My regular update on my novel writing progress, including insight into living and working as an indie author with a full-time job and Crohn’s disease.
my_writing_week
400 not out!
Today I pass my quadruple century of consecutive days working on my writing. I’ve written previously about how and why I’ve done this, and I have no intention of stopping. The lure to reach 500 is strong.
After the previous week ended with allowing myself a couple of restful days, I felt more energised on Sunday.
I finally finished and posted my review of Dracula by Bram Stoker. Whilst doing that, I remembered I hadn’t written an update of the books I read in the second three months of 2025, so I began working on it. Also, I added a chapter from The Spike Volume 1 to the series bible.
When the working week started again on Monday, however, my Crohn’s returned to bother me. I felt drained so did a bit of work on the cover for The Spike 1.2. I was having a bit of trouble with the art program I’ve been using, ArtRage Studio 3, so installed an alternative, Krita. It has more tools than ArtRage, but I’m not sure if it will do everything I want, so I’ll need to spend some time playing with it.
As usual, Tuesday was the first of three days I needed to go into the office for my day job. I worked some more on my reading report for Q2 at lunchtime, then at the end of the day, I added another two chapters to the series bible.
On Wednesday, I finished writing my Q2 reading report, and I published it on Thursday — you can read it here. Also on Thursday, as has become habit, I began this WWW.
I needed a rest so took Friday off from the day job, and had a lazy day. I wrote most of the rest of this WWW, which extended my streak to 399 days…
That brings us to today, Saturday, the 400th in a row that I’ve worked on my writing.
I spent some time in the morning on learning Krita and it should suffice for what I need; I’ll know better once I start using it properly.
I previously created a new cover for the second edition of The Spike Volume 1, but I keep wavering back and forth on it. I brainstormed for a new idea (or rather an old idea I wasn’t sure how to make work) and will draft something to see how that looks. I’ve still got the prior version if this doesn’t work out.
In the afternoon, I added one more chapter to the series bible, up to 36 of 81. I’m into the home stretch of part 1, and I’m enjoying reading it again which is a good sign!
And so endeth this week. The day job is still problematic at the moment, so destressing is tough, which means my Crohn’s is preventing me from writing as much as I want. Fingers crossed it will calm down soon.
Reading this week: “Leviathan Wakes” (The Expanse #1) by James S A Corey
Watching this week: Bosch: Legacy season 3
Playing this week: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139
status_report
I’m still wavering on a new cover design for a second edition of The Spike Volume 1, and have begun work on a different idea.
I’m also working on covers for the two individual parts, 1.1_Application Infiltration and 1.2_Laying Down The Law, which are going to be published separately for the first time. I want both to have a similar style and layout, and I have an idea I like for each. The drafts I’ve created feel a little too minimalist, so I’m investigating what I can add that will make it more visually interesting without distracting from the main image.
Draft 2 of The Spike Volume 2 is complete! It contains three separate books from the perspectives of seven characters.
Revision will begin soon.
The aim is to have Volume 2 finished by the end of 2025 for publication early 2026, although this is beginning to look ambitious.
Early brainstorming has been done for The Spike Volume 3. I know how it must begin; I have an ending that I think will be great; and I have a long list of ideas to get from one to the other that needs to be whittled down and put in an order. I’m not intending to do much more work on this until revision is complete on Volume 2.
There are a couple of other projects in the works that I’m not ready to share yet – they’ll be announced here first.
connecting_links
The Spike is set in our world, incorporating real events; the links below are relevant to the themes and overarching storyline, and may or may not provide clues to the direction of the series.
I do not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the views within.
Sovereign-ish: Google Cloud keeps AI data in UK, but not the support
‘I’m being paid to fix issues caused by AI’
OpenExo: An open-source modular exoskeleton to augment human function
AI and the Architecture of Anti-Intelligence
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I’ve still been listening to the original soundtrack for “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”. There’s over eight hours of music, with plenty of variety, so I’m nowhere near getting bored of it.
The track I’ve chose to share is “Une vie à t’aimer” which is one of three tentpole pieces, each exactly 11 minutes long. Please enjoy.
It. Is. Epic.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 