A quick update on my writing goals for 2026. Back in January I reported that I was about 75% of the way through the second part of Aurora, and about seven chapters into my new historical fantasy, Graven. I have completed both of those now, and both ...

Some think of AI as nothing more than a grammar‑polishing tool. Others imagine it as a machine that can churn out an entire novel with barely any human involvement. But what if AI’s real value for authors isn’t in either extreme? What if its greates...

Getting feedback on your writing is invaluable. It helps you spot weaknesses, sharpen your prose, and—perhaps most importantly—keeps you motivated. The problem is that most writers don’t have a reliable critique partner who’s available on demand, wo...

With the new year underway, I thought I’d share what I’m currently working on — and what I’m aiming for in 2026 — in terms of writing. I’m about 75% of the way through the second part of Aurora, my sci‑fi space‑opera novel. My plan is to finish that...

During November I set myself the challenge of creating the basic foundation of a new fictional world. My purpose was to show that such could be done in a month. I accomplished that goal. Yes, I have subsequenctly made some tweaks and added more due ...

Advice about writing is everywhere. Scroll through the internet and you’ll find countless authors offering tips on schedules, routines, and methods. The funny thing is, those 'rules' often contradict each other. Why? Because successful writers appro...

About a month ago, I stumbled upon an interview with author Ran Walker, who writes flash fiction stories of exactly one hundred words. The precision, the constraint, the challenge—it all intrigued me. Could I distill a moment, a mood, a miniature wo...

Not everyone will agree with my views, and that’s perfectly fine—perhaps it’s a matter of personal taste. But one of the great marvels of the novel is its ability to ignite the reader’s imagination in ways that film, television, or theatre simply ca...

Have you ever noticed how readers often approach reviews? Some leave a quick comment: ‘it was good’ or ‘I didn’t enjoy it’. Fair enough, but they rarely explain why. Others treat reviews like book reports, summarising the entire plot, spoiling key t...

Episode 1. Season 1. The Project. Erlend examined the schematics display and smiled. It had taken him seven weeks to weave through the multi-layered security. It had been by far his toughest challenge yet, but then it had been written by a master co...

I have officially started a Substack. I have launched two projects on the platform: Worldbuilding Hacks & Headaches. A free fortnightly newsletter for authors on the topic of worldbuilding hacks. The newsletter looks at ways to minimise the pain...

Brandon Sanderson, the celebrated fantasy author, has warned writers about "worldbuilders' disease"—that obsessive need to flesh out every tiny detail of a fictional universe. One telltale sign? Saying, “I’m doing food lore!” Sanderson recommends sp...

For writers, or would-be writers, staying organised can be difficult. My own brain requires I have everything in one place (maybe two at a push) where I can quickly access information while writing. This means it needs to be well organised. I use Sc...

AI audio allows voices to be created from human narrators or machines. One can even clone and use one's own voice as a base for an AI audio "voice".I checked out a few of the services recently. Here's my experience.I've not used Amazon's service as t...

Writing and publishing a book can be overwhelming. So if you are thinking of writing a book in this new year of 2025 then here are the elements you must consider:Research. You will need to research details relevant to your world and story. You can do...