no political experience, he made the most of public dissatisfaction with career politicians and used the turbulence or the need for change to create an opportunity for himself and his supporters eventually gaining majority voter acquiescence.

The TVK Chief Minister, though an “outsider politician”, could join the line of politicians who have overcome their governing inexperience and have avoided blunders, political administration shortcomings, and heavy reliance on advisors by acclimatizing productively like Eisenhower or those who struggled to transform their notoriety into result-oriented sustainable policies. His willingness to learn and concur will determine his governance efficiency. The rising number of “outsider politicians” from varied backgrounds, as in the U.S. House and Senate elections, only prove that effective leadership is feasible through unconventional pathways. While acknowledging that the combination of “visibility, credibility, and public resonance” supersedes political experience, one cannot overlook the empirical advantages of having political experience as well. With these observations, I would like to draw your attention to the voter tendencies that explain why they elect candidates “without traditional political resumes”.

Perusing the definition of contemporary politics and the voting behavior, which is influenced by the voters’ age, gender, education level, income, media manipulations, campaigns, etc., I am beginning to understand the varied factors that shape voter preferences; the preferences being their alignment with political parties, with the values, priorities, strategies, leadership dynamics, etc., of the said parties, and with the policies that address their economic concerns. Tamil Nadu voters have faced scathing criticisms for choosing actors over career politicians; however history and world politics confirm the voter preference for outsiders with transferable skills from their non-political respective fields. According to political theorist, Hélène Landemore, “ordinary citizens, including those who are shy or less ambitious, can govern effectively through structured assemblies, bypassing the professional political class that often becomes detached from public needs. These citizen assemblies are deliberative bodies, informed by expert testimony but guided by the judgment of randomly selected participants, reflecting a more direct and participatory form of governance.”

Image taken from The Pearl Source

I chose a nylon thread that matches with the colours of carefully selected 6 mm pearls intending to design a simple multicolour pearl necklace. I drilled the first one skilfully and delicately using the right tools before stringing it to the nylon thread and secured it with a knot. No haste, No waste. I then proceed to do the same with my second pearl. This time I choose to showcase it, in its irregular form, before it is cultured, drilled and strung. My second composition is as follows:

Dr Sheeba Francis’ incessant audible scrawl while filling lines and lines in her professional diary robbed her sleek consultation room of its serenity. Rage and humiliation waltzed on Teresa’s strained face. Her silent self-inflicted chastisement did not escape the experienced eyes of the note-taking psychoanalyst. About the same age as her patient seated opposite to her, Sheeba in her mid-thirties, not an utter alien to the rollercoasters of emotional disasters, ignored the negative energy coming in her direction. The magical number did it again. It took ten sessions for Sheeba to open Teresa’s eyes to the undeniable truth. Her exploitation. Still leading a nightmarish existence, caught in her abusive psychologically damaging partner’s social web of control, Teresa’s agonizing struggles to set herself free became crystal clear to her professional confidant. Much as Sheeba’s heart yearned to wrench the cause of pain from her patient, she restrained herself from the temptation. She rejoiced in the little victories which came gradually and painstakingly. Teresa shied away from acknowledging Intimate Partner Violence as long as she could. With nowhere to run and no place to hide, Teresa’s eventual confrontation with the root cause of her misery was catastrophic. Blossoming romance revisited, stages of relationship scrutinised, abusive tactics identified, and tears of remorse and regret shed.

