Full day of teaching. Lost my voice at lunchtime, limped through final lesson. Now mainlining throat sweets.

Get. Off. Twitter.

I'm definitely feeling a bit wobbly. Don't be afraid to reach out if you need support or someone to talk to. #Edusky

Well said.

Here we go again: Book 1 of 2026 #Booksky I bought this secondhand after hearing about Carey's death at the end of last year, and I'm glad I did. His writing does that difficult job of clarifying complex literary ideas, and I wasn't surprised Carey (like me) waa an admirer of Orwell.

Being a parent of teenagers is just... 😮🤬😭

Get. Off. Twitter.

4 hour round trip to check out the Bridget Riley show at the Turner in Margate. Totally worth it, but I am shattered now.

Happy 2026 everyone. You're stronger, braver and tougher than you realise. Don't be afraid xxx

So that's another year of reading wrapped up. A handful fewer than last year, which I'm okay with. A consequence of my choice to read chunkier books. And there's certainly been a bunch of those, 'Moby Dick' and several Dickenses amongst them. #Booksky

Also true of teaching.

I mean, if this isn't enough to get you off X... Absolutely horrific.

Book 57 of 2025 #Booksky I love just how merciless a writer Jackson is, both to her characters and the reader alike, and there's plenty of that on display here. The ambiguity in places is just excruciating, Jackson resolutely keeping schtum about what is really happening.

Happy New Year's Eve everyone. If you are a teacher (or indeed anyone) still posting on X, I have a suggested New Year's Resolution for you. Stop! If you agree, please REPOST here and on X if you maintain an account there. open.substack.com/pub/markgood...

Caught the last 35 mins of 'North by Northwest' and then turned over for the last 45 mins of 'Back to the Future'. I was reminded what perfect films they both are; but seeing the final act of each side by side really highlighted why.

I've had a short story accepted by an online magazine - my first acceptance! I am chuffed to bits.

Book 56 of 2025 My 4th Dickens of the year. Not my favourite, but I loved the gloom of the marshes and Miss Havisham's rotting bridal cake. #Booksky

This feel like your kind of read? Trying to get my indie book out there. Would love any shares (and of course if you fancy reading it’s available online through most places - inc a few indie bookstores (comment below if you want specifics). THANK YOU 🙏🏻

'The first draft of anything is shit.' Hemingway.

Still up, still drinking. Happy Boxing Day xxx

Merry Christmas all!

My full page comic for the @prospectmagazine.co.uk Christmas issue. With sincere apologies.

RIP. The Road to Hell was a favourite in my teens.

Happy holidays, all. And don't be afraid to reach out if you need support.

Book 55 of 2025 I'm teaching this next term. Not bad.

#ReleaseTheTrumpEpsteinFiles #JusticeForTheVictims

Book 54 of 2025 You know you're in safe hands with Atwood, and I found this really moving. I also enjoyed the subtle nods to Orwell. I like to think one of the characters met him. #Booksky

This end of term is tough. Don't be afraid to reach out if you're struggling, or need someone to talk to. #Edusky

So I end the day with one tooth less than I started it.

RIP

This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites. The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.

My position on taking action. And on the important space between everything and nothing.

Knocked out of #Whamageddon by feckin' Sainsbury's. Just like last year.

Ex-teacher here. Moved to a basic office job this week. The straw that broke the camel's back was a parent of a 15 year old telling me their well behaved princess would never play up in school. Reader, she stabbed me with a pen so hard I needed stitches.

Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people

Lovely mixed metaphor on our local TV news just now: 'the shadow of war is knocking on Britain's door.'

A better day, but tbh I'm also very grateful for the weekend. Feel like I could sleep til January.

Here we go again... Morning all.

Having a down day about school. There just seems to be so much to do, and it doesn't feel like I'm making any real progress. #Edusky

Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate

REMINDER: People need to get the fuck off X.

Check it out!! Hodder & Stoughton have an open submission window for all fiction genres. Get in quick. Details in link. Please share :)

Oof. My reading list just got much longer. Lots of great sounding books here. www.theguardian.com/culture/ng-i...

In 2014 Farage defended a comedian who appeared at UKIP conference and made a string of offensive "jokes" about Polish, Somalia, Muslims and Asian people. The BBC by contrast banned the Black and White minstrel show in 1978

My spirit animal.

Alan Moore knows the score.

The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"

Great article on Tom Stoppard's rewrites on 'Last Crusade', and full of useful writing advice.

New on my Substack: a short story open.substack.com/pub/libraryr...