🗓️ 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.

Diary Entry: My Brain is a Creative HMO, and Nobody Pays Rent (Especially the Day Job)

I'm utterly convinced that my brain, right now, looks like a crowded whiteboard in a crisis room. I have so many projects vying for my attention that I’m genuinely afraid to go to sleep, convinced my characters will start fighting in the hallway.

The fun part? All this happens after I've completed my actual day job. For 35 hours a week, I safely trade dragons and branching narratives for debugging and deployment, working as an Automation Specialist in FinTech. I spend my days building perfectly logical, testable systems, only to come home and try to make sense of the illogical, non-testable chaos of my own imagination.

The volume of creative work is at the same time exhausting, thrilling and probably a strong indicator that I need to investigate better time management—or possibly therapy.

Maybe both. 

The "Crick" Heard 'Round the World

A Lesson in Universal Language

​

As a writer from Greater Manchester, I'm always looking to inject local flavour into my prose. Sometimes, though, I hesitate, worried that a phrase I grew up with might be too much of a regional colloquialism—a true "Mancunian-ism" that would stop a reader from, say, Texas or Australia in their tracks.

​That was my exact fear when I posted a single sentence on Threads and asked for feedback:

​"The crick in his neck complained at him as he tried to sit up and reach for the phone."

​I have always thought that the word "crick" - a word I've used since childhood to describe a sharp, nagging muscle spasm that only occurs in my neck was firmly rooted in North West England. I braced myself for comments suggesting a more standard term like "stiff neck" or "spasm." And I got a small number of these. 

However, the responses I got, and am still getting as I write this, are/were astonishing.

​The feedback is overwhelmingly clear: "crick in the neck" is understood globally. Replies have poured in from around the world. I'm honestly struggling to keep up, and I'm determined to read every one of them. Replies from the US, Canada, Australia, and across the UK all confirm that this was a perfectly clear and universally evocative term.

Diary of a Writer: The Sanctorum's Veil and the Power of a Strategic Retreat

Frustration, No Words and Fewer Ideas

It’s been a frustrating few weeks. If you’ve been following my journey with Sanctorum’s Veil, my urban fantasy novel set in Manchester, UK, you’ll know I’ve been wrestling with the dreaded middle section. This is the part of the book where the shiny promise of the opening fades, and the gritty, complicated business of actually telling the story begins.

The Chapter 7 Conundrum

Specifically, I’ve hit a wall around Chapter 7. Every time I open the file, I just stare at the screen. I know what’s supposed to happen—there should be a big reveal about the history of the hidden magical faction—but the scene feels laboured and dull.

After wrestling with it for days, I finally had a moment of brutal honesty: Chapter 7 doesn't work because Chapter 6 doesn't earn it.

Chapter 6 is where the protagonist, Sam, has a tense, quiet conversation with his old school friend. It’s meant to be a moment of reacquaintance, a catch-up and a way to help the protagonist see the wider issues. However, I think I’ve been using it as a clumsy information dump, trying to wedge in details that should have been spread out much earlier. When I try to write Chapter 7's big event, it feels unearned because the emotional groundwork from the preceding chapter is shaky.

This is the sneaky way novels fight back: when the foundation is weak, the entire structure above it starts to lean.

Declaring a Strategic Retreat

I realised the only sensible thing to do was declare a strategic retreat.

I closed the file. I didn't save any changes. I didn't promise myself I'd look at it the next day, or the day after that. I just walked away. It has been three weeks now.

Sometimes, our brains, when pushed too hard on a specific problem, just keep spinning the same answer. The only way to get a fresh perspective is to give your subconscious time to process it, far away from the laptop.

My break isn't about avoiding the work; it’s about respecting the process. It's about letting the noise of "I hate this chapter" settle so I can hear the quieter voice of "Try this instead."

I’m currently focusing on reading more urban fantasy to refill the well and remind myself what great atmosphere and plotting feel like. I'm also planning to outline Chapter 6 and 7 again from scratch to strip them back to their core purpose.

If you’re stuck on your current WIP, remember this: A break is not a failure; it’s a necessary tool. The story isn't going anywhere. It will be there, waiting, a little wiser and more patient, when you return.

What’s your go-to method when a chapter refuses to behave? Let me know in the comments!

Crafting a Universe in 300 Words: My Flash Fiction Journey

My Latest Story

I've been doing a few different things lately. One is a screenplay for a video game, and the other is an entry for a flash fiction contest.  Every year, the Failing Writers Podcast (https://www.failingwriterspodcast.com) run a flash fiction contest. I thought it would be fun to look at my latest attempt, and the process involved, without revealing my story. Not yet. 

