My 2025 Writing Goals

Hi all,

Here are my goals for 2025!

Write three books.

Although I haven’t decided what books I’m going to write yet, I still want to write three. At least one will be in the Original Elementals series.

Publish two books.

This year I’m going to publish Curse of Anubis #2: The Blazing Serpent in April and Curse of Anubis #3: The Frozen Eye in October.

Get two covers designed.

Deranged Doctor Design will be designing my next two covers, both in the Curse of Anubis series.

Self-edit two books.

The last two books in the Curse of Anubis series will be self-edited this year and both will be sent to my editor.

Send all my reader magnets to my editor.

I’d like to get all of my reader magnets edited again so I’ll be sending them to my editor to look through. I want to make sure that they are the best they can be for you!

Read 100 books.

I love reading so I’ve set my goal for another 100!

Write the Game of Air and Lightning reader magnet.

Game of Air and Lightning is the next book I want to publish after Curse of Anubis, so I would like to get the reader magnet done this year. It will probably be about the backstory of the two gods, Aerus and Bolt.

Change my writing schedule.

Due to the fact that I’m no longer doing NaNoWriMo, I thought I would change up my writing schedule a bit. At the beginning of the year, the gap between two of the writing months is a lot smaller which I think creates more pressure for me. I’ll write a blog post when I’ve decided what months I’m going to do instead.

Write 12 short stories.

I’d like to write 12 short stories this year, as I’ve been neglecting my shorter works a bit. A few of them might even get submitted to anthologies!

Research different kinds of mythology.

I’d like to look into otehr kinds of mythology, such as Japanese and Celtic. I love writing mythology books and want to expand my knowledge.

Last year my goals were still attainable while having a challenge to them, which I want to keep this year, I don’t want to stretch myself too much. I love writing and want to keep that love as I go through the year.

Do you have any goals for 2025? Let me know in the comments!

PS; don’t forget to check this book bundle before it disappears!

New Year, New Monsters 5: From the Seas

2024 Year in Review

Hi all,

It’s once again time for my year in review! I tried not to be so hard on myself this year as I wanted to be kinder to myself. I also wanted to make my goals more achievable, but also giving me time to do things other than writing. Without further ado…

Write three books.

This year I wrote:

Empty Skies #2: Freezing Constellations

Empty Skies #3: Burning Constellations

Game of Air and Lightning

Not quite the books that I originally planned to write this year, but I was getting a bit burned out by Original Elementals.

Publish two books.

Celestial Plague #4: Hell was published in April and Curse of Anubis #1: The Plague’s Hope was published in October.

Re-name the Curse of Anubis books.

This one I’m pretty proud of! It took me a while to come up with new names for all the books, but I’m so glad that I did. For those who don’t remember, the new names are:

The Plague’s Hope

The Blazing Serpent

The Frozen Eye

The Dead Kingdom

Get two book covers designed.

I actually managed five this year! Two you’ve already seen but you’ll have to wait to see the other three.

Self-edit two books in the Curse of Anubis series.

The first two books have not only been self-edited, but have also been through my editor.

Finish the Curse of Anubis Short Story Collection and make it available to my subscribers.

This collection is now available to anyone who signs up to my mailing list!

Read 100 books.

This year I read 190! I almost hit 200, but didn’t want to push myself too much.

Work on my book sales.

I’ve changed a lot of my blurbs, categories and descriptions on Amazon. I’ve also started running more ads to generate more sales. I’m hoping to scale this up in 2025.

Create a Patreon.

I’ve created an account and I’m proud of myself for getting that far! This one has been so hard for me to do and I have such a block when it comes to it. I think I’m just worried that I’ll pour all this work into something that no-one wants. I’ll see if I go any further with this in 2025.

Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo.

Due to the controversy this year, I didn’t participate in NaNoWriMo. Instead I’m now writing using TrackBear, and I will continue to use that going forward.

That’s it for this week! Next week make sure you check back to check out my goals for 2025. See you next Sunday.

PS; don’t forget to check out these book bundles before they disappear:

Winter Nights Fantasy and Sci-Fi

New Year, New Monsters 5: From the Seas

The Old Elemental Dragons Prequel

Hi all,

Before I started writing the Original Elementals series, I was planning a different prequel. This one would have been a standalone, set around twenty years before Elemental Dragons.

