The Writer’s Diary: Round Three Success, Custom Code, and the Longlist Waiting Game

Distraction needed

​It has been an anxious but incredibly rewarding couple of weeks in the pond. When you are entirely at the mercy of contest judging panels, time seems to stretch out like an endless horizon. The only real cure for those waiting-room jitters, of course, is to keep your head down and let your fingers fly over the keyboard.

​Memory Letters Ploughs Ahead

​The headline news for this update is that Memory Letters has officially made it through the Round 3 qualifiers! I've recently learned that there are 672 stories in total that made the cut for this round. To know that Jane's claustrophobic journey is standing tall in a field of nearly seven hundred incredible pieces of work is a brilliant feeling, and it makes every late-night editing session worth the effort.

​We are currently in a bit of a scheduling limbo regarding the next official stages, however. The ONC Longlist announcement was originally expected around the 20th of May, followed swiftly by the Shortlist at the end of May. Given that the judges have the monumental task of evaluating all 672 qualifying manuscripts, it's no wonder things have shifted behind the scenes. So, I am still playing the waiting game for those final lists to drop. My fingers are firmly crossed!

​Crafting the Code: My Custom Writing Dashboard

​While the ONC judges do their work, I’ve been channeling that nervous creative energy right back into Sanctorum’s Veil. The total refresh and expansion of the original draft is progressing beautifully, and it's being guided by a brand-new tool I've built.

​Putting my techie skills to use, I have written a custom script for Google Docs that acts as my personal manuscript progress dashboard. 

I created a similar one for Memory Letters, but now I've refined it and improved its features to allow me to use it with any manuscript. 

It does a lot more than just look at a simple number; it allows me to set a minimum and a target/maximum word count for each individual chapter, giving me real-time insights into exactly how each scene sits within those parameters. I can also plug in an overall total word count target, and the script instantly tells me where the manuscript stands in respect to the grand finish line.

​It’s been an absolute game-changer for my workflow, so much so that I mentioned it in a Discord writing group I’m part of. There has been quite a bit of genuine interest from the community over there about seeing it released for others to use! 

Now I’m seriously considering polishing up the user interface so I can share it with the wider indie author world.

​Data-Driven Editing: Sanctorum's Veil

​Thanks to that very script, I can see the data shifting in the right direction for the Veil. I’ve currently pushed the edited manuscript to almost 17,000 words, which means I have officially achieved 21% of my ultimate word count goal for the novel.

​There is something incredibly satisfying about watching those percentages tick upward on the dashboard. The prose is feeling much sharper, the stakes are higher, and the world-building is becoming far more immersive with every single chapter I rework.

Being a techie through and through, these numbers help me to stay the course. 

​Between waiting for contest notifications and watching the word counts rise, the daily grind continues to bear fruit.

The Writer’s Diary: Double Winners, Multi-Platform Releases, and Podcast Features

Busier than a busy bee

​If you had told me at the start of the year that the month of May would bring contest wins, a major multi-platform re-release, a podcast feature, and an audiobook production hitting its stride all at once, I’d have thought you were spinning a grand sci-fi yarn. But here we are, and the pond is absolutely buzzing.

​A Double Victory for Memory Letters

​The wait for the mid-contest results in the Open Novella Contest on Wattpad is finally over, and I am absolutely over the moon to share that Memory Letters has been named both an Official Round 2 Winner and an Ambassador Pick!

​To make both of these prestigious lists is an incredible honour, and it is a massive boost to my confidence as a writer. We are still playing the waiting game for the final Round 3 judging phase—the final hurdle before the coveted Longlist is announced—but whatever happens next, Jane's story has already exceeded my wildest expectations.

​Speaking of Jane, the audiobook version is progressing beautifully. The Voice Artist has let me know that roughly a third of the narration is now complete, and the tension of the story is translating brilliantly into audio. She also told me that she's really enjoying the book, which is always lovely to hear. 

​Out Now: Divided Hits More Digital Shelves

​In other major news, I’m thrilled to announce that I have officially re-released Divided, my urban fantasy/paranormal story. If you enjoy a mix of supernatural mystery and gritty reality, this one is for you.

​I've re-edited and refreshed it somewhat and I've hopefully removed some errors that had slipped through several edit phases.

The story follows Jimmy Jones, who, after a harrowing near-death experience, finds himself suddenly able to see ghosts and spirits. In fact, his new best friend, Henry, happens to be a spirit and the two actually met in the operating theatre before the doctors managed to revive Jimmy. With Henry by his side, Jimmy has to navigate this strange new reality while going on a desperate search for his missing sister.

