This month can be summarised with one phrase: I am so f**cking tired.
I intended to use September as an achievement month. A time to set myself a ridiculous 30k word goal and go smash out those words to get my novel to the next stage. A time to bake some more bread, finish the garden, all the while managing to navigate an ever more bonkers day-job workload.
And in a surprise to absolutely no one, it didn’t happen.
Well, the bonkers day-job workload did happen. And the occasional bread was baked, and I did manage to write some words on my novel, but none on my blog.
If you’ve wondered why this month was a quiet month, well it was because of that. In what little time I did have to write, I chose to focus on my novel rather than my blog in an attempt to break through some really tricky plot points. I have made progress, but it is at the expense of keep up with my monthly blogging schedule.
I do have to remind myself sometimes that at the moment, that sometimes the balance does not tip in the favour of my creative projects. Sometimes it’s good to not overdo it.
But damn, that is a hard truth to tell yourself.
My posts this month
Missed any of my posts from this month? Check them all out below!
Starting the Realm of the Elderlings – Assassin’s Apprentice review
My introduction to the Realm of the Elderlings got off to a rocky start when I realised I started with the wrong book. Namely, the book that was the trilogy at the very end. I only realised this until I was almost a good 25% through (according to my kindle), which also meant I got … More Starting the Realm of the Elderlings – Assassin’s Apprentice review
You write what you read
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these updates about my fantasy novel The Akrion Cycle (Book 1). The last six months have not got much to show in terms of words on a page, but there have been points of intensive creativity which have pushed the book forward. One of the things … More You write what you read
Writing On Caffeine – Pacing your Story
Don’t forget that this month in my newsletter, Writing on Caffeine, I’m talking about pacing of your story. Like the seasons, the pacing in a story will help guide the reader to key scenes and influence their interaction with a story. In this newsletter, I’m going to talk about what pacing is, why it’s important … More Writing On Caffeine – Pacing your Story
Ghosts (From the Archives)
The first ghost was an easy hit as it rounded the top of the staircase. Raela loosed the arrow and began searching for the second ghost that she could sense was lurking round the corner. Wait for it, she thought to herself. Her breathing slowed, as she concentrated on the stone bricks that made up … More Ghosts (From the Archives)
March of the Valentas
Ashayra was taller than Miaken expected. He knew that she was from the South, and like all Southeners was always going to be tall, but he did expect her to have to stoop beneath the wooden beamed ceiling to avoid hitting her head. Even Miaken who was the tallest out of most of the people … More March of the Valentas
The Light of all that Falls – a satifying end to the Licanius Triology
The concluding entry to The Licanius Trilogy was as fast paced and page-turning as the previous two books, The Shadow of What was Lost and An Echo of Things to Come. If you’ve not read the previous two books, then please do read them before reading this blog, as this is not spoiler free! What … More The Light of all that Falls – a satifying end to the Licanius Triology
Anxiety (From the Archives)
Eva squeezed her eyes tightly shut, her nails digging into the palms of her hands so hard she thought they would draw blood. Christ this was hard. It was so fucking hard. She had no idea how people just managed in their day to day lives. That’s what therapy is for, a little voice said … More Anxiety (From the Archives)
How to use description in your fantasy novel
At some point, you’re going to have to tell your reader the image you see in your mind. You’ll need to try and capture that image, to the best you can, in your words so that when your reader reads those words, they come up with the same image. At least that is what you … More How to use description in your fantasy novel
Writing on Caffeine
The one thing I have been trying to stay on top of is my monthly writing advice newsletter Writing on Caffeine. This month was all about Sub-Plots, and in writing it I actually realised just how much I’ve learnt from repeatedly head-desking over the past year of writing my novel.
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What I’ve been watching this month
Vigil is a new BBC thriller from the same people who produce Line of Duty. I’m not 100% convinced, but it is a lot of fun to watch in the evening!
What If TV show had delightfully surprised me. I did not think it would be as fun as it is, and it’s a nice easy 25 minute watch with dinner!
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was also very excellent – not only because it was my first time in a cinema since 2019 (!!) but also because there were exactly 100% more dragons than I expected and I am here for it.
Featured Image Credit: Samatha Gades on Unsplash
Alex.J.Cobalt 