I've been keeping a small secret...this weekend, @societyofauthors.bsky.social funded me to visit @thedeephull.bsky.social, one of the largest aquariums in the UK 😭🌊 It was magical, and I've come away with a wealth of photos/video/audio to use for my book! #thedeep #thedeephull #societyofauthors

POETS KNOW THE JOY OF THIS LITTLE GREEN A! Just got my first poetry acceptance on Duotrope 🙈💖 My haiku 'Yearning' will be published with @thescikuproject.bsky.social (a platform for science-based haikus) later this year! 🔥🔥🔥

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with @jenbowden12.bsky.social as part of her Northern Voices podcast! We chatted about my book '365 Days of Healing', the Northern writing scene/UK book industry, as well as my upcoming projects 🥰 You can listen here: soundcloud.com/northern_voi...

'There are so few resources that give explicit instruction on how the industry works.' Writer Quinn Clark @adashofseaglass.bsky.social joins me on Northern Voices today to talk about access, wellness and octopus novels. @summersdalebooks.bsky.social on.soundcloud.com/Iwuv0ldtABBj...

So SO excited to share that No One Talks About This Stuff, our book on childlessness, has been snapped up by Robinson Psychology (an imprint of Little Brown)! 🥳 www.thebookseller.com/rights/robin...

Surprise! I'm one of @newwritingnorth.bsky.social's Emerging Creative Associates for 2025 🥳 I've had to keep this on the down-low for a while, but I've been dying to gush about how wonderful NWN's support has been! 🥰💖

As you can see, I take my creative writing workshops VERY seriously 😉🦴

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 ]

Darlington poet @lizzielovejoy.bsky.social is this year's Sid Chaplin Award winner. "Growing up, I remember being told that people like me didn't get to be writers and artists... I can't wait to share a story born from the magic that can be found across the working-class North."

This is the best subject line I've ever received. Hell yeah! I'm the octopus author 🐙😂

On fire this week! Completed an important emotional arc and added a chapter and an epilogue in my gigantic book plot grid 🔥 That's 10 chapters to rewrite, 2 to write, and 7 to polish...that's achievable by the end of the year, surely?! 👀

When you're writing a book about octopuses, it's very useful that many stores have adopted an octopus theme this summer. Behold: an octopus cookie! And a GREEN one at that 👀🐙💚

THIS IS SO EXCITING! I've been accepted as a member of @societyofauthors.bsky.social 👀🔥 Feeling grateful, affirmed, and that maybe this writing thing has legs after all 😂 societyofauthors.org/soa-member/q...

Is it a cry for help if instead of rewriting my book manuscript I've written a short story and a poem intended for a greetings card (two mediums I have never explored)? 😂

Oh my goodness! I can't believe NOTATS is thriving like this 🙈💖 All thanks to Kat and the incredible life she's breathed into this project!

We are thrilled to announce the Jerwood Fellowship for Emerging Writers at New Writing North. Awarded to three early-career writers, currently living in the North of England. Each writer will receive a bursary of £10,000 and a bespoke package of support.

Another day, another creative writing session! I'll be hosting @alphabettitheatre.bsky.social's Writing Group this Thursday 26th June, from 5:30pm-7:00pm 🥰 Come along if you're looking for a place to relax, chat with other writers...and maybe even get a little writing done! 👀

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 ⬇️

Our Alphabetti family is expanding! We’re looking for a creative and strategic Marketing & Communications Manager to help shape the voice of our award-winning fringe theatre. We can't wait to hear from you! www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/jobs

Ending the week on a high note! Not only has 'No One Talks About This Stuff' been picked up by Robinson, it's also been selected for @readingagency.bsky.social's new Reading Well for Families booklist! It's available to borrow for free from libraries 🥳 [ #noonetalksaboutthisstuff #notats #books ]

After last year's doomed trip to St Andrews to meet an octopus, I thought it was never going to happen!! But TODAY I had the pleasure of meeting Otto, Tynemouth Aquarium's common octopus, and he's even more majestic in person 🐙🥰 (1/4)

Say hello to @beelitmag.bsky.social! The Bee is a new showcase of working-class writing from the UK and beyond, comprising a website, a literary magazine, The Working Class Library podcast, and The Beehive, an online space for new and emerging working-class writers.

Just got out of a meeting with an artist I'm supporting, who is putting on trans-led, educational shows about being transgender in rural areas across England. It was a painful meeting, given the backdrop of the recent ruling and continued erosion of trans rights here in the UK. (1/?)

Apply for a 1-2-1 with an industry professional at Newcastle Writing Conference! These 10 min slots are a great addition to the day – but spaces are limited, so you'll need to book your ticket & fill out an application by 30 April ⏰ newwritingnorth.com/event/newcas...

Writing talent is everywhere. But opportunities are not. That’s why we exist. To identify and nurture talent. To inspire a love for creative writing and reading.

We're bringing free creative writing taster sessions to County Durham in April & May! These 90-min interactive workshops for all experience levels will be led by @tenpennydreams.bsky.social in Bishop Auckland, Stanhope, Peterlee, Durham, Barnard Castle & online. newwritingnorth.com/event/durham...

