Iron Sharpens Iron
Art by Mona Finden
I had to take a break from the newsletter last week, but we’re back at it like we never left. Nothing huge to report, but I feel like I’m soaking up game and becoming a better writer.
How Grant? Give us the sauce…
I don’t have the answers, but I like to share my progress since it might help you on your own creative path/journey. I spent the last couple days devouring an early PDF of J. David Osborne’s War in Heaven, which is a sequel to Dying World. This is one of the coolest aspects of being a writer, getting exclusive access to manuscripts before the rest of the world does. It makes me feel like an ancient bibliophile scouring through manuscripts under candlelight.
How was it?
It’s a banger. Not really a surprise if you’ve read any of David’s past work. War in Heaven takes a diverse range of influences including Takashi Miike, spirituality, cult films, anime, and manga, and filters these through his brilliant imagination and witty sensibilities. This is sharp, wild cyberpunk that feels like a movie you can’t get enough of. Another cool aspect is being privy to his process and his growth thanks to the Broken River Group Chat. We all express our struggles, wins, obstacles, and share snippets along with asking questions to the group when we’re in a pinch. JDO talked about wanting to slow down this book, describe the world more, and describe the architecture more. He called book one aka Dying World a long guitar riff. We talked on the phone a couple nights ago after finishing the book and he explained how he studied architecture, and how he spent three hours learning the musicality of a specific Aphex Twin song for a small scene in a cop station. He’s putting in the work and it’s paying off.
I’ve been on a similar frequency, slowing down The Motorpapi Chronicles 2 and I too have been researching Spanish & Moorish architecture to make sure readers are properly immersed in New Florida. War in Heaven is so damn good, it’s motivating me and inspiring me to step my game up. This is a common occurrence in the group chat and I can feel my swords sharpening thanks to my creative brothers in arms.
Earlier this month, I was feeling cocky and speaking from a place of ego when I said writing a series is easy. It’s not. I mean in some aspects it’s more comfortable because I know the characters and I know the world, but I’m working on expanding my shortcomings as a writer. It’s not fun writing long descriptions of a building or a new land, but this is a necessary part of being a writer. Work can be fun, but it wouldn’t be called work if it didn’t come with some difficulties.
I can hear David Goggins yelling across the digital ether “Who’s going to carry the boats and the logs?”
I am, David, I am.
The first blurb for Bullet Tooth has come in from
and it made my day.I’m taking a small break from Project Bunny Bloodbath, but the ideas have been simmering and characters are becoming more defined in my head every day. A lot of my energy has been going into The Motorpapi Chronicles Book 2. I allow the muse and momentum to carry me wherever it pleases and this is the book that’s calling my attention. It’s coming out next summer so I have plenty of time.
What happened to The LV Diaries?
I’m not quite sure if it was bad planning or unforeseen circumstances. You see I’ve always been a fan of nested stories or stories within stories. My favorites are penned by Brian Lumley and Ramsey Campbell, but I feel like Tales of the Black Freighter in Watchmen is a great example of this. I’ve done this in short stories in the past, but I’ve never had the confidence or the audacity to try this in a novel. Also, I feel like it’s a chest code of packing on another 15k to 20k words into my book since my novels tend to fall on the lean side.
I eventually realized that I needed to figure out the larger narrative in the fashion horror novel because it has more of an impact on The LV Diaries itself. If I continued throwing the narrative together, I realized I would be wasting thousand of words that I have no idea will be used or not. So this will be figure out in time.
My boy Kelby is offering a Heathenish writing workshop sponsored by Broken River Academy. If you read any of his books, you know he has a treasure chest of wisdom in that tatted head of his. Sign up here.
And who knows, maybe I’ll teach a workshop one of these days…
Currently Watching: Love, Death & Robots Season 3 & Lost Season 1
Currently Reading: Full Throttle by Joe Hill & Cosmic Horror Monthly #2 & An Altar of Stories to Liminal Saints by Rios de la Luz & Unfortunate Elements of My Anatomy by Hailey Piper
Currently Smoking: Maven Cherry Gas Pre-roll
Listening: Black Tapes Podcast, The Danny Brown Podcast, The Higherside Chats
I almost forgot Majid Jordan existed until I stumbled across this fantastic single. It’s a lovely message encouraging you to stay strong and keep searching for love despite your past heartbreak. Also, I need to listen to more Naomi.
Lil Yachty has been workhorse when it comes to rapping as of late. A lot of these rappers are scared to tango with J. Cole, but I salute Boat for doing his thing. J. Cole sounds like he’s been wanting to get some shit off his chest, takes shots at the rap game, and makes you feel like he has “The Secret Recipe.”
I haven’t really been exposed to much of Fridayy’s music, but “When It Comes to You” is a sweet, tender Rnb cut. It’s the perfect backdrop for the marriage visuals we’re getting and Fridayy delivers his melodies with conviction.
Outside all summer, we spinnin/You don’t gotta take the L when you winning…
If you’re from Chicago, you probably understand the brilliance of the double entrende Frsh Waters spits at the intro of the video. The Pivot Gang General spits a nice verse while Joseph Chilliams dances across the beat both literally and figuratively.
Until next time…
Cop my books here or cop signed copies here.
Sign up for a tarot reading with me here.
For business inquiries email grantwamack@gmail.com