Horror Writer

1st of May 2023

Peter Germany Health, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Lifestyle, Men’s Mental Health, Mental Health, Sci-Fi, Writer, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Howdy folks! How are we all doing?

I have written 2241 words today. I started about 9am and finished a little after midday. A damn good start to the month.

I didn’t deliberately take a break from blogging the last week or so, it’s just been busy away from writing. I had other areas of life where i had to prioritise so writing at those times takes a step back. Today, very much back on track though. I’ve generally been working towards getting back in the habit of writing before work and during my break, which I’ll be focussing some energy on continuing. This has worked well for me in the past and I’d like to build on that, mainly getting more consistent with it. Then the plan his to come home and knock out more words. I know I can do it, but I need to get that consistency. That, I think, is the difference between someone just playing around and someone who wants to make something of their passion.

One of my big faults when it comes to writing is how I’ll back off when other areas of my life are taking more energy than normal. There are times when I don’t write and I’m happy not to be writing, when I have my little for example. Then my focus is on her and it’s one of the few times when I don’t think about writing at all. But those times aren’t like when I’ve got a lot on my plate. Last week for example my Dad was in hospital (he’s home now), so that’s where I put my attention. But even around visiting etcetera I still had plenty of time where I could have written more than I did. I’ve got myself into a mindset where I think I haven’t got the energy, but that’s bollocks quite simply. It’s giving my self-doubt an out. Which I hate because it’s letting doubt win. And bollocks to that as well.

Writing is therapy for me. It helps my mental health in all the good ways, and my self-doubts know that. So it’s trying to stop me from helping myself in more than just making fiction. I need to get that reaffirmed in my head and get back on track again. Today is the start I needed. Tomorrow I’m at work, but I’ll have time after work. I set myself a goal at the start of the year of writing no less than twenty-five days a month, and for at least half an hour. I should be doing that easily! So Peter, you doughnut, get it done!

Hospital waiting area words.

Good Morning! 19/4/23

Peter Germany Gaming, Horror, Horror Writer, Sci-Fi, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning folks. Just a quick little post to get the day off and running.

Monday I wrote a little over 1400 words and yesterday I wrote just over 800 words. All of which were on War Child.

I also completed Halo:Combat Evolved yesterday as well. Damn that was a lot harder than I remembered. I’ve not played Halo since it first come out and it was so much fun! The way they remastered it all is beautiful. I’ll post some pictures comparing the two versions soon, because you could play the remastered one with the original graphics.

Right, I’m about to start my day job. Have an awesome day, folks!

11th April 2023

Peter Germany Editing, Horror, Horror Writer, Sci-Fi, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good evening, Ive written 1439 words on War Child today and edited a short story today.

What I wrote feels a little messy but its progressing the story well, building up character and atmosphere.

After I wrote I played a little GTAO and then got stuck into Halo again. I’m so glad I’m replaying this game. The vibe it has, the story telling as well as the game play is filling me with an excitement for a game I’ve not felt in a long time. GTAO is okay, but it’s easy. I’m nearing level 500 now and have pretty much everything in the game possible. So playing a game that I’m having to think hard about is firing some neurones that haven’t been been lit for a while.

Right, I’m off to wind down for the night. Have an awesome one, folks!

Sunday 9th of April 2023

Peter Germany Cat, Editing, Gaming, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Lifestyle, Outlining, Planning, Sci-Fi, TV, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Howdy, folks! How are we all?

I wrote 980 words today on War Child. I’ve come to realise I’m essentially working on a second draft. Not quite writing it from scratch but I have rewritten the first couple of scenes. It’s a case of it being easier to do this than it is to add in the details I need to. Starting War Child during last years NaNoWriMo was a good idea as it got the story off the ground, but it has also hampered it. Where I was writing a bit here and a bit there a lot of the time I wasn’t able to be as deep with it as it needs to be. At the moment it feels like NaNo served as an in-depth outline for the story. It helped me get an idea of the story I want to tell, and how broad it is turning out to be. I think I’ve said in previous posts that I was loosely planning three books, a trilogy that would tell this story. Well, where book one was originally meant to end is a long, long ways off. At the moment I think this is going to be a good five book series, which I think I got overwhelmed by. Even now I feel like the scale of this is too big for me to get my head around. I think this has led to me not working on it too much since the start of the year, but that time has given me time to process what I need to do to get this first book done.

Dizzy doing what cats do 🙄

Watching the science fiction I have recently has given me a lot of ideas, as has diving back into the Halo video game series. I spent a fair chunk of yesterday afternoon replaying the first game, and boy had I forgotten how good it was. I’m playing the Master Chief collection which is remastered and damn it looks good. Plays fantastic too (I’d forgotten how hard those damn Warthogs are to drive though!). I’d not really played any game aside from GTA for quite some time, so I was worried the different game mechanics would have a negative effect. But thankfully they didn’t and I really got stuck in. It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to playing it again in the next few days.

