Healthy boundaries, where we’re neither afraid nor think we’re ’not allowed’ to share what we want with the world, isn’t the lesson you might associate with songwriting. But, as I’ve often said, the best writing advice is never about writing.’ www.psychologies.co.uk/blog/it-was-...

What you can’t do today like you could in sensible weather, that’s not a failing in you. It’s an ability to listen to your body. Things won’t always feel like this. Do what you can. Take regular breaks between. Write reminder notes to future you. Drink lots of water. [See also: every other day.]

Yesterday on a hot, crowded train, I opened my messages this. I’m sharing it partly because I’m proud of it. But mainly I’m sharing the reminder it can make someone’s day when we take time to say what they created reached us, and stayed with us. Thank you, Kim 😊

A phrase I love that really, really irritates a lot of people: “It is what it is.” It’s the antithesis of overthinking. I love what it says to anxiety, writing and the gap between what’s in my head and what’s actually made it to the page. What phrase do you love that annoys others?

Fear says ‘What if it’s weird?’ Curiosity says ‘What if weird is wonderful?’ At the Writers’ Gym this week, award-winning author Helen Marshall @manuscriptgal.bsky.social shares how the fear of weird has been replaced by its celebration as her life and art have grown with her interests.

Horror legend @ramseycampbell.bsky.social joins me on the Writers’ Gym Podcast this week. Ramsey explores the process of writing every day and how endings still have the power to jump out of the dark and surprise him…

We’re back! With a secret prequel… Before our first-Friday-of-the-month sessions begin in June, join Barnes Writers’ Gym Friday 15 May for coffee, community and creative exploration. As we’re hosted by an exclusive members’ club, booking is essential. Visit writersgym.com/events

We have a new digital home! Rachel Knightley Coaching is here: Rachelknightleycoaching.com [email protected] Sign up for InkCouragement: drrachelknightley.substack.com Visit the Writers’ Gym on any podcast platform or at writersgym.com

Well, this is annoying. And mysterious. The company hosting my author website/email has all fallen offline today. I’d planned moving email to the new website, just this soon or all at once! So that’s happening today. For now, please use [email protected] for anything and everything.

It is a really nice feeling looking at a new website and feeling like you truly see who you are and what you do. www.rachelknightleycoaching.com

Red Dwarf co-creator @dougrdnaylor.bsky.social joins the Writers’ Gym this week, just as we celebrate 10,000 downloads. Doug talks about the power of a real deadline, commitment to your own imagination and sense of humour — and his co-writing gestalt-entityhood with the much-missed Rob Grant.

Finish things. THEN have a go at yourself for it not being perfect. Because then at least it gets to BE… Download @lavietidhar.bsky.social on The Writers' Gym wherever you get your podcasts.

‘What being homeless taught me about home’ charts Lucy’s beginning as a foster child who fell off the ‘care cliff’ at 16 and faced adulthood not knowing a home without an expiry date. All her advocacy, TedX and founder of Lawyers Who Care began here. I’m enormously proud to be her writing coach.

New friend at @vauxhallcityfarm.bsky.social yesterday ❤️

At Barnes Bookshop with team @uni-roehampton.bsky.social @urlibrary.bsky.social celebrating @carolinesharples.bsky.social’s The Long Death of Adolf Hitler. This unique cultural history, rightly and impressively, gives no visuals of him or them.Great, thoughtful work from @yalepress.bsky.social

‘You find out what you wanted to say in the process of writing it.’ @xaldanareyes.bsky.social on The Writers' Gym Podcast, celebrating the process: giving ourselves freedom to discover along the way, rather than staying too attached to what we thought we were doing before we picked up the pen.

A very happy Twin Peaks Day to all who celebrate ❤️🖤

This week on the podcast I’m with @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social talking about writing, not writing, post-pandemic unmasking and the importance of a writing life that reflects who you — truly and uniquely — are. Join us at The Writers’ Gym wherever you get your podcasts.

May we have a moment for Magic the Labrador? I loved my whole experience of Bloody Barnes at OSO Arts Centre, particularly seeing @sophiehannah.bsky.social, but the icing on the cake is having this lovely dog as co-MC.

Writer’s block: the price we pay for knowing just how much there is to say. A brilliant discussion with Jenny Rogers on The Writers’ Gym Podcast this week.

Beautiful quote about the practical importance of finding the fun. A pleasure and a privilege to have Alison Littlewood on The Writers' Gym Podcast this week. Download from anywhere podcasty now.

Forget fake it till you make it: show up until you realise you were ALWAYS worthy (and maybe that everyone else is just as scared!). The stories we tell ourselves show up in the smallest choices. A joy to talk to creative director and voice of Little Lies Jade Robertson on The Writers’ Gym Podcast.

