My regular spoiler-free 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
Previously on WWW…
My creativity vs consumption percentage this week was the same as last week at 46%. It would be nice to bump that above 50%, but even if it stays similar, with no day job to steal most of my time, I’m hoping to report back next weekend that I made good progress on Volume 2 draft 3 and the cover for Volume 1 2nd ed.
A week off from the day job has been so nice, I’m already looking forward to the next one in February.
I have spent more time writing than I would in a normal week, but I’ve also made use of the free time to refill my creative well, enjoying the artworks of others. More on those in a bit.
Having started the week with a clear idea of the two tasks I wanted to work on, I immediately began by working on something else. There’s a pattern developing here…
I had an idea for a new social media profile image, to replace the blue arrowhead I use now, but I abandoned it when it didn’t look as good on a screen as it had in my head.
As I write this, I’ve just had another idea I think would be cool, if I can make it work. Expect to see news of my attempt of that next week.
Also on Sunday, I spent time on the second edition cover for The Spike Volume 1. I’m not so keen on what I added, and as I wasn’t sure whether to scrap and restart that part, or try to salvage it, I put it aside for a few days.
For draft 3 of The Spike Volume 2, I knew the next chapter I had to work on, 0.2.1.14, needed a complete rewrite; the original had too much exposition and not enough action. It’s a significant scene too, introducing three important characters and their workplace. Research was required, but I used some artistic licence to add extra interest, and the new version is a definite improvement.
I was out of town visiting friends all day Monday, although I still did 25 minutes of writing when I got home to maintain my streak, which currently sits at 547 days.
After a long day travelling, and with no plans beyond writing for the rest of the week, I allowed myself a lazy day on Tuesday, but still spent nearly three hours on chapter 0.2.1.14.
I’ve recently restarted playing Red Dead Redemption 2. I hadn’t got very far with it the first time before I bounced off it; I can’t remember why. This time, I’m enjoying it. It’s not the sort of game you can dip into for fifteen minutes, though; it’s a slower pace, and I think I needed that. As I’ve written before, sometimes we need to “slow down, idiot, slow down”.
Rewriting chapter 0.2.1.14 took me until Wednesday. Then, feeling refreshed, and with some chapters that required less work, I increased the pace up to the end of the week, and completed up to chapter 0.2.1.22 by today, Saturday. That’s a decent pace.
I have 62 changes listed I want to make for part 1, and have so far actioned exactly half of them. Most of the changes were front-loaded in the story, so the later chapters may need less revision.
Since beginning draft 3, I’ve added about 8,000 words. This first part needed to be fleshed out more; my instinct is the second part might need to be cut slightly, and the third part is about right, but we’ll see when I get to them.
On Thursday evening, I attempted to salvage the addition to the Volume 1 2nd ed cover that I did on Sunday. The overall effect isn’t how I want it, and I’ve got a few different options for how to proceed – I’m not sure yet which I’ll pick.
I began by using (digital) oil paint because it worked well for part of it, but I don’t think it will give me the clean finish I want for the rest of the picture. I may start again using a different technique/tool.
As well as writing and gaming, I’ve been reading. I’ve nearly finished Alchemised by SenLinYu, a hefty dark fantasy of more than 1,000 pages, the longest novel I’ve read in a long time, possibly ever. I’m enjoying it, despite a couple of plot inconsistencies, and with 70-odd pages to go, I can’t predict how it will end, which I always take as a good sign. I’ll give my final thoughts next week; hopefully it will stick the landing.
I think I’ll begin Slow Horses by Mick Herron next. I’ve heard the TV show is really good, and I usually prefer to read the source material.
That brings us up to this WWW. My creativity vs consumption percentage for this week was 44%, slightly below the 46% of the last two weeks, but the total time spent writing is the highest since last November when I was doing my NaNOWriMo writing challenge, at just shy of 20 hours. I’ll take that.
For the week ahead, I don’t expect to spend quite as many hours writing, but perhaps a higher proportion of my free time seeing as I’ll be back at my day job from Monday (sad face).
I’ll try out the new idea for a social media profile image; will give more consideration what to do with the Volume 1 2nd ed cover; but mostly I want to continue revising The Spike Volume 2.
My initial target of finishing revisions by the end of this year was too ambitious, so I’m pushing it back to the end of February.
Unfortunately, everything takes longer than I expect.
Reading this week: Alchemised by SenLinYu
Watching this week: The Wire season 4, and Atlanta season 1
Playing this week: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 and Red Dead Redemption 2
status_report
In addition to the three short stories available to read for free here, there are three more yet to be published that make up The Spike Volume 0. The new three are in the final stages, and will be available some time before Volume 2 is published.
Work continues on a new cover design for a second edition of The Spike Volume 1.
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 3 is under way for The Spike Volume 2! I’d tentatively like to finish revisions by the end of February 2026.
Volume 2 is my biggest, most complex project to date, containing three separate books from the perspectives of seven characters.
The aim is to publish Volume 2 in 2026.
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.
UK pushes ahead with facial recognition expansion despite civil liberties backlash
3D-printed cornea restores sight in a legally blind patient for the first time
Space debris: will it take a catastrophe for nations to take the issue seriously?
Chernobyl Fungus Appears to Have Evolved an Incredible Ability
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I’ve enjoyed the underappreciated genius of Paul Whitehouse and his Fast Show character Rowley Birkin QC.
Birkin tells stories from his incredible life, although most of them are unintelligible apart from the occasional choice phrase, because he was always “very, very drunk”. It’s a lesson in doing so much with so little, and finding variety within strict restrictions.
Below is a collection of the short scenes from the series, plus two from the live stage shows.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 