Greetings!
❄️ Winter 2024 ❄️
February 3rd, 2024
It starts with a simple declaration.
"I, Christian Smith, hereby commit to publishing daily content for 122 days in a row."
It's a simple statement, but like an iceberg, it's deceptive. Underneath it lies a commitment to build a daily practice. To create a habit first, then over time, a ritual. And guess what? If I miss a day, the 122-day counter resets to Day 1.
Why am I doing this, and why 122 days? While a secret project looms in the background (more on that later), the immediate reason is I've decided to retrain my brain for consistent writing, having traded novel writing for extra sleep these last six months.
The plan is a 30-minute writing session every morning for the next 122 days, crafting short essays like this one. My theory is that, eventually, my brain will learn that sitting at my desk at 6:30 am every morning is writing time. I suspect (and hope) the initial 30 minutes will organically expand into an hour or more.
No distractions are allowed, just pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. This strategy is inspired by author Neil Gaiman (among many others). Gaiman says, "You can sit here and write, or you can sit here and do nothing. But you can't sit here and do anything else."
Over time, amidst the persistent friction life exerts on my time and energy, a creative callous will form.
So, friends, join me on this journey. The adventure begins.
Christian
Learn more About The scientist and the psychic
About my site
Welcome to my corner of the internet.
My name is Christian Smith. I’m a research scientist and author based out of Toronto, Canada.
What can you expect here? I believe that writing is the engine of thought, and I will share stories about the fascinating subjects I encounter.
You will read about science, but presented in a different way.
Gone are the endless data points, statistical measurements and stuffy textbook regurgitations. In their place, you will find a focus on understanding and relevance.
Broadly my interests lie with science communication that focuses on cancer biology and the field of “brain plasticity,” which is the remarkable ability of the brain to heal, remodel and reorganize itself in the face of challenge.
I discovered plasticity research while writing The Scientist and the Psychic, where I witnessed remarkable feats of intuition and found out about individuals with seemingly miraculous abilities. More on that later. 😉
First, a snapshot of me:
Five-Bullet-Bio
Born in Brampton, Ontario, and alternately raised between Vancouver and the Toronto area. I currently live in Barrie, just north of Toronto.
A perpetual student who accidentally spread academic degrees across the decades of my life: Honours Bachelor of Science - Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph (1993); Doctor of Philosophy - Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto (2007); Master of Fine Arts - Creative Nonfiction, University of King’s College (2017). What’s next for the 2020s? It’s anyone’s guess!
Day job: Research Operations Manager of a Brain Tumour Research Centre in Toronto. Our lab studies how malignant brain tumours move and spread in the brain and we are developing techniques to deliver new drugs to inoperable brain tumours.
Author of a nonfiction book and currently working on a novel tentatively called Mirage of Feathers.
Avid reader, digital scientific illustrator, love to geek out over technology, and I’m obsessed with anything Star Wars.
Interests
Personal Interests
I love science, writing, and I taught myself to draw digital scientific illustrations. It’s only natural that I dwell within the intersection of all three: Science Communication.
Technology and Gadgets
Productivity and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM)
Discovering the extraordinary: I am interested in the spectrum of human capabilities. In addition to my own mother’s remarkable ESP abilities, I’ve come across a woman who can smell disease before it’s diagnosed, a man who sees the world in mathematical designs and a woman who can see detail from a mile away.
Making sense of the paranormal.
Professional Interests
Cancer biology - understanding the biology of human brain tumours and how to target their genetic vulnerabilities.
Educating the community and raising awareness of brain tumours by sharing our discoveries and ongoing studies in brain tumour research.
Recent Obsessions
📚 Favourite books 📚
Fiction
Station 11 by Emily St. John
When I first saw that HBO was coming out with a limited series based on this book, I had to quickly escalate it to the top of my ‘To Be Read’ pile for fear of spoilers. This excellent book is set in Toronto, with vivid scenes steps from where I used to live. It always amazes me when writers craft scenarios ripped from future headlines. In this case, a global pandemic decimates the world. While starkly different from the COVID-19 pandemic, St. John's imagination of a pandemic's fallout is eerie and chilling.
For fellow writers: "Read like a writer" craft notes: I found Emily St. John utilized some valuable devices I could learn from. I loved how she captured character mannerisms in simple yet evocative ways. One favourite line describes a voice heard over the phone:
"A man's voice, almost familiar and very British" (emphasis my own). With two words, I could instantly hear that voice in my mind.
Later, St. John's masterful use of foreshadowing impresses on the reader the high stakes of the situation without telling us (example of the cardinal rule: show not tell). I won't detail the example here as it contains spoilers, but it can be found on p30 of the trade paperback version.
NonFiction
Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson
I loved this book. It tackles contemporary moral and political issues polarizing society today (such as race, gender, sexuality, religion, and culture) with a fresh, logical examination. It was humbling to pull back my point of view, literally imagining myself peering down at Earth from space as if I were an alien and observing the fears and conflicts that tear so many of us apart. Then, on top of that, layer Neil deGrasse Tyson's beautiful personal insights and lessons from science, highlighting the beauty of our world and how to heal the self-inflicted chasms between us. I first listened to the audiobook while commuting to the hospital, then quickly went out and bought several copies to give to family and friends. It is a short but essential read for anyone concerned about what is happening on our planet.
🎥 Favourite media 📺
🎥 movie 🎥
Women Talking
Every year, I strive to watch all the feature movies nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. It has become a challenge since the Academy expanded the list to 10 movies. Now, I end up watching the films throughout the year, and Women Talking, directed and co-written by fellow Canadian Sarah Polley, got its turn this summer. I had no idea what the movie was about because I deliberately avoided watching any nominated movie trailers, fearing it would taint my experience. This movie's acting performances, writing and story, captivated me and left me thinking about "the women" for days. I wanted more of Sarah Polley and bought her memoir Run Toward the Danger to listen to on my commutes (also recommend if you enjoy memoir).
📺 television series 📺
Happy Valley (seasons 1-3)
I love British police procedurals, and Happy Valley is exceptional. What sets it apart from series such as Line of Duty, Broadchurch, or Unforgotten is the immersion into the life of the lead character, Catherine. The story explores crimes yet threads the personal life of Catherine and her family across each season, and a central plot line started in Season 1 carries through to the third and final season. I binged all three seasons within a month.
Craving for more? See previous favourites here.
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Photo credit: Lucas Oleniuk, licensed through Getty Images