I’ve recently had two or more writing projects on the go at the same time. This could prove to be either very productive – or very foolhardy!

Having battled depression since the summer, I threw myself into my writing in order to take my mind off my problems and, more importantly, the people who were causing them.

To this end, I finished the first draft of a novel I’d begun a few years ago. It was a revenge novel, which fitted my mood. A comic murder mystery that I felt had great possibilities. I had three chapters completed – and envisaged there being another 27 or so to write before the novel was finished. After months of hard work I finally wrote the first draft – which had a total of 28 chapters in all. I felt a great sense of axchievement. However, now the hard work begins. Rewriting.

To quote one of my favourite playwrights, Neil Simon, “Writing is rewriting”. And that means going back to the beginning of the manuscript and reading it through, revising where and when necessary. Honing. Making it the best it can be.

At the same time as writing the novel I was commissioned to design the artwork for a book cover. Always up for a challenge, I would spend half my day writing and the other half sketching out ideas.

One of my sketches for the book cover.

I also managed to find the time to finish a Christmas play based on characters from Dickens. Written to be performed by young people or grown-ups, the new play will hopefully prove successful during the next festive season. I needed a quick cover for the play so used AI, as you can probably tell!