A Day in the Life of a Writer (Or Something Like It)

Today is earmarked as a full-on writing day. Storms are forecast, so there's a perfectly good excuse to stay indoors. Although, knowing my luck, I'll probably have to venture out to the shops just when the heavens decide to open.
Last week was a bit of a write-off. Life had other ideas, and my manuscript was left languishing while I attended to more pressing matters. The good news is that whenever I managed to grab a little writing time, the words flowed nicely, and the new story is beginning to take shape. Whether it's taking shape in the right direction remains to be seen!
My essential writing equipment? A computer, plenty of water and copious cups of tea. The tea is particularly important. I'm not convinced it improves the quality of my writing, but it certainly gives me something to do while I'm thinking.
People often ask where I get my story ideas. That's a good question. If I knew, I'd bottle the stuff and sell it.
Ideas simply appear from nowhere. A little glimmer of something catches my attention, and before I know it, I'm tapping away at the keyboard. No plot, no carefully constructed storyline, no chapter-by-chapter plan. I just start writing and let the characters take it from there. Sometimes they behave themselves. Sometimes they take the story somewhere I hadn't anticipated. Occasionally, I suspect they're deliberately winding me up.
I asked ChatGPT to describe my writing style, and apparently it's understated, believable, character-driven, with a touch of British humour.
Well, there's a compliment if ever I heard one. I'm rather pleased with that description. It suggests I might actually know what I'm doing, even if I haven't the faintest idea where the story is going!
Of course, there's one small problem. Writing the books is the easy part. Getting people to know they exist, let alone persuading them to buy one, is an entirely different kettle of fish.
Marketing. Now there's a plot I haven't quite mastered!
But here's where you can help. If you enjoy a good mystery, murder, a little supernatural mischief, and characters who occasionally have a mind of their own, why not take a look at my books?
The Ashmarsh Series combines British detective fiction with ghost stories, urban fantasy, murder and mystery. There's intrigue, a little magic, and the occasional twist to keep you guessing.
If that sounds like your kind of reading, I'd love you to give my books a try. And if you've already read one, a review on Amazon or Goodreads would be very much appreciated. Word of mouth is an author's best friend, and it costs nothing to tell someone you've enjoyed a good book.
Who knows? You might even enjoy them enough to want the next one!
Right, enough shameless self-promotion. I've had my tea, my water, and my little break. Back to the manuscript. After all, I need to write another book to sell you!