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

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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!

The Writer’s Diary: Round One, Future Trilogies, and Corrupted Blooms

Image by John Kristensen from Pixabay

Busy, busy, busy

It’s been another productive f.ortnight in the pond. There’s a particular kind of satisfaction that comes from being "ahead of the curve" on a project; it opens up breathing room you didn't know you needed, and allows other ideas to start getting the attention they deserve.

​ONC Round One: Submitted!

​The biggest news this week is that Memory Letters has officially been submitted for Round 1 of the Open Novella Contest.

​I’ve kept up a steady pace with this story and I’m currently sitting at over 13,500 words. This is fantastic because I've just started Chapter 7 and I'm already over the milestone for the March deadline. Having that word count "in the bank" made the submission process much less stressful than in previous years. Jane’s journey into the truth behind her husband’s life is getting more intense by the page, and I’m really enjoying the process of writing this UK-based techno-thriller. I'm learning a lot too because I'm having to research cybernetic security and spies. It's all fun! 

​February Reflections

​Now that we’ve moved into March, I’ve also been looking back at the launch of The Concorda Files. It has been a whole month now since release and I am so incredibly proud of this book's success so far. I’ve sold a few copies throughout February, and I’m genuinely, genuinely grateful to everyone who has picked up a copy or shared it. Seeing a project move from a contest shortlist to a published reality is a feeling that never quite gets old.

If you've read The Concorda Files, I'd really love to hear your thoughts and would be really grateful for a review either on Amazon or on Goodreads. 

​The Next Frontier: A New Trilogy?

​With Memory Letters moving so quickly, I’ve found some spare time to start outlining a totally new project. I've been binge reading & listening to a ton of Humanity First (HFY) stories.... yeah, the F here is not usually for the word "first", but I like to use swearing sparingly. 

So many of these stories are perfect for the daily commute! And I've been inspired to have a go myself. The idea was a short story at first, but the scope is growing! What started as a single idea is now looking like it might need to be split over three books. There’s something so compelling about writing humans as the outliers in a wider galaxy, and I’m having a lot of fun mapping out this broader universe.

​Breathing Room

​Also, the extra time I've generated has also allowed me to "check in" on my other projects. I’ve been able to dive back into Sanctorum’s Veil a little to edit some of the existing chapters. It’s a nice change of pace to switch from the high-speed drafting of the ONC to the more deliberate, careful work of polishing a WIP.

​Back to the Tabletop

​Finally, I’ve been flexing my world-building muscles in a very different way by creating a new D&D campaign called The Corrupted Bloom. I'm actually running a campaign with four of my friends based on the ideas, and their interactions have helped me shape what I'm writing. Hopefully, I'll be able to release this for others to play too.

There’s a lot of crossover between campaign design and novel writing—both require that sense of "what’s around the next corner?"—and it’s been a great way to unwind after running after my ideas for everything else I'm doing.

The Writer’s Diary: Momentum, Milestones, and Memory Letters

Writing, writing, just keep writing

If the last update was about the "calm before the storm," this one is very much about the storm itself. It’s been a fortnight of shifting gears—from the excitement of a new release to the deep-dive intensity of a fresh manuscript in the pond.

The Concorda Files Takes Flight

Since my last post, The Concorda Files has officially landed on Kindle and KU. I’m thrilled to say I’ve already seen my first few sales! There is a unique kind of joy in seeing those first numbers tick up on the dashboard after all the work that went into the release.

Even more exciting was the reaction on social media. A member of my favourite writing podcast, The Failing Writers, picked up a copy and shared some very kind words on Threads to confirm his satisfaction. Knowing that a fellow writer, and one from a show I enjoy so much, genuinely liked the story has been a massive boost.

ONC 2026: Enter "Memory Letters"

The Open Novella Contest started with a bang, and I haven’t slowed down since. My entry for this year is a claustrophobic techno-thriller set right here in the UK titled Memory Letters.

Here is the hook:

Two years after burying her husband, Jane Newton finds a hidden file that proves she didn't bury the truth—she buried a stranger. 

