Natasha Sinclair's Blog, page 14

Writing and other such Beasts

A revisit to what’s on the cards for release and writing this year. First up, is the imminent release of my debut horror novella, Asylum Daughter; this psychological horror hits the shelves on May 8th! The date is significant to the story — I wonder if any of my readers will spot it!

Cover for Natasha Sinclair’s ‘Asylum Daughter’. Cover art by Don Noble, Rooster Republic Press.

Next up, I’m working on a collaboration with another fierce horror author, my sister from across the pond, the fo...

Mental Health and Writing

This may get heavy…

Bear with me. This will be a bit of a concoction — I am, at this time, rather raw, discombobulated, emotionally disfigured, I am feeling uncomfortably challenged. Feel free to look away from the car crash while you have time.

You staying?

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Let’s dive in.

Admittedly I have not done as much writing as I had hoped by this point in the year. January felt like I was playing catch-up to wrap up a few things from 2021 before my degree c...

Your Heaven is a Lie

A PoemThe poignant printHas pressed itselfUpon my cerebrumSepia ink bleedingThe cells we shareScream in anguishSilenced, windedControlled by themAnother whisperHer Faint voice Only heads his own.HimThere’s alwaysA himFirst underTheir skinsLike they belongedTo himAnd each afterMany facesThe same demonChancersGypsiesFaux gentlemenHad his wayAbusing bodiesManipulating mindsLike no crimeCaptive strangledHis God-given rightBlind eyesSightlessMindlessThe perver...

LoveSick

Thrice fallenSickening ‘love’Love becauseThere’s noOther word.Senseless unhinging;The soul’sUnwelcome apprenticeStaggering eclipsingPenumbra of logicPiercing passionsAffection infatuationDesires yearningFor more than Mere skin.Oh, the skin…I can tasteYour saltRemnant thoughtsLinger quiverEach baptism Triggered byScent — drowningFlooding my Nostrils andUnsuspecting brainAs ifShe wereCredulous.That kissStaggering surprisingRattling kneesThe glidingPurple satin...

Summer 2022 Release

Asylum Daughter, my novella is bouncing off the padded walls to escape!

I present the cover wrap! The synopsis may change before release. However, all other aspects will remain. The cover image is from the wonderful Rooster Republic Press. What do you think?

Thanks to everyone who has supported the project so far and those who have pre-ordered — I love you, big time!

The eBook can be preordered. Paperback and Hardback editions will go live upon release.

Fancy a little peek inside...

What If I Can’t Decide If I Need An Editor?

Or what type of editing service would benefit my manuscript?

As a writer, I empathise with this. With so many variances to choose from and the difference in pricing, it can be tricky to decipher if an editor would benefit your project and for what type of editing service you should fork out hard-earned pennies.

To support this decision-making process, at Word Refinery, I offer clients the option of an Editorial Evaluation.

What should a client expect from an Editorial Evaluation?

For...

What Kind of Editing do I Need?

Word Refinery

When considering editing services, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when varying terms, price points, and marketing techniques are at play.

Fiction editing can be funnelled down to two distinct types and the pre-publication quality check of proofreading.

Developmental Editing (Structural Editing or Substantive Editing).

This level of editing historically took place before the writing of the manuscript. Now, it is often the first stage of professional editing once the m...

Tugging

I’m struggling to write this post today, but I need to sprinkle a little something outward. There are many positive and productive things going on professionally and personally. And I want to lean into all that spring light. But other strings are being tugged; tugged into the dark. And as much as I’d like to ignore the pull, sometimes it’s impossible. Balance?
This pendulum is in perpetual motion until the inevitable, the only inevitable.
I stood among the trees this morning; their music in the th...

Asylum Daughter

Upcoming Novella

My upcoming psychological horror novella, ‘Asylum Daughter‘, is scheduled for release this summer! The Amazon eBook preorder is live, paperback and hardcover editions will be available upon release. Currently, the release date is set for Summer Solstice 2022 (June 21st); however, there may be an advance on this. More on that in due course.

I am beyond excited to get this one out. It’s a piece of work that’s been in the making for quite some time. The novella was the vi...

YouTube Readings

Playing with another platform

I’ve considered doing some reading videos for a while now but only recently began sharing a few online. So far, I have shared a handful of poetry and short stories over YouTube. Only one is a reading of one of my pieces. The rest are shares of other writers work that I enjoy.
All are welcome to drop by, subscribe, share. Open to requests too, if you have a piece you’d like me to read, drop me a DM. I can’t guarantee I’ll do it or when at this point, but I’ll be in...