An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 60.
This week in one word: problems.
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Previously on WWW…
For the coming week, I may work on my next blogpost, but I want my main focuses to be revising The Spike Volume 2 and the cover for The Spike Volume 1 2nd ed.
It’ll be interesting to see what derails those plans.
It feels like I don’t have a lot to show for this week. Every problem has its own time cost to solve.
The first problem of this week was with the new cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition. The idea I’ve been working on is for a front cover image only, it doesn’t/can’t wrap around to the spine and back cover, and I’ve never been fully comfortable with how I was going to make it stop or fade out before the crease. Before I pour more time into creating it, I need to know how I’m going to deal with that.
Keeping an open mind, I investigated and mocked up a couple of different cover ideas this week. One of them I wasn’t keen on; the other I like but it doesn’t communicate sufficiently what the story’s about.
I’m back to trying to work out how I could change the composition of the idea I’ve been working on to fill the full cover. The solution remains elusive for now.
The second, third, fourth, and fifth problems all came whilst revising The Spike Volume 2.
I can’t go into details because of major spoilers, but upon reaching chapter 0.2.1.48, I realised a character had given up sooner than they would have. To change this means going back and adding a new chapter 0.2.1.44, which I’ve outlined and begun drafting, and at least one more chapter that I haven’t outlined yet. The chapter that was 0.2.1.48 will become 0.2.1.50 and will need rewriting, and another later chapter will probably need rewriting too.
I came up with the final fix just before starting writing this WWW. I’m confident it’ll work, but it’s been time-consuming getting to this point, and implementing the changes will take even longer.
Fortunately, not everything was a problem this week. On Wednesday, my blogpost about my Creativity vs Consumption system went live. This technique has certainly helped me since I began using it, and I hope it can help others.
Speaking of which, my percentage for this week improved from 47% to 53%. I’m always pleased when I hit or pass the 50/50 split, and it would be nice to make that a minimum for the next couple of weeks at least because there’s so much to do.
My goals for the next seven days are to find a way forward for the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition, and to put back together the section of The Spike Volume 2 that I picked apart.
And, less of a goal and more of a hope, it would be nice if any further problems are less disruptive, please and thank you.
Reading this week: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Strange Pictures by Uketsu
Watching this week: The Wire season 5 and Colin from Accounts season 1
Playing this week: Red Dead Redemption 2 and Baba Is You
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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 April 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.
Call for AI rules after fake video of mayor made
Has Moore’s Law Reached Its Limit?
Police using facial recognition: Is it a problem?
Researchers Just Found Something That Could Shake the AI Industry to Its Core
Google appeals landmark antitrust verdict over search monopoly
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Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I’ve been listening to Scott Matthews and two back-to-back tracks in particular from his album Elsewhere.
The first is Into The Firing Line, a quote from which is the intro to part 1 of The Spike Volume 1. More on that in a future blogpost.
The second is Up On The Hill, which I share below. I like how it drifts along nicely, then unexpectedly changes up for the finale – a tactic that can be effective in books too.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 