Missed me?
It’s been a while since I’ve made a proper blog post, so apologies for that. The blog is likely to be quieter this year as I’m making a push to improve my writing habits and actually get things done. I graduate in May so the first half of this year is getting as much out of my time remaining at the University of Nottingham as I can. It’s been an amazing three years and I’ll be very sorry to leave. But of course I know exactly where I’m going after that…
Nope. Not the foggiest.
I’m interested in finding a full-time job in publishing if possible; after working on Vices and Virtues I’m no stranger to proofing, editing, formatting, etc. (so if there are any opportunities opening in Leicester, hit me up!). An MA is also a possibility. Otherwise, maybe a professional Skyrim player. Hey, aim high in life. So this post is going to be a disjointed, update-y thing as I’ve not been updating the site so much as of late…
Back in October (yes, October) last year I made this little vlog chronicling my trip to Birmingham to meet Sarah J. Maas on her Empire of Storms tour. Cue fangirling and my awkward camera skills. You see why I’d never be an actor or professional-level YouTuber.
Since the last Rewriter’s Block post, I’m sorry to say that Pyromancer is on hold for a while. I wasn’t really getting anywhere, obsessed with the idea that it was too cliché a plot. Also I was trying to cram elements of the old story into the new and churning out another characters-overthrowing-government story. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. It hurt to let go of it. I’d even done my dissertation presentation on it, about how I was going to plan it out and such. But I’ve now changed the project I’ll be submitting.
Hero For Hire has been floating on my laptop for some time, waiting quietly for me to fully commit to it. Very different in style, it’s a parody of high fantasy. The plot isn’t concrete yet, but here’s the existing synopsis:
“Hero for hire. Artefacts recovered, monsters slaughtered, damsels rescued. Killing considered, inquire within for rates.” So you’ve just found out you’re the Chosen One, and some wizard wants to set you on a quest? Then Cass is your man. Fighting both evil and good is all part of the day job, but throw in some unwelcome family reunions, a zombie obsessed with knitting and some magical artefacts with silly long names, and things are about to get complicated.
Soon Cass and his teenage daughter Gwin are on an adventure of their own. There’s an evil sorcerer and an unpopular king in there somewhere, and no shortage of gruesome creatures out to ruin Cass’ day. But as the threat of impending war sweeps the land, soon he’ll have to decide: is he the hero that Gwin envisions him as? Or just another sellsword with his own agenda? (Hint: it’s probably a bit of both.)
I’m excited to finally devote all my time to this, and by the end of 2017 I hope to have at least a finished draft. In line with this, my New Year’s resolution is to write 365,000 words. So 1000 a day, with wiggle room. Hopefully it’ll speed things along a bit. I’m also going to read more, and in more genres. I just finished Life of Pi and seriously enjoyed it (when in doubt, pick up a book studied in uni).
The Big Care Write-Up are currently running a poll on the theme for their next anthology! You can vote over on their Twitter, or Facebook if you don’t have one. The choices are Myths and Legends, Rare and Weird Words, The Number 4 and The Cult of Celebrity. Have a look and have your say!