To make sure I don’t get distracted by it, I won’t be gaming until I’m done with any bits and pieces at home I need to do, and I’ve written. I’m going to be starting kind of small with it, a scene a day for example. But I’m hoping that I’ll get into a flow with the story and this will increase each time I sit down to write.

4th of April 2023

Peter Germany Horror, Horror Writer, Insperation, Movies, Sci-Fi, TV, Video Games, Writing , , , , , , , , , ,

Good evening, folks! I’ve written 476 words on War Child today. First words this month. I was a little disheartened after I accidentally deleted 1200 words from the story last week. My own mistake and one I won’t be repeating.

I feel like I’ve got a decent path to travel at the moment with this story. I can see what needs to be done and hopefully I’m going to be able to get well stuck into it over the next few weeks.

I am getting into some research for War Child. Watching military science-fiction shows and films, and listening to them too. I’m focused on the Halo world at the moment. I’m also about to start a rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. Although I’m taking ideas from these it’s more a vibe I’m hoping I get from them. I feel I’ve got a decent tone for War Child building. So I want to be careful with how I proceed.

Right, I’m off for the night. Have an awesome one, folks!

Words Were Wrangled

Peter Germany Health, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning folks! It is early here in the UK as I’m about to start a shift at my day job. I’m not near awake despite the amount of sleep I’ve had recently. For the last week I’ve been hit with some bug which has knocked me off my feet. I’m finally feeling a little better but still very tired.

This has meant I’ve not been writing. I’ve got next to nothing done this month but I did manage to get my arse in gear yesterday and cracked some words out.

I think I’ve figured out what I’ve got to do with War Child as well. I’m not going to go into details but I hope I’m going in the right direction with it now.

Thankfully I am beginning to feel a lot better. Once I’ve been finishing work this last week I’ve been crashing out, but each day feels a little less like I need to just pass out when I get home. So hopefully I’m well past the worst of it.

22/3/23

Peter Germany Horror, Horror Writer, Sci-Fi, Writing , , , , , ,

Good evening folks! How are we all?

I’ve written 816 words on War Child today. They came pretty easy and straight forward. As I’ve previously said, this story has a lot of moving parts to it that I need to get just right. It’s definitely a small steps project at the moment.

I’ve got a light work rota the next few days so I’m gonna try and get stuck into some of the scenes that are bouncing around my head.

This blue notebook is my bible for War Child. Since I started this draft this is where all the brainstorming has taken place. Character details, plot points, and much more.

21/2/23

Peter Germany Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Sci-Fi, Writing , , , , , , , ,

Howdy folks, just a quick post tonight. I’ve written 476 words today. I overlaid after a late shift yesterday and had an errand to run this morning. So not a great days writing but some good progress made on War Child.

It’s good working in War Child again, the little break I’ve had from it has done me the world of good. It’s let me reflect on some of the bits and pieces that I need to work on.

Right, have an awesome one folks!

16th of February 2023

Peter Germany Cat, Editing, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Sci-Fi, Writing , , , , , , , ,

Howdy, folks! Just a quick one tonight. I finished the final read through of Black Blood on Monday, having smashed out a 10k words in editing. It’s nice having it done, but now it’s on the shelf until I have the cash to get it edited or find a publisher to submit too.

There’s not much else to report, I’m stepping back into War Child. I’ve had some good thinking time on it, and I’m looking forward to getting back into it. I’ve also started work on a little flash fiction piece. Just kind of a palate cleanser, I fancy doing something a little different to what I’ve been working on for a while. Lots of science-fiction with touches of horror, so I kinda want to get into something to make skin craw, from the inside. But it’ll probably end up being a bloodbath with lots of gore. We’ll see how it goes.

Right, have an awesome one, folks! You all rock!

10k words edited in a day is about my max.
Raven’s found a new seat 🙄
War Child, been running around my brain since 2017 ☺️

9th of February 2023

Peter Germany Cat, Editing, Horror, Horror Writer, Writing , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve got a nice little bit of momentum going the last few days. It’s nice having my desktop set up. The laptop (which I’m working on now) is good and a darn good work horse, but having a decent sized screen, a little closer to eye height it making it a damn site easier. I’m getting more done in a smaller slot of time, despite kitty interference, and it’s feeling good and energised.

At this rate Black Blood will be wrapped up soon and then it’ll be onto the next project, which’ll likely be getting a first draft of the serial killer collection done.

I’ve not done much practical work on War Child, but its been popping in and out of my head. I’m slowly wrapping my hands around what I need to do, I just need to sit down and get some of these thoughts scribbled down.

Right, I need to get my head down. An early start tomorrow.

Have a good one, folks!