​I’ve wanted to get this story into a better shape and out into more outlets for a while, and it is now widely available to download on Kindle, Google Play Books, and Kobo / Kobo+.

​Tuning In: The Failing Writers Podcast

​If you are reading this on Monday, then today is a very special day. My 999-word flash fiction piece, Dust, was accepted by the team at The Failing Writers Podcast!

​They have featured as part of their Hypewriter slot it in the brand-new episode releasing today (25th May). They kindly sent me a sneak-peek copy of the audio ahead of the release, and I can honestly say the performance is outstanding. Hearing professional voices bring your words to life is a surreal experience, and I can't recommend today's episode enough.

You can find links to the episode, and others, at https://www.failingwriterspodcast.com/ 

​Spinoffs, Space, and the Sanctorum

​With the celebrations and releases sorted, the daily grind of the keyboard continues across my other ongoing projects:

• ​Sanctorum’s Veil: The total refresh continues. I’ve completely reworked the first three chapters, sharpening the hooks and tightening the prose to match the momentum I found during the ONC.
• ​The Void Between: The first chapter of my psychic HFY saga is down, and I’m letting the universe breathe a little before I launch into the next segment of the Sol Explorer’s journey.
• ​Forever Jupiter: The architectural work is paying off. I’ve completely fleshed out the plan to expand this from a 2022 novella into a full-length novel. Better yet, the new brainstorming sessions have unlocked a wealth of ideas that will easily allow me to stretch James Hamlin's immortal Roman history into a sequel or two!

 

​The Writer’s Diary: The Waiting Game, Space Dust, and Roman Shadows

Waiting for the Dust to Settle

​The end of April brought with it the closing of Round 3 for the Open Novella Contest. After the intensity of the last few months, the silence is a strange change of pace. 

Now, all there is to do is wait.

I'm a patient person, but as any writer knows, "waiting" is just another word for "working on the next thing."

​The ONC Limbo

​The deadline for Round 3 passed on the 31st of April, and Memory Letters is officially in the hands of the judges. I’ve been a bit on edge this fortnight, but I’m incredibly proud of the over 32,000 words I’ve put down. 

Whatever the result, Jane’s story has found its wings (and its voice, as the audiobook production continues!).

​New Tales from the Pond

​I’ve managed to complete two new short stories recently, each exploring very different corners of the imagination:

• ​The Custodian: This is a sci-fi piece about a lone pilot who discovers a ship so ancient that it has either been swallowed by an asteroid or built directly into one. It’s a story of ancient secrets and some truly horrifying possibilities for the man who found it.
• ​Dust: After my last submission to the Failing Writers Podcast was a bit too long for their "Hypewriter" feature, I’ve penned a new flash fiction piece specifically for them. Dust clocks in at exactly 999 words, or 1,000 if you count the titles. That's safely under the limit! Fingers crossed it makes the cut.

​Deep Space and Ancient Rome

​My long-term projects are also seeing some major movement:

• ​Sanctorum’s Veil: I’m continuing the heavy lifting of expanding the original 12 chapters. Now it’s becoming a much richer, more detailed world with every pass. And I'm really enjoying the process.
• ​The Void Between: I have officially put pen to paper (or fingers to screen ... because i mainly use my tablet) on the first chapter of my new HFY story. This is the first entry into what I’m calling The Voidborne Saga, and it feels great to finally start exploring the tension between the human race and the Renth.
• ​Forever Jupiter: I’ve been deep in the replanning phase for this one. Transitioning it from a novella into a full-length novel requires a lot of architectural work, but James Hamlin’s journey from a Roman Senator to a 21st-century survivor is a story that feels like it has so much more to give.

The Writer’s Diary: Audio Excitement, The Void, and Roman Revenge

Writing, writing and more writing

​The momentum from the Open Novella Contest hasn't slowed down; if anything, it has branched out into half a dozen new directions. It is a busy time in the pond, but a very rewarding one.

​Memory Letters Properly Moves to Audio

​Now that Memory Letters has been through its rigorous editing phases, I have officially sent the full manuscript over to the Voice Artist who will be bringing Jane Newton’s story to life. Seeing the final word count settle and handing it off for the audio version feels like a massive milestone. I can’t wait to hear how the claustrophobic tension of the setting translates into a performance.

​Refreshing the Veil

​With the bulk of the ONC heavy lifting behind me and the long wait for results stretches ahead, I’ve returned to Sanctorum’s Veil. 

