So my end of March blog post has become a start of April blog post. Which seems to summarise how March has gone, quite frankly.
March is one of those months, every year, almost without fail, where something changes. Whether it is the pressures of the financial year at work, or the changing of the seasons means I spent more time in the garden, March is always one of those months that flies past.
Assassins 1 Progress
Assassins 1 has stalled, somewhat. I’ve gone through an editing slump, which I am only now starting to come out of. I’ve managed to finally push past one of my key blocking stages and start to weave together the second arc which takes us into the main story. It’s exciting, difficult work, which always leaves my wordcount looking rather sad at the end of an evening.
But progress is happening. And any progress, no matter how small, is all that matters.
Writing on Caffeine
This month on my Newsletter I talked about Writing Goals, which was rather apt given that this month I have completely shot any goals and am now scrabbling around the remains to look for something to aim for April. Probably just something as simple as “write something”.
You can check out my February edition of Writing on Caffeine here if you want to get a flavour of what I write about. If you want to find out more, you can sign up by clicking the image below!
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Missed any of my posts this month?
I’ve been trying to stick to my new 2021 posting plan, which despite all of the various pressures on my time I’ve managed to just about stick too. If you’ve missed one of my previous posts, you can check them out below!
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,…
Consume stories, regardless of the medium
There is a lot of good writing advice out in the internet ether that recommends reading a lot if you want to write a lot. This advice has a lot of truth in it, and it is important to read to help your writing craft. However, today I want to talk about the benefit you…
Arrival at Maalek
“Here we are,” their guide announced, “the legendary city of Maalek,” Serene rolled her eyes. The sprawling ruins in front of her did not look anything like the ballads that Kieraj had been singing about for the past week. They seemed old, realistic, and, well normal. Nothing like the soaring towers and gilded halls that…
How to write food and drink into your fantasy world
Food and drink is a vital part of any society. What we eat and drink depends on the land around us, the trade we have with other countries (or lack of), access to certain ingredients and cooking tools. If we have food from a street vendor or food from a five start Michelin restaurant, then…
Alex.J.Cobalt is a fantasy writer from the UK. When she’s not working away at her fantasy novel series, she posts free flash fictions on her website, along with regular blogs about writing.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by averie woodard on Unsplash
Alex.J.Cobalt 
Oh yeah, March really zoomed by and I have no idea where it went too. Nice monthly update, and here’s to overcoming your editing slump!
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Thank you – fingers crossed for a more productive April!
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