Operation Concrete

On writing: All experience fuels ideas

So, I've been a little disappointed in myself. I have over the last six months, become incredibly distracted, removing myself from my daily writing routines, and instead getting myself into all sorts of emotional trouble. This however, is not necessarily ...Read More

On writing: All experience fuels ideas

Writing about love – Part 2

Just over three years ago, whilst writing the first version of Concrete Operational, I wrote a post about love, it’s here, and I’ve put the extract below: “Arh, now, there's a subject, if not THE subject. To end, to beat, to ...Read More

Writing about love – Part 2

I think I mentioned in a previous post that, upon my decision to actively work towards getting my novel published, I would be consulting the Oxford Editors to get it assessed by a professional author. Well, a few days ago ...Read More

My novel & The Oxford Editors

What’s in a name? Well, a lot I’d like to argue, actually a considerable amount when it comes to both the naming of the novel and the naming of the characters contained within. But as the title of this post ...Read More

Naming Characters

I can’t decide if the post title is a statement or a question, to put an exclamation mark or question mark at its end. This is how I stay creative! Or, how do I keep staying creative, what stokes my ...Read More

Staying Creative

I love walking into my local G&D's cafe in Oxford, grabbing a cup of tea, opening up my laptop, sitting down in the middle of the room, sticking my headphones in, looking at faces and letting go. Controlled breathing, a ...Read More

Surrealist writing for a novel?

The duality of man is a subject that philosophers and authors have fought around for some time. I doubt my 8500 words in Chapter 8 really do the subject much justice when you've got masterpieces of literary history like The ...Read More

Writing about the devil within

I'm extremely happy right now, I just broke 42k words. This basically marks the 3/5 point of the novel. It's probably just over half way, but not quite three quarters, that's why I went with that slightly odd fraction of ...Read More

A breakthrough with your novel

When I’m writing dozens and dozens of scenarios go through my head as to what character can do what, where and when, how it will connect with previous chapters, ideas and theories. There’s always the possibility of getting one little ...Read More

Getting down that perfect idea

There’s probably no other more difficult subject for writing than that of your own personal beliefs. That is at least my own opinion. Some people of the more dogmatic persuasion may think otherwise, but me, well I gave up the ...Read More

Exploring personal beliefs