Before the ONC I'd already written over 15,000 words, in 12 chapters. Therefore, to get my head back in the game I've decided to give the existing chapters a total refresh. It’s amazing how much your perspective changes after a sprint like the ONC; I’m finding new ways to sharpen the world-building and the stakes before I push forward into new territory.

​A "Hypewriter" Hopeful

​I’ve also sent my short story, Only Three Pills Left, over to the team at the Failing Writers Podcast (https://www.failingwriterspodcast.com/). They suggested sending along the story so they could either review or use it in one of their regular features. I’m hoping they might consider it for their "Hypewriter" feature. However, it does exceed their usual word limit guidelines, so it’s a bit of a long shot. They've given me positive feedback when I've sent them contest entries so I thought it was well worth a try!

​Introducing: The Voidborne Saga

​The HFY project I’ve been teasing now has a name: The Voidborne Saga. This is planned as a three-book series exploring a unique human edge. They have the ability to perceive and navigate "the void" through telekinetic and psychic means.

​The story kicks off when the human ship, the Sol Explorer, crosses paths with a scout patrol from the Renth Hegemony. I’m still toying with the perfect title for Book One, but the "Humanity First" themes are already feeling very strong and chapter one has already been drafted. 

​From the Archives: Forever Jupiter

​Finally, I’ve decided to reach back in time to 2022 and revive a novella called Forever Jupiter. The original is around 22,000 words long and I want to now expand this into a full-length novel (and I'm already thinking of a sequel).

​It follows James Hamlin, a man who was once a Roman Senator during the signing of the Pax Romana in 27BCE. Fast forward to the modern day, and Hamlin is forced into action when another former senator from his past begins targeting his loved ones. It’s a blend of historical legacy and modern-day thriller that I’m really excited to rework.

The Writer’s Diary: Draft One, Audio Deals, and Groundhog Days

Moving Forward: Round Three and Spanish Sunshine

​It has been a whirlwind fortnight, but I’m coming out the other side with some fantastic news. If you’re reading this on or after Monday, 13th April, then the wait is finally over... I am thrilled to announce that Memory Letters has officially made the cut for Round 3 of the Open Novella Contest!

​Qualifying for Round 2 was a massive boost, and it clearly lit a fire under me. I’ve been typing away at a frantic pace to stay ahead of the game; though I have to admit, a few days away in Spain certainly helped clear the head and keep the inspiration flowing. There’s something about a change of scenery that makes the words come a little easier.

​Knowing that I’ve secured my place in the next round is a brilliant feeling. However, regardless of the official lists and milestones, the work hasn't stopped. My fingers are still flying over the keyboards as I move from drafting into the all-important polish. We’re into the final stretch now, and I’m ready to see Jane’s story through to the end.

​Memory Letters: The First Draft is In

​I am also incredibly pleased to say that I’ve officially completed the first full draft of Memory Letters!

​What started as a claustrophobic idea in my head has blossomed, thanks to a prompt on the ONC, into a 17-chapter techno-thriller. It is currently sitting at just over 32,200 words, and I’m now deep in the editing phase. The final count will likely fluctuate as I tighten the screws on Jane’s story.

​If you’ve been following along on Wattpad, Chapters 1 to 12 are already live and ready for your eyes. I’ll be releasing the final chapters soon as the "polish" is finished.

And then on to the next phase for this story...

​A Voice for the Story

​In some rather unexpected and exciting news, I’ve already secured an audiobook partner for Memory Letters.

​We’ve verbally agreed on a 50/50 royalty split, with the ultimate goal of publishing the story on Audible. This is a huge step for me, though we’re holding off on production until the ONC has officially wrapped. There’s something special about hearing your characters come to life, and I can’t wait to share more as this develops.

​Something Free: "Only Three Pills Left"

​While the novels take up a lot of my headspace, I’ve also been tidying up my shorter works. I’ve decided to update my author website with a free, downloadable version of my short story, Only Three Pills Left.

​It’s a high-concept sci-fi story that plays with the "Groundhog Day" trope—but in true diary fashion, it has a much darker twist than Bill Murray ever faced. You can grab it in both ePub and PDF formats right now.

The Writer’s Diary: Round Two, Data-Driven Drafting, and Queue-Side Chapters

It's getting technical

​We’ve officially hit the business end of March. It’s been a fortnight of technical tweaks and steady progress, and I’m feeling a real sense of achievement as the "data" starts to back up the creative effort in the pond.

​Round Two is In the Bag

​The biggest milestone this week is that Memory Letters has officially been submitted for Round 2 of the Open Novella Contest.