“Everybody has a well of hurt and darkness somewhere... but don't get the opportunity to use that for their own creativity. I… was able to turn moments of having been frightened into being frightening — but in my own way… doing whatever I could to make the darkness sparkle.” Tim Curry

For anyone panicking about their career instead of discovering it, one surprising step at a time: The Writers’ Gym Podcast brings you @ashley999thorpe.bsky.social (Uncanny @dannyrobins.bsky.social, Borley Rectory). Animator, filmmaker, writer, horror fan, fellow disciple of Kermit the Frog…

In this monthly column, we pose your questions to an expert in a specific field of speculative fiction. This month, we asked writing and confidence coach @drrachelknightley.bsky.social to help our members get ready for a new year of creativity. britishfantasysociety.org/ask-an-exper...

Some wise words in this month's Ask an Expert column - thanks @drrachelknightley.bsky.social!

A truly lovely beginning to Christmas/continuation of Chanukah with the freelancers tribe. Thank you so much for arranging, @annodracula.bsky.social ❤️

FB words of @timlebbon.bsky.social about The Writers’ Gym Podcast: “It was so much fun chatting with Rachel Knightley for The Writers' Gym podcast, check it out!! Features horror, imposter syndrome, and cake.” I feel seen 😁

@drrachelknightley.bsky.social is in the expert hot seat for the BFS this month, ready and waiting to help you get your creative 2026 off to a great start 💪🏻

The brilliant @joannechocolat.bsky.social joins me at the Writers’ Gym to talk all things writing and the healthy habits that get us out of our own way and into our stories. Download us from Monday 1 January wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you @nawewriters.bsky.social headlined by @naomialderman.bsky.social for inviting me to speak at this year’s conference, Inspiring Writing. Write, Speak, Connect celebrated how freedom, permission & creativity start with our work with ourselves, and support every other writer we work with.

The past tense on Twitter was ‘tweeted’. So, when I’ve posted here, have I ‘blueskid’?

Yes, that'd be us. The small suitcase proved heavier than expected when being lifted to the overhead shelf.

Symbols are SO personal, whether we’re discovering characters in the world or in our heads. I’ll never forget the LOOK I got when I tried explaining to the wrong person the skull on my scarf was a positive symbol for me. But it is. We’re here now.

So who else is on a train returning from @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social carrying many, MANY more books than they arrived with? #worldfantasycon

Enormously proud to report Green Ink Sponsored Write 2025 for Macmillan Cancer Support reached £1815. Proofreading by Writers’ Gym members Bella and Truett today; digital anthology by Steve for all our sponsors tomorrow. Thanks @rhi.bsky.social for a fab title and all who wrote or sponsored 💚

We’ve nearly doubled our intended total — and I’ve sneakily left the page open so you can still secure the world-exclusive new writing anthology by donating any amount to Macmillan tonight. Thank you @rhi.bsky.social for a glorious title. www.justgiving.com/page/somewhe...

Not a truly indicative picture of my tube-strike journey — but ALMOST made it worth it.

18 October: we write. 19 October: we edit. 20 October: world-exclusive anthology published, all for Macmillan Cancer Support. @sarahbrooks.bsky.social @rhi.bsky.social @rozkaveney.bsky.social @katharineorton.bsky.social

Honoured to be involved in this year's Sponosored Write, on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support, along with a whole gaggle of amazing writers!

We have a beautiful title from @rhi.bsky.social this year and, as ever, 48 hours from creation to publication all for Macmillan Cancer Support. Grab your world-exclusive anthology by 18 October at justgiving.com/page/somewhere-thats-green

I very much enjoyed talking with @drrachelknightley.bsky.social for her brilliant writing podcast series. I'm not sure if I said anything useful, but all her questions are thoughtful and interesting.

Wise and generous creative insights from multiple-BAFTA-winning screenwriter, director and producer @danberlinka.bsky.social, joining me on The Writers’ Gym today. Follow or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Getting to know yourself as a writer — and becoming the writer that helps other writers along the way. Find Priya Sharma talking to me about writing, life, and finding what works for us on The Writers’ Gym this week, wherever you get your podcasts.

And my vote for ‘Most Ironic Book to Stand Your York Ghost Merchants Boo On’ goes to…

Me talking to the wonderful @drrachelknightley.bsky.social about my writing as if I know what I'm doing. youtu.be/Kq-HEL55Saw?...

Activist, critic, poet, fantasy writer @rozkaveney.bsky.social on the rewards and perils of research, deadlines, confidence, creativity — and of discovering how well we really know the characters around us on or off the page. Join The Writers’ Gym wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you to the brilliant @drrachelknightley.bsky.social for letting me chat about my white noise obsession, creative doubts, and much more! I've found listening to her podcast incredibly helpful when my confidence is wavering, so it was an honour to be on it ❤️📚 open.spotify.com/episode/7En5...

One of the most important things about The Writers' Gym is showing success isn’t about not having the doubts or the struggles: that they’re part of what makes the wins so meaningful. Thank you @sarahbrooks.bsky.social for sharing such encouraging examples of making our writing lives our own.

For every nose I ever see turn up at what (they think) writing coaching is, I also get to read the real experiences — what it really changes, on the page and in the world. Thank you, Dr Kim Fleet, for sharing what these seven months have already created. This is why I do what I do.