From The Martian to Project Hail Mary

December 9, 2025 ~ GraydonJonesWriter ~ 1 Comment

Back in September 2022, I wrote about Andy Weir after hearing him speak during ProWritingAid’s Writer’s Week. His interview stood out to me not just because The Martian is one of my all-time favourite stories, but because of how down-to-earth he came across. Despite his book ‘rocketing’ to success, Andy spoke with humour and humility, sharing how social media helped propel his work before a major publisher picked it up.
I was struck by his approach to research, which mirrors my own: keep the story internally consistent, even if the science bends a little. As he explained, the ferocious Martian storm that stranded Mark Watney couldn’t happen in reality, but it made for a brilliant opening. As Slartibartfast would say, “I’d rather be happy than be right any day.”
At the time, Andy admitted his follow-up novel Artemis hadn’t resonated with readers in the same way, partly because the protagonist wasn’t wholly likeable. I hadn’t read it myself, but I understood his point—sometimes a character can push us away before the story has a chance to pull us in.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve finally read Project Hail Mary. It was brilliant. The format and feel reminded me of The Martian—that same mix of humour, tension, and science-driven storytelling—but with its own fresh spark. I couldn’t help imagining Tom Hanks in the lead role, a cross between his Cast Away survivor and Matt Damon’s stranded botanist in The Martian. No offence to Ryan Gosling, who’s set to star in the film adaptation, but Hanks feels like such a natural fit for the lone astronaut.
What makes Project Hail Mary so good is exactly what Andy talked about back in 2022: believable science wrapped in compelling storytelling, with a protagonist readers can root for. It feels like a return to the hit writing that made The Martian such a success.
Looking back, I’m glad I put this book on my reading list. Andy Weir has proven once again that when you combine technical curiosity with a spark of imagination, you can create a story that captures readers and keeps them turning the pages.

Well, that went well…

October 4, 2024 ~ GraydonJonesWriter ~ 1 Comment

On the 10th of September 2024, I completed the first draft of Annika Dash – The Dark Side of the Moon. Immediately, I sighed and thought, “Well that went well.” It’s that feeling you get when you reach the end of something you may have doubted you’d complete. Of course, I’ve lots more to do, but I think it’s important to stop and celebrate one’s success, right?

Now Draft 1 is complete, I am resting; stepping away. I’m doing other things. I found, that the longer I leave it before going back to edit, the more likely I will spot errors or ways to improve the plot, characters or settings. That’s what I’m doing now. I’ve started redesigning my creative working space at home, working on processing photos I took in the summer, and preparing to write some new music. My next writing session is planned for November to coincide with this year’s NaNoWriMo.

This is an American initiative, but it’s been widely adopted in other countries to encourage anyone to write a novel in November. The definition of a novel, for NaNoWriMo, is 50,000 words. That’s roughly 1666 words a day. These targets are important because they give the writer focus. One of the main reasons we don’t complete our work is that no one holds us accountable, encourages us forward, or picks us up when we fall. This is because writers normally work in isolation, choosing when to write. NaNoWriMo provides a robust framework to help with this. Some writers meet daily in cafes and libraries to participate in writing ‘sprints’. A sprint is a specific time, during which everyone writes together. Each sprint can be set to last between 20 to 30 minutes. Far more common are virtual meet-ups, with Zoom and FaceBook being popular platforms.

How will I work? The target I will set myself will be different. I will aim to edit and complete a second draft of Annika Dash – The Dark Side of the Moon. Accountability? I hope I have the discipline to complete my draft, but I will look for others who may need help, and join them if I can.