Amidst reassurances, Sheeba introduced her abusive partner’s methodology: love bombing, gaslighting, social restrictions, alienation, isolation and manipulations. Jargon that resonated control. Like several outsiders, Sheeba entertained the thought that a wealth of opportunities awaited Teresa. A smart, educated, young woman of average build and medium height with doe shaped eyes, regular features and shoulder length wavy hair could hardly be bereft of friends, especially in Sydney renowned for its dynamism and vibrancy. However, like the insiders who caught up in the humdrum of their lives keen on dodging the family drama, Sheeba remained oblivious of Teresa’s agony. Teresa’s chances of finding a confidant at home were remote, especially with parents being workaholics and siblings’ social butterflies. Her isolation did not leave her side even amid a multitude. Learning that her own kith and kin contributed to her victimisation in unimaginable ways, was distressing for Teresa. Sheeba’s therapy forced Teresa into a few unplanned discoveries which snatched the latter’s complacency with the vehemence of a vengeance-thirsty-merciless-fiend. Her vicious emulator wove several invisible palisades of restrains birthing fierce hatred within her for her husband. Teresa’s wandering into a hostile world unknowingly, where her forceful subjection to social alienation eventuated with unwanted technological interferences. Covertly studying her, Sheeba realised that Teresa’s successive losses rendered her desperate like a non-swimmer evading death.

Even though Teresa showed no signs of mental and physical health issues, behavioural changes showed. Sheeba noted down synonyms of fear each time Teresa recalled the disagreements and quarrels between her and her partner. Honest admissions of withdrawal from friends and family confirmed the intrusion of unknown impediments in her future relationships. Not being an ambitious woman, phycological, emotional and economic self-sufficiency never gained the significance it should have in Teresa’s life. Accumulating monthly interest generated by a fixed deposit lay forgotten in a reputed financial institution; a fortune obtained from the sale of an idyllic property bequeathed to her by her beloved maternal grandmother before marriage which Teresa never mentioned. To Sheeba, it translated to Teresa having married well as she did not regard employment as an option to combat victimisation and building self-worth and hence ruled out socio economic deprivation as a risk factor. Teresa’s narrations did not include any adverse childhood experiences making it less complicated for Sheeba to choose the right therapy for complete recovery. She vacillated between CBT inclusive of the safety model, individual counselling and support, and group therapy reputed to produce collective results and to eradicate isolation; her ultimate choice being group therapy as she believed in the wonders of sharing experiences no matter how painful or shameful.

‘Time to emphasize on the chosen treatment,’ thought Sheeba.

Transformation regarded as an activator for growth is known to always act as the stimulant for disruption too. This slow or rapid and continuous but unavoidable process born out of choice or circumstance impacts both on the individual and on the collective in similar and dissimilar ways. While the impact on the former is usually emotional and stressful often caused by the loss of familiar patterns, the impact on the latter is inevitably caused by shifts in the structural, social, cultural, technological, or political arenas besides the emerging new trends or norms. Both the individual and the collective undergo psychological adjustment as they cruise through fear and anxiety to experience hope or excitement, shedding the old familiar routines to face the new unfamiliar reality, the path traced being known as the change curve which is synonymous with Karl Lewin’s “unfreezing process” model. According to Lewin, “change requires ‘unfreezing’ old behaviour, transitioning through a confusing middle state, and ‘refreezing’ or solidifying into a new equilibrium.” Both the individual and the collective are absolutely essential for implementing effective social changes. Having acknowledged this, I would like to remind you that social changes are initiated by individuals whose aspirations change attitudes via concrete actions, which then incrementally modifies collective behaviour resulting in changes in social structures, shared beliefs, etc., thereby giving birth to a collective consciousness which unifies societies.

Speaking of collective consciousness, which is necessary for social movements, one cannot overlook the possiblity of collective or mass behaviour leading to positve and/or negative outcomes. Positivity occurring when groups promote transformation to solve existing social problems and arrive at long lasting solutions whereas negativity is the unintended byproduct of deindividualization which is the irrational or deviant behaviour precipitated by the individual’s loss of personal identity while conforming to the crowd. As I am still lingering on ‘negativity’, I would like to reiterate what sources state about excessively fast changes in social movements. This can lead to societies’ paralysis or a disorganized ‘vacuum’ state also known as ‘collective inertia’. Returing to positive outcomes, positive prospection or the hopeful collective entertianing the belief that change is achievable, encourges the individuals submerged in the mass to take productive actions. As long as changes are not forced on the individuals who are also the collective, the advent of ‘change fatigue’ wouldn’t be a concern any time soon.

