Tag Archives: OWW

Current writing activities

Here’s a quick update on what I’m up to at the moment:

A first edit of my novel Hell has its Demons. The first two chapters will be up at Critters towards the end of June for critiquing, and probably also on OWW soon as well.

Publishing the fourth issue of Alt Hist Issue 4.

Also recently published the first issue of Fantasy Short Stories with the first author interview now live on the site as well.

Stupor Mundi Reborn

If you read my blog on a regular basis you might have noticed a number of posts about Frederick II appearing. What does it mean? Well a while ago I was working on a project about Frederick II called Stupor Mundi. I recently decided that I would have another go at this novel, but not worry too much about conducting exhaustive research. Instead my plan is to just keep writing and go back at a later date to check facts and add in any nuggets from my research. I have also taken on Stephen King‘s advice in On Writing to just see where the story takes me. I had already come up with an interesting situation and enough plot ideas to get going, so starting wasn’t really a problem, but I didn’t know where the journey was going to take me.

So far I have about 10,000 words written and I am aiming to do about 500 words a day. Each day is exciting and new and I have surprised myself. I find that when I don’t write for a day or two it’s much more difficult to get started again though. Whereas I suppose if you have everything planned out you can pick up the torch more easily as you have a firmer idea of what comes next.

I’ll keep you posted on how I get on, but if you want to read any early chapters they are over at OWW now and also will be coming up on the queue at Critters at the end of March. If I have time I’ll put them on Critique Circle too!

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Nearly finished Jake and the Knight

Just one more scene to write I think – the climax of the story. I found that I haven’t included quite as much detail in the last bit, I just felt that I was getting into too much detail in some of the fight scenes and getting away from the real point of the story.

I am excited about finishing it soon and then going through the editing process. Hopefully will have a version ready for Critters or OWW by the end of 2009!

Bird Talk accepted for publication by Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction

I am very happy to report that my short story “Bird Talk” has been accepted for publication by Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction. The story should be out in either issue 30 or 31 – so probably the Autumn or Winter of this year. The magazine is available to purchase in hard copy or as as free download. I’ll send a link out to the issue when it’s published.

I am very excited about this – this will be my first fiction publishing credit, so Woohoo to me!
I did have a good feeling about this one – it’s my most recent short story and provides part of the setting and themes of the novel I’m working on. It’s also been well critiqued at both Critters, OWW and Verulam Writers’ Circle, so if there’s any of my reviewers reading this post, thanks very much for your feedback! Comments from a variety of different readers are really useful, particularly in picking up detail errors or suggesting better phrasing – things that I would be less likely to spot myself.

UPDATE

“Bird Talk” is also now available to purchase as a separate story via Smashwordsand Amazon.