David Goodman's Blog

Daynote - Mon 1 Dec

We have tipped over the line into the last month of the year. Kind of hard to believe, but here we are anyway. I sent out my penultimate newsletter of the year yesterday and it was quite fun accounting everything that had happened in the last month, but now we're approaching the time when I take stock of the whole year, including my next By The Numbers post, which I think I'll start drafting in the next week or two.

ON DECK: Over the weekend I returned second page proofs on SOLITARY AGENTS, which...

The Decrypt - November 2025

Hello again, everyone! It's the end of the penultimate month of the year (somehow), so it's time to tune in to The Decrypt, my monthly newsletter on all things writing, publishing, craft and media.

November was a busy one on the events front, some extremely exciting things happened (only some of which I can talk about) and I did a bit of drafting and a lot of pitching and outlining, so in some ways it felt quite bitty and fragmented. But words got worded and there are still a few things I can tal...

Daynote - Fri 28 Nov

We woke up to the greenhouse door having been blown off its runners (we normally duct tape it shut before serious wind, but I didn't check the forecast) after a very windy early morning here. I took one look at the rain lashing the fences and street lights outside and decided nope, so I carried on with outlining instead.

ON DECK: Made solid progress on the outline this morning, passing into part 3 and the first serious bit of action in the book. It's coming together, though I'm still doing a fair...

Daynote - Thu 27 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving to my American family, friends and readers!

A really excellent evening last night at Waterstones West End in Edinburgh for a Bloody Scotland reunion. We had a great turnout and a wonderful conversation with Susie Green, book blogger and host of the In My Good Books Podcast. It was lovely to see everyone (minus Natalie Jayne Clark, who was missed) from the Debut Prize shortlist. Book bloggers FranMcBookface and The First Eleven Minutes came along too and Matthew Land organised e...

Daynote - Wed 26 Nov

An absolutely beautiful morning today, though I didn't get out for a walk as I was wrestling with my outline again. And I'm off into town today for work, followed by the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize panel at Waterstones this evening!

It's the last event of the year for the store, so grab your ticket and I'll see you there!

ON DECK: A good morning today - I figured out an element of backstory that made everything slot together very nicely and prompted an audible hiss of satisfaction. Project VAULT i...

Daynote - Tue 25 Nov

Got out for a walk this morning and it was very crisp and lovely. Cracking view out over the Forth. A couple of deer lolloping away through the undergrowth. Very pleasant indeed.

I'm revving up for tomorrow's event. It'll be really nice to see most of the Bloody Scotland shortlist (I saw Natalie last week in Glasgow, though still a shame she can't make it to this event).

ON DECK: It was one of those writing days where I did frustratingly little typing, and mostly spent my time reorganising. I'm w...

Daynote - Mon 24 Nov

I stayed up too late playing ARC Raiders again last night, so I'd planned to skip my walk in any case. But when you wake up and you can actually hear the rain lashing the windows, it feels like a vindicated decision. I had a nice weekend, visiting family and then yesterday doing a bit of DIY around the house.

This week is my last event of November, catching up with most of the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize shortlisters at Waterstones in Edinburgh this Wednesday!

If you're thinking of coming along to...

Daynote - Fri 21 Nov

A very chilly morning today and our first proper frost of the year. I was out at an event in Glasgow and got home late, so I didn't venture out into the cold, but I'm enjoying looking out at it this morning.

The event at Ibrox Library went really well! I, of course, forgot to take any pictures. But it was lovely to see Natalie Jayne Clark again (we were on the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize shortlist together) and she did a great job of moderating myself, Neil Broadfoot and Andrew Raymond. It was a ...

Daynote - Thu 20 Nov

I'm off to Glasgow today for a day in the office followed by an evening event at Ibrox Library (more below), so no walk this morning, aside from up to the station. It's a beautiful morning though, crisp and cold.

ON DECK: I'm on the train, so I'll be working on my outline until I get to Glasgow. Then I'll very likely wander about on my lunchbreak and see if I can find some books to vandalise.

At 6pm I'll be at Ibrox Library, where I'll be talking to Natalie Jayne Clark alongside fellow panelists...

Daynote - Wed 19 Nov

I had quite a day yesterday. A day so good I couldn't really get to sleep and when I woke up this morning, having not really slept enough, I chuckled quietly in the darkness as I remembered everything and murmured 'fuck yeah'. I normally dislike Tuesdays as a general rule. But yesterday was a definite exception.

Unfortunately I can't tell you about any of it. But I will, as soon as I can. Sorry, I know vagueposting is annoying. Still, the weather is gorgeous (but cold) and the work is going well....