If I have confused my blogsite visitors by talking about change and its impact on the individual and the collective after going through sources such as EBSCO(Social movement theory), ChangeFirst (The personal dynamics of change), Substack (Self determined leaders – The impact of change: finding a new equilibrium), YouTube (Collective consciousness), Britannica (Mass society/social structure, culture & impact), and National Library of Medicine (When change causes stress), it is because of my recent attempts to follow the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections especially with the media’s focus on change in the mindset of the voters, on the changes made to the electoral rolls by the removal of duplicates, change in the voter turnout percentage, changes evident in the youngsters’ views about leadership, the first time voters’ emphasizing on the need for social and political changes in the state, etc. If you are wondering why the state of Tamil Nadu in particular, it is because of my birth in Chennai and my growing-up in Coimbatore. The individual voters have submerged in the collective to find solutions for existing problems such as corruption, scams and scandals, dynasty politics, law and order situations, mismanagement of disputes, non-fulfilment of election promises, etc. Many have let go of their personal identity or preferences to conform to the crowd or the collective hoping that new leaders would redeem their losses and reward them with clean politics.

An author and self-publisher, I feel and sense a lack of support from the related bodies in the books and publishing industry. While there are innumerable programs, scholarships, fellowships, awards, etc., which are usually funded by traditional publishers who prefer to slap their business name and logo or imprint on my compositions even if I did participate and become successful in such enterprises. As I find this contradicting my role as a self-publisher, who is trying to emerge as successful as any other publisher in the industry using my own imprint WORDMAGIC PUBLISHING, I am wondering how the varied writing and publishing organisations could help an author turned self publisher like me to retain my individual/sole trader identity of NEETHA PORATHUR JOSEPH trading as WORDMAGIC PUBLISHING while participating in the ventures mentioned above. As usual, I took to the internet, the AI mode, or more specifically to Google Gemini to resolve the frustration I am feeling which has been identified by the latter as “a significant friction point in the Australian literary landscape”. Traditional publishers, who serve as bridge-builders and not as support hubs for the “author-entrepreneur” or “micro-publisher”, are turning a blind eye to my work in the industry and have failed to support authors like me who own their ISBNs and business identities.

Apparently, as revealed by my efforts at prompt engineering, one of the few models that could solve the lack-of-support issue is called the Professional Equivalency Model which requires the organizations like Copyright Agency Australia, Creative Australia, Australian Society of Authors, and Writing NSW to switch from their usual approach of substituting professionalism with traditional publication to Professional Standard Audit. In other words, evidence of professional investment such as receipts for professional editing, purchase of interior design and book cover templates, a valid Australian ISBN registered to a business entity, etc., must be established as the eligibility criteria instead of a contract from a third party. By opting for a different distribution model, these organizations are recognizing the author turned self publisher as a “professional peer” instead of a “hobbyist”. The second model known as the Infrastructure & Business Fellowships focuses on criteria that are different from the first. Instead of spotlighting on the writing stipend, here the focus is more on the global distribution costs, professional marketing campaigns, or even bulk printing for library distribution since for a self-publisher writing is only 50% of the work. Therefore, “Publisher-Author Fellowships” that specifically fund the back-end of the challenge and acknowledge the business entity that is bringing the work to market is a definite solution to the identified problem.

In addition to the models discussed above, a comparison model titled “Traditional vs Inclusive” pinpoints the differences between the current and the proposed models explicitly. While the traditional scholarship requires a commercial contract emphasizing on the development of the craft and the finishing of the manuscript besides a judging panel comprising traditional editors and agents who award the author with recognition and an assigned publisher logo, the inclusive scholarship requires an ISBN from a professional ISBN registry, focuses on the development of the publishing venture, on the reach and impact of the publication besides a judging panel consisting of peers and industry specialists who award the author with the right to use not only his/her name but also his/her independent imprint (like WORDMAGIC PUBLISHING). The next model under discussion named “Imprint-Blind Awards” demands that the relevant organizations introduce awards where “the imprint is a required field, but the branding belongs solely to the author”. Announcing a specific “Independent Press of the Year” category for micro-publishers who produce a minimum number of titles or achieve a specific impact in a niche field would be considered a brilliant move. If the move is “Joint Branding” in which a sponsorship is involved such as a bank or a government grant, their logo sitting alongside WORDMAGIC PUBLISHING as a supporter and not a replacement of my brand would be well-received.

