Daynote - Mon 9 Mar 2026

A different kind of stock photography this morning, since my website homepage had become a sea of mechanical keyboards. I'd hoped and planned to get back to the walking today, but frustratingly when one injury was just about healed, I've now got another, different one to deal with. These things seem to come in threes for me. But I think I'll be off my feet for another week. Intensely frustrating.

ON DECK: Though I couldn't hobble out to the woods and back, I did manage to sit at my desk and get some writing done. 1,043 words this morning and I tipped over the 70,000 word mark! That's a fair old milestone to be sure.

TOOLS AND PROCESS: However, the 70,000 - 80,000 mark is also, traditionally, where I have my second Major Wobble of the book draft, wondering how I'm going to tie everything together, fretting about a whole plotline that I set up and then forgot to develop, panicking about word count, worrying that the book is shit and unsalvageable.

You know, normal author stuff.

Thankfully, though this is a third book since I started publishing, it's my 11th or possibly 12th full novel draft (not counting partially completed projects) so I have dropped into this Slough of Despond many, many times. I know that the feelings I'm having now, while valid (and possibly even correct!) are temporary and even if bits of this book are a bit shit, that's what editing is for. The key, as always, is to keep going.

LISTENING: Really enjoyed this interview with former MI6-man-turned-novelist James Wolff on the Spybrary podcast. His books sound excellent. And now I have another example to point to when people ask me if I'm a spy, because all the actual ex-spies have to submit their books for approval and use pseudonyms and suchlike. I'm just some guy and I make it all up.

WATCHING: We started watching SMALL PROPHETS on the BBC yesterday and it's really interesting. Very cool to see such an unusual idea and setup get a chance with a major broadcaster. No spoilers, but check it out.

READING: More of THE INFINITE STATE by Richard Swan (Bookshop.org, Waterstones, Amazon) last night. Man, the first half of this book is bleak. But in the way that's really enjoyable? Always darkest before the dawn and all that.

KIT: My brother and his fianceé were visiting this weekend and I was admiring their nifty little backpacks, which are budget-airline carry-on sized, have pockets aplenty and look pretty decent and hardwearing.

Astonishingly, this is made by Hewlett Packard, of all people. And it's £35?

I often need to go away for one night for events and for work stuff, and the existing travel bags I have are really intended for a weekend minimum. Whereas this seems like a good, cheap, small option for short trips. So I'm going to give it a go.

LINK: It's London Book Fair this week, so agents, editors, book scouts, marketers, publicists, booksellers and the odd completely overwhelmed author will be descending on Olympia in London. I'm very excited for some of my friends who have big things in the works! I also enjoyed this guide to the nearby area (the Fair is in a new location this year for the first time in a long time) by Richard Charkin. Knowing the local area in London is always half the battle.

UP NEXT: A lot more typing this week - I tend to speed up once the end comes into sight, and 70,000 words is, for me, the equivalent of the final lap in a very long race. Or maybe the final five laps. Closer to the end than the start, in any case.

Onward!