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
It felt like much of last week’s WWW was about my struggles to write a bio page for my website — I’ve always found it difficult to write about myself (this doesn’t count, this is about my writing). I wasn’t happy with either of my first two attempts, and decided I might give it one more go, or shelve the idea for now.
I gave it one more go.
The majority of draft 3 was done on Sunday, but I’ve tinkered with it throughout the week. Just before writing this, I tweaked a couple more bits I wasn’t completely happy with. Hopefully it will be online in the next week, but no guarantees.
Also on Sunday, I added half a long chapter from The Spike Volume 1 part 2 to the series bible; the other half was added on Monday.
Having worked from home for my day job all last week, I was back in the office three days this week. On Tuesday, I began writing a new blog post that, by the end of my lunch hour, I was already set to scrap and start afresh. Sometimes you need to try something to discover it doesn’t work.
In the evening, I added two more chapters to the series bible.
On Wednesday, I added another chapter to the series bible, and I revisited the draft I’m writing for the first in a new series; I took the long intro from that into a new, separate post about my author origin story. For those who’ve lost count, that’s three different posts that are work in progress.
On Thursday, I began work on this WWW (making it four posts in progress), before the series bible had one more chapter added to it.
Fridays are normally my least productive days, but this week even more so than usual. My oldest friend messaged me during the day about meeting up that evening; we hadn’t seen each other for six years so it was good to catch up. I snuck in a little work on my author origin story blog post during my lunch hour, which was a good job because I was too tired to do anything when I got home.
Knowing I’m going to be out on Sunday for my nephew’s birthday, I gave myself today to recharge. I did a bit more on my bio, and finished this that you’re reading now. And this, now. And this. And this bit. And this…
Reflecting on the week, I’m getting a little impatient. I want to be working directly on my next book, but all my work at the moment is indirect. Creating The Spike series bible is taking too long, partly because it’s time-consuming work, and partly because it’s a bit of a chore. But it is necessary.
I may begin compiling Volume 2 editing ideas from my disparate notebooks into one spreadsheet, and interspersing that with my work on the series bible. I want to be disciplined, but it’s supposed to be fun too, right?
Reading this week: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Watching this week: The Wire season 1
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 think I’ve proven the concept — more work required.
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.
Online Safety Act: what are the new measures to protect children on social media?
Banning VPNs to protect kids? Good luck with that
DWP’s ‘unhealthy’ AI obsession is trapping people in poverty, Amnesty report finds
Next steps for self-driving vehicles as future passengers help shape self-driving vehicles law
Europe’s AI crackdown starts this week and Big Tech isn’t happy
Meta brought AI to rural Colombia. Now students are failing exams
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I’m returning to the “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” OST, because I still haven’t stopped listening to it and it’s great. I’ve also been enjoying some of the musician breakdowns on YouTube, and learning more about how and why it’s so good.
The track I’ve picked to share this time appears at the end of act 1 and… well, I won’t say any more about that. If you know, you know. If you don’t, I can’t recommend the game highly enough.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 