It would feature the parents of the elementals. Mainly focusing on Hazel's and Rocky's mother and father - Silva and Trey.

Silva just tries to keep her head down and get through school, but she's currently with Trey. He's a serial womaniser who dumps women when he has enough of them. His worst nightmare is having children as that would interfere with his dream of doing whatever he wants.

They would have been eighteen, just a few years away from graduating and going into the real world. Across a few weeks, they would have spotted something moving through the school at night. Upon further investigation, it would be a Hydra.

At first the group would try to report the dragon but they wouldn't be believed or listened to. A teacher and their dragon goes missing but no-one bats an eyelid. That's when the group decides to investigate themselves.

After a few disastrous tries, they manage to capture it. Instead of being hailed as heroes, they are instead scolded for capturing it as it would curse them and the school. Each of the group would then be cursed in various ways. A few would have been:

Silva would be destined to lose everything.

Trey would be destined to impregnate every woman he sleeps with.

Tran, Wes' mother, would have everyone always take the credit for her work.

Daynah, Marco and Mason's mother, would always want what everyone else has.

David, Melia and Violet's father, would lose his dragon due to his own laziness.

After cursing them, the Hydra moves on. But none of them believe that their curses will come true. It's only when David refuses to take his dragon, Amelia, to the vet that it all starts to unravel. He couldn't be bothered to take her, so her minor wounds got infected and she died.

Tran reports the group to the headmaster but he takes the credit for discovering what they've done.

Over the years, Trey impregnates four women, one of which is Silva. He has Rocky and Hazel with her. He manages to find a woman who is infertile, but even she manages to get pregnant. He eventually leaves Silva, which makes her curse come true. He takes the money they made from the experiments on their children too.

Ultimately this was discarded when I made the elementals clones rather than the biological children of their parents. I liked the idea, but I wasn't quite sure if I could ever tie it together properly with the main series. Hence why it was scrapped and I came up with Original Elementals instead.

That's it for this week, I hope you enjoyed reading! See you next week. 

PS; don’t forget to check out this book bundle before it expires:

Winter Nights Fantasy and Sci-Fi

November 2024 Project Wrap-Up

Hi all,

The first project that I've done since the last NaNoWriMo is now complete!

The final word count for Game of Air and Lightning is...

76,726 words!

I used TrackBear for the first time with this book, and I couldn't be happier with it. It displays all of my word counts for the day and how much I need to get done to hit my goal. I'm going to use it to track all of my future books.

This project has been sat in my ideas folder for years and I'm so glad that I've finally managed to write it. The characters have finally been brought to life and I'm so glad for it.

The main character, Reema, is dropped onto a new planet with one goal: survive. Her soul has been separated from her in the form of a cat, Smokey. The two of them have to navigate through the planet to the one safe zone, where they meet with others.

The factions of Aerus and Bolt fight against each other to win their god’s favour. But Reema hasn't been brought up with that lifestyle, so she doesn't feel like she fits in with the others.

The story has been written exactly how I planned which makes me so happy! I managed to write everything I wanted to and included a few extras as well. Reema's soul, Smokey, wasn't originally in the plan but I'm so glad that I gave the characters souls. I loved writing about the different animals that people had and how they interacted with each other.

This book is like Hunger Games, so there is a lot of death. I quite liked having so many characters that needed to be killed off in order to propel the story forward. After all, only one faction could survive!

This book probably won't be edited for a while as I have several other projects that I want to edit before that. But when I get to it, I can't wait to get it published! It was an absolute joy to write and a breath of fresh air from the series that I've been working on.

I still haven't decided what I'm going to write next, but I'm not going to worry about that until next year.

That's it for this week! See you next Sunday. 

PS; don’t forget to check out this book bundle before you go!

Winter Nights Fantasy and Sci-Fi

My Book Settings

Hi all,

This week I'm going to talk about the settings in some of my books. I try to base them on places I know, which I hope comes across in my stories! All of my books are set in the UK, but there are some that take more inspiration from my life than others.

Mute.

