J J Draper 🪐📚👽📖

Wait, this should probably be about writing... what's your MC's favourite pasta shape?
...probably Farfalle? But I couldn't give you a reason why. 😅

What's your favourite pasta shape? Mine's Fusilli Lunghi, with Spaghetti & Spiralli tied for a strong second place. Not many places sell Fusilli Lunghi so its always a bit of a treat.

I love the book I'm currently working on, and I can't wait to finish it, but also I'm looking to putting into practice everything I've learnt about plotting when I start from scratch on the next book #writing

Sci Fi Authors - Does your world use a different currency?

When I was first trying to write my book, I tried calling my currency 'Units', but these days I'm more comfortable leaning into genre conventions. They're called Credits now. 💙📚🪐

February Update for my 2026 Reading & Writing Bingos! Much more progress on one than the other unfortunately, it's not been a good month for writing (didn't get ANY done this week).
#reading #writing #books #goals

I have a "Universal Calendar" (and clock) that's mostly used on ships & space stations, based around 10's & 100's instead of 12's and 60's. (100 seconds in a minute, 10 hours in a day, etc) It serves as a reference point when trying to compare dates from two different planets.

Sci Fi & Fantasy Authors - Does your world use a different calendar?

Accountability post - I planned to do 8 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 4.

My partners been sick and I've been really stressed. Even when I've sat down to write, I just stare blankky at the screen, it's not working. #writing

Anyone else trying to write around their full time job? It feels impossible sometimes 😩 #writing

I planned to do 6 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 5.

I'm actually really happy with that, its been a bit of a week, plus I got my first line on my reading bingo!

I write uninterrupted (except by the dog) for a few hours before I cave and go on social media. I know to steer clear of people's theories (let's also manifest having strength to resist reading those) but some people are just asking when the next book is coming out. Life is good.

Manifesting my ✨️dream author life✨️

I wake up at a time more aligned with my body clock and take a leisurely breakfast & dog walk (quit my day job - not on a schedule). I head up to my office, which is decorated with a mix of crazy notes connected by yarn, and display copies of my book.

Sci Fi, so if I end up closer to 120k that's not unreasonable, but I want to try Trad Pub and closer to 100k would be better for that!

Accountability post - I planned to do 14 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 13.

Most of this was at a writing workshop, not actually directly in the manuscript- but it was time well spent! #writing

Chat, I'm not feeling good about the wordcount on this draft. I'm on Chapter 13 out of 23, and I'm at 73k words. #writing

Monthly update on how my Reading & Writing Bingos are going! As you can see, I've made excellent progress on the Reading Bingo (I do intend to try finish the whole card) and made decent progress on the Writing Bingo too!

Accountability post: I planned to do 7 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 3.

My mental health is... having an impact.

But, you know, onwards and upwards! Fake it until you make it!

There are too many good book recs on here 👀 my poor wallet

Accountability Post
I planned to do 6 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 6!
My mental health is starting to wilt a little bit, so next week may not be as productive as I would like.
Trying to remember to be kind to myself.
#writing

I was originally going to post something lighthearted & semi-nonsensical about pasta.

I'm feeling very lighthearted lately.

Fuck 🧊.
I'm British, but I know our country isn't often more than a few steps behind the US.

I wish I had money to leave. I wish there was somewhere safe to go.

What would you say to your MC, if you met them?
At the beginning of the book: "Be strong, and be true to yourself."
At the end of the book: "Uh... sorry about that 😬 I'll try be nicer in the next one!"

Accountability post - I planned to do 6 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 10!
I also managed to tick off two of my Writing Bingo card squares - attend a Heart Breathings event (thier Virtual Writing retreat, specifically) and beat my best word count day of 2025!

I swear every time I rewrite this story it gets a little darker. The basic plot isn't changing, but I'm handling the dark aspects better and getting the tone more appropriate for what's actually happening on the page. 💙📚🪐 #writing

Today in writing with ADHD: after 20 minutes of starting blankly at the wall, I remembered why I came into the office and sat down at my computer #writing

Winter
Pros: Can get truly cosy in a way that isn't possible in Summer
Cons: Cold air sets my asthma off

True!

Accountability post - I planned to do 5 task blocks/pomodoro's of writing last week, and I achieved 3, then had a headache/migraine & my parents visited.

But you know what - its the most I've written all year 😜 #writing

What do we think the odds are of me querying by the end of the year? Fwiw, "querying by the end of the year" has been my new years resolution for three years running. The manuscript looks a lot better than 3 years ago though! #writing

One week into the New Year. How are those goals looking? :P Starting as we mean to go on?

But!

Today I wrote 20 whole words! I also looked up some potential renames for two characters and re-orientated myself to where I am in the story. That counts too.