I will miss what I once *thought* #NaNoWriMo was. I will miss what it originally stood for, but I think it closing down is probably the best thing for the writing community right now. There was too much baggage. Too many scars. We've already seen that new, better things can rise from the ashes.

It's official; after so many years, NaNoWriMo is finally closing down. 🧵 (1/?) www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

On a less depressing note, I received my first ever book royalties today! Huge thanks to the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Agency, who find income for authors when their work is photocopied, digitally reused, and retransmitted. Every author should be signed up with them 💖

Many writers have shared their experiences of being published by Unbound this week. Here’s mine. www.independent.co.uk/voices/unbou...

Happy one-year-anniversary to this wonderful book, 'No One Talks About This Stuff'! 🥳🥳 What a privilege it is to be part of this collection exploring infertility and childlessness. Huge thanks to the brilliant @katbrownwrites.com for pulling it together, and all the amazing authors involved 🔥

It’s No One Talks About This Stuff’s one-year book birthday today! For all the stress of Unbound, I am so so proud of this work. A support group in a book for anyone going through the piercing grief of infertility, whoever you are, and whatever your experience. uk.bookshop.org/p/books/no-o...?

Very proud to be part of this important anthology published 1 year ago today! Thank you @katbrownwrites.com for the opportunity. No One Talks About This Stuff: Twenty-Two Stories of Almost Parenthood www.waterstones.com/book/no-one-...

Today's Guardian newspaper has covered the ongoing Unbound fiasco: still no payment for me and other authors, & most shockingly of all the publisher is refusing to refund the readers who supported my new novel (which thankfully will now not be published by them): www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Last week Unbound was scheduled to refund 8k of pledge money to people that had supported my book 'Singing Up the Sun'. Last week Unbound went into administration. Today I discovered the money won't be refunded. I'm mortified about the situation. I recommend you attempt to get refunds directly...

Just want to say that I’m appalled at what has happened with Unbound books and feel absolutely awful for @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social, @matpringle.bsky.social and all the other authors affected. For what it’s worth I’ll not be purchasing from Boundless, ever. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

I feel it's important to let authors know that Unbound, the crowdfunding book platform, has gone into administration after months of not paying its authors. (1/?) www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Not going to lie, I specifically went with Unbound as I wanted an infertility book in bookshops and that you didn’t have to send off an SAE for, then couldn’t find it in stores anyway and now face selling my books myself. I feel quite stupid right now. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Hey writers! On Thursday 20th March, from 5:30pm-7pm, I'll be hosting a writing group @alphabettitheatre.bsky.social 🥰 It is totally free and anyone is welcome regardless of experience, as long as you book in advance ✨ More info below!

IT'S DONE!!!!!!! 56 Miles in February...and £100 raised for @mindcharity.bsky.social, thanks to all of your wonderful donations 🥰 You are all amazing! Congratulations to everyone who took part, no matter how far you got or how much you raised—it all adds up 💖

Today, I penned a letter to our government as a member of The Writers' Guild of Great Britain regarding the unregulated use of generative AI, and the difficulties this is posing for authors, academics, and creatives.

VERY EXCITING NEWS!!!! 🎉🎉🎉 But! I can't say what it is yet! Just that I've been accepted onto a very interesting and competitive programme that I really didn't expect to get...2025 is looking up 👀

I'm officially on substack. My first post is about radiator paint, but also MS, ADHD, and making art when you feel like your brain is broken substack.com/@lettymchugh...

I hit 25 miles yesterday!! 🥳 Thanks to you amazing people, we've already raised £80 for @mindcharity.bsky.social! Thanks so much to everyone supporting, you're brilliant 🥰 (If you'd like to donate, the link is in the replies!)

Time to do something crazy in February 🙈 I'll be participating in @mindcharity.bsky.social's 56 Miles in February Challenge, where we walk, jog, and run to raise money for this brilliant cause! 🔥 If you can contribute, I would be so grateful! Thanks so much 💖 www.justgiving.com/fundraising/...

Do check out my interview with Quinn Clark @adashofseaglass.bsky.social - they have loads of interesting things to say about their brilliant book '365 Days of Healing'

So honoured to have been interviewed by the brilliant @samszanto.bsky.social for my book '365 Days of Healing'! Please do check out her work, she is a fabulous poet and writer and a joy to work with 🥰 #365daysofhealing #books #writing #mentalhealth www.samszanto.com/post/quinn-c...

Back to writing today! A huge chunk has been rewritten. All that matters is that I get to the end and have an imperfect, but whole, manuscript! Daunting, but achievable...right? 😳

Completely forgot to share this! So excited to have been interviewed by the lovely Emma Millen over at BBC Sounds for my book '365 Days of Healing'. Always a pleasure to be invited onto the show! 🥰 #365daysofhealing #bbcsounds #books #writing www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

A belated Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a very-nearly-Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you've all had an amazing, restful time 🥰 So sorry for dropping off the face of the earth for a little while! (1/4)