UrbWrites Weekly #10 - Content with content

“We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.”

I’m joined by Helen Keller this week. She’s popped in to hit me with some wisdom. I spent a few minutes trying to ponder what a world with only joy would look like. Disney without the queues. Pints of beer without the hangover, the gut and the regret. And never stubbing your toe.

I did recently. I was very brave. Channelling my own fuckwit Donald Trump, probably the bravest any boy has ever been.

But what a difference a week makes. Last I was here I was naval gazing, no doubt the effect of a ramp up on medication mixed with the existential dread of emerging into the sphere of social media. All fleshy and glistening from a cocoon of safety and solo writing.

Now I am become Author, the destroyer of words.

I suppose we all think that, one way or another.

So yes. Knuckling down, keeping on keeping on is a function of the very existence of bits and bobs we don’t gel with.

A bad vibe — as the kids would say nowadays.

But things are looking up. I wrote something. I have plans to write more things. And I’m getting better at explaining what the chuff my book’s about when asked by relatives and friends.

Meanwhile I continue to unleash a plague of silly little videos and quips onto the world.

I enjoy trying to come up with concise writing tips for new authors having trodden that path recently. Here’s one Forrest would be proud of:

Let’s get into it.

Welcome back to UrbWrites Weekly. Ten things what gone done happened this week.

This week on Substack:

Community Spotlight

Algorithm be strange. Posted two weeks ago, only just had replies out of the blue. People do want to be featured!

I fucking loved this by Alex's Prose. I’ve been there, been that guy, seen that guy. Had the hangovers and regret to boot. Love it!

Green Circles Won't Give Me a Break

The other new friend was Will. Again, I got chills reading about his Colgate grin in this. It captures that dread of having a job and a routine that sucks you dry.

Toothpaste Stream

I wonder if I’ll have any more replies to be featured. I hope so, it’s nice finding new people to read.

The Right Members Club is available for Kindle pre-order now and will publish fully, with a paperback option, on 3 April 2026.

Number 1 baby!

The book is locked in with KDP. Final manuscript uploaded with proper front and back cover. My proof copy is winging its way to me as we speak.

This week I’ve been physically walking up and down the pavement dropping leaflets and flyers at local establishments to try and drum up hype.

It’s sort of worked? Off the back of it I think I have an evening at a coffee shop planned. I can read a chapter, sell some books and talk about why I decided to write a book about disgraced MPs and a guy that gets caught with his pants down on national TV. Perhaps it will be like an intervention for my life choices.

ARCs are out. That’s scary. Sending my baby out to a bunch of people I don’t know. Some I do and actually that might be even more terrifying. What if they think I’m super weird?

They probably already do.

But on we march towards April 3rd. Tremendously exciting!

Tales from a Liminal Town

Oh no. Something’s not right with Charlie. He parked in the space but in his shit Fabia and it’s sort of affected him. He’s not quite the cheery self-contented chap we met at the start of the story. And it’s only going to get worse from here as the space steps up its machinations.

I planned out the hotel story I mentioned last week. Excited to get some meat on the bones as it were. I think I can tell a life affirming ghost story, sure.

On Patience . . .

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Take That said it best, no? Have a little patience.

‘Cause I need time
My heart is numb, has no feeling
So while I’m still healing
Just try and have a little patience
I really wanna start over again
I know you wanna be my salvation

Actually that has nothing to do with writing and I can’t shoehorn it in. Good song though.

I think one of the reasons I’m feeling a little better this week is because I’ve been kinder to myself. I want everything now, now, now. And life just doesn’t work like that. I don’t need to be a TikTok megastar. I don’t need to have the best selling book. And I don’t need to compare myself to others.

And if that’s bravery then fair enough.

Helen Keller does know what she’s talking about.

I’ll leave you with a line I was proud of from The Binman Cometh

‘That recycling is a myth propagated by the new world order to keep us subservient and guilty about our existence. That it all ends up on the same scrap heap and why should I do it when billionaires fly around in private planes willy-nilly and big corporations choke our seas with oil and filth. That I wanted someone to sit me down and explain — no, show — me why it’s so fucking vital that I get all my plastics and cardboards and condoms and soup cans in the right containers. Oh and that I’m pretty certain my wife is having an affair with Trevor down the road.’

See you next week.

Louis