I’ve already completed the first six chapters and am currently sitting at over 11,900 words. The goal for the contest is a minimum of 20,000 words, but based on my current average of about 2k per chapter, I’m on track to hit around 30,000 words. I’m feeling really good about the pacing; the story has a natural flow and that tight, tense atmosphere I was aiming for.

• Where to read: Chapters 1 and 2 of Memory Letters are officially live on Wattpad.
• Round 1 Status: I’ll be submitting my entry for the first round very soon. Chapter 1 alone meets the 2,000-word requirement for this stage, so I’m heading into the deadline with plenty of breathing room.

Into the Deep End

With The Concorda Files out in the world and Jane Newton's story well underway, my "Writer’s Brain" is currently a very busy place. It’s a bit of a juggling act, but the momentum is carrying me through.

Are you following along with any ONC entries this year? If you’ve had a chance to check out the start of Memory Letters, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Launch Days, Fresh Covers, and Contest Fever

 

The Writer’s Diary

​If you’re reading this on the day of posting—Monday, 2nd February—then, all being well with KDP release schedules, it is officially a "celebratory brew" day in the pond. We’ve reached a major milestone for a past project just as the starting gun fires for the next one.

​Here is what’s happening in my writing world this week.

​The Concorda Files is Live on Kindle!

​I am incredibly chuffed to announce that The Concorda Files is officially available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

​This story started its life as my 2025 Open Novella Contest entry on Wattpad, where it fought its way onto the shortlist! Moving it from a web-serial to a formal ebook release has been a major goal of mine since reaching the shortlist.  Seeing it finally ‘out there’ in the wild is a fantastic feeling.

​To celebrate the launch, I’ve given the book a total visual overhaul. I’ve updated the cover and moved away from the original light-coloured aesthetic in favour of a gritty, high-contrast look that fits current sci-fi thriller trends. It feels much more aligned with the tone of the story now.

​If you want a taste, I’ve updated the Wattpad version to include the new cover I've created and a one-chapter preview to give new readers a glimpse into the world.

​The ONC 2026: Choosing the Next Path

​The 2026 Open Novella Contest officially kicked off yesterday, and I have spent the last 24 hours mulling over the prompts. This will be my sixth year. 

​I’m entering this time around with a bit of a 'choose your own adventure' mindset. I have six potential stories currently vying for my attention. It’s a bit of a creative standoff between concepts like "Population 842" (a rogue space station AI story) and an urban fantasy set in modern-day Manchester that currently has the working title of "The Tenth Circle."

​The final decision depends entirely on which prompt speaks the loudest. I have a rough map for a Sci-Fi Crime Thriller and a solar-system-spanning 'HFY' epic, but I’m leaving room for the prompts to surprise me. Sometimes the best stories come from the ideas you didn't see coming.

​Pausing the Veil

​To give the ONC my full focus, I’ve made the difficult decision to pause work on "Sanctorum’s Veil." I’ve left the story sitting at Chapter 12—just over 15,000 words in. It’s currently at a bit of a cliffhanger, and leaving my characters in the lurch is tough, but I’ll be returning to it with fresh eyes once the ONC madness has settled.

​Over to You

​Are you participating in the ONC this year? Whether you’re writing or reading, I’d love to know which prompts are jumping out at you. Drop a comment below and let’s talk shop!

The Writer’s Diary: Close Shaves and Digital Adventures

Updates ... updates ... updates

It’s been a busy fortnight in the home studio. Between narrow escapes in my current manuscript and preparing old projects for new horizons, the "writer’s itch" is in full effect.

15,000 Words into the Veil

I’ve officially crossed the 15k mark on my current work-in-progress, Sanctorum’s Veil. I’ve just finished Chapter 12, and things are getting tense. My main character and his companion have just had a heart-pounding encounter with a new threat, narrowly escaping by the skin of their teeth.

There’s a specific kind of magic that happens around the 15,000-word point—the world feels solid, the stakes are real, and the characters are starting to make decisions I didn’t necessarily plan for.

A Sneak Peek at The Concorda Files

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m working on getting The Concorda Files (my 2025 ONC shortlist novella) onto ebook platforms. To bridge the gap, I’ve updated the story on Wattpad to act as a three-chapter preview.