Mute is primarily set in a university where Audra has to fight a wendigo. I'm sure the real university doesn't have any supernatural creatures, but I've never enrolled there to make sure! The university is based off of Plymouth University. The areas surrounding it are full of shops and student accommodation, and the city centre is only a few minutes walk away. The moment that I was going to write a novel based on a university, I knew it would be this one. I've been there many times to attend my writers group and just to look around at all the buildings. But with how close it is to home, I thought it would be the perfect setting for Mute.

Curse of Anubis.

This book series is set in Plympton, in the area that I grew up. I went to a secondary school there, Plympton Academy, which is the primary basis for the setting. Only a minutes walk away is a strip full of shops and various supermarkets. But as you go further up the road, you'll come across the pub that Tahira clears out in book one. Again, when writing this book I knew I wanted to set it in Plympton. I spent my childhood wandering around the shops with my friends and taking walks through the area to visit my Granddad.

That's it so far! The more books I write, the more inspiration that I'll take. Some of it I might not even be aware of until I start writing the book! I think there's nothing wrong with basing books on areas you know. I think it can strengthen your writing and make you feel more connected to the characters.

That's it for this week, see you next Sunday! 

PS; don’t forget to check out this book bundle before you go:

A Giveaway For National Author’s Day!

How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?

Hi all,

Today I'm going to discuss a question that authors get asked constantly: how long does it take to write a book?

Just to make sure that there's no disappointment, there isn't a definitive answer. Everyone is different and writes at different speeds. There is no deadline for writing your book, you can simply take it at your own pace.

I've always been a fast writer, finishing my first book in three months at seventeen. Over the years my writing speed has increased even more, to the point where I can finish the first draft of a book in a month.

Some authors might take longer, others might be able to finish a book in even less time. It depends on the person.

So don't feel bad about your writing speed.

The book takes as long as it takes. You don't need to burn yourself out or stress about finishing it. That takes the fun out of writing.

The more you write, you might find yourself getting faster. Even a few extra words a day. Writing anything is better than writing nothing.

A lot of authors worry and compare themselves to others but it's not necessary. With your books, you can set the pace for them. Don't publish something quickly that you then have to fix later, do it right first.

If you're going to write a book, remind yourself that it's okay to go as long as you want without writing. Although some do it constantly, you don't need to. See what feels right to you and go with that rather than trying to chase after others.

That's it for this week! Please let me know in the comments if there are any writing or publishing questions that you would like me to cover. I want to use this blog as a way to help people in whatever way I can!

See you next week. 

PS; don’t forget to check out this awesome giveaway:

A Giveaway For National Author’s Day!

My Tips for Writing a Novel in a Month

Hi all,

I thought I'd share some tips for those who are thinking of writing a novel in a month or just want to get into a more active writing habit. Of course these won't work for everyone, but they might be of some use.

Have a set word count.

But, if you set yourself a goal to write x amount of words a day, you'll find as the month goes on this will become easier and easier to obtain. Even if you are just writing to your par every day. If you don't have a set word count, you may struggle to keep yourself motivated and find yourself falling short.

Take breaks.

You don't have to write everything in one go if you don't want to. I tend to split my writing into two or three sessions throughout the day. I give myself a break in between as it gives me time to clear my mind and think about what direction I want the story to go in next.

Your first draft won't be perfect.

Don't worry about writing the perfect draft, just get words on the page. You can always edit it later. Getting some bad words down is better than none.

Don't pressure yourself.

Don't force yourself to write if you really don't want to. You don't want to burn yourself out, after all. You don't need to finish the book that month if you don't want to.

Have a basic idea of the plot.

I tend not to plot my stories out too much anymore except for the bare bones stuff. I just find it easier to write whatever my mind takes my to. But make sure you have some idea of what you want to write about. Don't jump in completely blind as it might burn you out in the long run.

Reward yourself.

No matter how much writing you do, reward yourself with something. I usually watch a film, YouTube video or read a book. Sometimes I'll reward myself with biscuits! Make it a positive thing to hit your word count.

Have fun!

If you aren't having fun, it isn't worth continuing. You can write whenever you want, no-one is telling you that you have to get that book done in a certain amount of time. If it isn't working for you, then take a step back.

That's it for this week. I hope that these tips have helped! See you next week. 

PS: don’t forget to check out this giveaway for National Author’s Day!

A Giveaway For National Author’s Day!