Furthermore, the “Transitioning from Author to Independent Press” model gives importance to creating a “Micro-Press” status for individuals trading as a business as doing so would allow authors to enter “Book of the Year” awards not as a self-published individual, but as a professional publisher who happens to be the primary author. This model could put an end to the tendencies of independent houses like Small Press Network (SPN) in Australia to lean toward “small” rather than “solo.” Another model which could put an end to brand equity theft is the “Decoupling the logo slap” model by creating standard grant contracts that clearly state the funding organization (or corporate sponsor) has zero claim to the imprint name or ISBN rights. Such a gesture could influence organisations like Creative Australia launched in 2025/2026 with a $2 million investment fund for independent publishers to include “Publisher-Authors” with registered imprints like me.

Human centric approach substituted IT approach for more than half a decade in the Cybersecurity field; an awareness that non-IT people are developing, especially since organisations have resorted to behavioural science to empower more and more users to combat the attackers each day, transforming them into “resilient defensive mechanism” from the “weakest link” (QUT). This people centric approach originates from the studies of behavioural pattern of cybercriminals who continue to turn human emotions such as fear, anxiety, urgency, and curiosity into data for future scamming. Data collection has also become the ultimate praxis of Cyber Criminologists to understand the imprudent conduct of cybercriminals and hacktivists, and hence the use of behaviour analytics to, “shift the focus from technological vulnerabilities to the psychological and social drivers of digital crime”. In other words, the Cyber Criminologists use behaviour analytics to study how and why cybercriminals take advantage of human emotions and weaknesses or vulnerabilities through covert monitoring and surveillance.

My focus as a creator currently is on psychological theories which explain individuals’ magnetic attraction towards dark life or cybercrime. Following research on “psychological profiling and traits” is proving beneficial as I am gaining knowledge about the “Dark Tetrad” which translates into the cybercriminals’ tendencies matching with those of narcissists, Machiavellians, psychopaths, and sadists besides the different disorders such as Antisocial Personality and Autism Spectrum. Quoting International Association for Computer Information Systems, it is thrill-seeking that inspires cybercriminals to experience adrenaline rush through circumventing complex systems. Going back to the subject of psychological theories, through accessing scholarly articles on Research Gate, The Strategist | ASPI’s analysis and commentary site, Right-Hand Cybersecurity, CybSafe, Emsisoft, ACM Digital Library, etc., I am developing knowledge about hackers’ lack of behavioural control, their tendency to be easily influenced by societal norms, their preference to be law abiding in the physical space while transfiguring into law breakers in their virtual spaces for fear of social disapproval, their inclination to use their invisibility while acting malevolent or insensitive online and hack human beings’ underlying mental patterns through Generative AI, social engineering, and studying their digital footprints.

Introduced to “The Age Crime Curve”, I find it scary that the median age for hacking behaviour is 15, and find it relieving at the same time to learn that the age for abstaining is by the mid 20s. Learning the difference between cybercriminals whose motivation is usually money and the hacktivists whose primary drive is ideology or political or social causes, I have ventured to learn about amateurs whose stimulus is fun or trolling. For an inquisitive individual, constantly in search of new material, or ideas, or concepts for compositional processes, what could be more interesting than the hide and seek between a Cyber Criminologist using behaviour analytics, theories, and frameworks and a hacktivist/cybercriminal knowledgeable in behaviour analytics tracking.

