Tag: work in progress

Writing in the Cold – What am I working on?

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

I hope you are having a great season. It’s cold and wet here. I’m enjoying a regular writing schedule again after some time away from it. After all, what is being a writer if not writing!

Well the projects I was working on, namely Beach Town: Survivors [Part II] have ended up being a little longer than expected and I’m not finished yet. Yesterday I took the decision to kill off a few characters in rapid succession – quite a distress I must say. Given the story a novel would have been a possibility. It’s got a focus on two groups this time, both surviving through the day with various consequences. We can see from the fact that it’s the end of the world that it has turned people both crazy and stupid. Maybe that’s what it’s about, just people and the struggles they go through.

All that blood and guts doesn’t end there though. I hoped to release it before the end of the year but it’s quite likely to be in the new year when I release it. As always your support of the work is greatly appreciated in the form of downloading and reviewing on release. I have to finish the story and then edit. Apologies for taking longer than expected. It’s still planned to be a mini series, with Part III estimated now for a spring release.

I already have a new year goal to finish some of my work in progress novels. I’ll tell you why – because then I’ll have more stories to share with you. It’s not that they aren’t stories I believe in that has caused me not to finish, it’s simply me switching to different things and taking time from writing them. Also, I don’t publish everything, so when I have something that I want to publish I take a very different approach to it; more detailed writing and editing, more feedback, more cuts and edits etc.

Talk about writers procrastinating.

So many people want to write and following a brief post I made yesterday I believe anyone who writes a story to be a writer. Published or self published or not, you write a story you are a writer. I don’t like seeing people online getting discouraged because they share their story to find people call them aspiring writers. Sure the title of author is a little different, and published author makes you think of the big cats raking in millions. IN general though, you are a writer even if you finish just one story. Keep at it.

There’s a wide range of resources available online. The following link provides a general guide to actually starting a story:

https://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-start-a-story/#:~:text=Here%20are%20the%20steps%20for%20how%20to%20start,the%20first%20chapter%20on%20a%20cliffhanger%20More%20items

This link provides tips to actually writing a novel, a bigger more in depth task than a shorter story:

https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-novel/

Thanks for reading this short post!

You can navigate to my author page from this link too where you can find my other books.

Weekly Roundup!

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison
  1. Introduction
  2. Fist Fighting the Undead Continues on Medium!
  3. Pre-Order/add to library – Beach Town: Survivors now!
  4. Beach Town: Survivors coming to Kindle 29th August! Pre-order!
  5. Beach Town: Hope – Now Free on Smashwords!

Introduction

It’s been a hot summer week. Lots has happened and I’ve been writing tons, editing a lot and preparing for an exciting release. It peaked at 30c here today so a far cry from all the heat warnings. Might I add, England could do with a heatwave, but instead the media has instilled more fear upon the masses! Just let us enjoy ourselves!

As you know I’m writing a novella called Dead Reckoning. A completely different kind of horror story than the usual zombocalypse stuff. To aim for a summer release is ambitious but doable at the rate I’m writing it. Of course I need to take account of editing which takes the longest time. Any alpha or beta readers here, then comment below if you’re interested!

I spent a few hours yesterday reading at a cafe in the sun, which was lovely. I went last Saturday too, and might just make my Saturday the day to do that! How did you spend the day?

I wish I could keep up with all your incredible writings and events but life is hectic sometimes you know? How’s things for you?

Fist Fighting the Undead Continues on Medium!

View at Medium.com

Pre-Order/add to library – Beach Town: Survivors now!

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Beach Town: Survivors coming to Kindle 29th August! Pre-order!

Beach Town: Hope – Now Free on Smashwords!

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Final Cover

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

I decided to go and use the new font for the cover which I prefer. The title is in a shade of yellow, to reflect the tone of the sand on the beach. The cover stands in stark contrast to the story; it is calm and tranquil whilst the survivors are learning how to stay alive some months into the zombie apocalypse which has ravaged the town. Of course the island is now overrun and there is no way out since the bridge to the adjacent island and city is blown!

