October 2026
Welcome to the very first CMG Writing newsletter!
Hello, and thank you for being here. It's been a busy few weeks behind the scenes, with the website moving to its new home, and I really appreciate your patience while everything got settled. It's finally all up and running, and I'm so excited to share what's coming.
Why these three genres?
I get asked why I write thrillers, romcoms and mysteries, so I thought I'd start there.
Thrillers come from my love of psychology: figuring out how and why characters work. For me, there's no genre where you can explore that more deeply, and the thrill it gives me is amazing.
Romcoms, if I can say it without sounding big-headed, are something I'm good at writing. I love creating lovable characters and awkward situations people can relate to. They're also a welcome change from a world of thrillers, psychopaths and danger!
Mysteries are pure puzzle-solving joy. Whether it's a classic whodunnit or something more technical, I love keeping you guessing and letting you try to work out the ending before I reveal it.
Together, they bring out my strengths as a writer, and I'll never try to be someone I'm not. That's also why I'll only write stories I feel confident in. Some, like my upcoming hospital stories, take a bit more research, because I never want to be guessing at how things work.
Whatever the genre, one thing never changes: my characters are at the centre. Always. They make the story. Not the plot, not me. Everything starts and ends with the characters I build from scratch, and I'll always stay true to them.
This month’s craft essay: Why I Write Character-First
For a long time, I wrote stories the “right” way: plot first, characters slotted in wherever the story needed them. It never felt true. This essay is about how stepping away from writing led me back to the kind of writer I always wanted to be, and why my characters now decide how every story ends, even when that ending isn’t a happy one.
Read Why I Write Character-First
This month’s bonus story: The Roommate Audition
Devon just needs someone to split the rent. So why does every roommate interview feel like a terrible first date? And why does the barista keep writing on her napkins?
Coming Saturday 24 October. Keep an eye on your inbox.
The bigger picture
Alongside the stories here, I'm working on something bigger: a dystopian trilogy. I'll keep the details under wraps for now, but my ultimate goal is to become a published author, whatever that path looks like, and I'm hoping the first book will be out by the end of 2027.
That doesn't make the stories on this site any less important. Each one has something of its own to say, and I'm proud of every single one.
Coming this month
Behind the Frame: Tuesday 13 October
After her mother dies, Ellie finds thirty years of photographs, dates and notes, all about the same man. And he’s still watching.The Missing Minute: Friday 16 October
Every camera at Bellamy House Gallery shows the same time, except one.The Roommate Audition: Saturday 24 October
When Love Becomes Control: Tuesday 27 October
A free craft essay on Neil, the man at the heart of Behind the Frame.New here? Start with these free stories
What the Grass Hides: twenty years of silence, and one letter on her doorstep.
The Pact: five friends, one secret, and a school reunion.
The Long Game: he let them think they’d won.
Bread & Grudges: two rival bakeries, one storm.
The Reading List: a book club, a new neighbour, and a name nobody wanted to hear.
What subscribers get
Subscriber stories begin Friday 6 November.
At least two stories from each genre every month (thriller, mystery and romcom), which means some weeks bring two new stories.
At least three craft essays a month, published on Tuesdays, going behind the scenes of the stories and characters.
A monthly newsletter with a bonus story and a deep-dive craft essay.
All for £5.49 a month, or £54.99 a year (that’s two months free).
You choose December’s bonus story
Which genre should it be?
A: Thriller
B: Romcom
C: MysteryJust hit reply with A, B or C by 31 October 2026. I’ll announce the winner by 14 November 2026.
A note from me
I’ll be honest: this month didn’t quite go to plan. A flu bug knocked me off my feet for a couple of weeks, which is why a few stories have moved. I’d rather give you stories I’m proud of than rush them out, so thank you for bearing with me.
Right now, I’m finishing Behind the Frame, and I can’t wait for you to meet Ellie.
As always, I’d love to hear what you think. Just hit reply and tell me. It goes straight to me.
Happy reading,
C