It is common knowledge that professional writers’ success is heavily dependent on their ability to earn enough to cover their living expenses, purchase of business tools, set aside self-employment tax, insurance and savings such as health or emergency fund etc. Therefore, it becomes inevitable that the income generated by a full-time writer from his/her hourly writing pays all bills and increases savings, rather than just “breaking even” which is essential for sustainability. To achieve this, what writers need are clear goals be it weekly or monthly, knowledge of popular metrics or Key Performance Indicators, performance trackers, and a list of efficiency tips designed to protect their time and maximize their profit.

The most popular “universal” KPI is Effective Hourly Rate (EHR) because it helps writers to calculate and determine if their work produces profit once research, drafting, editing, etc. is completed. This KPI is regarded as the most honest metric because it ensures that all writers’ “hidden” hours do not go unpaid. The formula makes sense EHR = Total project payment/Total hours worked where the total hours worked include initial research & interviews, outlining and drafting, revisions and client calls, and administrative tasks (Invoicing, etc.). If one’s EHR is lower than your target (as shown in the third row of the table), then raising the rates, streamlining research, and drafting process to reduce the hours spent are a few ways in which the target rate comparison can be improved.

A Monthly Goal-Tracking Template can help professional writers stay on top of their financial and productivity goals, as doing so will inform them about the volume of work required to achieve their income targets. To use such a template effectively, filling out the “Monthly Goal” column on the 1st of every month and updating the “Current Progress” every Friday afternoon is useful because writers can save themselves from chucking the “end-of-month panic” if they are not hitting their targets.

Out of the few efficiency tips designed to protect professional writers’ time and maximize their profit, one technique is called the “Zero Draft” which is the technique of not writing and editing at the same time as it is the biggest “time-sink” for writers. A fast, messy version where the creator continues without fixing typos or finding the perfect word is the best practice. As far as EHR Impact for this technique is concerned, it cuts the drafting time by 30% for it separates the creative process from the analytical one. Another technique is the “Standardize Your Research Phase” as research can be a “black hole” if it consumes hours of billable time. Setting a timer for research (e.g., 60 minutes) and proceeding immediately with the composition using the gathered information when the timer goes off is the recommended method to tackle the “black hole” issue. If identifying a gap to fill out which further information on the subject is required, it is best to use a placeholder like [NEED STAT HERE] and continue with the writing. In this case, the EHR Impact is preventing “procrastination-by-research.” Yet another method is the “Use Templates for Everything”. Professional writers usually create structural templates for common formats like a blog post template instead of starting from a blank page. The EHR Impact is therefore the reduction of the “cognitive load” of starting a new project, thereby getting into the “flow state” faster. The Implement “Scope Creep” Protection is another efficiency tip that writers need to keep in mind as the client’s tendency to request for changes repeatedly contributes to the drop in EHR. Clearly defining a writer’s revision limit in the contract such as the requirement of additional fee if a client requests for more than the usual two rounds of minor edits will keep the EHR stable and will compensate the former for the extra time spent. Emphasising that all revision requests must be submitted within 7 business days of receiving the first draft and that major changes to the original brief like changing the topic entirely will require additional cost per hour will also be beneficial. A final efficiency tip titled “Batch Your Administrative Tasks” will stop the writers from switching between writing and checking email as this is known to kill productivity. Using “Batching” means keeping track of all invoices on the 1st of every month, and checking emails only at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM each day. By increasing the “Deep Work” sessions, which are their most profitable hours, the writers can improve the impact of EHR.

The “Reverse Engineering” Method is one in which the writers start with what they need to survive, in other words the required rate and then work backwards.

As per the current 2026 market trends, the beginner’s rate is $35 – $50/hr. as the new professional writer has skill but is till building his/her portfolio, the professional rate is $60 – $90/hr. as the writer has a solid portfolio, meets deadlines, and does not need much hand holding, and the “Specialist” rate is $100+/hour as the writer’s compositions are about complex topics like Finance, Law, or Medical Tech.

