F or me, maintaining my writing discipline goes (literally) out the window when the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the air temperature rises.

Consequently, given the glorious summer that we’re still enjoying, my writing has not so much stalled, as ground to a halt. And just as it was about to cross the finishing line in what I hoped would be a blaze of glory but was probably destined to be more like a quiet flicker of satisfaction.

I cannot believe I’m saying this but,...