Daynote - Wed 2 Sep

Raining this morning, so no walk, but a double-length session on the ol' Project BRIGHT. I'm enjoying it immensely.

ON DECK: 690 words on the BRIGHT work this morning. It's a pitch of sorts, that will lead into a different kind of writing I've never done before, that I need to do some research on before I get into it. So I'm going slower than I would be drafting prose, but very much enjoying myself.

Yesterday was a very nice day indeed - I got the thumbs-up on from my editor for Project VAULT, so that's now off for copyediting, and I got the cover draft for the same project, which I really really like, so that's also gone back with some feedback points (but it's a very strong start). Then, to top things off, I got an invite for a kind of event I've wanted to do for a while, which I'm really looking forward to. It's weird how cool stuff always seems to come in flurries. Confirmation bias on my part I'm sure.

Yesterday I also spent some time working on a secret and exciting development that, if you're reading this, you'll probably be interested in. It's not quite ready for launch yet, but keep your eyes peeled for something soon.

LISTENING: The peerless Scriptnotes podcast is fifteen years old! Their Quinceañera episode (which is also episode 750!) is an excellent retrospective. Absolutely remarkable consistency and a real record of everything that's changed in the film and TV world over that time. I've listened from the start (though taken a few breaks over the years as my interest in that kind of writing waxed and waned) and always enjoyed it.

WATCHING: More of SILO last night, and we're finally getting some answers, thank goodness. As well as some significant peril. Also the protagonist is getting their memory back, which is a relief - amnesia, poorly handled, can really bog a show down I find.

READING: More of JOE COUNTRY by Mick Herron (Bookshop, Waterstones, Amazon) last night, which is continuing to escalate nicely. I'll never get tired of the office banter either.

KIT: Random one, but for various reasons (related to the project I'm working on) I'm thinking a lot about sleep recently. And one of the things that hugely improved my sleep a few years ago was getting a buckwheat pillow, specifically this very reasonably priced one from Brow Farms. They're so good we literally take them on holiday with us. If you're in your forties or older and have neck/shoulder issues, I heartily recommend giving them a go. Once you get used to them you can't go back.

LINK: Clickbaity title aside (if anyone in publishing knew how to 'make a bestseller', that's literally all they'd do), this long read in the Guardian is a fairly good overview of the economics and process of trade publishing in the UK. For those working in the industry there's a few over-simplifications and odd assertions (as well as a bunch of noise about what's Hot Right Now), but this might well be my new 'copy-and-paste to people who ask me how publishing works' article.

UP NEXT: Probably one more day on the pitch document for Project BRIGHT, then I'll start work on the sample, probably on Friday. And in the background I'll be working on the Secret Thing, which requires the production of some assets and a bunch of setup. But it shouldn't take too long.

Onward!