An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 70.
This week in one word: paused.
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Previously on WWW…
For the week ahead, I want to carry on revising part 2 of The Spike Volume 2, and get back to work on the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition. I’ll also put some thought into what my next blogpost will be about.
But first, I need to get rid of this cold.
My cold has been remarkably stubborn, and my poor brain has been running well below it’s normal performance level. That’s limited what I felt capable of working on during the relatively-short bursts of motivation I mustered.
When I’m working on a book, I try to hold as much of the story and characters as possible in my head, to make it consistent and cohesive. I wasn’t able to do that this week, so I paused my revisions to The Spike Volume 2.
My lack of ability to focus meant I didn’t do anything on the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition either.
So, what did I do?
One of the tasks I wanted to do this week was decide the topic for my next blogpost. I went through my list of ideas, but I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired so it probably wasn’t the best time.
To be revisited.
I spent some time looking at different themes for my next website redesign. There are a few things it definitely needs, which narrows it down to a certain number of layouts. I’ll need to test them to see how they function and how they would look with my content.
The most productive task I tackled this week was the loglines and back-page blurbs for The Spike Volume 2. Distilling the storylines of each part into a couple of paragraphs is tricky enough, but even more difficult when cramming it into one sentence for the loglines.
They’ll need more work and endless polishing, but I’ve made an alright start.
I paused my creativity vs consumption records during the prior week, and I decided not to restart them until I feel better. I may not have done much this week, but I did at least do something every day, taking my streak up to 666(!) days.
As is customary when ill, I binge-watched a TV boxset: Succession. More on that in the weekly_inspiration below.
I intend to ramp up my writing again over the coming week. I need to get back working on my two main tasks: revising The Spike Volume 2; and the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition.
Reading this week: The Well of Ascension (Mistborn Saga #2) by Brandon Sanderson
Watching this week: Succession season 3 and 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.
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.
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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.
Faced with new energy shock, Europe asks if reviving nuclear is the answer
‘System malfunction’ causes more than 100 driverless taxis to stop mid-traffic in China
Robotaxi companies refuse to say how often their AVs need remote help
Infusing asphalt with plastic could help roads last longer and resist cracking under heat
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I continued watching Succession, and finished the series finale just before beginning this WWW.
The show was well-shot and well-acted, and I enjoyed it overall. My main gripe was that too many of the “big twists” that the story revolved around were predictable, but I’m glad I watched it.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 