I’m in the middle of writing my 5th novel. For those of you in the know, it’s the third Muldoon thriller [as yet unnamed] underway. I’m hoping to get it finished in the autumn and ready for release in the winter of 2027. I haven’t got any fresh fiction or micro fiction or even snippets of stuff this week. I’ve got nothing. And that’s all part of the process for me.
Each time I sit down to write a novel (especially when it’s another instalment of a series) starting is the hard part. Then, when I overcome that, I get stuck in the ‘lift off’ section. This is usually the part where the introductory chapters are written and you have to change gears. Things are then smooth running until I need to wrap things up and finish… somewhere, somehow.
This week I’ve had an unusual amount of quiet time. My husband has been sick and once the kids are in bed, it’s just me and quite literally all the household jobs left to do, but I’ve mostly been pretending I can’t see the overflowing laundry hampers or toys on the floor. I just didn’t want to do any of that. It’ll still be there when I do find the compulsion.
I also didn’t write any more of my novel. I’m still not ready, it seems. I stalled at about 20k words last week. It’s still the school summer holidays here in England, so I’m not fretting.
I don’t force the next step, and here’s why:
The story is already written, it’s just deep in the recesses of my mind at the moment. Forcing it out would just make me frustrated, miserable and even more likely to avoid the next step.
Wash the dishes.
There are always dishes to wash in this house. With three kids and two adults working from home, there’s always a mountain to conquer. I wish we had a dishwasher, but would that steal this opportunity from me? While I’m doing something as mundane as washing a pan, a knot in the story loosens in the background.
Read books.
This helps whether the book is good or not. They help you forget your problems for a while. A few chapters in to Alma Katsu’s The Hunger I felt a sense of relief. That was exactly the kind of tension and atmosphere I was looking for. Thanks, Alma! Sometimes you need to read the feeling to then write the feeling. Not all of your reads have to be research for your book and sometimes it’s good to just enjoy something for the sake of enjoying it. You can learn something from any book.
Watch films.
These can be long time favourites (The Lost Boys, Warm Bodies or The Fog for me) or new films you’ve never seen before. I treated myself to the classic Salem’s Lot this week. Some of it was far too slow and it didn’t really hook me until 2/3 in, but I still enjoyed watching something. I then started watching the 2024 version, which I loved until my husband had to go to bed—ill—how dare he. I still don’t know how that one ends. Hopefully he’s better this weekend and we can catch up.
Get stuck into a series.
Again, old or new, doesn’t matter. I’ve re-watched Penny Dreadful three times, and I’ve seen at least 3 of the Mike Flanagan horror series twice (The Haunting Of Hill House, The Haunting Of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass). Some are for comfort watching, and some are completely new. I recently got around to The Vampire Lestat, too. It’s all nourishing.
Do some art, and don’t worry if it’s bad.
I don’t play any instruments or anything, but when I was a kid I was actually good at drawing and painting. I revisit these two things every few years. It’s usually bad for a while, but I’m having a good time. Computer games have a similar effect, and they’re also secretly giving you writing lessons as you follow the story in the game.
So tell me, dear reader: What have you been enjoying this summer?
Finished summer reads so far:
Carnage! by Ian Barr.
The Beetle by Richard Marsh.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan le Fanu.
Harmony House by Ben Wakeman.
My ‘currently reading’ is out of control, so I’m not going to share that one. I’m going through something!
Reviews: If you’ve recently read any of my current titles, please remember to leave a review. A line is fine.
Salome: This is a Religious Horror novel coming to tinyworldspublishing.com in October. I am so excited about this. This book will belong in the wider Muldoon world, but it is Salome’s story, not Muldoon’s.
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