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After the extended stay of January, February seems to have been a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it month. More so than usual, at least.
Still, this month saw a few writing opportunities come together that I can’t really talk about in detail just yet—so a few teases will have to do!
There's not much to report on the Save Point front, especially with a week of half term crowbarred into the middle of the month, so this issue of The Recap, like February itself, will probably be shorter than others.
But from a few writing updates and embracing the concept of creative kintsugi to a full cover reveal of Burden and a melancholy farewell, there’s still plenty to sink your teeth into! |
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This Ain’t a Scene…
This month saw an interesting opportunity kinda come out of the blue.
I can’t/won’t go into full details right now because, frankly like with previous potential projects and crossovers, I don’t fully believe it’ll happen anymore until, well…it happens.
I’ve been burned in the past with projects or ideas meant to take off or become something more than just an ephemeral concept, so I learned not to put full stock into anything until the *thing* exists in a very real way.
And even then it could still fall apart.
Call it jaded if you want, I wouldn’t blame you. But for me, I consider it a practical form of realism—one that wants to enthuse excitedly about what’s coming down the line, who wants to shout from the rooftops in the hope that others will give a shit the way I do, who wants nothing more than to put the cart before the horse in the hope that it’ll catch up. But—and it’s a heavy, loaded ‘but’—my experience has taught me to temper expectations until the *thing* and/or *things* exist in a tangible, real, look-here-it-is kind of way.
So all I’ll say is there could be something pretty neat to share in future months and it may be related to print media. Don’t worry, I’ll reference this February newsletter if or when it comes to fruition, but needless to say if it does, it’ll be a major personal milestone for me.
Light a Beacon
Another awesome opportunity came to light thanks to Instagram in early February (@stevetendo by the way, in case you’re still not following).
Like the above post, I won’t go into details just yet, but let me just say that there may be a time in the near future when some of my work could be featured in an actual brick-and-mortar store.
After popping into said store recently, I can confidently say that this whole thing is further along after a friendly conversation with the owner. But with that said, I still have to keep a few cards close to my chest.
Now, it’s not a huge order, but, as I confessed to the proprietor, the win for me isn’t the amount of books, per se. It’s about being stocked in a store for potential readers to discover—one that is not only actively pro-indie but also willing to put their money where their mouth is.
For an indie author exclusive to Amazon, and thus limited regarding wide print distribution (it’s a whole thing), something like this is an amazing opportunity that I’m keen to help become a reality. And it may very well be sooner rather than later, so keep your eyes peeled for future updates!
Creative Kintsugi
There’s a strange thing that happens when I take an extended period away from writing…I become overwhelmed with getting back to writing.
Don’t get me wrong, I get excited about being back in the chair, the mindset, the core of what writing is—of what being a writer means or is (to me), but I’m also aware that it’s been a while now since I finished the initial vomit draft of the third Ultraverse book. Longer since I’ve touched the second Ultraverse novel, even after finally receiving all beta reader feedback. And that’s because the thing I wanted to get better at (spinning multiple plates at the same time) is something I still haven’t mastered.
Given the amount of broken plate fragments at my feet, I think it’s pretty clear it’s something I need to really focus on.
You see, balancing things has always been difficult for me as I tend to fall into hyperfocus and hyperfixations. This is compounded by the fact that the completionist in me likes to ensure I finish something before moving to the next something, which makes spinning and maintaining multiple creative projects a daunting task for me.
On the one hand, I like to finish what I started (which is good and an apparent rarity within creative spaces. So, go me!). On the other hand, I find it creatively difficult to spread my attention and energy across multiple projects at different stages (which is bad. Boo! Be better!)
Others do it with the greatest of ease, but it’s just not a natural skill I have. I think it intricately ties into the perfectionist in me—the one that so often gets stopped in his tracks by analysis paralysis. The one who wants to make sure everything is as honed, as ‘perfect’ as possible before finally being able to let go and confidently move on to the next.
There was a short period of time where I did get better. Plotting whilst editing, writing whilst conceptualising, editing whilst looking forward to what comes next. I don’t know when or where I tripped up, but I did. The focus became fractured, frayed…distracted…and then the momentum slowed, the plates shook haphazardly, and some fell and broke.
Now it’s my job to pick up the shards, put them together, fix them, and start spinning those plates once again. It’s creative kintsugi. The breaks, scars, the indelible marks remain, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be part of the story’s history—that it can’t add to the overall journey and final result.
I guess I’m sharing this to hold myself creatively accountable.
In truth, I have been adrift the past few months, waiting endlessly for Burden to be completed and returned to me so I can finish it and deliver it to you.
I mentioned this in January’s Recap, but it’s worth stressing two things:
- The issues with Burden’s delay do not lie with me, though that doesn’t make it any less frustrating
- The lack of progress on other projects during this holding pattern is my fault, and I should have been better
Instead, I became obsessed with other things that ate up my time in a major way. I became hyperfixated on things not directly related to writing or progressing my own stories, and I know the next step in bettering myself is to find the balance between engaging with other stories and creating my own without getting lost in the former.
(Ant)hology
With all that being said, there has been something I have been putting creative energy and thought into over the past month or so…because your boy has been asked to contribute a short story to a limited edition anthology for Your Paper Quest!
