What Gremlins Taught Me About Writing Online
3 Monster Mistakes That Can Turn Your Content From Cute to Chaotic
When Gremlins came out in 1984, I was eleven.
I still remember the older kids talking about it in the school playground—half excited, half terrified.
It was the must-see movie of the year (until Flight of the Navigator came out in'85 -yeah I know kids are fickle).
I didn't catch Gremlins in the cinema. But a couple of years later, I finally watched it at a friend’s house on a scratchy VHS tape—and it didn’t disappoint.
I’ve watched it dozens of times since, and recently introduced it to my two older boys.
They loved it - which is great as I'm still disappointed they didn't like the Tom Hanks classic Big when we saw that one together too.
Anyway, back to the story...
Something struck me during that latest rewatch of Gremlins.
The three golden rules for looking after a mogwai—those cute, fuzzy little creatures—are strangely perfect writing lessons in disguise.
So here’s how to keep your content mogwai from turning into monsters:
Rule 1: “Don’t expose them to bright light”
The Writing Lesson:
Don’t blind your readers with overexposure. Too much information all at once—and your audience tunes out.
We’ve all done it. Written a blog post or email stuffed with 14 points, 7 links, 6 metaphors, and a partridge in a pear tree (or a gang of Gremlins in a cinema).
It’s overwhelming. Like flicking a blinding spotlight into your reader’s eyes and expecting them to thank you.
Instead, dim the lights. Focus on one powerful idea per post. One clear transformation. One actionable takeaway.
That’s how you build trust—and keep your mogwai happy.
Rule 2: “Don’t get them wet”
The Writing Lesson:
Don’t drown your content in fluff or over complication.
Ever started with a strong idea, then flooded it with unnecessary tangents, clichés, or jargon until it multiplied into a soggy mess?
That’s what happens when you let your words get wet.
Dry writing is clean writing.
Stick to what your reader needs to hear—not everything you know.
Cut the filler. Keep it sharp. Let your core message breathe.
This is how you stay lean and consistent—especially when you've only got 30 minutes a day to write.
Rule 3: “Never feed them after midnight”
The Writing Lesson:
Don’t feed your writing with last-minute, late-night panic.
Writing when you're tired, distracted, or stressed often leads to chaotic, gremlin-like content. It might look fine at first glance—but the next morning? Total horror show.
That’s why it pays to create a rhythm that works with your energy, not against it.
Write when your mind’s fresh. Keep your sessions short and focused.
Use simple systems that help you show up consistently—without burning out.
No more feeding your content beast at midnight. No more waking up to creative carnage.
From Mogwai to Mastery
Bad content habits turn cute ideas into chaos.
Good systems turn chaos into consistency—and consistency into income.
Just like caring for a mogwai, your content system only works if you follow the rules.
You don’t need 15 tools. You don’t need to master every platform.
You just need a framework that fits your life—and helps you stay in the game.
Ready to Break the Cycle?
If you've been stuck for years chasing tactics that go nowhere—burning through your weekends and wondering why it's not working...
You're not broken. You’ve just been following the wrong rules.
The right ones are simpler than you think.
👉 The Content Champion Academy is opening soon.
You’ll get battle-tested frameworks, daily writing systems, templates, and a supportive community to help you finally build a content business that works.
Let’s put in the reps. Let’s follow the rules.
Because your writing shouldn’t turn into gremlins.
It should turn into growth.