Stephen Hanrahan

I pulled a muscle in my back. That’s not fun so this week I fell off the exercise program I was doing because even sitting hurt. Careful of your back you screw that up you screw up everything. I am getting better but I’m still very stiff. doing lighter yoga sessions than what I started the year doing. I am just trying to loosen my hips and stop the pain.

Writing/Editing

I have like four novels written but I have always been very hesitant when it comes to editing them. In that, I am terrified and have no idea what I am doing. So many writing guides put a lot into the planning stages and nothing into editing. It is not like there is a common formal process for taking your ok first draft and polishing it into a working story. Even stephen kings advice is very short second draft = first draft – 10%

So I have read the story grid. a very repetitive book that ends with a summary of the silence of the lambs. but I can see how it will help with the editing. Identifying the weak scenes and catching continuity errors. one thing I need a lot of the time with creative things is a process to follow. and it is giving me the confidence to get started on this mammoth task of editing the two books of a series I have written. (and also putting together a story bible so I stop randomly renaming characters and places.

Art

I am less focused on drawing this year. Instagram doesn’t really show my art to anybody. I think this is in part because I draw a lot of naked queer men. So not exactly high on the algorithms list of things everyone needs to see. there are artists with a lot of followers after years of work and some kind of black magic. I draw for me and my anyway amusement.

One thing I am doing is following tutorials from the draw like a boss book. a Kickstarter I backed like 5 years ago but was then intimidated by what is basically a giant drawing tome. [insert image]

But here is the art I did put up I should add it all to deviant art or Twitter I guess. maybe a better place for me. I’m, not a great social media person.

anyway here is January’s pictures. one thing I did try is neurographic drawing that’s the one with the ugly colours and vague man shape. worth looking into its kind of relaxing. but then so is drawing.

Music

The big thing this year is music. I have my Grade 8 cello exam planned for near Christmas. But also I have started writing music. after following some composition courses online last year i have written nearly 10. I am going to publish them on the site but here are a few i did this month.