At the end of Beach Town: Hope we see the rescue team evacuate some of the survivors to the city (if you haven’t read the story then please go and grab a copy) however to those who did read, we know that did not work out so well at all. Not to mention the city is completely swamped with undead… but that is for another novel, which may be the 3rd, but everything is top secret. You will have to enjoy the Survivors stories in between the novels. I think it is a great way to show you some of the horrific things that have been happening in town since the outbreak.

The change in font and style was due to the other looking too ‘good.’ It is the zombie apocalypse and the new font I believe has a worn down feel, and kind of looks like someone painted it. Do you agree? Almost as if the survivors themselves painted it before they ran off into a horde of the undead… I am also looking for people to review this once it is ready to publish.

You can see the new font, and the use of a shade of yellow on the title. I like the glow as it stands out, it also looks like a painted sign almost.

New Novella – Back Cover

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

I’ve finished writing the story and now I am moving onto the editing phase. You’ve already seen the front cover 👇 so now you get to see the back cover. Remember you will all be able to read for free once it is out.

I understand that digital books or eBooks don’t tend to have back covers but I plan to put it at the end of the story anyway. It just makes it look better. Plus this gives you an idea about what it is about. I suppose critique on the blurb would be very useful.

Beach Town~ [Paradise Gone Apocalyptic] – Joys of Writing

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Welcome to the site of Psychedelic Wizard and author T. I appreciate all you following me, liking and commenting. You are all an inspiration to this humble soul.

I want to talk briefly about writing, specifically the joys of writing. The best part of publishing my novels was getting to see the covers. I think that really makes you feel good, because you know all the hard work is about to pay off as you release your work to the world.

I also seriously enjoyed writing the Beach Town novels. I do have another started, which I had to put on hold last year. I didn’t plan on writing more than one novel in Beach Town, but actually I found the island and the town and the people to be fascinating. I cannot believe what they have been through. It took over a year for the first novel to be written, and a lot longer to go from first draft to published. Then after publishing that, I had already started writing the 2nd book – Hope – in Summer 2019. I finished writing it around 9 months later and then spent a few more months editing and arranging book cover design. If you recall I was trying to push for October but ended up releasing in November 2020. I would have published the 3rd by now if I actually wrote it. But, I haven’t yet. We are now in 2022 and I feel like I should have at least wrote the 3rd book. I managed to start two other novels in 2020 but never got round to finishing them either. Sounds like excuses to be honest.

The back cover of my book! You can see the island of Beach Town, or more accurately, the beach shoreline. Fantastic picture. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beach-Town-Hope-Thomas-Maxwell-Harrison-ebook/dp/B08MPCNHSM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MWHE739TINSG&keywords=beach+town+hope&qid=1645826849&sprefix=beach+town+hope%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1 The best part of finishing a novel is getting to see the cover.

But, I will finish the 3rd novel and I will do my best to make it the ultimate zombie fan dream. Not only has it already started as extremely dark and frightening, but the novel is going to be a rollicking thriller of adventure and survival. No spoilers my darlings.

Aside from seeing the finished book, the best part for me is the creative stage. The first draft, because that is where all the magic happens. Then comes the editing, which can also be magical and gives you a chance to sand the rough edges of your foundation. I find in the editing phase that actually more interesting thoughts come to me on what I should do with the scene. My second book had around 4 drafts before publishing. I think. I also made it exclusive to Amazon. As an indie self published author I do feel like it is hard to get the reviews. For some reason people leave negative feedback and I just know that they most likely didn’t read the book. But I don’t read reviews now, once was enough.

What do you think of writing? Do you enjoy it? Leave a like, comment and follow or reblog to show your continued support for this site.

A positive, happy song with beach vibes. Bald man, big energy. Made me think of sea waves.

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Loving Me, Loving You.

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

I have purchased the domain psychedelicwizard.org. It will not appear in the address bar unless I pay for a premium plan, which is £15 per month. I am considering it, but I think getting the domain was a good move, as the .uk and .co.uk versions had already been taken, which I found quite frustrating. But usually I am laid back and relaxed with no tensions.