There’s something uniquely challenging, maddening and incredibly rewarding about telling a complete, impactful story within the confines of just a few hundred words. This year's contest has the following constraints: 

• A strict word limit
• A theme
• A key phrase that has to be included in the text of the story

All the contest rules are available in the Failing Writers Podcast episode released on the 29th September, 2025.

Over the years, the process of flash has taught me a tremendous amount about brevity, precision, and making every single word count. This is my journey of crafting Smile for the Governor from a spark of an idea to its current form.

From Pain to Prose: How One Finger Swiped a Story to Life

Pushing Through the Pain

I have loved writing for as long as I can remember, but my relationship with it has always been complicated. A serious, life-threatening accident in my childhood set a difficult path for me. In my teens, I started developing issues that have only degenerated over time. By the time I was in university, I realized that holding a pen for even a short period, possibly an hour but more often much less, was excruciating.

In my university classes, where everyone else was scribbling furiously, I learned to develop a different kind of tool: a powerful memory. 

My memory has never been the best. After my accident, I forgot many simple things. I once had a loud and long argument with my older sister about the spelling of words. I'd once been one of the top learners (so I was told) and aced all my early spelling tests. Well, after the accident I was adamant that "what" was clearly spelled "wot" ... I mean, that made sense to my eight-year-old self at the time... 🤣

At university, I learned to lean on my memory as a way to keep up. I’d jot down only one or two words to trigger my recall later, and the second I got home to my trusty Atari ST (ageing myself a little 😆), I would frantically try to type out everything before the memory faded. This taught me to value every word, every fleeting thought.

Sanctorum's Veil: Urban Fantasy, Manchester's Secrets, and a Spanish Holiday

Back Home

It was mid-August, but it feels like just yesterday I was basking in the Spanish sun, and yet, here I am, back home, still buzzing with the creative energy from my trip. I recently spent 12 whirlwind days with family and friends at PortAventura, a theme park resort in Salou and even managed a quick trip to the vibrant city of Barcelona. It was a packed schedule, full of thrilling rides, delicious food, and the kind of moments you know you'll look back on for years.

But amidst all the excitement and the "go, go, go," I found something I hadn't expected: time and creative fuel for my work-in-progress, Sanctorum's Veil.

I’ve been chipping away at this novel for a while now, and if you’ve been following my updates (I'm closing in on ten thousand words currently) you know it’s been a little journey for me.

My current work-in-progress, Sanctorum's Veil, is a modern urban fantasy that plunges into the heart of Manchester, exploring its hidden history, its mythical creatures, and the secrets of one man's family. But something clicked during my time in Spain. Maybe it was the change of scenery, the escape from the usual routine, or just the sheer sensory overload of a new place, but the words just started flowing. What I’m most excited about is that after a small break in my writing, I managed to write over 1,500 words on the manuscript during the trip.

The Power of Perspective

You might be wondering how a Spanish holiday could inspire my imagination for a novel set in Manchester, filled with mythical creatures and family secrets. The answer is simple: perspective. Sometimes you need to step away from a place to truly see it. Being in a completely different environment, surrounded by new sights and sounds, gave me a fresh lens through which to view the world of my novel. It was honestly like someone had cleaned my glasses for the first time in a very long time. 

Barcelona, in particular, was an absolute feast for the senses. From the winding, narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter to the breathtaking, otherworldly architecture of Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia (see the photo I took) is something else. Every corner held a story. 

On this trip I found myself jotting down notes on my phone, not just about the sights, but about the feeling of the place. The hum of the city, the scent of fresh pastries, the way the light hit the ancient stone buildings—all of it felt like a puzzle piece fitting into the larger world of my book. I started to see parallels between the two cities; the way a hidden alley in Barcelona could evoke the feeling of a secret Victorian-era passageway in Manchester, or how the intricate details on a Spanish cathedral could remind me of the gothic spires of Manchester Town Hall. This new perspective allowed me to add layers of detail and emotion to the setting building within my imagination that I thought I already knew so well. This for me made them more fantastical and more grounded at the same time.

Balancing Work and Play

Some people might think it's impossible to write while on holiday, but for me, it was the perfect opportunity. There's a certain kind of freedom that comes with being away from your everyday life. The pressure to "get things done" melts away, and you're left with pure, unadulterated creativity. I didn’t set a strict writing schedule. There was no way I could. We'd come away for a theme park holiday, which is always going to be busy. 