Armed with the “Total Monthly Need”, a writer aspiring to be professional can easily calculate the final rate by applying the “Billable Hours”, which for a full timer is about 80 to 100 billable hours per month, the rest being spent on admin and finding new work. If a full timer were to use the formula Target Hourly Rate = Total monthly Need/ 80 Billable Hours to calculate the final hourly rate then for the monthly need of $4500/80 the hourly rate will be 56.25/hour. This amount can then be rounded to $60/hour which can also serve as a “safety buffer”. If it were not for an interesting conversation with the Generative AI tool Gemini, I would have remained clueless about what it takes to be a professional writer.

Google’s Generative AI, Gemini’s question, “What is your monthly “Survival Number”?” when I endeavoured to find out some information about writers’ Key Performance Indicators, extracted a confession out of me; a confession of transitioning from a “when I have time” writer to a professional one. To my surprise, Gemini substituted the “survival number” with a “Value-for-Time” number as in my current life style in which I am balancing a primary job, blogging, and self-publishing, TIME became my most limited resource. In other words, undertaking a project must be worth more than my free time which automatically implies that the rate set for my work cannot be based on survival cost (rent, food and other living expenses) but on “Opportunity Cost”. Gemini termed the rate as the “Hybrid Writer” rate strategy and presented a table based on the opportunity logic which translated as opportunities that would pay me enough and lead to long term growth while recommending a KPI for the “Hybrid” stage called the “Portfolio Value” which required writers to track the number of income-generating assets created in a month’s time.

If you think this is eye-opening, then wait till you learn about the rest of my conversation with Gemini which rangee from monthly asset checklist to varied schedules to content strategy. The monthly checklist comprises activities like publishing blog posts with good traffic, writing a manuscript aiming for future royalties, and building fan base through emails sent to newsletter list. I received an efficiency tip titled “Content Repurposing” which Gemini phrased it as “the ultimate cheat code” for writers with limited time. Using the same number of hours spent for researching and writing, writers could build value or get paid three times by composing a deep-dive blog post which could then be turned into a newsletter update, and 5-10 related blog posts combined into a chapter for their next self-published book. The efficiency tip was followed by the “Hybrid Writer’s Weekly Schedule” centering on the “Thematic Time-Block” reputed to prevent “Decision Fatigue” defined as the feeling of sitting down to write and not knowing which project to start. Since balancing a primary job with a “side” career in writing and self-publishing is not a feat less than a marathon, this schedule gives each writing identity its own space adjusting the hours to fit a standard 9-to-5 shift.

The impressive recommendations focused on the practicalities of writing such as ‘Minimum Viable Day” which was writing for 15 minutes for a win (i.e. 4 wins in a week), keeping the momentum alive while beating the burnout, adhering to one project per blog as context switching was known to interfere with one’s focus, and setting aside Saturday mornings for heavy editing and self-publisher’ tasks like formatting and cover design. At the end of the week if the answer was yes when writers reviewed their “Output Consistency” KPI, they were on their path to building a successful career. A monthly progress log to check off the sessions focusing on consistent wins, and to ascertain the achievement of “Momentum” KPI (the attainment of 12 checkmarks in the morning column confirms if an individual is a consistent writer), the “Asset” KPI (4 Weekend Sprints checked off indicated one’s progress on a permanent asset: book) and the “Sustainability” KPI (maintaining a slow space in the case of empty weeks) joined Gemini’s listicle besides the winding-a-session-with-a-sentence-about-where-one-left-off rule which enabled one to get into the flow faster and saved 10-15 minutes of one’s time.

Gemini then recommended a “Content Calendar” to avoid wasting time and to plan in advance by using a “Core-to-Cloud” strategy  which was writing one “Core” piece of content (for a book or along blog) and then “Clouding” it out into smaller pieces.

The customising options such as picking a theme every month for a book and the same for one’s blog posts aimed at building a niche audience, following the 80/20 rule, according to which, 80% of one’s energy was to be spent on “Core” for the book and the major blogs, and 20% of one’s energy spent on the “cloud” which included social updates, emails, admin, etc., and batching one’s ideas once a month, preferably on a Sunday, spending thirty minutes to come up with 4 blog titles besides adding it to the calendar rendered the content strategy table very attractive and inviting; especially when this strategy could turn writing from a hobby into “a production line that runs in the background of part-time writers’ lives.