If you missed it during the contest last year, or if you want to see what all the fuss was about before the full ebook drops, you can go and read the opening chapters now. It’s the perfect primer for the world-building I’ll be expanding on soon.

New Project: The Corrupting Bloom

In a slight pivot from pure prose, I’ve started developing a solo D&D game using Twine. It’s titled The Corrupting Bloom and is designed as a series of eight separate, interconnected adventures.

I’m considering hosting it on itch.io once it’s ready. There’s something fascinating about combining narrative storytelling with the mechanics of a tabletop RPG. It’s a great way to flex different creative muscles while keeping the world-building sharp.

The Calm Before the ONC Storm

Finally, I am keeping a very close eye on the calendar. The 2026 Open Novella Contest announcement is imminent! The contest officially begins on 1st February, and I’m eagerly awaiting those prompts.

Will I stick to my Sci-Fi/Crime idea? Or will a specific prompt take me in a completely different direction? The anticipation is half the fun.

Swapping Resolutions for a Roadmap

Happy New Year

We’ve all been there. It’s the first week of January, and the pressure to "reinvent" ourselves is everywhere. But if I’m honest, I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. They always feel a bit like a deadline with no brief—all of the pressure, with none of the creative joy.

This year, I’m stripping away the "shoulds" and focusing on the "coulds." Instead of rigid resolutions, I’m looking at 2026 through the lens of Writer Goals.

🗓️ An Unexpected Reading Month (and a Releasing of Guilt)

The Pressure of No Writing

This past month has been a whirlwind. If I’m being honest with myself, the word count column is looking a bit sparse. Actually, it’s looking non-existent.

I’ve spent the last four weeks firmly rooted in the land of the old day job in FinTech, dealing with the relentless march towards the Christmas break, and juggling all the necessary family commitments that come with December. When I finally collapsed into my armchair in the evenings, the last thing my brain could do was focus on anything that required me to think too hard.

And the guilt, let me tell you, has been knocking pretty loudly.

The Problem with Zero Word Counts

As writers, we often tie our sense of productivity and self-worth to that daily or weekly word count target. When that number hits zero, it’s easy to feel like we’ve failed, like we’ve somehow let our ambition (and our characters) down.

But sitting here now, looking back, I know I need to shift my perspective. Yes, I didn't write. But did I stop being a writer? Did I stop absorbing the world and learning about the craft? Absolutely not.

The Power of Passive Practice

Instead of writing, I did an awful lot of reading. Specifically, I’ve been devouring a ton of short science fiction and managed to get through one fantastic novella thriller.

And reading, as many writers will say, is simply passive practice. It's the writer's equivalent of a runner resting but still going over race strategy, or a musician listening intently to a symphony. It’s necessary input, a foundational activity that feeds the creative engine.

In the last month alone, here's what those shorter formats have been teaching me:

• Pacing in the Small: The short sci-fi stories have been a masterclass in efficiency. They can teach how to establish an entire world and a high-concept idea in just a few paragraphs, forcing writers to think about where we can trim the fat in own own expositions.
• The Novella's Sweet Spot: That novella I read was a great example of focusing on one core theme and executing it brilliantly. Novellas done well can show how to deliver the depth of a novel without the sprawl, and they require incredible narrative discipline.
• Emotional Weight & World-building: I've been absorbing how these authors use sharp, concise prose to handle vast ideas—and in some cases how to spectacularly fail. The good bits can show how silence, implication, and perfectly chosen technical details can be far more powerful than pages of description.

I’ve been absorbing sentence structures, understanding narrative arcs, and seeing how other storytellers handle exposition versus action, all through the lens of one of my favourite genres. This isn't wasted time; it’s research. It’s vital, subconscious learning.

Releasing the Guilt

So, as writer's we need to tell ourselves that it is alright to formally set the guilt aside.

The day job pays the bills, and being present for family during a busy time is a priority that we all shouldn't have to apologise for.

And the reading? That was me filling the well.

Next month, the goal will be to slowly shift from passive practice back to active creation. I’m not going to beat myself up for the lull; I’m going to be grateful for the time I had to rest my writing muscles while simultaneously strengthening my critical eye.

The stories are still there, waiting. And now, I'm hopefully better informed.