An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 83.
This week in one word: bursts.
my_writing_week
Previously on WWW…
In the week ahead, I’ll finish reading The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow in the next few days so my review should go live shortly after. Beyond that, my twin main priorities remain the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition, and revisions to part 3 of The Spike Volume 2.
I’m in the midst of the busiest two months of my year at the day job, and this was (hopefully) the worst week. I was prepared to give myself grace and not add pressure to write on top of the day job stress; if all I could bear doing of an evening was 5 minutes to keep my writing streak going (now at 757 days), that was ok.
I didn’t expect my evening writing sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to exceed 2 hours.
That’s long for me on a good day – if I do that much of an evening, it’s usually split into two smaller sessions. It’s a mystery where my mental energy and motivation came from on those evenings; I wish I knew so I could repeat it more often.
So, with these sustained bursts of productivity, I must have made some good progress, right?
Most of my time this week was spent on my top priority, the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition.
I wrote last week that I’d had the idea to change the colours around, but couldn’t decide which version I liked most so was going to continue working on both in tandem. This week, I focussed purely on the new idea (they’re always more exciting). I’m pleased with how it’s coming together but I’m still not entirely sold on which is better.
I’ll continue with my plan of working on both and making a decision when they’re nearer completion.
I did some more work on the revisions to The Spike Volume 2 part 3, and found a small cluster of relatively minor plot holes. They refer back to Volume 1, which wasn’t as fresh in my mind when I wrote the first draft. And, as is so often the way, fixing one reveals another, and another, and it becomes a little bumpy for a while.
I didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with them when I found them, so as soon as I was sure I’d found everything and noted it all down along with some possible solutions, I put it aside for future me to sort out. Lucky him.
I’ve been working on my next blogpost for several weeks off and on, with the intention of posting it sometime in the next couple of week to coincide with a particular event. I did some more on it last night and it’s very nearly finished, it just needs a final editing pass and a cover image.
Keep an eye out for that.
On Thursday, I posted my review of The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow. It’s a really good time-loop fantasy romance.
Unbelievably, we’re halfway through 2026 already. I had two aims for my reading this year:
- Read 18 books. I’ve just finished my 14th (with two more on the go), so I’ll smash that.
- Write a review for every book I read. I’m keeping up with this so far, and I’m maintaining a handy list of all my reviews here.
The three 2-hour-plus writing sessions I mentioned above saved my creativity vs consumption stats this week, and my percentage has increased from 45% to 48%, which is pleasingly close to the 50/50 split I’d aim for when the day job is less bitchy.
Again, I’m not going to put pressure on myself until the busy period at the day job has passed in about five weeks, but it’s nice to know that even when I’m not pressuring myself, and the day job is at max-stress, I can still be productive.
For the next week, my twin priorities are still the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition, and revisions to part 3 of The Spike Volume 2. My next blogpost may go live, and I’m not discounting the possibility I’ll get distracted by a shinier new idea, but I want to stay on target.
Reading this week: Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher and The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Watching this week: The Leftovers season 2
Playing this week: n/a
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’m working on a new cover design for a second edition of The Spike Volume 1, with two different versions being developed in tandem whilst I decide which colour layout I prefer.
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.
AI is ‘not smart’ so what’s next in artificial intelligence?
The US and China are planning Moon bases. It could help improve life on Earth
NASA makes moves to dodge costly delays on its path to build a $30 billion moon base
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, I finished reading, and posted my review of, The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow.
It doesn’t make my list of all-time favourites, mostly because romantasy isn’t my favourite genre, but it is excellently done. Standouts for me are the writing style, particularly the way she uses description, and the time-loop structure that skilfully avoided confusion.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 