Valkyries

Hi all,

Yet another Iron Faerie anthology has come out, much to my delight! You can check it out below…

Enter a realm where celestial warriors reign supreme. This anthology of short stories uncovers the fierce and enigmatic lives of Valkyries, the legendary shieldmaidens of Norse lore. Each tale unravels a unique chapter of these divine beings, exploring their valor in battle, personal struggles, and mystical quests. From epic confrontations to intimate revelations, discover the strength, courage, and intricate lives of these iconic figures as they navigate a world where destiny and the divine intertwine.

My short story, Flightless, is included in this anthology. It’s the first time I’ve written about Kaia and Sirrah, a Valkyrie and her pegasus. In the future I want to write more about them and I can’t wait to explore their world! To do that I’ve still got quite a bit of research to do on Norse mythology, but I’m sure that won’t take long.

There are plenty of amazing short stories by multiple authors in this anthology, perfect for those who love Norse mythology.

That’s it for this week! See you next week.

November 2024 Project Announcement

Hi all,

Despite everything that's happened regarding NaNoWriMo, I'm still going to write 50K in November!

My project this time around will be a standalone, Game of Air and Lightning.

This book has been in my ideas folder for about five years. It started out being similar to Hunger Games, until I started adding more details in.

There are two factions, Aerus and Bolt. The two are deities who came to Earth and were worshipped by it's people. Those who didn't believe in either god were quickly wiped out. The main character is Reema, a sixteen year old girl who belongs to the faction of Aerus.

Every five years, both gods choose twenty of their followers and transport them to their homeworld. This is so the two factions can fight and one can be declared an overall winner. For the first time, the two deities pick teenagers and their chosen are taken away before anyone can protest.

Aerus allows their faction to use air magic, while Bolt's faction uses lightning magic. Both can pick a familiar before going into the battlefield, where the fighting will start straight away.

Reema chooses a cat and is thrust onto the gods' homeworld, where the bloodshed is already beginning.

I've had this one on the back burner for years as I didn't want to write a Hunger Games knockoff. I wanted something that was it's own thing. I'm quite happy with the way that I've planned the book now and can't wait to start writing it in November.

I haven't found an alternative to NaNoWriMo that I like yet, but hopefully I'll find one before November. I find that it really helps with my motivation to input the words somewhere and see the total go down as I go through. I'm not sure yet if I'll write again in April and July or if I'll pick a different month, but I've got plenty of time to decide that too.

Even with what NaNoWriMo have done, I'm still going to write. This won't stop me from doing my own challenge and figuring it out along the way.

That's it for this week, I hope you enjoyed reading. See you next Sunday! 

PS; don’t forget to check out these book bundles:

Horror Giveaway September!

Are Standalones Easier to Write?

Hi all,

This week I'm writing about something that I've seen has been talked about a lot in the writing world. Are standalone books easier to write than those in a series?

As a writer who has written standalone books and several series, I thought I'd wade in on the subject.

I find standalone books easier to plot as its just one book so I don't need to worry about as many subplots or characters. Whenever I've written a series, I usually move onto a standalone book next to clear my mind. In a standalone book you are only writing one story for one book. While with a series you need to worry about weaving several stories across several books.

But, I have found that I'm more satisfied after writing a series. Seeing the series done is an amazing feeling and I get so excited to read the books again when I'm editing them. I also love seeing the characters grow across each book and how they deal with all the problems they face.

To me, I find standalone books easier to write. This is because once I get to the end of the story, that's it. I can always edit it later and change bits that I'm not happy about. But with a series I find myself getting drained from writing in the same universe over and over. It's one of the reasons why I write a standalone or two after finishing a series.

The Original Elementals series is supposed to have ten books in it with seven currently written. I haven't written any Original Elementals books this year because I've become a bit burned out by it. Next year I'm hoping to pick the series up again and finish it so I can start publishing it.

In November for NaNoWriMo I'm more than likely going to write another standalone book. It also clears a bit of my book ideas folder as the series don't tend to sit there very long!

In conclusion, I personally find a standalone book easier to write as it gives me more time to jump between book to book, genre to genre. This might not be the same for everyone, but it works for me.

That's it for this week! I hope you enjoyed reading, see you next Sunday. 

PS; don’t forget to check out these book bundles before they end:

Horror Giveaway September

All Genre Boxset Readathon!