L.R. Fletcher's Blog, page 2
December 28, 2024
WeeklyWritingWrapup.20241228
This week: an update on my writing; my opinion on whether opinions matter; The Spike-related links; and a New Morning.
progress_report
This week has been disrupted, not just by the Christmas holidays, but by my main home computer unexpectedly completing its final calculation. RIP. I spent a long time trying to fix it, then deciding how best to replace it. And while I wait for its successor to arrive, I'm making do with my laptop.
Thus my weekly word count of 2,481 is less than I'd hoped.
I'm now two chapters from the end of this draft, which cover the finale that links all three parts. It's tricky writing the same action scene from three character's perspectives, being sure to include sufficient differences, surprises, and mystery to make it interesting enough to read through three times.
The idea for the finale was what drove the whole book. I'm confident it's a good idea; now I need to stick the landing.
status.vol2
The Spike Volume 2 will contain three separate books from the perspective of seven characters.
Part 1 - draft 2 complete; further chapters to add.
Part 2 - draft 2 written up to chapter 74; two chapters to go.
Part 3 - draft 2 written up to chapter 18; forty-eight chapters to go.
The intention is to complete draft 2 for all three parts by the end of February 2025.
Then a readthrough will determine how much revision is required.
The ultimate aim is to have Volume 2 finished by the end of 2025 for publication early 2026.
opinion\do_opinions_matter?
It's only my fourth weekly blog and already I'm going meta - writing an opinion piece on whether opinions matter.
To start with, I think it's important to recognise there's been a conflation in recent years between opinions and facts. People (predominantly on the far-right side of the political spectrum) have been trying to persuade us that facts are less important than beliefs.
I'll address this with a fact: that is not true.
A fact is inarguable, it does not change because you believe it to be different. It is a fact that Liz Truss was Prime Minister of the UK, no matter how much you may believe (and wish) otherwise.
Opinions and beliefs can change. Facts don't.
So, do opinions matter? It depends...
My philosophy, worked out after many years of taking too much to heart, is to pick very carefully whose opinions are worth listening to.
For example, when reading reviews of anything creative, like art, films, music, and yes, books, it's important to take into account the reviewer's tastes. If they think your favourite album is a load of rubbish, then their one-star review of the newly-released follow-up means you are perhaps more likely to enjoy it.
It's therefore helpful to read opinions from the same reviewer of things you already have an opinion on. Do you like the same films/books/albums? If yes, congratulations, you've found someone whose reviews can be useful to you. Remember that reviewer, and refer to them in future, but bear in mind you can diverge over time.
It's important, I think, to include facts as well as opinions when writing reviews, so even people with differing tastes can get some value from it, e.g. "this book is written in the format of text messages, emails, and diary entries only, so if you don't like that sort of thing, steer clear". If you leave reviews and give this kind of detail, thank you for your sterling and underappreciated efforts.
I'll be adding reviews to Goodreads for some of the books I've read. You can follow me there to see them, and I might include some or all here too.
This philosophy works the same in more personal ways too. If someone you don't like is rude to you and clearly doesn't like you, why should you take their review of you seriously?
If people you do like don't seem to like you, then perhaps you need to look at yourself. But that's a whole other piece on its own.
Anyway, that's my opinion. Whether or not it has any value is up to you.
connecting_links
The Spike is set in our world, incorporating real events; the links below are relevant to the themes and overarching storyline, and may or may not provide clues to the direction of the series.
I do not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the views within.
UK arts and media reject plan to let AI firms use copyrighted material
Middle East Cyberwar Rages On, With No End in Sight
These curbside chargers are about to make owning urban EVs a whole lot easier
How to know if a USB cable is hiding malicious hacker hardware
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that's inspired my creativity.