​The requirement was to reach 8,000 words by the end of the month, but I’ve managed to sail well past that. I’m currently sitting at over 22,000 words. Jane’s story is reaching a fever pitch, and having the bulk of the required writing done so early has allowed me to really focus on the tension of the prose.

​The Mobile Studio & Writing on the Move

​One of the reasons I’ve been able to maintain this pace is my "platform-agnostic" approach to the craft. I’m a firm believer that the best time to write is whenever you have a spare minute.

​Whether I’m on my Windows laptop at my desk, lounging in the living room with my Samsung tablet, or out and about with phone, the story is always with me. In fact, I’ve been known to draft entire chapters while standing in queues for theme park rides! If I’ve got my phone in my hand, the work doesn't have to stop. It’s a great way to turn "dead time" into productive milestones.

​A Writer’s Dashboard

​To keep track of all this multi-device progress, I’ve recently shifted my workflow entirely into Google Docs. Being a bit of a tech enthusiast, I’ve written a custom automated script for my Memory Letters document.

​It isn’t just a simple word counter; it provides a comprehensive breakdown of the story as I write. The script handles:

• ​Chapter-by-Chapter Tracking: Monitoring the flow and length of every scene.
• Goal Progress: Real-time updates on how close I am to my defined targets.
• Reading Time Insights: Helping me understand the "pace" from a reader’s perspective.
• ​Contest Milestones: It actually flags exactly where the specific narrative milestones fall within the text.
• ​The "Countdown" Logic: It tells me exactly how many days I have left and calculates the precise words-per-day I need to write to hit my goal.

​Seeing the data behind the narrative, tracking pacing and word-count trends, adds a really satisfying layer to the process. It feels like having a digital assistant in the pond with me, ensuring I never fall behind.

​"Sanctorum’s Veil" Getting the Tech Treatment

​I was so impressed with how the script helped my ONC progress that I’ve now moved Sanctorum’s Veil also over to Google Docs. I’ve set it up with a similar automated script for analytics. 

This script has subtle differences in that I'm tailored it for novel writing instead of a novella contest. I've also added a dynamic goal tracking function. I can set a target word count on what in calling the Details tab and the script is clever enough to pick this out. 

Even though the Veil is on a strategic pause, having it prepped with its own dashboard means I can pick up exactly where I left off with full visibility.

The Writer’s Diary: Round Two Bound and Galactic Surprises

​

Building a Mystery

It’s been an intense fortnight in the pond. When you’re in the ‘zone’ with a particular story, it can feel everthing els fade into the background. That has certainly been the case lately as I’ve been living almost exclusively within the world of Memory Letters.

​Round Two: Qualified!

​I am absolutely thrilled to share that Memory Letters has officially qualified for Round 2 of Wattpad's Open Novella Contest!

I've had a number of posts on Wattpad from readers too, with amazing feedback. 

​The requirements for this next stage are to reach the 8,000-word mark and submit before the end of March. Because of the ‘sprint’ I’ve been on, I’m currently sitting at over 18,000 words with nine chapters fully drafted. It feels brilliant to be heading into this deadline with so much momentum. Jane’s discovery of the ‘stranger’ she buried is taking some dark, claustrophobic turns, and I’m finding the techno-thriller elements are really clicking into place.

I've updated the cover with the 2K sticker Wattpad have created and sent to all qualifiers.  (Attached here is the new cover) 

​First Look: The Renth Trilogy (HFY)

​In my last post, I hinted at a new project inspired by the "Humanity First" (HFY) stories I’ve been reading and consuming via audio stories. Now that I’ve spent some time in the planning phase, I have a few more details to share about this upcoming trilogy.

​The story centres on the first contact between humanity and The Renth.

​The Renth Empire is an ancient, sprawling civilisation that views itself as the pinnacle of galactic evolution. The Renth are tall and many limbed with four arms and four legs. When they stumble upon our solar system, they expect to find a primitive race ripe for "uplifting" (or, more accurately, subjugation). However, they’ve made a catastrophic error in judgement. They’ve mistaken our lack of interstellar presence for a lack of capability.

​The trilogy will explore what happens when an empire built on superiority meets a species that doesn't just refuse to bow—but possesses technology and a "never-say-die" spirit that defies every Renth law of physics and sociology.

​Seeking a Home for Horror

​While the novels are moving forward, I haven’t forgotten my shorter works. I’m currently looking for the right options for my sci-fi horror short story, Only Three Pills Left.

​It’s a dark, punchy piece that I’m really proud of, and I’m now on the hunt for the right anthology or literary magazine that caters to that specific blend of speculative fiction and dread. 

If anyone has recommendations for markets that are currently open for submissions, do let me know!