Help! Need to get out of my Reading and Writing Slump!

Hi Peeps

Hope everyone is well and enjoyed the Easter weekend.

I had a great time up in Scotland.  I may post some of the photos in the next few days.

This post is a plea for help as I am stuck in both a reading slump and more importantly a writing slump.

At the moment I am reading Malice by John Gwynne, which I'm enjoying immensely, as it reminds me of reading a David Gemmell novel.  Yet it is different too.  Sadly I've been reading this since the end of February and only the second book I've read this year.  Although I am getting to some juicy bits, so think I will have finished the book this week.

My Writing slump is worse.  Other than writing on this blog, I haven't written since last year.  I've still to finish my ghost story "The Cubbyhole", which I started in 2016!  I also started a sci-fi novel in 2017 but got no further.

I think my main problem is my crisis of confidence.  I keep thinking I'm not good enough and maybe should go back to college or similar to get A-Level English and a creative writing qualification.

What do you guys suggest?

One thing I think I need to do is start attending Cleckheaton Writing Group again so I'm with fellow writers.  Maybe I need to go to more writing/author events too. 

Oh how I'm missing Edge-lit - that was the perfect Con to meet authors and fellow writers.

Anyway - if you have any suggestions on getting out of my slumps - in particular my writing slump add me a message in the comments.

Thanks

Neil x

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Film Review (Spoilers)

Hi Folks and fellow Geeks

Went to see Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at the weekend.  The sequel to the 2020 original has come out quickly to say there are a lot of visual effects.  This is because there are 2 new animated characters in the film.  Tails and Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba).

The film starts with Dr Robotnik, (Jim Carrey who again steals the film) finding a way off the mushroom planet that Sonic stranded him on at the end of the last film.  He meets Knuckles who is also after Sonic as he believes Sonic can lead him to a powerful emerald. Obviously Dr Robotnik sticks with Knuckles so he can take the emerald and have ultimate power.

Tails has seen what is happening from his own planet and arrives to help Sonic as he is a fanboy.

In the meantime Sonic's adopted family Tom and Maddie (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter) leave Sonic alone to visit Maddies sister Rachel and attend her island wedding.

What follows is one big chase film with Dr Robotnik and Knuckles chasing Sonic and Tails and finding the powerful emerald.

Overall  -  the film is good with great visuals and action scenes. Again Jim Carrey is brilliant.  Although at the end his body is missing which makes me wonder if he'll be back for a third as he recently announced his retirement from acting.  It would be a shame if he wasn't involved.  The end does tease the baddie for the third film - Shadow, the evil Sonic clone.  I feel that would be similar to this film where Knuckles was the antagonist, then became good.

There is a huge boring scene in the middle of the film at Rachel's wedding where the man she is marrying is undercover for the FBI and he is just marrying her to capture Sonic, yet she hardly sees Sonic and lives at the other side of the country so that didn't make sense at all.  The ending also was all over the place and felt rushed. Like the writers ran out of ideas.

Bels Score   -  8.5/10

My Score      -  8/10

April 2022 - Update!

 

Hi Folks

Not much to update you on. March went too fast.

As it is, I'm still job searching. Hopefully something in publishing although I've no experience in that sector. Any ideas?

Writing wise is still the same - I've not written anything yet, although I've planned to enter some competitions later in the year.  April will be the month I start writing.

Reading wise - I'm still reading Malice by John Gwynne and hope to finish that and it's sequel Valour by May.

Well short and sweet like me 

Chat soon x

Neil