This week, I'm highlighting Nick Cave again. This song always strikes a chord with me at the turn of a year, The chorus seems apt:
Thank you for giving
This bright new morning
So steeped seemed the evening
In darkness and blood
Let there be no sadness
No sorrow
Let there be no road too narrow
There'll be a new day
Yes, it's today
And it's for us
What's inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
New Morning - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I hope you thrive in '25. See you next week.
progress_report
This week has been disrupted, not just by the Christmas holidays, but by my main home computer unexpectedly completing its final calculation. RIP. I spent a long time trying to fix it, then deciding how best to replace it. And while I wait for its successor to arrive, I'm making do with my laptop.
Thus my weekly word count of 2,481 is less than I'd hoped.
I'm now two chapters from the end of this draft, which cover the finale that links all three parts. It's tricky writing the same action scene from three character's perspectives, being sure to include sufficient differences, surprises, and mystery to make it interesting enough to read through three times.
The idea for the finale was what drove the whole book. I'm confident it's a good idea; now I need to stick the landing.
status.vol2
The Spike Volume 2 will contain three separate books from the perspective of seven characters.
Part 1 - draft 2 complete; further chapters to add.
Part 2 - draft 2 written up to chapter 74; two chapters to go.
Part 3 - draft 2 written up to chapter 18; forty-eight chapters to go.
The intention is to complete draft 2 for all three parts by the end of February 2025.
Then a readthrough will determine how much revision is required.
The ultimate aim is to have Volume 2 finished by the end of 2025 for publication early 2026.
opinion\do_opinions_matter?
It's only my fourth weekly blog and already I'm going meta - writing an opinion piece on whether opinions matter.
To start with, I think it's important to recognise there's been a conflation in recent years between opinions and facts. People (predominantly on the far-right side of the political spectrum) have been trying to persuade us that facts are less important than beliefs.
I'll address this with a fact: that is not true.
A fact is inarguable, it does not change because you believe it to be different. It is a fact that Liz Truss was Prime Minister of the UK, no matter how much you may believe (and wish) otherwise.
Opinions and beliefs can change. Facts don't.
So, do opinions matter? It depends...
My philosophy, worked out after many years of taking too much to heart, is to pick very carefully whose opinions are worth listening to.
For example, when reading reviews of anything creative, like art, films, music, and yes, books, it's important to take into account the reviewer's tastes. If they think your favourite album is a load of rubbish, then their one-star review of the newly-released follow-up means you are perhaps more likely to enjoy it.
It's therefore helpful to read opinions from the same reviewer of things you already have an opinion on. Do you like the same films/books/albums? If yes, congratulations, you've found someone whose reviews can be useful to you. Remember that reviewer, and refer to them in future, but bear in mind you can diverge over time.
It's important, I think, to include facts as well as opinions when writing reviews, so even people with differing tastes can get some value from it, e.g. "this book is written in the format of text messages, emails, and diary entries only, so if you don't like that sort of thing, steer clear". If you leave reviews and give this kind of detail, thank you for your sterling and underappreciated efforts.
I'll be adding reviews to Goodreads for some of the books I've read. You can follow me there to see them, and I might include some or all here too.
This philosophy works the same in more personal ways too. If someone you don't like is rude to you and clearly doesn't like you, why should you take their review of you seriously?
If people you do like don't seem to like you, then perhaps you need to look at yourself. But that's a whole other piece on its own.
Anyway, that's my opinion. Whether or not it has any value is up to you.
connecting_links
The Spike is set in our world, incorporating real events; the links below are relevant to the themes and overarching storyline, and may or may not provide clues to the direction of the series.
I do not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the views within.
UK arts and media reject plan to let AI firms use copyrighted material
Middle East Cyberwar Rages On, With No End in Sight
These curbside chargers are about to make owning urban EVs a whole lot easier
How to know if a USB cable is hiding malicious hacker hardware
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that's inspired my creativity.
This week, I'm highlighting Nick Cave again. This song always strikes a chord with me at the turn of a year, The chorus seems apt:
Thank you for giving
This bright new morning
So steeped seemed the evening
In darkness and blood
Let there be no sadness
No sorrow
Let there be no road too narrow
There'll be a new day
Yes, it's today
And it's for us
What's inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
New Morning - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I hope you thrive in '25. See you next week.
