An indie author’s regular spoiler-free update on his writing, editing, cover design, marketing, publishing, website maintenance, and blogging. Issue 84.
This week in one word: stuttering.
my_writing_week
Previously on WWW…
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.
Two weeks ago, I struggled to do much writing because a heatwave made it uncomfortable to stay in one place for any length of time.
Last week, I wasn’t pressuring myself to write because I’m in the midst of the busiest two months of the year at the day job.
This week has been a combination of the two.
Another heatwave in the UK (and more records broken), plus my Crohn’s flaring up due to stress, has made it difficult to focus. I’ve still made some decent, if stuttering, progress.
I’ve been working on two different cover designs for The Spike Volume 1 second edition that are the same concept but have the colours switched around.
I progressed the detail on both, and the final look is getting closer on each of them. I’m still undecided which I prefer. I think I need to take a step back for a few days, maybe a couple of weeks, so I can regain some objectivity.
The cover will need a blurb on the back page, a very quick description of the story. It’s always difficult to distil a whole novel into a few short paragraphs, but it’s even harder when the book is two separate stories that interlink. I’m not completely happy with the blurb I had on the book’s initial release, so I’ve written a new draft blurb and, similar to the cover designs, put it aside to edit with fresh eyes in a week or two.
I wrote last week that I’d found a small cluster of relatively minor plot holes whilst revising The Spike Volume 2 part 3. I’ve now got a vague plan for how to deal with them, and part of that is to add a new chapter 0.2.3.13, which increases the tension and jeopardy earlier in the story. This should work well, but it will mean further rewriting in later chapters.
In total this week, I revised six chapters, and I’ve plotted the details for the new chapter 0.2.3.13.
Last night, I finished reading my 15th book of the year and (nearly) finished writing my 15th book review of the year. My review of Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher is scheduled to be posted next Monday. See my weekly_inspiration below for more.
The aforementioned heatwave/Crohn’s combo impacted my creativity vs consumption stats this week, reducing my percentage from 48% to 43%. I’m not going to beat myself up over that because it isn’t terrible, but I would like to do better next week, especially as I’ve got so much to do…
Over the next seven days, I’ll post my review of Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher and my next blogpost (it needs a few finishing touches but I think it’s one of the most interesting concepts I’ve had).
I’m pausing work on the cover design for The Spike Volume 1 second edition, but need to work on covers for its two parts, 1.1_Application Infiltration and 1.2_Laying Down The Law, that will be getting individual releases for the first time. I’ve locked down the concept for each, now I need to create the final designs.
I’ll also continue revising part 3 of The Spike Volume 2, beginning with the new chapter 0.2.3.13.
Hopefully the heat and my Crohn’s ease off.
Reading this week: Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher and The Lost Man by Jane Harper and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Watching this week: The Leftovers 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’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
On previous WWWs, I’ve included links to real news stories relevant to the world of The Spike.
I’m discontinuing that from this week, at least for now. I think there’s not enough interest in it for the amount of time it takes to compile.
However, if you want me to restart this section, please let me know in the comments.
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that’s inspired my creativity.
This week, as mentioned above, I finished reading Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher. It’s pretty good, but not as good as I’d hoped given how it began. For a mystery horror, the plot lacks twists and turns and surprise.
There were things I liked about it, though, chief amongst them being the way the main character describes people and things. She is an illustrator, so whenever she comes across something new, she describes it in terms of what colours she’d use to paint them. It’s a nice touch that adds character and is more creative than standard descriptive writing.
My full review is scheduled to be posted on Monday.
What’s inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
Arrowmaker Books 