Instead, I let the inspiration guide me. I'd grab my tablet or my phone while we were relaxing by the pool before we headed out to the theme park, or I’d sneak in a few paragraphs while the rest of the group was queuing up for a ride that just wasn't for me.

It felt less like a chore and more like a secret joy.

This trip reminded me that inspiration can be found anywhere if you’re open to it. It’s not just about sitting down at your desk and forcing yourself to write. It’s about living, experiencing, and observing the world around you. Sanctorum's Veil will be richer for it, I'm sure of that. I can infuse it with the warmth and magic I found in Spain, and I'm looking forward to adding that energy into my words.

I can't wait to share more about this new book with you all as I continue to make progress. What about you? Have you ever found unexpected inspiration on a trip? Let me know in the comments below.

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy - A Story

Introduction to "One for Sorrow and Two for Joy"

Grief has a way of bringing memories to the surface, unbidden and vivid. Years ago, at the funeral for a friend, I found myself thinking not just about loss, but about the many moments of kindness and laughter shared. This story was written shortly after the funeral as a way for me to process the grief, and I recently stumbled upon it in my back catalogue. 

It's a tribute to a life that continues to inspire me, a story that holds onto those cherished memories and the hope that even in sorrow, there is always joy.

Reading this story again after all these years brought back many memories and smiles and I thought I would share it here.

Meet the Cast of Divided: A Novella of Family, Ghosts, and a Search for Truth

In my novella, Divided, which was longlisted for Wattpad's Open Novella Contest 2024, the search for a missing person takes on a life of its own, blending the real world with the supernatural. It’s a story about family bonds, tragic pasts, and the unexpected connections we make along the way.

Before you dive into the full story, let me introduce you to the key players whose lives are about to collide in a spectacular and dangerous fashion.

A Near-Death Experience, a Ghostly Best Friend, and a Sister in Danger

What if a trip to the operating room didn't just save your life, but changed it forever? In my novella, Divided, that's exactly what happens to Jimmy Jones.

Jimmy's world gets turned upside down when a near-death experience on the operating table leaves him with an unexpected ability: he can now see ghosts. And not just any ghost, but his new best friend, Henry Costa. Henry, in his life, was a professional ghost buster and debunker—a true expert in the field of the supernatural—and now he's an expert from the other side.

Their newfound friendship is put to the test almost immediately. When Jimmy gets home, he learns of a tragic attack at a convention center in Orlando where his sister, Suzi, was working. The culprit, a disgruntled former employee named Bernard, is now a vengeful ghost—and he's possessing Suzi.

With Bernard's physical body still clinging to life in a local hospital, Jimmy and his ghostly sidekick, Henry, have a race against time. Jimmy's personal quest is simple: get on the next plane from the UK to Orlando to find his sister and save her from the angry spirit that has taken her over.

Divided is a supernatural thriller that dives into the bond between a brother and sister, the strange nature of life and death, and the lengths we'll go to for the people we love. It's a story of one man’s courage in the face of the unknown, armed with a new friend who just happens to be an expert on ghosts and ago things spectral.

Ready to join Jimmy on his journey?

I've published this novella on all the ebook retailers that I can find.

You can find Divided on:

Kindle

Books 2 Read 

Google Play Books  

And many more retailers ...

A New Name, A Fresh Start: Welcome to "From The Deaf Duck's Desk"

If you've followed this little corner of the internet before, you'll know it as "A Writing Duck." But as every writer knows, sometimes a story needs a new title to find its true voice. So, I'm thrilled to announce that the blog is back, and it's getting a fresh name to go with it: From The Deaf Duck's Desk.

This name feels like a natural evolution. It connects directly with my home on the web at deaf-duck.uk and gives this space a more personal feel. Think of it as a virtual desk where I'll share all the thoughts, scribbles, and ideas that go into my writing.

So what can you expect from this new chapter?

This will be my central hub for all things creative. I'll be pulling back the curtain on my writing like my supernatural thriller, Divided, with behind-the-scenes looks at character development, world-building, and the process of writing a novella. I'll also be sharing writing tips, book recommendations, and candid thoughts on the highs and lows of being a writer.

Thank you for joining me here. I'm excited to share this journey with you, and I look forward to building this new space together. Stay tuned—the first post from the new desk is coming soon!