This quarter’s newsletter talks all things coaching and mentoring, with an exclusive deal for subscribers! buttondown.com/vickybrewste...

Such lovely feedback from my flower hour today. If you would like one-to-one support with your writing craft, thorny story problems, or processing feedback, check out my flower hours here: vickybrewstereditor.com

BIG NEWS!! Second peer review received on my book proposal - also very positive. My editor needs me to write a brief response to the report recommendations, but she thinks if I can do that by Tuesday, they should be able to send me a book contract by the end of the month!!! BOOK CONTRACT!!!!

Last call to sign up for this awesome free event on Sunday!

Claire of Cherry Edits and I are celebrating Indie Author Week with a FREE online session discussing the editing process for independent authors. From developmental to final proofreading, join us for a chat all about editing: bit.ly/LetsTalkEdit... When: Saturday 7th June @ 4.00 p.m. (BST)

This week is all about how my parents got together, and how that skewed my ideas of romance: vickybrewsterwriting.substack.com/p/the-greate...

In life writing this week, I talk about how I met my first husband, and procrastinate on that topic with thoughts about my grandfather: vickybrewsterwriting.substack.com/p/when-vicky...

It’s late and I don’t have a pretty graphic, but here is this week’s life writing, this week all about writing: open.substack.com/pub/vickybre...

@vickybrewster.bsky.social and I are doing a thing. 🥳 🔃 Tell your friends. The details: ⬇⬇ 🎉 An event to celebrate Indie Author Week UK 2025. 📅 Sunday 8th June 2025 🕓 4–5 p.m. UK time (BST) 📍 Zoom 🎟 Free to attend 💬 Includes a non-recorded Q+A Register here: bit.ly/LetsTalkEditing

Sign up to the FREE editing talk I’m running with Cherry Edits on June 8th to answer all your editing questions, and learn more about different kinds of editing and how to find the right editor for you! Book here: bit.ly/LetsTalkEdit...

This week I’m writing about growing up with hoarders and how the general domesticity many take for granted is actually a learned skill: vickybrewsterwriting.substack.com/p/the-cardif...

This weekend’s story from my life: My Mum Was a Dominatrix: vickybrewsterwriting.substack.com/p/my-mum-was...

This week I’m writing about growing up with undiagnosed bipolar… sort of: open.substack.com/pub/vickybre...

Hey, I got on the top horror news of the week with my article on the Meta AI scandal and why early career authors should care! Thanks @kevharrison.bsky.social!

You enjoy the experience, the dressing up, the improvisation—but what exactly goes into making it all happen? @vickybrewster.bsky.social gives us a peek into the story preparation for a Live Action Role Play (LARP) game. britishfantasysociety.org/writing-for-...

The first proper piece of love writing: My Dad Was a Chaos Wizard: open.substack.com/pub/vickybre...

I’ve been experimenting with life writing and decided to serialise some of it. You can read the introduction and subscribe for free here: vickybrewsterwriting.substack.com

I’ve been experimenting with life writing and decided to serialise some of it. You can read the introduction and subscribe for free here: vickybrewsterwriting.substack.com

Finally added an author profile to my website. Statement of intent! Vickybrewstereditor.com/author-page

Speaking absolutely speculatively, if I were to run an online writing retreat day specifically for pantsers/discovery writers, would there be interest?

Applications now open for the BFS's new mentorship programme! We've got 15 partially-funded places and 3 fully-funded places and a whole range of inspiring mentors to support your journey. britishfantasysociety.org/launching-th...

Watching Rivals. Don't really understand what's happening, but I'm enjoying David Tennant just periodically cackling like a panto villain

Okay, so I need some help. I have a reading challenge advent calendar type thing that lets me get a little present for completing various tasks. One is reading a book on a bestseller list. Are there bestseller lists specifically for genre/SFFH books?

I reminder that if you're on Fable, you can connect with me here: fable.co/vicky-brewst...

Can anyone recommend somewhere that's not Amazon where I can buy US ebooks with a VPN? Getting tired of waiting for UK publishers to work out certain books are amazing 👀👀

Editing pet peeve of the day: Something. See also, thing and it. As in, "It was a thing that made them tense". As opposed to "The situation/that elephant/chronic IBS made them tense". Be specific. Use fewer words.

This is a totally normal work outfit right?

Holidays are over, and it's time to meet the speakers for Writing the Occult: The Uncanny. Of course, you can't have an uncanny event without tackling Freud - & @vickybrewster.bsky.social is ready to tackle Freud's inclusivity with a rainbow hammer...🧵⬇️

My husband used to try and select books from my wishlist based on what sounded least harrowing. He's moved on now to choosing by the prettiest covers, and this selection method is proving far more eclectic!

Q for #ActuallyAutistic friends: have a friend in their 40s who I strongly suspect is autistic. Others agree but don't see the point in getting a medical diagnosis at that age. What are the benefits and drawbacks?

It's been two days, and already the lack of routine is making me edgy

Oh gosh. Forty-five books on my combined physical and digital to-read shelf. That's quite a lot...

AHAHAHAHAHA IVE JUST BOUGHT A VERY EXPENSIVE PEN FOR THIRTY POUNDS, I CANNOT BE STOPPED!!!

Christmas book haul!

It would be so nice if grief was a straight line and not a scribble. Eleven years since my dad died, but this year is hitting me really hard. Cried every day for the last week

Would you like to see my cat? (She is being held back by Greg so I can eat a Bakewell tart without her ripping it from my hand)

As promised! A TOP TEN of Romancing the Gothic new talks this year! Interestingly, quite a few of these are concentrated in the 19th century topics but there is a bit of range... Thread!

Had anyone read Youthjuice? I can't decide whether to give it a try. I didn't like The Substance and I don't know if this is a similar book. Are you still likely to enjoy this one if you're - Not a cis woman - have zero issues with aging - don't long to regain your youth (because being 20 sucked)?

So today I found out my brother has bowel cancer, someone nearly ploughed into me on a round about, and to top it all off THE STICKY TAPE IS NOT FUCKING STICKY!

Ways I can tell a booktuber is not my kind of reader*: - books organised in a rainbow - fairy lights on bookshelves - any mention of a 'spread' in any kind of journal - suggestion that there is a right or wrong way to read, or that someone can read 'better' * NB: different not wrong

I have a thrilling day of induction training planned, including GDPR! Money laundering! The Criminal Finances Act! Envious? You absolutely shouldn't be...

Highly bemused by the recent adaptation of the snow spider. Not okay to have a dad who pretends his kids doesn't exist and blames him to his face for his missing sister? Nain now regretful that she encourages a 9yo to run around alone on a mountain in a storm? Arianwen a cute Disney sidekick?

Having an interest in annotating has led my YouTube home page to Commonplace books and ... Guys, I think you might just be keeping a notebook?

Felt like I needed unlocking so listened to this and had a really good cry open.spotify.com/track/526mDk...

I just pressed send on my book proposal 😬😬😬

Send me something truly harrowing.

Right. Today I am FINISHING the sample chapters for my book proposal, and I am SENDING them, and then it is DONE!

I am also rereading Wolf Hall. I cannot share all the beautiful quotes because I would be repeating the entire book.

More beautiful lines: "It would be pleasant to give up. I could stand there on the moor until the wind blew all that was human out of me, and remain unfeeling as a stump forever." 'Thwaite's Tenant' by Imogen Hermes Gower, in The Haunting Season

Time to wrap presents means time for Box of Delights and terrifying animal heads. Watching on BBC and the subtitles keep being not precisely what's said which is very frustrating when you know something off by heart!