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Returning to my first novel; exploring threads and continuity
A week ago, I finished the first act of Witness to the Forgotten. This seemed like the natural point to return to Lessons in Absence. Juggling two major works in progress can be tricky, so I think it makes sense to do them both in chunks. I had spent just over a month working on…
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I’ve finished the first act of my latest WIP, now what?
Should I ask for advice from the people I trust? Should I ask them to evaluate what I’ve written? No, actually. I shouldn’t. This is exactly not what I should be doing at this juncture. Sure, it’d be lovely to see what people think and if they’d be interested in finding out where I’m going…
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Writing two male protagonists: keeping them separate
As I’ve written the first two chapters of my new story “When Sunday Ended”, I started thinking about the fact that both novels that I’m currently working on contain a male protagonist. Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. What I’m getting at is that I’ve encountered a new challenge in my writing. I need…
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I’ve been told I can wallpaper my house with these!
That’s right, I got my first rejection email yesterday. I was on my way to see Toy Story 5 with my wife and children, and just before we entered the nearly-empty Screen 6, I got a lovely email from the editorial administrator of a well-known Irish publisher. I quickly glanced at it, told my wife…
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A story taking shape
When I last wrote here about my new story idea, it was mainly just a concept. Now, I’ve written a whopping two scenes! Yes, two! At this stage it could have been more, but the awful heat we’re experiencing in Ireland right now does not a productive writing environment make. So much for making loads…
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Another novel in the works
I was at Mass last Sunday and my mind very briefly wandered. During my distraction, I thought about a future world where religious practices had disappeared, and only existed within historical archives. I thought about what a disruption to such a society would look like. And so began the idea for my second novel. Yes,…
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Poetry as a new beginning
Last week, I spotted a post on the Irish Writers Centre website about a competition for their anthology. Winners will have their piece featured. I hadn’t given poetry real consideration up until that point, so I sat on my new chair and thought about what was current for me. I settled on a topic which…
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My long-term writing setup
Up until now, my writing setup has been my laptop tray which I bought in Lidl one January, and my couch, with an optional cushion for my free arm. It’s served me well and I’ve achieved a lot with it. It’s not always ideal when I need a bit of quiet time. The time has…
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Finishing the first act
As I’m writing this post, I’m taking a quick break from writing the final scene in the first act of Lessons in Absence. I’ve written the opening, and the rest of what will become the scene will wrap up the first third of a project I toyed with the idea of just over ten years…
Darragh Ó Bradáin 