Renaissance is never over

7 years later and I still whisper, “We’re disabled, Daniel, not werewolves” to myself like a sacred mantra whenever I see a non-disabled person discover ableism like it’s the latest hipster indie band.

John Robb has got stories for days! Can't wait to read the book The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Oasis. @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social if they gave you another hour it wouldn't have been enough. Great stuff, loved it 😎🙌 #oasis25

I can't wait for the new Naked Gun film. 1) the originals had me literally rofl'ing and the trailer is so funny! 2) PAMELA ANDERSON IS IN IT!!!

My first ever tomato! 🤩

I was invited to @hachetteuk.bsky.social HQ this week for the Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers awards. Being shortlisted is a huge privilege. Thank you Class Fest, Natasha Carthew, @julietpickering.bsky.social, class fest, Octopus Books, Gaia, @arvonfoundation.bsky.social #writersky

Listening to Oasis from my garden. I live about a mile away from Heaton Park, got lucky with wind direction 🙏🌞 #oasissky #musicsky #cheapsky

TGI-Caturday!!! Today my offering to you lovely Blueskyers is this very cute picture of my son Robin who is fast asleep. #catsky #caturday #catmom

Exciting news! I'm going to be running some creative writing workshops for teens aged 12-16 with Sunderland Libraries in late July/early August 🥰💖 The sessions are free at Washington and Houghton Libraries, and you can sign up at the links below! [ #creativewriting #writing #sunderlandlibraries ]

Mel B is such a stunning bride 🥹 The dress, the veil, the train. Oh my gosh ✨😻 #fashionsky #weddingsky

July 2025 about 9am in Manchester City Centre ☔ #oasis #manchester #musicsky #photosky

Potato flowers are pretty 💖🌸 #plantsky #gardensky #photographysky

This photo makes me so happy 😄💖✨

Is 40 too young to get a recliner? Specifically one with a cup holder that I can read and write in, and eventually become one with the fabric? 🧐 Asking for me

I'm beyond excited to be one of the shortlisted writers 🌞 Thank you @natashacarthew.bsky.social for this amazing opportunity. Looking forward to meeting you on the 8th 🥳

I'm absolutely thrilled to be among the shortlisted writers for The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers 🌞💚🙌 Read more about the prize here ⬇️

Me approaching my editing deadline 😊 #writingjokes #reading #writingquotes #amwriting

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It's been suspiciously sunny in Manchester for the last two weeks 🧐 I have taken to writing my WIP in the back yard. Here are some wisteria flowers from behind the shed #naturesky #flowersky

"if what they say is nothing is forever, then what makes love the exception?" Hey Ya is low-key one of the saddest love songs I know. It is a bop though 🕺🪩

Finally felt well enough to short walk today. I saw lots of lovely trees and flowers. Here are some of them: #disabilitysky #naturesky #treesky

Out here walking children in nature 🌿 That's right, I'm a gardener now 🤺🌿 #gardensky #plantsky

I'm sorry, but saturday is too long to wait. Please look at a picture of my son Robin. Isn't he cute? 😭🥰 #caturdayeveeve #catsky

We're launching The Bee magazine today because the UK publishing and writing industries have a bit of a class problem.

I started reading this yesterday it's a long read but a good one. So often women's quirks and creativity have been pathologised. A fascinating read about writer Janet Frame below ⬇️

new gender neutral greeting just dropped

Aging is a gift but a humbling one! Eagerly awaiting some new trainers today. First time I've had to find ones suitable for arthritis and general old lady pains 😭 wish me luck, this could be me ⬇️

Today I am especially enjoying the art of Georgia O'Keefe. This one of my faves 👇 Above the Clouds I artsandculture.google.com/asset/above-...

I'm so pleased I was able to get my entry for the Nature Writing Prize for working class writers submitted in the nick of time yesterday. Fun to take part in, good luck to all that entered! 💚✨🤞

Gave the cat my coat, didn't I? I bring it on myself... #catbutler

This is so cool, I wish I wrote nature! 🌿 For those of you that do, there's still time! ⬇️

LGBTQ people are more likely to experience poverty and economic insecurity - especially trans and non-binary people. New data from @trevorproject.bsky.social finds relationship between economic hardship and poor mental health among LGBTQ youth. www.thetrevorproject.org/research-bri...

We're looking for pitches for four-part columns on any aspect of creative writing to fit broadly within the following categories: craft, creativity, performance, career. Please send pitches to maxine[@]mslexia.co.uk with PITCH in the subject line 💌

It's 11:38am and the bank holiday weekend hasn't even started yet. This is me ⬇️

My analysis of today's UK Supreme Court judgment. The UK Supreme Court Rules That Trans Women Aren't Women Under the Equality Act 2010 www.wearequeeraf.com/uk-supreme-c...

Never seen it put better ⬇️

Wow! I want to climb inside this picture. ✨ Take me with you little birdies, what a beautiful scene ✨

Update: 4 and a half hours into this audiobook (about a quarter of the way). Liane Moriarty is such a good writer, I am making notes 🤓📝 Her characters are so loveable/hateable (delete as appropriate) from page 1 😍 #booksky #authorsky #amreading #bookreview

Missy says it's important to relax and rejuvenate this weekend, especially after a busy week catching ribbons, shoelaces and small tinsel balls 🙌 #caturday #catsky

If anyone needs me for the next 45 hours I'll be in the garden with a good book or three! 🌱🎧📚 🥳 My library has Liane Moriarty audiobooks on unlimited download this month 🕺🕺

@luciestevens.bsky.social 🥳🌈🕺

Happy National Library Week!! A great time to ask everyone you know if they have a library card. #art #nationallibraryweek

Yup!

Happy (Upcoming) International Asexuality Day 2025! International Asexuality Day (also called Asexuality Visibility Day) is on April 6th, so make sure you're prepared with some great books starring protagonists on the ace spectrum! (For even more recs, click here.) Young Adult Here Goes Nothing by…

Hard relate to this 🤭⬇️

Free to download PDF reading list for Year 11 – perfect for promoting #ReadingForPleasure or holiday reading challenges. Includes titles by Leigh Bardugo, Josh Silver, Alice Sebold & more. 📥 Download here: media.schoolreadinglist.co.uk/free-reading...

Today is FND Awareness Day (UK)! FND is a common, painful, and disabling disorder. It remains under-studied and stigmatized, but we’re making progress. Here’s my in-depth personal essay on how we got here. medium.com/@fndportal/c...

This is a seminal moment: a Labour government cutting disability benefits. Not just continuing Tory levels. Cutting. This comes after a week of speculation, itself an act of cruelty by a government toying with people’s dignity. These cuts are disgraceful - and they will cost lives.