An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 77.
This week in one word: milestone.
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Previously on WWW…
With not much progress made this week, my main priorities remain unchanged: 1) design the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition; 2) revise The Spike Volume 2; 3) write my next two blogposts.
I’ll likely keep my creativity vs consumption records paused until after my next holiday, in three weeks, but will do at least something every day.
I began the week feeling tired, and the day job was tough, so I didn’t spend much time on my writing.
Despite that, I reached a milestone this week.
It wasn’t on the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition. I tweaked a couple of bits that I’d already done rather than add anything new, but it has made a difference to it overall so that’s a positive.
The milestone wasn’t on my next blogpost either, although I did make some progress. I’ve continued to add points I want to cover to my outline, and it’s grown to be longer than I originally anticipated. There’s still much to write before it’s ready to post.
On revisions to The Spike Volume 2, I reached the end of this stage of changes to part 2. The last seven chapters needed a few small changes, no massive rewrites, so it’s basically story complete. Until I read through it, anyway.
That means I’m ready to move onto part 3, the final and longest part. I’ve got a lot of revisions listed for this story; most of them won’t require big changes. The biggest amendment to make (two chapters to rewrite) is near the end, so I won’t get to that for a while yet.
My creativity vs consumption records remain paused, and will remain so for now, but I’ve maintained my streak of writing every day (now up to 715).
Again, my main priorities for the next week are unchanged: 1) design the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition; 2) revise The Spike Volume 2; 3) write my next two blogposts.
Reading this week: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Watching this week: The Leftovers season 1
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 finish 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 (that keeps growing) 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.
A quantum computing deadline looms. It threatens to kick off the biggest cybersecurity crisis ever
TikTok and YouTube ‘not safe enough’ for kids, says Ofcom
Scientists develop near-invisible solar cells that could turn windows into power generators
Brain implants allow us to move and talk. But they could also be hacked
Can you trademark identity? The new legal strategy celebrities are using against AI
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I’m sharing another Sufjan Stevens track. Impossible Soul is a 25-minute epic from his The Age of Adz album, and I do like all of the different stages it goes through, but the last 3 minutes is some of the most beautiful acoustic music I’ve ever heard (I’ve included a vid of just that below). All three days I had to work in the office for my day job this week, I listened to the whole song on my drive in but sat in my car after I arrived to listen to the end.
When they perform the track live, it’s chaotic. I’ve certainly never seen one song with so many costume changes…
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 