Yes, the fine folks at YPQ asked a pool of authors they’ve previously featured if they’d like to be part of a unique anthology project to reward longtime subscribers. The parameters are simple: write a short story of around 2-3k words with the theme revolving around ‘freedom’.
Unsurprisingly, I was quick to answer yes. Not only because it’s an awesome opportunity and an honour to be asked, but because I have love those guys and believe in what they’re doing.
The story itself has been rattling around in my head for a while. It’ll be a small, intimate thing given the word count, but I can’t wait to dive in and get writing again. This is exactly what I need. It’s the perfect appetiser to end this imposed break between projects: a short story for an anthology to rip the band-aid and then back into the word mines for Burden before hurtling back into my Ultraverse and getting the series across the finish line with Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.
The title I have in my head right now is Opening Night and I've been having a great time writing it so far.
Not to sound like an obnoxious Soundcloud rapper or upstart clothing company, but…big things coming.
Unburden Yourself
Now to something else I can intrinsically control and have full confidence in sharing…
Last month I shared an image teasing the Burden cover. This month, I want to share the whole damn thing.
As a subscriber to The Recap you get to see this first before I share it to my social channels, and I’m so proud of how this cover came out after many rounds of edits, suggestions, collaboration, and creative exploration with my cover designer.
Without further ado:
I really think it perfectly encapsulates the tone, theme, and dynamic of what Burden is, and I hope it makes you excited to pick it up when it’s available (TBD).
Don’t forget you can reply to this email if you want to share your thoughts with me! I may not be able to reply to everyone, but I’d love to get your impressions and share the excitement on the cover!
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Not much really happened in February, truth be told. I finally experienced the nightlife of our new area (despite coming up to three years living here!) and enjoyed the night out despite the price tag that came with it.
The only other thing worth mentioning that I really loved was the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
In case you’re unfamiliar, the NHL has a minor season break around this time. Usually, it’s apparently taken up with All-Star games but this year they decided to flip the script and have a mini-round robin tournament featuring the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland.
So for the duration of the tournament, I was an honorary Canadian—which I’m sure you’re already aware of if you follow me on Instagram.
Oh, also my son’s half term, wherein I aged three months in a single week.
Here’s some video evidence:
It’s Not ‘Goodbye’, It’s ‘See You Later’
The only other thing worth remarking on in this month’s Save Point is that February marked the last time I’d see some friends before they move out of the UK.
It was all very reflective and sobering (despite the amount of wine consumed), and I’ll miss them more than they know. I’m always pretty ‘in my feelings’ about stuff, whether I’m happy or sad, and there was a heavy blanket of bittersweet melancholy over our final hang-out together: one filled with happiness about the start of their new adventure, but undeniably tinged with a sadness at the closing of this particular book.
It was a day I dreaded arriving, but one I knew would creep up on me regardless. Time can be cruel and fickle in all things, after all. No matter how much you don’t want a certain date to tick over, it inevitably will.
Still, it does mean we’ll have a place to stay when we eventually visit them. Granted, it’s a place I never thought I’d ever travel to, but, still, with good friends about to call it home, it would be silly not to.
So if you happen to be reading this, know it is perhaps more than melancholy.
Perhaps it’s toska.
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So…I’ve already decided that this section will be renamed in the near future. I don’t know what to just yet, but it’ll be changing in the next few issues or so, I guess.
On reflection, I don’t know why I went ahead with On My Radar.
It makes a semblance of sense, I suppose, but contextually makes more sense about stories, music, TV/movies, or video games that are upcoming, not something I’ve already experienced and am eager to share.
As I mentioned above with the Burden cover, you can actually reply to this email, so if you have any suggestions to replace On My Radar, don’t hesitate to shoot them over!
And now onto the recommendation itself…
O Canada
How could it be anything else, really?
I wrote about the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier, and, man, what a great tournament it turned out to be, making this recommendation a simple one: USA vs Canada in the 4 Nations final.
For some quick context, the two teams had faced each other previously earlier in the week, five days before the final. That bout ended in a 3-1 loss for Canada. So the Canadians knew they had to play harder to match the aggression and intensity of the US team.
What followed was probably the best game of hockey I’ve seen to date—and I should know, I’ve been watching for almost a full year now, which definitely makes me an absolute authority on the subject.
Kidding aside, the game was fast-paced, action-packed, and with noticeably weighted stakes that extended past the confines of an ice rink. Honestly, the finals felt important.
The teams involved helped add extra gravitas to that fact, as did the current geo-political climate, but it was great to see the tournament covered the way it was, including over here in the UK with people taking notice of three fights taking place in…
*checks notes*
…nine seconds.
I won’t spoil the winner here in case you haven’t seen it, but if you’ve ever been curious about ice hockey, this is a perfect game to start with.
And the best part…it’s free on YouTube for people in the UK!
I’ve attached two videos below in case this has piqued your interest. The first is a mini-documentary that runs about 50 mins covering the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament up to the final, so there’s no need to time sink into watching everything (unless you want to). The second is the game itself.
Enjoy!
 
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Thank you for subscribing and checking out this issue of The Recap. I really appreciate your time and support and only ask that if you have any friends or family who may like my stories that you don’t hesitate to share them.
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Take care and all the best. |
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