Entertainment recommendations this month…

Ludwig 2024

I have to mention another BBC comedy drama, Ludwig. If you like David Mitchell, then this programme is for you. It’s the ideal vehicle for his character to shine through. Like Upstart Crow it centres around a character blessed with talent, yet struggling with the world around him. It also stars the brilliant Anna Maxwell-Martin who has been in countless other stage and screen productions. Anna portrays the wife of ‘Ludwig’s’ much more successful brother who is missing. She comes up with a hair-brain scheme enlisting her brother-in-law; the identical twin brother of her husband. Brilliant Series 10 unicorns out of 10

Oblivion 2013

I caught a video on YouTube about the making of Oblivion. This 2013 Sci-Fi, based on a graphic novel, is probably one of my all-time favourite films, and the video reignited my enthusiasm for it. The video goes behind the scenes into inception, concept, set creation, locations, and stunts. Maybe I should be reviewing/recommending the YouTube video? Okay, here’s the link – Oblivion (2013) – Behind the Scenes Compilation (CinemaScope). I won’t say anymore other than it’s a… Brilliant film, 10 unicorns out of 10

Next month

I will concentrate on Draft 2 of Annika Dash and The Dark Side of The Moon from now until the end of November. After that, I will let you know how I did. In the meantime, I will keep posting on my FaceBook page.

Summer Holidays

August 13, 2024 ~ GraydonJonesWriter

Incidentally, I hit play on my iPhone, and my Phil Collins playlist on Spotify starts playing… It begins with Another Day in Paradise. And, as I wonder what to write about, I can’t help but feel blessed that I — even with all my aches and pains — can do the lovely things I can do. Like the title says, Summer Holiday? Not exactly. I got to go out and about to take some photos of the Peak District and the North Norfolk Coast, but sitting down to write was difficult.

Graydon at Thornham Norfolk and the Coal shed

Thornham Coal Shed – North Norfolk Coast

No, not because I had writer’s block. It was because I had a back problem. Not sure how it started, but my lovely Osteopath, thought I could have lifted something heavy while twisting. Instantly, I thought of our luggage and our recent trip to Morocco. Which, incidentally, was when the pain started – I’d found the smoking gun! The last few weeks have seen my symptoms worsen to the extent I couldn’t sit to write at all.

Today, however, my back feels much better – it’s the best since May. How’s this you say? All I can say is, ‘Beware the smiling osteopath’. One minute he was talking in mellow tones… reassuring me… relaxing me… We were friends. Or so I thought… CRACK! Bones and joints clicked and someone else in the room (not me, I’m a grown man, for heaven’s sake) grunted, yelped, maybe cried – a little.

This morning I wrote around 3,000 words for Annika Dash 2. And I’m trying to publish this blog before the day’s out.

With all this pain nonsense, you could say I have had an enforced Summer Holiday from writing. I have to admit, getting out to do one of my other favourite pastimes was truly rewarding.

Waiting for sunrise on Higger Tor – the Peak District

However, Annika Dash 2 is an itch that needs, wants… craves to be scratched. Yes, I have my other Fantasy Sci-Fi pieces I want to return to, but I can’t. I must finish Annika’s second adventure. This morning’s 3,000 words went a long way to take me well into the second act, with the action ramping up. I wish I could reveal more, but I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment by saying anything more.

Doing it differently

While I was stuck, unable to write, I began thinking about what I could do differently to promote this story. Different from the lowkey approach on Annika Dash and the Unicorn from Space. First off, I’m going to slow things down. There is no critical deadline. Next, I will spend more time on the artwork and enjoy the experience more. I’m going to think about changing Book 1’s cover to reflect that it is now part of a series (you’d better buy those 1st edition covers while you can!) I also would like to have a book trailer. This will be challenging as I will need to find some talented people to help me – watch this space.

Latest Sales

Just a shout-out to those people who bought my book in Australia and Japan. I don’t know who you are but thank you. I hope your youngsters enjoy Annika’s first adventure.

Entertainment recommendations this month…

Oh, I have to mention some great TV that has had us hooked this month. I should say what my definition of a brilliant series is. Well, when your plan to watch an episode each night goes out the window and you binge-watch as much as you can until someone in the room snores – That, in my opinion, is a brilliant series.

