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Progress Report — September 2023

September 24, 2023 No Comments

Reviewing my most recent creative progress from the last few weeks…

I’ve been on something of a hiatus this month, with progress on certain projects drawing to a temporary halt. This gave me time to reflect on these projects’ direction and future, and what I plan to work on next. Some big decisions being made behind the scenes. Here’s how things have been going across September.

The Dale Hurst Writing Show

Regular visitors will probably know plenty about my podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show, which is approaching the halfway point of its third season. So far, I’ve released episodes with a diversity of guests — novelists, poets, filmmakers and publishing pros — with more of the same to come as we build up to Christmas. Speaking of which, this last couple of weeks has been spent planning the final episodes, including our festive special. Many more interesting guests to listen in on.

The main consideration for the podcast is its future… where do I take it from here? Several ideas are on the table at the moment. Currently weighing up pros and cons, and choosing over my favourites, some of which involve working with more people than just my guests. More news to come once I’ve arrived at a final decision.

You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic

The majority of August saw some of the highest productivity from me in terms of writing my war thriller novel, You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic. To the point where, based on chapters, I’m over 80% of the way through the first draft.

In September… I’m ashamed to say I’ve barely moved. It’s been a much slower month, not least due to the heat wave that coincided with a trip to Wales. However, it gave me a chance to think about what’s going to happen to the story in the re-drafting and editing process. What’s going to change. Currently, the changes could be quite extreme. Not just a different ending, but also a change to the main protagonist, which could even put the novel’s title out of commission!

Nothing is confirmed yet until I read through the draft once it’s finished. I’m just very aware that there are things I need to change off the bat.

Other projects

I have far too many ideas floating around for what to take on as my next project, following completion of You Can Hear Chopin. Not that we’re anywhere near that stage yet. But I find it helps to know what I’m moving onto next. Having gone from novel to novel to novel, with very little variety in between, I’m entertaining the idea of a more collaborative project next. So, rather than moving straight onto Book 4 — whether that’d be another standalone project or a return to Berylford — I’m thinking more along the lines of a film or play.

On the other hand, I could compile a load of poem and short story ideas into a collection and publish that instead. These ideas have been growing in number lately, and with a lack of recent success in competitions, it would be good to give them an outlet.

What would you like me to work on next? Let me know in the comments or on my socials. Like my Facebook page and Follow me on Instagram and get in touch.

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Written by: Dale Hurst
Blog

Progress Report — August 2023

August 6, 2023 No Comments

The monthly update and reflection on my creative projects…

It’s been a busy few weeks since my last progress report. So much so that I’ve had to place a couple of projects on the back burner, where they’ll sit until I have time to give them my full attention. But this leaves the question – how have I been getting on with the projects I prioritised?

The Dale Hurst Writing Show – Season 3

The big one for this month, of course, is the launch of the third season of my podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show. Having learned from previous mistakes, I started production on this back in April. Including interviewing my first guest of the series, the novelist Awais Khan. For a couple of episodes, at least, I’ve gone for a more serious vibe; discussing how to research and write more challenging themes like knife crime and honour killings. That episode kicked the season off on Thursday 3 August. Listen now if you haven’t already.

As always, I’ve loved producing the show; not least because I get to meet such interesting creative people. Whether that’s brilliant young screenwriters, experienced novelists and academics, or actors in an Italian theatre company.

You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic

While the podcast had to take precedence, I still made time to work on my ongoing first draft of You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic. For any new visitors, this is my third novel, a World War II thriller set in a Berlin hotel. In my last progress report, I mentioned that my protagonists had hit pivotal points in their arcs. My hotelier Heinrich is now making plans for a dangerous escape from the city; meanwhile his deputy manager Cordelia mourns a fallen comrade and hopes for a chance of redemption after her failures put everyone at greater risk. The stage I’m at now, is when the net is closing in.

