All posts filed under: Features

Sneaky peak of Confession – A Sin-Eater Collective Novella.

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As I prepare to release the second book in the Sin-Eater Collective I’ve found myself looking back fondly on the creation of my debut novella which was released in March 2020. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, or where the journey would take me. What it did was reinforce in my mind the only career I want is that of a professional author. It might take a decade or two to get there. It may never happen, but I’ll never give up trying and I’ll always look back at Confession with a warm smile for the role it played in getting me moving. After the success of last weeks free giveaway which saw the novella reach the Number 2 spot in the Top 100 Free Occult Horror Best Seller’s List on Amazon I thought I’d revisit a post I made here in February 2020. Back then I shared a snippet of the first chapter, but I decide tonight to share the whole first chapter. Being so early in my career I can …

3 lessons from writing my debut novella Confession

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When I was putting together my debut novella Confession, I spent a lot of time experimenting. The whole purpose of the story was for me to play. I wrote for my enjoyment and, to paraphrase Marie Kondo, if a section or action didn’t spark joy for me as the creator I cut it. Or rewrote it. Confession was born from one need. The need to finish a story. To take a tale from beginning to end and see what there was to see on the journey.  Confession isn’t the first story I’ve written. Far from it, but it is the first one I’ve taken through the drafting process to actually finish it. Confession, put simply, is here because I wanted to see if I could do it. And I think I have. Writing the book, I came across three key lessons that will stand me in good stead for future writing projects. I wanted to discuss them briefly here:

A Sneak Peek of Confession by M.R Cullen

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The editing of my eBook, Confession, is rapidly drawing to a close in preparation for the release on Friday, March 13th, 2020. In the next week or so pre-orders will open, and I have to say I’m a little nervous. Actually, that would be an understatement. I’m starting to feel like a proper, grown-up writer and my moods are swaying between absolute confidence and ‘omg what am I doing?’ So, what am I up to today? I thought I’d give you a slight taste of the first chapter – not all of it, just a taste. This is the first 1,700 words of Chapter one. I hope you enjoy it. And, if you do make sure you stick around for the pre-order launch next week.

Fallen

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I wrote this short story last month for the Furious Fiction writing competition at the Australian Writers’ Centre. It didn’t place, but that’s okay. It was my first attempt at entering any sort of competition so that’s all good. Besides, it means I can share it with you. If you’d like to check out the winning and recommended stories from October’s Furious Fiction click on the hyperlink. There are some fab stories there for you to read. Mike

Local Mattress Salesman Hits the Big Time (short story)

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It’s been many a long day since I last posted in here, I had no idea. Quick update: Still sober, still cigarette free, still working from home so not much has changed in the last 2 years. I have been working on my novel, and I’m currently undertaking the Art of Storytelling Masterclass led by Neil Gaiman on Masterclass.com. This little story was one of the writing exercises. With it, you had to take a favourite fairy/folk tale and re-write it from the perspective of a different character as a newspaper article. The story I chose was The Princess and the Pea and the article is written, from the perspective of the mattress salesman who gets an order for 20 luxury feather mattresses to be delivered to the palace. Hope you enjoy, Mike The short story, Local Mattress Salesman Hits the Big Time, is after the cut.