The Hour (2012) Netflix

Romola Garai(Vigil), Dominic West (Downton, Les Mis), Ben Whishaw (Bond)
The Hour A drama set during the Cold War, surrounding a ground-breaking news show, its suave anchor man, a maverick presenter and the gutsy female producer trying to hold it all together in a time when women shouldn’t be doing what she does. I’m not sure how we missed this, but we were pleased to find it on Netflix. As you’d expect, there’s a fair bit of cloak-and-dagger stuff, plus a clash of egos and talent, but the stakes are high and you can’t help but keep watching.
Brilliant Series 10 unicorns out of 10

First, Hijack (2023-2025) – Apple TV

Idris Elba, Neil Maskell (Peaky Blinders), Max Beesley (Homeland), Ben Miles (The Crown, Andor)
In Hijack, and amidst a strong cast, Idris Elba played a different kind of hero. A business negotiator, bargaining not only for his life and the lives of his estranged wife and son, but the 216 other lives on a passenger aircraft heading home from Dubai. We found it compulsive viewing and finished all eight episodes in just two evenings.
Brilliant Series. 9 unicorns out of 10

Not 10 purely because (Spoiler) the villain got off too easy. If there is a second season (see release dates above) to resolve this, then I’ll add the last unicorn to give it a perfect score.

Next Month

I’ll manage your expectations now. An operation on my hand will limit my ability to write both here and for Annika Dash. My consultant believes I should be back to normal (I’m not sure what he meant by that) in around six weeks. Of course, I might just get bored enough to hammer out something using one hand — who knows?

Outtakes

If I had an outtakes section, then this would be perfect…

When the tide comes in fast and you’ve left your wellies in the car…yikes!!

Blimey – This water is cold.

Unfortunately, I can’t upload the video showing the mad dash through the water to dry land, but rest assured, I wasn’t scared at all. Honest.

Silo (2023- )

April 21, 2024 ~ GraydonJonesWriter

What about Silo on Apple TV? I’d not heard of the novels, but once we re-subscribed to Apple TV, this was the 10th item on our list of things to watch. Yes, I enjoyed Foundation, and maybe I would have written about that had I not been releasing The Unicorn from space while we completed the first two seasons. But I didn’t, and, to be fair, as brilliant as it was, if I had to write about one thing this year, I think it would be Silo.

The actors:

Two of my favourites, Tim Robbins and Iain Glen were, as you’d expect, brilliant. Though I wasn’t sure about the latter’s US accent. The Star, Rebecca Ferguson, shines too, depicting someone thrust unexpectedly into an adventure that they probably didn’t expect but were probably ready to go the distance – no matter the cost.

My favourite characters are Paul Billings, played by Chinaza Uche and Common (the wrapper) who plays Robert Sims, from ‘Judicial’, with a low voice that reminded me of Vin Deisel. I also enjoyed Rick Gomez’s character, Patrick Kennedy, who I would have liked to have seen more of. Finally, Dame Harriet Walker… Is she going to sit on the list that contains Dame Judi Dench, and Dame Maggie Smith as a British treasure? What do you think?

The story:

Without giving up any spoilers, the story starts with two other characters who set the scene, and immediately start you guessing how it all ends. Yes, you do have to suspend a certain amount of disbelief, but this is fiction. I mentioned Isaac Asimov’s Foundation, and that is, without a doubt, brilliant. Very twisty-turny and complex. And I will get around to reviewing it. However, I liked Silo because, even though I first dismissed it as something like the 2008 Film, City of Embers, featuring Bill Murray (sorry, there were many other actors in this, but you can’t forget Bill, can you?) It struck that middle ground that hit the spot for me. Not too long, too complex, and with a twist or two to make it not as predictable as you might think. From the get-go, it had us guessing what the finale would reveal. All I’ll say is that we were not disappointed, and at the same time… let’s just say there are 3 novels.