Finally the big reveal about my forthcoming project, which was writing in the vein of Poe combined with psychological theory, bridging the gap between “Literary Horror” and “Psychological Thriller”, a space where the atmosphere was heavy, and the real “monster” the human mind focusing on tension, subconsciousness, and the justifications of the desperate, influenced Gemini to fetch me a content calendar leaning into that “dark intellectual” vibe besides 10 blog post titles for the “Dark Psychologist/Author”.

In my tempestuous world, the only way to vanquish drudgery is to create or gain forceful entrance into new enterprises. Another year, both eventful and uneventful, flitted out, and once again I find myself pondering about its productiveness. Amidst several failures, a few successes makes reflection worthwhile. Usual annual projects like 2025 NAPLAN Marking operation in the role of ‘Group Leader’ has lost its usual charm, especially when it comes to chronicling. Concentrating on what I did different in the previous year, 2025, I rustle the pages of my memory with a certain earnestness like an anxious individual desperately searching for a misplaced cherished item. Finding my search gratifying, I begin to pen my thoughts down about these uncharted events or moments one after the other for reasons that can be attributed to narcissistic pleasure, egoistic glee, etc.

After the NAPLAN marking operation, I applied for a different invigilation duty that became successful and I found myself enjoying the perks of functioning in the roles of Invigilator, Lead Invigilator, and Reasonable Adjustment Invigilator for Opportunity Class/Selective High School Placement Tests in varied venues like collaborative work spaces and NSW Department of Education secondary schools in the month of May.

A few months of dormancy was followed by a chance to partake in a new enterprise in a new system widely known as Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD). Having met the requirements of obtaining a HRTC number and Building Child Safe Communities approval, I crossed the threshold of St. Clare’s Catholic High School in Hassall Grove to complete the assigned role of Exam Supervisor for Year 12 HSC Trials and Year 11 exam supervision successfully. Little did I know that this opportunity would pave the way for yet another unaccustomed role; the role of NSW Education Standards Authority appointed HSC Exam Supervisor in Centre no 207 which I gladly completed at the same centre on the very last HSC exam timetabled for the year.

Putting my hand up for innovative ventures becoming habitual, I responded to two ‘Expression of Interest’ invitations for two committees titled RIMPA Global’s ‘Education Committee’ (https://www.rimpa.com.au/about-us/our-people/rimpa-committees-1/rimpa-global-education-committee.html) and 2026 Ambassador Lite team (https://www.rimpa.com.au/about-us/our-people/ambassadors.html) ; ventures in which I was fortunate enough to have emerged triumphant as a volunteer. Unlike any other year, in 2025, I attended RIMPA GLOBAL’s Live Convention in Melbourne, Victoria, which facilitated attending the 2025 Global Education Summit and other conferences and socials for three consecutive days besides the stay in a four star hotel in Saint Kilda, and the daily commuting via trams.

Beating the phobia of driving on motorways, I cruised through M4 reluctantly the first time, and continue to do so with confidence. Making myself resourceful, I was instrumental in my only offspring’s accumulation of the required driving hours in his log book. Surviving two rear end collisions, I believed hilariously that I conquered the fear of death. Blood traces in the stool, suspected to have been caused by food poisoning, led to a successful Colonoscopy, and I sprinted through Mount Druitt in less than a week’s time. Crowding (dislocation) loosened a tooth and if the flight journey to and from Melbourne contributed to my tooth loss in any way I was planning to donate it to the tooth fairy for old time’s sake, however, my plans of doing so were foiled as I returned to Sydney with the dancing tooth intact.

Dreading what lies in store for me in 2026, I bring my recollections to an end while seizing the opportunity to wish my blogsite’s visitors a Happy New Year!