Category: Uncategorized

The Ghost of the First Draft: How the Earliest Version of Your Story Haunts All Revisions That Follow

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

I’ve just finished the first draft of my current work-in-progress, a biography-horror hybrid that’s consumed more of my thoughts than I’d like to admit and is sure to consume more. It’s a strange, unsettling project that blurs the boundary between truth and fiction, and somewhere in that blur, I’ve found myself trapped between the two … Continue reading The Ghost of the First Draft: How the Earliest Version of Your Story Haunts All Revisions That Follow

Barnsworth Bliss: A Daft, Brilliant Slice of Northern Comedy Gaming (Review)

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Thank Goodness You're Here! is an adventure video game released on August 1, 2024, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. I’ll tell you what, I’ve not played owt quite like Thank Goodness You’re Here! in years. It’s one of them games where you sit down, thinking you’ll just have a quick go … Continue reading Barnsworth Bliss: A Daft, Brilliant Slice of Northern Comedy Gaming (Review)

What It Feels Like to Kill a Story That Wasn’t Working – The Graveyard of Drafts

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Every writer has a graveyard. It might be a drawer, a folder, or a hard drive, stuffed with stories that didn’t make it. Some sputtered out after a promising start, full of energy but unable to sustain themselves. Others ballooned into sprawling, unmanageable forms, leaving me tangled in their ambitions. And a few simply refused … Continue reading What It Feels Like to Kill a Story That Wasn’t Working – The Graveyard of Drafts

Tomorrow I Turn 40 – And Honestly, I Still Can’t Believe It

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

So here we are. The big four-oh. My 40th birthday is tomorrow, and I honestly don’t know how to feel about it.Part of me wants to wax lyrical about life and milestones and everything I’ve learned – to say something meaningful and reflective, the kind of thing people nod along with and say, “Yes, that … Continue reading Tomorrow I Turn 40 – And Honestly, I Still Can’t Believe It

Time For….

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

I’m not quite sure how to begin this post, because in all honesty, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that it’s done. Four years. Dozens of essays. Hundreds of books. Early mornings. Long days. Countless cups of coffee. More than a few existential crises. And now, it’s over. I’ve officially finished … Continue reading Time For….

Comfort Games: My Go-To Escapes When Life Gets a Bit Much

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Some days just hit differently. Maybe work’s been relentless, you’ve had a string of awkward social interactions, or you just wake up in one of those moods where nothing feels quite right. On days like that, I don’t want anything demanding. I’m not looking for a challenge or some fast-paced new release that expects me … Continue reading Comfort Games: My Go-To Escapes When Life Gets a Bit Much

Crow Country – A Spooky Little Gem That Deserves Your Attention (Review)

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows in May 2024, with PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions following in October, Crow Country is a love letter to survival horror’s golden era. Developed by SFB Games, it captures the eerie essence of classic horror titles while smoothing over the rough edges that often come with the … Continue reading Crow Country – A Spooky Little Gem That Deserves Your Attention (Review)

Review: The Cabin Factory – Haunted Houses on a Conveyor Belt of Doom

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

After what felt like a lifetime of essays, lectures, and caffeine-fuelled writing sessions, I finally submitted my final university assignment. To celebrate the occasion (and to claw back a bit of joy after all that academic slog), I bought myself a Steam Deck. I mentioned this in a previous blog post, but honestly, it’s worth … Continue reading Review: The Cabin Factory – Haunted Houses on a Conveyor Belt of Doom

Final Stretch: Reflections on My Creative Writing and English Literature Degree

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

I can’t quite believe I’m writing this, but here I am: in the final few weeks of my Creative Writing and English Literature BA. It’s a strange mixture of emotions—excitement, dread, exhaustion, pride. The kind of cocktail you only really get at this time of year when the finish line is in sight, but there’s … Continue reading Final Stretch: Reflections on My Creative Writing and English Literature Degree