I’ve also taken the occasion to inject a bit of true history into the storyline. I only do this sparingly in my historical works. The history should be for backdrop primarily; I would only ever use specifics when relevant to character or plot development. And so I’m including the real-life bombing of the Hotel Kaiserhof in November 1943 to advance character traits, mainly in Heinrich.

Find out more about You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic.

Other projects

As I said, I’ve had to put pins in the other work I had going on. I’m on course to finish a draft of the third book by December. But I am hoping to work on short pieces in between.

Don’t want to miss out on my latest content? Best bet is to Like my Facebook page and Follow me on Instagram.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: New Book in Progress

November 15, 2018

No Time Like the Present…

July 1, 2018

“To Err is Human…”

August 4, 2018

You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic: A Brief Overview

January 24, 2019

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The Berylford Scandals (1. Lust & Liberty, 2. Sin & Secrecy) 📚
Podcaster | The Dale Hurst Writing Show🎙️

Dale Hurst | Author
Find out what's been bubbling beneath the surface Find out what's been bubbling beneath the surface on my ongoing projects. New post for you to read now available on my website (#linkinbio)
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#writingcommunity #writersofig #creativewriting #creativesofinsta #authorscommunity #authornetwork #igbooks #bookstagram #bookaddict #writingprocess
What do authors need to send to potentially catch What do authors need to send to potentially catch @abbie_editorial 's attention? This and more on the latest edition of my podcast The Dale Hurst Writing Show! Available now on Spotify 🎧🎙️✍️📚🖋️📖
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#thedalehurstwritingshow #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #publishingadvice #publishinghouse #editorsofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcastsofig #proofreader #creativesofinsta #writeradvice
There's a lot more to publishing a book than crack There's a lot more to publishing a book than cracking out a manuscript... @abbie_editorial tells a few home truths about the publishing process in the most recent episode of The Dale Hurst Writing Show... now available to listen on Spotify 🎧🎙️📖🖋️📚✍️
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#thedalehurstwritingshow #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #publishinghouse #editorsofinstagram #proofreader #authorscommunity #writeradvice #publishingadvice #podcastersofinstagram
Been in one of my inspired mania moods lately, wit Been in one of my inspired mania moods lately, with dozens of short stories and poem ideas rattling around and currently nowhere to put them 😅😅😅
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#writerthreads #writersofinsta #writerproblems #authorscommunity #authorlife #creativewritingcommunity #creativesofinsta #amwritingfiction #shortstorywriter #poetrycommunity
New episode now available. @abbie_editorial talks New episode now available. @abbie_editorial talks us through the role of the commissioning department and how authors might get their work in front of them. Plus, my views on social media personalities... 😏😏😏
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Listen now on Spotify 🎙️✍️🖋️📖🎧
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#thedalehurstwritingshow #podcastsofig #igpodcasts #podcastaddict #writingpodcast #publishingcommunity #writeradvice #publishingadvice #proofreader #editor
Introducing my guest for the latest episode of The Introducing my guest for the latest episode of The Dale Hurst Writing Show – @abbie_editorial – who lent her expertise to discuss the role of the commissioning department within a publishing company, among other things... New episode available from this Thursday! Don't miss it! 🎙️✍️📚🖋️📖
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Catch up with the podcast on Spotify (#linkinbio)
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#thedalehurstwritingshow #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #publishinghouse #editorsofinstagram #proofreader #authorscommunity #writeradvice #publishingadvice #podcastersofinstagram
Wales (Cardiff/Caerphilly) ft. Mediaeval castles, Wales (Cardiff/Caerphilly) ft. Mediaeval castles, libraries and dragons 🏰🐉
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#exploringwales
How significant is that emotional connection to wh How significant is that emotional connection to what you're writing? Just one of the many things @bertiebrosnanfilms and I talked about in the most recent podcast. Filmmakers from aspiring to pro ought to give this episode a listen – all on Spotify 🎙️🎧🎬🎥
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Dale Hurst

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