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Unsolicited writing advice, no. 1675: It really helps to love what you do. If you don't, then there are lots of far easier ways of dying poor.

And this morning the Shed is an atoll, encased in a cocoon of coral reefs…

Just putting the finishing touches to my end-of-month newsletter, with recipes, news, competitions, trivia, work-in-progress (and sometimes its counterpart, work-in-arrears). Not signed up yet? You can do it here: www.joanne-harris.co.uk

As an ex-teacher of 15 years, HARD AGREE.

Elizabeth, Lady Wilbraham (1632 – 1705) was a member of the English aristocracy and a major architectural patron. Unable to become an architect because she was a woman, she studied in Italy and tutored Christopher Wren, who may have been given credit for hundreds of her designs. #CelebratingWomen

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 1296: Give yourself time away from your desk. Stepping away from your work-in-progress is sometimes the most creative thing you can do.

This was my favourite Glen Baxter

Glen Baxter has died. His drawings of cowboy art critics and wimples were an absurdist joy. RIP

All I want is a cottage in the Scottish Highlands, a raging thunderstorm, an Agatha Christie novel, a crackling fire, a kettle on the stove, an owl keeping watch, and a basket of emotional support scones.

And this morning the Shed is a mechanical beast; tireless beneath its dappled pelt…

Amina (1533 -1610) was a Hausa queen in the city-state of Zazzau (now Zaria), in what is now the north-west region of Nigeria. A fearsome leader, she built huge fortifications, massively expanded her territory over 35 years and created trade routes throughout Northern Africa. #CelebratingWomen

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 96380: If you want to convey someone's accent, just mention they have an accent. Use dialect words or phrases, or regional patterns of speech. You really don't need to write out all their speech phonetically.

And this morning the Shed is a bicycle, with ribbons on the handlebars, and playing-cards on the spokes of the wheels, and a basket for collecting treasures…

Same. I was here first. I get to do what I want to.

Talk profiles coming up for the Academy of Magical History and Folklore Library & Archive's 2 day online witchcraft conference. See below for details of the first one. Booking at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-folklo...

This is brilliant news: when I went to the Congo with MSF about 20 years ago, doctors were still having to do lumbar punctures on kids with no anaesthetic, and using an antiquated treatment based on strychnine that was fatal to half the patients...

Rani Lakshmibai was a leading figure of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British rule. Born in 1828, she became the queen of Jhansi after marrying the king, was widowed at a young age and refused to surrender to the British, leading her own army in the rebellion. #CelebratingWomen

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 3256: Don't be afraid to make yourself vulnerable in your writing. Be sincere. Don't be afraid to express your feelings. If you try to deflect - through misplaced humour, or snark - your writing will come across as shallow and insincere.

Fun fact about the IOC's one time only, all or nothing, SRY gene test 'to identify men'. It's entirely possible to test positive after being pregnant with a boy. Fetal DNA can cross the placental barrier and linger in the maternal bloodstream for decades.

Writing poems on the train that celebrate libraries , connection and free reading

And this morning the Shed is a vintage poster of sheds gone by, hanging in a store room filled with costumes and with theatre props…

Sigríður Tómasdóttir (1871–1957) was an Icelandic environmentalist whose activism helped preserve the Gullfoss waterfalls, protecting them from industrialization. She is widely seen as Iceland's first environmentalist and is memorialized on a sculpture near Gullfoss.

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 2615: Exhaustion won't make you a better writer. Alcohol won't make you a better writer. Suffering won't make you a better writer. Only writing will make you a better writer. Taking care of yourself helps you take care of your writing.

And this morning the Shed is a kaleidoscope, tumbling the world in pieces of glass...

I wrote a little barnyard romance in the style of Bridgerton... ko-fi.com/post/The-Rel...

Raziyyat-Ud-Dunya Wa Ud-Din (1205 – 1240), popularly known as Razia Sultan, was the Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate from 1236 until her deposition in 1240. She was the first female Muslim ruler of the subcontinent, and the only female Muslim ruler of Delhi. #CelebratingWomen

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 7: If you find it hard to get into the zone, you may need a sensory trigger. A “getting ready” song on your phone; a square of dark chocolate; a special scent; a series of movements. See which one works best, and keep using it. It will work faster every time you do.

And a hello from Deimos, the Chaos Gremlin…

A welcome whisper of good news on the changing seasonal wind…

You'll be astonished to learn that the self-described "Free Speech Union" recently took out a court injunction to prohibit publication of a list of its donors... But @petergeoghegan.bsky.social reports it has gained "significant sums from a vehicle linked to... donors to Tufton Street think tanks"

And this morning the Shed is a watermark on a document, sealed in wax…

Lovely evening talking to the SoA’s Tufnel Park authors’ group - it was terrific to see you all, and thank you for your company! @societyofauthors.bsky.social

18th-century Japanese cat print — or, much more likely, the cat print everyone in my print club will be getting in April. If you’d like to join: www.infinitebacon.com/printclub I hope you all like it!

Demon self, whispering seductively: “These shoes could change my life.”

“The moment when you were in the hospital & you grabbed your daughter, & you looked at your daughter. All the things that went through your mind, all the emotions that went through your mind. And how much love fills your heart at that moment. Don’t let that ever leave you, no matter what.” - Wade

And this morning the Shed is deep undercover, with trenchcoat and syglass and pistol to hand...

A rare chance to mix a little pleasure in with the meetings. So looking forward to seeing this…

This is every Green Woman contributing. Each of us wrote a short piece to accompany an individual illustration, which we got to choose from Brian's gallery. Talk about a list to conjure with! Let's just say when I was invited, I said 'I'd be honoured' because 'Squee' would have been unprofessional.

Jeanne des Armoises (also Claude des Armoises; fl. 1438) was a French adventurer living in the 15th century. She was reportedly a soldier in the Pope's army in Italy, and for a time successfully impersonated Joan of Arc after her execution. #CelebratingWomen

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 21: There is no excuse for using gen. AI. None at all. If Jean-Dominique Bauby could write THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY using nothing but determination, brainwork and his eyelids, then you can manage without cheating.

East Coast Main line, my old friend…

And this morning the Shed is a mystic rune, in the dust of an attic windowpane, sending out its messages high over the smoky rooftops…

So glad to have a story or two in this amazing collection... Details here. www.abramsbooks.com/product/bria...

Boran was a Sasanian queen of Iran from 630 to 632. She is the second of only three women to rule in Iranian history. Though her reign was brief, she brought stability to Iran by creating just laws, rebuilding the infrastructure, and by lowering taxes and minting coins. #CelebratingWomen

lots of people to block this morning saying "but... Israel". whatever your views are on Israel, Jews in London are Jews who could live in Israel but don't. surely if you have a problem with the existence of Israel you love and celebrate Jews living in Europe? or... not? somehow? for reasons?

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 36571: World-buiding doesn't mean describing everything. You can do more with a local fruit, a saying or a custom than you can with a dozen maps and appendices.

Yes, UK authors; just sign up, enter your books, - also articles, audiobooks etc - and let the ALCS pay you. It really is that easy.