It’s been two weeks since my first writer’s diary, and it feels like nothing has happened.
And yet, when I actually sat down to write this, I was bursting with things to say!
Instead of just blurting out a monologue covering fourteen days, though, I’m going to break this down into sections: what I’ve been writing, reading, watching, listening to and doing.
What I’ve been writing
Book 3 (which might soon have a new title, after lots of brainstorming with my agent and editor…but I can’t reveal anything yet) is still with my agent, which has given me a nice break to catch up on other things, and has also allowed my brain to switch off from that story.
It’s a funny thing – you’re thinking about this one made-up world for so long; shaping and developing and recreating it, that after a while you need to step back and let your mind rest. Now that it’s been a couple of weeks, I’m itching to get back to it again, which is a nice feeling. So I’m refreshed and ready to tackle whatever edits Ariella sends me (and I’m sure there will be plenty)!
I haven’t done a lot of writing lately, but I did pen a short story for Crime Girl Gang, based on one of the fictional solves from season 1 (listen to the first season here). I haven’t written many short stories, but I really enjoyed the challenge (and the satisfaction of finishing in such a short time frame compared to a novel). I’m not sharing it anywhere yet, but watch this space (or subscribe to the Crime Girl Gang newsletter via the website) for news about that!
Have you ever wanted to write a book? Are you currently working on an idea for a book? I co-run a Facebook group for anyone who is writing, or wants to write, a book – fiction or non-fiction. We encourage one another, answer questions about the writing process and being published, and share our successes each week. Come on over and join us!
What I’ve been reading
I’ve been such a bad author for the past few weeks and have barely read a thing! The only book I’ve finished so far this year is Dracula, which I bought on my trip to Transylvania last month. I really enjoyed it, although I found the ending really abrupt and a little too tidy for my taste.
But for a classic, it was pretty great and I’m glad I’ve read it, especially after seeing Bran Castle and being able to perfectly picture the setting from memory.
I’m also about halfway through re-reading Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, which I’m getting loads of wisdom from, even on my second read.
I have a massive pile of books to dive into, though, and am excited to sink my teeth into a few proofs I’ve been sent, including:
- I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney
- The Killer in Me by Olivia Kiernan
- The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins
- Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear
What I’ve been watching
What haven’t I been watching? Honestly, this month has been a full-on Netflix fest for me, and I’ve loved every second of it.
I watched The Silence of the Lambs for the first time ever, and thought it was utterly brilliant – and not nearly as scary as I expected (although I was home alone and did wake up in the middle of the night to turn on all the lights and check that I really was alone).
There’s been some incredible true crime on Netflix which has kept me busy, particularly The Ted Bundy Tapes and Abducted in Plain Sight.
I really didn’t know a lot about Ted Bundy before I watched this documentary, and I was horrified to learn about him and his crimes. There’s been a lot of chat about whether he’s being sexualised (especially with Zac Efron playing him in the upcoming film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile) but this piece by my Crime Girl Gang co-host sums up perfectly why it’s important to show how charming and likeable he really was. We owe it to his victims.
Abducted in Plain Sight might just be one of the most unbelievable, and totally appalling things I’ve ever seen. It honestly has to be watched to be believed. As soon as it ended, I dived into a Reddit black hole, where a lot of the story was given context by ex Mormons explaining more about the religion and how it made the whole situation more plausible. Go check out this thread…see you in a few hours!
Side note: after adding that link I accidentally got lost in Reddit again and it’s now hours later. Happens every time.
And finally, another mind-blowing documentary, this time about the madness of Fyre Festival. Have you seen it? I was aghast as I watched the whole thing playing out like a car crash in slow motion. The part that made me really angry was how badly the locals were exploited. Of course, the rich kids with lawyers got compensated for their losses, but what about the residents of Great Exuma?
Where’s their justice? It’s sickening.
What I’ve been listening to
COLD.
If you enjoyed Teacher’s Pet, this true crime podcast is a must-listen. It covers the disappearance of Susan Powell in an enormous amount of detail, using original audio from all of the people involved. It’s weird, creepy, distressing – oh, and Mormon, too. What is it with the past few weeks and Mormon-themed media?
Once I’ve finished COLD, I’ll keep listening to Bear Brook, which I started a few weeks ago as research for this blog post. It’s brilliant and disturbing, and I’m looking forward to diving in again soon.
And of course, I’ve been listening to some future episodes of Crime Girl Gang (because, editing) and I promise you guys that you’re in for a treat! Make sure you subscribe today to listen as soon as a new episode drops.
What I’ve been doing
This week, not so much. I think I’ve left the house once.
I’ve been writing a social media course for authors, trying to post daily on Instagram for #thedailyjoyproject, and paying my tax bill (yikes).
View this post on Instagram
Last week I did some more ClassPass workouts, including aerial silks, which was about the most fun I’ve had exercising since I did gymnastics as a kid. I loved it so much that I’m going again this weekend. My muscles are still recovering from last time, so hopefully I won’t do too much damage, but whatever happens I know it’ll be a blast.
And finally, I attended a brilliant talk by the incredible Jennifer Rees about survivors of crime. It was inspiring (I definitely shed a tear more than once), fascinating, and practical. If you get a chance, go and see one of Jennifer’s talks – you won’t be disappointed!
