FantastiCon 2016: A Convention with Added Bite!

On 07/08/201609/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Fundraising

The annual SF/Fantasy/Gaming/Cosplay/Music event FantastiCon 2016, will take place on 19th & 20th November at the Guildhall in Hull UK! Why am I telling you this? Because I’ll be there! Signing books, socialising, meeting readers and possibly doing a reading (TBA). I'd love to meet you there. This is the third year of this convention …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 31/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars

The end of another week, and the 2nd rewrite is complete at 92,417 words, which is an increase of 1,159: the total is supposed to diminish when you’re editing! No matter. I had a brief online chat with my publisher this week and sent him the synopsis. We’ve decided on a deadline for completion, …

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Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 24/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress4 Comments

The end of one more week, and I’ve ended up with 91,258 words for the 2nd rewrite. That’s an extra 1,814, mostly in the form of news reports to set the scene. I’m now making sure each narrator remains consistent through his or her contribution. A couple more ‘sources’ of information have been added to …

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July: eBook Bargain Month on Smashwords

On 18/07/201618/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction

A quick reminder that you can save money on eBooks during July. Smashwords, for those who aren’t aware, is a publishing platform for all formats of eBooks. I have several books with them. July is their promotional month, when those who wish to participate offer discounts on our books. This gives readers the chance to …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 17/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress8 Comments

The end of another week, and I’ve ended up with 89,444 words for this 2nd rewrite. So, that’s an extra 2,294. I started making sure each individual voice remains consistent through the narrative and, so far, I’ve checked and corrected 11,780 words in that process. Interesting little interruption during the work: Scrivener decided it was …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 10/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

The end of the week, and I’ve ended up with 87,150 words at the end of this 2nd rewrite. I’ve spent a fair amount of the time available in moulding passages originally created for the pov’s of 4 antagonists so that each is consistent. It’s difficult to get into the mind-set of evil people, so …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 03/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

This week I’ve reached 83,803 words in the second rewrite, so another 18,231 words processed this week, and 12,049 new words added to the original story. I was hoping to start on the next phase at the end of this week, but I felt the story needed some additional povs, so I’ve included some passages …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 26/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

This week I’ve moved up to 65,572 words in the second rewrite, so another 32,290 words forced through the processor. With luck, and application, I should start on the next phase at the end of the coming week. That’s the part where I make sure exactly the right words are in place and check that …

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Progress on the WIP: Sci-Fi in the Making.

On 19/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

This week’s progress report reveals I’m now 33282 words into the second rewrite, so only 13,483 words pushed through the mincer this week. It’s been a bit busy on other fronts, but I’m getting there. Some interesting twists and turns occurring in the story, making it tighter and more tense. Looking forward to finishing this …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 12/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress7 Comments

This week’s progress report reveals I’m now 19799 words into the second rewrite. It’s been a bit of a bitty week with various appointments here and there as well as necessary work in the garden, so the writing has not been the only draw on my time. I’m still enjoying the process, and hope to …

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Inevitable Ascension, by V.K. McAllister, Reviewed.

On 07/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

First, a gentle warning for authors tempted to invite me to review their books: I read this book as the result of a particularly effective ‘pitch’ letter sent via the contact page on this website. Let me remind others eager to do the same for their books that I’ve signed the True Review Pledge. That …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 05/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress3 Comments

This week’s progress report reveals I’m now 71847 words into the first rewrite, which takes me 8302 words further than last week, most of this is new work, as the story needed revision due to research. In fact, I’m now writing the final chapter of the current version. However, I was struck by an idea …

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Progress on the WIP. SciFi in the Making.

On 29/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress

This week’s progress report reveals that I’m now 63545 words into the first rewrite, which takes me 17762 words further than last week at this time. I’ve had to take out some of the original story as a result of additional information I’ve gathered from the last lot of research. It’s actually given the story …

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Progress on the WIP

On 21/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress10 Comments

Another week has passed and I've been prodding those keys with vigour. The WIP is now up to 45783, with 4865 of those words new to the story. Several developments are emerging following my research, and the story is twisting and turning with a life of its own. This is the first rewrite, so there …

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Progress on the WIP

On 14/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress6 Comments

12 days since I last gave you an update on the scifi novel I’m currently writing. I’ve been quite busy on a number of things, both domestic and in the writing arena since. Suffice it to say that progress hasn’t been as rapid as I’d hoped. But I’m not beating myself up over that: life …

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