How are you this evening? I managed to watch Thunderball, one of the better James Bond movies. Sean Connery era really was great and the movies still stand up. I don’t know how to feel about the last James Bond, No Time To Die, other than the ending left me not-very-happy with the studios and writers. By now, the movies are literally big adverts and nothing more, which is a shame. As back in the 60s, the movies rocked. They rocked right until 2006 Casino Royal, and 2012 Skyfall. The only 2 decent movies from Daniel Craig which I honestly enjoyed. Let’s move on before I get a throbbing, raging ego of things-to-say.

Loving me, loving you. Following the most over rated theme of all time, love, which is dangerous and annoying. Why is love this sacred revered sanctimonious load? It hurts and kills people, makes people go crazy, hurt themselves, to act weird and spend money on useless junk that neither of the couple will keep, unless in a long term relationship. Why are people bending over backwards, working out 7 days a week, wearing tight woman pants doing yoga in the hope their fit bodies attracts someone for what… love? Listen up kids it’s about to get real, love is a lie and it is a waste of time, try and put more effort into eating healthy and enjoying life. It will save you the heart ache which will be a complete waste of time. Unless it works out, which might be because you didn’t focus on love, but the relationship.

Today’s poem is called: Love is the not love 

Love the burning ashes on your skin

black clouds that form across white wash water

a dim candle blown out in the wind

slap across the face, is love in action

or the inaction of inedible bodily flesh permeating

lackluster romance nonsense in the rim of your jar of jam

no love on my plate

so you sit and stare, hand me a cold tea

Writing Morning – Hello!

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Good morning fellow writers! I hope you are enjoying the rising of spring. Here in England it is sunny, warming up by the hour and the trees are finally getting the leaves back. I am sat here now on my laptop and in the sun coming through my apartment window. I drink tea from a glass. I have no radio or tv in the background. For the last few hours since about 5am I have been writing.

This morning has been a writing morning for sure. Not just any session though, it was the start of a new romance novel and so far I have managed to write 8000 words, no I am not kidding you. It took me just over 3 hours. I didn’t even pay attention to the time and this is why: because this story is coming naturally to me, I can see so many things, so many characters and their lives and motivations and what scares them and I know what the story is about. At its core, the story is a love story, hence I categorised it as romance.

I don’t usually write love or romance novels or stories, but I will include those elements into my other works. However this story that has come to me is too powerful not to write. I would say the ease of typing it out is due to the fact I can see it clearly. This is indeed a rare moment, especially for me. I would write and write until I could do not more, either because I cannot see a way forward, or because I am bored. That rarely happens. This is a story which I want to tell and more importantly, is touching and pulling on my heartstrings if I am honest. It is about a mans life after his relationship leaves him devastated. Learning to live again, he soon discovers truth.

What are you writing today? Do you believe in love? Why? I will reiterate the importance of a writing goal or schedule in order to increase you productivity and creativity. It fosters good clear routines and can help to maintain motivation. Writing does not have to be confined to one project. I would recommend more than one thing to focus on, so you could write on wordpress, part of you novel, some poetry, maybe a diary. A writer needs to write and developing the habit sooner rather than later will make you more confident, and makes it easier to crank out all those words.

*Update – I have finished my writing session at just under 10,000 words. Incredible work in 5 hours.**

The Resistance…

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Urquhart Castle – Loch Ness – Highlands of Scotlands. 

The coldest wind,
the lightest touch,
they hold onto each other,
each other a rock,
and the breeze may freeze them
and they may fall,
but they all, have to adore,
the world they have created,
the world they have berated,
a soldier dawned into an apocalypse,
apocalypse so random,
those zombies can't stand up to,
Resistance.

A new location I have decided to add to my Work In Progress zombie apocalypse novel. Urquhart Castle, the site of the resistance…one site…the other is Appleby Castle, you may recall from a previous poem.