January, for me, is always a month of working out what I want to do. Figuring out what I want to set as my goals for the new year, working out what I want to do better last year, and setting my goals far too high.
January has been an exciting month, as much as a month can be exciting when you’re in yet another Lockdown and surrounded by a plethora of news that is purposely designed to whip up anxiety and stress. It’s been a month of figuring out a route for my Novel, kicking of my Newsletter, and making some rather excellent progress on my blog and social journey.
“Assassins 1” Update.
At the start of January, I spent some time looking at my summary for Assassins 1 on my website. It didn’t quite fit the story I’ve now written (now two years older than that summary!), and it needed an update.
Trying to write a book summary when you’re still in the trenches of editing and writing is no easy task. However, I liked to think that it was an opportunity to really focus on what I want for this story. I’ve done lots of worldbuilding over the past year, and figured out some key plot points for the overall trilogy.
It was only when I started talking about it to some family members on the weekly zoom call did my sibling point a key point – the front part of your summary doesn’t link to the second part.
It seemed like an innocuous comment, but it really unearthed the key problem with my draft – the first part of my summary was the “Big picture” storyline that is setting up for this trilogy (and the ones beyond in the world). The second part was this book, the book about Mae and her journey to becoming an Assassin.
It’s exciting to having that moment of gotcha! When you realise what is wrong with your draft. I’ve felt a renewed sense of focus as I carve out several thousand words of draft into one two thousand word sequence. Even those two thousand words still need finessing, but I’m feeling like I’m making progress on the start of my story!
“Writing on Caffeine”
My first newsletter went out in January! I’m so excited to kick off this newsletter, specifically looking at writing advice and prompts. At the moment, I want to keep the scope of it simple (ie: doable when I have little time), but I can then start expanding into different areas – worksheets, helpguides and other such useful items!
Missed the first edition? You can check it out here for a sneak peek!
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Blog and Social Media
As I’ve mentioned previously on my monthly updates, I’ve done an overhaul of my blog and social content over November & December. Not only do I want a publishing schedule that is more manageable with my writing time, but I also want to focus on the type of content I’m producing. Which is why I’ve scaled back my flash fiction postings, and looking more at opinions and blogs as I go into 2021. This way, my creative well is still full when I try and tackle “Assassins 1” drafting, and then it’ll make it’s way into the world sooner!
I’m still active on Instagram, and I’ve got a Twitter as well if you fancy following along! Social media is something that I’m growing more comfortable with (understanding it’s importance as a tool for an author to reach their audience!), but any friendly faces are welcome. Social media can be somewhat of a bleak landscape at time!
As well as social media, I’ve noticed a number of new followers to my blogs, so I just wanted to also say a huge WELCOME! and thank you for following me on my writing journey!
Missed any of my posts this month – check them out below!
January Posts
The Dream
You write for the younger you. For the younger you who always dreamed but never believed you really could. For the younger you who wished with all of her heart to create a dream. For the younger you who saw no limits. For the younger you who still dreams today. For the you that still…
Having all the time in the world isn’t always a good thing
You might think that having all the time in the world to do your writing is a good thing. You have these images of people with unlimited time sitting there with a candle burning, a notebook and a pen on their desk, wistfully staring out of the window and contemplating existence. However, I don’t think…
This is not a plan
“You said you had a plan for this?! Flying into the port with no approvals is not a plan.” Taelew looked over at his co-pilot. Yivonn was not one for breaking the rules, which is why he hadn’t told her of the plan until they were on the final descent. “I do have a plan,”…
Editing a First Draft – Top Tips
First drafts are fickle creatures. They are hastily thrown together (especially if you are a “gardener” writer like myself) and need work to form the story that you see in your mind’s eye. Editing your first draft can feel like climbing a mountain without a guidebook – there is simply so much to fix, and…
Travelling around your world – Writing on Caffeine
This month in my newsletter, Writing on Caffeine, I’m talking about warm up exercises for your writing craft, why they’re important and a few ideas for you to use! Like any craft, you need to practice your writing muscles outside of your core projects, and that’s where little warm ups can come into help! Not…
Lessons from Flowers
Flowers can teach us a lot. They can teach us about what it takes to grow. That you have to be fed with the basics of human needs before you can truly flourish. That everyone grows at their own rate, and that other people’s journey cannot be compared to your own. They teach us that…
February Thoughts – Welcoming Spring
This month has been a waxing and waning of writing inspiration and time. Sometimes I find there are weeks I can sit at a desk and write a lot, other times I have to go and rest on the sofa. I was really struggling to get back into my novel until I spoke with one…
Travelling around your world – Writing on Caffeine
This month in my newsletter, Writing on Caffeine, I’m looking at worldbuilding, and the topic of conversation is how your characters travel around your world. How people travel can be intrinsic to how large or small the world they experience is – if everyone travels on foot, then journeys of a few hundred miles will…
After the Battle
“How are you doing, now?” Yinla asked. Oaleth poked the fire with the end of a stick. The smoke curled upwards into the night sky. “That’s a loaded question,” he replied, looking up at the stars above. They twinkled back, quietly watching over the world below. The world they had just saved. “Alright,” Oaleth said,…
What else have I been up to?
We’ve now finished both Star Trek Discovery and Lupin, both of which were excellent! I particularly enjoyed Discovery’s message of hope for the future – a lovely antidote to the drudgery of news piped into our screens on a daily basis.
Featured Image: by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
Alex.J.Cobalt 