Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 13/12/2017 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

Last week I reached a total of 18,835 words; this week’s total is 25082. I’ve added 3 new chapters and completed all the character sketches. I have two of the original chapters to modify to take account of changes I made last week. Otherwise, the story is going well and I’m enjoying its creation. The …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 06/12/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

https://read.amazon.co.uk/kp/card?asin=B0749NW6W8&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_qMbkAbQM8TNAS&tag=stuartaken-21 Last week I reported I had 11,985 words. As a result of the notes I made, I’ve now added another 3 characters to the cast of players (I need to add another 5 for future chapters, but I already know their names and have an idea of their natures and ambitions, so I only …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 29/11/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

Dare I say it? Have I scaled the final barrier to creating the first draft? Last week I reported I had 11,985 words. I also noted that certain details were missing from my memory and I needed to read the first two books again to aid my failing powers of recall. I’ve now done that …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 22/11/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

I fear I missed this update last week. Put it down to a mixture of advancing years and a rather busy schedule: I have. So, currently I’m at 11,985 words, which, given I had a target of 10,000 for today is a pleasing result. It’s always a bit slow for a pantster at the start …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 08/11/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Mars, Progress

It hasn’t been the most productive week. But I’ve made some progress. Still having issues with my Mac following the corruption of the OS and installation of Lightroom 6 by Adobe. I have a lot of photographs; the current count is 17,661. Some of these, for Picfair, are close to 30MB each. Lightroom has a …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 01/11/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

So it begins! The first 1100 words are written, at last. The Fates thought they’d stymied me with various barriers placed in the way of creation, but they underestimated my sheer bloody-mindedness. So, medical issues and appointments, computer failures, and unsatisfactory phone lines apart, I’ve actually made a start on the new book. Whilst straining …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making

On 25/10/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Mars, Progress3 Comments

Sometimes, life throws up incidents and events that cause a touch of disruption to intentions. The last couple of weeks have been full of such things; some tiny irritations, others a little more challenging. I returned from my holiday overseas, which coincided with my annual absence from all things digital, with a painful and slightly …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making

On 11/10/201718/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

This is a robot reporting (metallic synthetic voice mode). The post was scheduled before I started my annual break from all things digital: the only way to protect sanity in a world driven round the bend by constant calls on our attention. So, no movement in the files for the work in progress, only within …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 04/10/201718/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Mars, Progress

I’m currently no more than a robot on here. This scheduled post was created before I started my annual break from all digital connection: the only way to stay sane in a world driven by constant calls on our attention. So, no change to the files for the work in progress, only within my imagination, …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 27/09/201718/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

Today is my 29th wedding anniversary and I’m spending it with my lovely wife. This is a scheduled post, created before I started my annual break from all digital connection: it’s the only way to stay sane in a world being driven mad by constant calls on our attention. So, no change to the work …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 21/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

A small number of new characters have been created to go with the new locations and period. Most of the others appear in the first two volumes, as the new book continues the story, moving only a few years forward initially. Location requires more research, and some informed speculation, but that’s going well at present. …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 13/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Mars, Progress

As work on this is mostly confined to the void that occupies most of my skull, I don’t have a lot to report today. Preparation, they say, is all. My method of moving toward the writing of a piece is to gather together my characters, something I’ve mostly achieved, though some are proving elusive for …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 06/09/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fundraising, Progress5 Comments

War Over Dust launched at Fantasticon 2017 in Hull, England, over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd September. Fortunately, I was there to sign the paperback copies and answer readers’ questions about the book and progress on the follow-up. More on that in a later post. Fantasticon, an annual event that’s …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 30/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress

This weekend sees the annual science fiction and fantasy shindig in Hull. Fantasticon 2017 is on course to be the best yet. I’ll be there signing copies of War Over Dust and meeting readers as well as fans of all types of gaming in a splendid venue. I’m also partaking in a talk with another …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 23/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress

So, some small progress made: I’ve added a few notes from further research and ideas that occurred during the week, usually when in bed! At this early stage, while I wait for the story to mature, I restrict my activity to research and those daydreaming sessions that allow the imagination free reign. I won’t start …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.