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.