Missives from Isolation #11 – Stuff and Things
I can’t believe I’ve been doing these isolation posts for almost three months! But then time ceased to have meaning long ago. I’ve forgotten to talk to friends for weeks at a time because in my mind we spoke yesterday (sorry, if you’re one of those friends). Yesterday I had a proper conversation with a human being who isn’t my girlfriend for the first time since lockdown began. It was lovely, but genuinely slightly weird.
Anyway, just a general update this week. In terms of actual real life, everything’s fine – I’m still working from home, still eating food and occasionally venturing outside. I’m still well, as is the rest of my household (all one of her). It’s all same old, really – which I imagine is the case for many of you.
The second Boiling Seas is still untitled but proceeds apace – I’m over 40,000 words in already and I’m not even close to halfway through. Given the first book was only about 70,000, this is somewhat worrying – but I’m having fun with it and I’m happy to take it slow for now. There are some good set-pieces I’m building up to. Also, airships. Lots more airship action.
My Warhammer pile of shame is diminished to almost nothing – just 5 pirate ships and a handful of T’au to paint. Of course that doesn’t count the new sets I just bought – three bikes and a wonderfully mad construction which amounts to a giant orrery on the back of a carriage, driven by wizards (because why on earth not?)…
That last is my holiday project, though. I’ve got the week after next off work, and while I can’t actually go anywhere on holiday, I can at least kick back and relax – and try and get a few things done too. Many of those things will be videogames.
But what about writing, I hear you cry? Well, there are actually some things on the horizon, at long last!
Those of you who follow me on Twitter may have noticed that I’ve got a story coming out in this year’s UCL Publisher’s Prize anthology, which I was just eligible for, one last time. There will be some more promo related to that coming up soon, and I’ll be posting it on here too. I have another story that’s been bought by a magazine, too – it likely won’t be out for a long time yet, but when it is you’ll definitely hear about it.
And, finally, all being well, there should be something a lot bigger coming very soon indeed. I won’t spoil what it is yet,* but I’m very excited. Watch this space for some exciting visuals…
Maybe I’ll try and write some more short pieces in my time off. I’ve had ideas germinating for a while, and there are some cool competitions coming up too. Whatever the case, you’ll hear about it here at some point.
* I mean you’re probably thinking it’s a book, and you’re probably right
