I’ve spewed up a couple of thousand words in the last few weeks. It doesn’t sound like much but Christ: I feel as though I’ve had to vomit up blood to get every single one of those words out of me.

Chapters 5 and 6 have been my most challenging yet – annoying, too, since Chapter 6 (or the new 7) is finished and dusted – and I didn’t really think I’d get through them. Honestly. (Well, I haven’t in truth – there’s still work to be done – but the bones and muscle are there, ready and willing to be fleshed out.) I wish I had more confidence in my narrative voice, but it never feels natural to me. I feel as though the joins between scenes are ragged and broken and stand out like a sore fucking thumb. I know this can only mature with practise, so why the hell can’t I pull my thumb from my ass long enough to do some?