CommonPlace #1: December 2024

Introduction

Welcome to my first newsletter!

This is going to be a monthly post, updating you all on my writing progress, the books I’ve been reading, the things I’ve been learning, and the content I’ve created.

I intend for it to go out on the 13th of every month.

Why the 13th?

Well, it’s a tribute to the person who I consider my artistic hero (iykyk).

And the reason it’s called CommonPlace?

Because that’s how I feel: commonplace. Nothing worth noting. Nothing spectacular. Nothing unusual.

I am, however, an eclectic reader and learner. I have scattered interests across many fields: english literature, creative writing, politics, history, sociology… The list goes on. I’ve heard several names for what I am: a multipotentialite, a renaissance person, jack of all trades…

Regardless of what you call it, this idea (for me, anyway) is connected to the idea of the commonplace book. A place to collect all your ideas and sources of knowledge. A place to put everything together and create something new.

So that’s what this space on the internet is for me: a kind of commonplace book. A place where I can be as disparate as I like, as scattered as I need to be. And the thing that will connect it all is my creative writing.

I find that creative writing allows me to bring together most of the things I love to learn about, and so it’s the thing I’m the most passionate about. This newsletter aims to chronicle my journey of writing, and finally publishing, too.

Writing

This first month, as there isn’t really a single month to reflect on, I thought I would share the status of the projects I’m currently working on.

As those of you who have watched my vlogs know, I’m working on a contemporary fantasy (hopefully) trilogy, based on the idea of the witch trials, which should be coming out in 2025.

The first book is called Fire Witch, but I haven’t revealed the titles for the other two books yet.

Here are their statuses:

• Fire Witch: currently in developmental edits

• Book 2: rough draft

• Book 3: rough draft

The other project I’m working on is A Scribe of Secrets and Shadows, which I’m publishing serially here on Substack. Publication will begin 5th January 2025.

This won’t be going through such heavy edits as the Fire Witch trilogy, at least not until it’s published in book form in 2026. It’s more of a draft that you’re getting to read early.

I intend for it to be 13 episodes, each with 4 chapters, so the story arc will stretch over the calendar year.

At the moment, here’s where I’m up to:

• Episode 1: drafted

• Episode 2: chapter 1 drafted

In future editions of CommonPlace, I might add in my word count for the month on each project.

Reading

I’m going to use this spot to recommend books I’ve read during the month, as well as any others that have popped up on my radar. I’ll always tell you which ones I have actually read, and which I’m recommending based on the blurb, etc.

As there’s no single month this time, here are a few books I’ve loved from 2024:

1. One for my Enemy by Olivie Blake

2. The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey

3. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

4. The Disappearance of Vanessa Shaw by Sarra Cannon

5. Making It So by Patrick Stewart

6. Threadneedle by Cari Thomas

Learning

I’ve recently been reading a book on Victorian upper class social etiquette. It’s called Elegant Etiquette in the Nineteenth Century, and it’s by Mallory James. I started reading it because the protagonist of A Scribe of Secrets and Shadows, Spencer Hope, is a member of the Victorian upper class, and I wanted to do some research on how she would have been expected to behave, and where she may have fit into the social hierarchy of the time.

I’m about halfway through, and I’m finding it fascinating (I also wish I could find a handbook to guide me through the expectations of 21st century social etiquette as well!).

Some interesting facts from the book:

• The definition of who would be included in the gentry broadened towards the end of the century to include anyone who was extremely wealthy (it was previously limited to barons and knights, and their families).

• Spending time with “intellectuals” was considered benefitcial, but only on a limited basis. This was because “intellectuals” were too far removed from daily life to be beneficial company for those of an “average intellect”. (I just found this amusing!)

• When out in public, a gentleman should not greet a lady until she acknowledges him first, unless they have a long-standing and intimate relationship. (If only this was standard practice now…)

Creating

Again, there’s no single month to round up, so here are the last two vlogs I’ve published on my YouTube channel, in which I’m dealing with getting the developmental edits back for Fire Witch:

The other thing of note that I’ve published recently is the trailer for A Scribe of Secrets and Shadows. I published this here on Substack as well as on my YouTube.

Conclusion

Leaning into the dark academia vibes I love so much, I’m going to call the end of this newsletter the conclusion.

I’m finishing this off on the night it’s published — Friday 13th. I’ve had a long day, and I just want to end by saying this: know your worth, stand up for yourself, and don’t let a bad day derail a good plan.

Until next time, keep writing, reading, learning and creating.

V A Winter