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.
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Previously on WWW…
In the week ahead, my reading_report_2025q4 should go live on Monday, and my 2025_wrapup will go live on Wednesday.
Otherwise, I still have a website tweak in mind to do, but my twin main focuses will be the Volume 1 2nd ed cover, and revising Volume 2.
Happy New Year, I hope you enjoyed your holidays. Welcome to 2026, where very little has changed: I’m still writing every day (but not as quickly as I’d like); it’s still bloody cold; and Trump’s still a psycho.
Before I get into 2026, though, I need to fill you in on the dregs of 2025…
Last Sunday, I continued writing my 2025_wrapup blogpost ready for its publication on New Year’s Eve.
On Monday, despite being back at the day job, I got on a bit of a tear. During my lunch-hour, I continued revising The Spike Volume 2, adding to a new chapter 0.2.1.27.
In the evening, I published my reading_report_2025q4. I read twenty-three books in 2025, the most in a year since I was a kid, possibly ever. I’m setting a target of eighteen for 2026, not because I want to read less, but because I have quite a few big books (mostly fantasy and sci-fi) to read, and I don’t want it to feel like an obligation or chore that takes time away from my writing, which is still my number one priority.
Also on Monday evening, I wrote the last big chunk of my 2025_wrapup.
And, still on Monday, I worked on the tweak to my website that I’d targeted for this week. It turns out that, with the theme I’m using, I couldn’t do what I wanted (add a banner image with a link to every page). I’m planning a major redesign in the run up to publication of The Spike Volume 1 second edition, so will look at that again then. For now, I made a relatively minor change to my homepage and left it at that.
On Tuesday, I gave the 2025_wrapup a final polish, and continued writing new chapter 0.2.1.27.
On Wednesday, New Years Eve, my 2025_wrapup went live. It’s the story of my last twelve months, including writing, reading, gaming, a wedding, a divorce (kind of), a bible, and too much YouTube. Plus I list the targets I won’t hit in 2026, so if you want to hold me to account, have a read.
I finished 2025, and began 2026, revising The Spike Volume 2. As the clock struck midnight, I was writing the end of the new chapter 0.2.1.27, which felt fitting. So much of the past year has been about progressing this book, and I’m aiming/hoping to have it ready for publication by the end of the new year.
With neighbours letting off fireworks until at least 1:20AM (they should be banned – fireworks and neighbours), I had a lazy day on the 1st of January, but still revised chapter 0.2.1.29 (chapter 0.2.1.28 had already been rewritten before I realised I needed to add a new 0.2.1.27 before it).
A lot of my bank holiday was spent working out how I could declutter and brighten my writing space. It’s easier to concentrate if there are less distractions, and I spend the vast majority of my waking hours at my desk, so there’s value in making it a nice place to spend time.
I cleared a lot off my desk last year, but it now needs a phase two. To properly clear my desktop of anything I’m not using all the time, I need drawers near my desk, and to do that, I need to rearrange half my lounge. I did some online shopping for a sideboard to go next to my desk that would ideally need to house my PC, my amp, my TV box, my router, and a chest of drawers, and found a couple of possibilities. I didn’t want to spend my hard-earned without properly thinking it through, so saved them for later.
I also looked at some RGB lighting to add to what I already have, but might wait until any other changes have been made for most of that – they can be the final touch.
On Friday, I revised chapter 0.2.1.30, then continued working on my workspace regeneration. I moved a couple of bits around so I could live with it before buying anything new, and I shopped around for anything else that might do a similar job. I ended up back with the first sideboard I saved, so I think that will be what I buy if I pull the trigger.
Today, Saturday, I spent more time revising The Spike Volume 2, and I wrote this WWW.
My creativity vs consumption percentage for this week was 49%, which is an improvement over the past few weeks and so close to that magic 50/50 split. The time spent researching my workspace improvements didn’t go into either category, which I think is fair.
For the coming week, revising The Spike Volume 2 will be my top priority, although I may start my next blogpost too. And, when my brain can no longer tell one word from another, I’ll continue with the new cover for the Volume 1 second edition.
Like many, I’m back to a full five days at the day job from Monday. It’s a shame there are no more bank holidays for a few months; I might have to book a day or two off, if I can’t wait until my next week of leave in February.
Reading this week: The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue #1) by Christopher Buehlman
Watching this week: The Wire season 4
Playing this week: Red Dead Redemption 2
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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.
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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.
We might finally know what will burst the AI bubble
Consciousness May Depend on the Physics of the Brain, Not Just Code
UK company sends factory with 1,000C furnace into space
AI teachers and cybernetics – what could the world look like in 2050?
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Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I’ve been listening to Take Me Home by Phil Collins, which may seem like a left-field choice compared to some of the other music I’ve shared, but it’s because of its use in a particular scene of a particular show…
Mr Robot season 2 episode 2 begins with E Corp (or Evil Corp) being stung with ransomware by vigilante hackers. In the scene where the money is being delivered, the Phil Collins track is playing in the background as though it’s on someone’s radio, but by the end, all we hear is the song and the crackle of the cash burning.
It’s a very cool scene, and every time I hear the song, I’m transported back to it.
The song, and the opening of the episode, are shared below – two videos for the price of one this week.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 