An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 68.
This week in one word: next.
my_writing_week
Previously on WWW…
Next week, I want to progress the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition, but the majority of my time will be split between revising The Spike Volume 2 and my next hybrid short story/blogpost. If that means neither is completed, that’s ok (but I’d like to finish at least one of them).
Progress!
Last week, I picked a design for a cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition and was trying to decide whether the detail should be realistic or abstract. It was going to be a little misty/smoggy, but I realised if I dial that up, I can have it be realistic without a lot of fine detail I was worried about. Win-win.
I began putting the basic blocks in place, but I haven’t got the scale right. It looks fine logically, but it isn’t dramatic enough. A bit of creative licence may be required. I’ll have another go.
I have a firm idea of what I’m aiming towards now, which has been the main struggle with this all along.
The task I spent the most time on this week was my next short story/blogpost. I found it a little tricky to write, but I’ve finished drafting it, just editing required, and I think it’s a fun piece. It’s about the overused book tropes I wish people would stop using.
It should go live in the next week.
Earlier today, I hit a small milestone – I completed the story revisions for part 1 of The Spike Volume 2. It took far longer than I’d hoped, but there was more than 80 changes and 20k words added, so a significant chunk of new material.
There are still revisions to be made, but they are small sentence-level changes that don’t impact the story; they’re for things like modifying a character’s speech pattern, or little habits a character may have that need to be sprinkled throughout consistently. There’s no point making such changes whilst it’s possible for big sections to be added or cut.
The next stage for part 1 will be a readthrough, to check all the story beats work and are in the right place, and that it all flows as it should. Then I’ll begin a fourth draft for the detailed changes.
But that’s not yet. I’m putting part 1 aside for now so I can come back to it with fresh eyes later.
The next task is story revisions for part 2. I have about 40 listed, roughly half the number for part 1, and none involve adding whole new chapters which is good news. They’ll all take time to resolve though, and some may require time-consuming research. I’ve learnt my lesson and I’m not going to set a target date for finishing these revisions – they’ll be done when they’re done.
My writing streak passed 650 this week (now up to 652) which was nice. The consistency really does help: there’s a lot less “now where was I up to?” every time I sit down to work.
My creativity vs consumption percentage was at 45% last week when I was ill for a few days, but I’m pleased to have got it back up to 51% this week; this is the start of what I hope will be a decent streak of hitting at least the 50/50 split.
For the coming week, I’ll begin the story revisions on part 2 of The Spike Volume 2; I’ll continue work on the cover for The Spike Volume 1 2nd ed; I should publish my latest short story/blogpost; and I’ve nearly finished reading Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose so there may be a review live for that too.
That’s plenty to get on with.
Reading this week: The Well of Ascension (Mistborn Saga #2) by Brandon Sanderson and Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose
Watching this week: Succession season 2
Playing this week: 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.
I’ve resumed work 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.
Draft 3 is under way for The Spike Volume 2!
Volume 2 is my biggest and 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.
I have other project ideas that are on the backburner:
Project Lawless is a non-fiction book.
Project Fang is a fiction book that I’m still trying to work out a way to incorporate into The Spike.
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.
Meta and TikTok let harmful content rise after evidence outrage drove engagement, say whistleblowers
Government backtracks on AI and copyright after outcry from major artists
Tech Billionaires Are Quietly Rooting for AI Bubble to Collapse
Self-Driving Taxis Poised for Vicious Backlash
Tech companies are blaming massive layoffs on AI. What’s really going on?
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, as for the past few weeks, I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for one of my favourite films, Sneakers, whilst I write.
The track below perfectly serves one of the best scenes in the movie (if you’ve seen it, it’s when Bishop uses the scrabble pieces and Whistler uses the little black box). Wonderful.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 