An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 78.
This week in one word: variety.
my_writing_week
Previously on WWW…
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.
I mostly ignored my priorities this week and worked on whatever I felt like doing, in the hope it might reenergise my tired brain. It didn’t, but unintentionally I did something different every day.
Sunday: I continued writing my next blogpost. I made some decent progress but there’s still a lot to do for it. I suspect it will be my longest post yet.
The intention is to post this next, but if I don’t hurry up, it won’t be finished before the next post needs to go live – I have a fixed date in mind for that to coincide with a particular event.
Monday: I worked some more on my next blogpost, the one with a fixed publication date. It has twelve (relatively small) sections and I’ve got two left to go; both will need more research before I can begin them. I progressed this post now so I don’t leave too much to do before the date I don’t want to miss in July.
Tuesday: for the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition, I added some of the titles to the spine of the book, and had a new idea for a small banner-section on the back that I’m not sure if I’ll keep. These make it look more like an actual cover so give me a better idea how it will look when it’s finished. I’m still pleased with the concept so I’ll keep chipping away.
Wednesday: I reorganised the list of revisions to The Spike Volume 2, specifically putting the changes I need to make in part 3 in a rough story order so it’s easier to refer to as I’m working through the draft. Some of the items on the list are general points that repeat throughout (such as a character preferring a particular drink); some of the items are tied to a certain scene (for example adding a character’s reaction to an event).
With 78 items, this took longer than I’d anticipated.
Thursday: I began revising part 3 of The Spike Volume 2. On the very first chapter, I hit a snag as there’s a character trait that I’ve written in an unreleased prequel short story, and I need to decide whether to a) continue that trait in Volume 2 which will be tricky, b) reference that the character no longer has that trait, or c) remove the trait from the short story so it isn’t a problem.
The issue is that I really like how the trait works in the short story, but I’m not sure if I could or should carry it on through Volume 2 (and potentially beyond).
I don’t need to make the decision immediately – it isn’t a trait that’s going to make an impact to the story, only to the character’s interiority – so I could put off deciding until the following draft. But it would be nice to make the changes in this draft if I can.
Friday: I’ve passed 60% in both of the two books I’m reading at the moment, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, so I began writing my next two book reviews. I’m not making any firm conclusions yet, but there are some things I can comment about now and revise later, such as character traits, writing style, early plot points, etc.
Saturday: this WWW.
Again this week, my creativity vs consumption records were paused. I intend to restart them after my holiday which is the week after next.
I’m not doing as much writing overall, but as you can see above, I have done something every day to stretch my streak to 722 days. Day three of my holiday will mark two years.
I’m going to change my priorities for the coming week as I want my next blogpost to go live around mid-June. They are: 1) write my next blogpost; 2) design the cover for The Spike Volume 1 second edition; 3) revise The Spike Volume 2.
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.
Scientists have scrapped the worst‑case climate scenario – because action is making a difference
Space factories edge closer after experimental capsule survives hypersonic landing
Nasa unveils next steps to build permanent Moon base
Exploding rocket casts doubts over Nasa’s Moon plans
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, one of my favourite musicians, Thom Yorke, was awarded a Fellowship to The Ivors Academy. I’m not a fan of awards generally so this barely registered, until I heard about his acceptance speech.
Typically of him, he used his platform to call out the industry and the people making money from it for only being interested in getting rich, and for not giving new artists an opportunity.
The only people I can imagine disagreeing with him are those he’s criticising. Artists of all persuasions are highly unlikely to peak with their first release, and they need to be given time to learn, grow, and make mistakes. The leaps Radiohead took between each of their first four albums alone (Pablo Honey to The Bends, The Bends to OK Computer, OK Computer to Kid A) should be evidence enough.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 