For me, the biggest change is in my character work. As I get older, experience more of life's ups and downs, I feel like my characters are increasingly layered. I never consciously write self-insert characters, but my characters bear my scars all the same. Poor things.

Great question! I hadn't considered this before, but there's an obvious answer. I've written almost daily since childhood, first in notebooks, then on Word when my dad gave me his hand-me-down pizza box Mac when I was 11. And though I wrote a novel and queried it in my 20s, the true start... 🧵

Our latest newsletter for January just dropped, written by the incomparable @lizzieblackwood.bsky.social ! Please enjoy this New Year's retrospective ❤️ On our website: hookandquillpress.com/2026/01/01/n... Free on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/newsle...

In with the new, out with the old. Last year’s resolutions were a mixed bag. Achieved some major milestones and failed on some big ones too. So, what’s the solution to setting myself unachievable goals? More unachievable goals of course!

I'll be drafting WE ALWAYS COME BACK, a space opera about the fracturing of a dysfunctional family (Missing vigilante parents + 4 adult siblings). A mix of comedy, drama, and grief. I'm so excited to see where it leads. Going to try pantsing for the first time. Only got a rough outline atm.

New Year, New Book - BLUDEYE BEACH by @eliwoodsgheist.com releases TODAY!!! Do you have your ticket to Bludeye Beach? 👁 Amazon: a.co/d/8rAbO4s Books2Read: books2read.com/u/4AVPAp Website: hookandquillpress.com/our-books/ #booksky #writingcommunity #indiewriter #writesky #hqpress

And I’m officially open to queries again ✨ looking forward to diving into some great stories. QueryTracker.net/query/fabien...

My WIPs for the first quarter of 2026: WE ALWAYS COME BACK Space Opera, Family Drama 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. Goal: Write 1st Draft DARK Sci-Fi Thriller 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦? Goal: Finish 1st Draft

Happy New Year!!! 2025 has been a mixed bag for me. Amazing highs and the lowest lows. I am feeling good as we ring out the year. Life is back on track. And I have high hopes for 2026.

Happy Christmas, dear writing friends! Deep in the chaos here tonight, but I won’t get a chance to get online tomorrow. Just wanted to wish you all a merry holiday however you do or do not celebrate.

Two years ago today, I finished my 5th book, Fractured. Though I planned to take a writing break to cope with my mum's recent death and the monster of 1st Christmas without her, a new book idea struck me that same night. 6 hours of frantic note taking later, and The Last Sky had burst into existence

Here's to waking up with flu three days before Christmas. 🥂 I must be on the naughty list this year.

I became obsessed with trees when I was writing my 1st book (big nature theme). I go for walks just to stare at trees. So imagine my reaction when I came across this one during our trip to a Christmas lights show at Kew. I gawped at it for a full 10 minutes before my kids finally dragged me away.

MY PROOF COPY ARRIVED. THIS IS UNREAL.

That moment when the tangled threads of a new book idea suddenly pull together into a beautiful tapestry you didn't see coming. I'm equal parts thrilled with this unexpectedly-cooperative book concept... and dismayed my subconscious outsmarted me.

On writing hiatus, minding my own business, when one of the best book ideas I've had in years comes along and steamrolls me. I've just come up for air after hours of note taking, and I am giddy with excitement over this new project. Think: Arrested Development X Farscape X This Is Us

Good lad, Pax. Wise decision to guard the Christmas Eve box instead of bedding down on your cosy cat blanket. Who needs self-heating fleece when you can get comfy on top of jagged wooden stars?

Updated my mood board with the new character portraits for Spencer and Wren. #Wrencer #ThiefofDeath #hqpress #Writesky

With #2026debuts right around the corner, I wanted to start introducing you all to the cast of characters of #WitchQueenRising, my southern gothic dark fantasy about an underdog unafraid to bite back. Arrives 4/21/2026 Preorder here: tr.ee/bwYval

"The Queen's Conscience died at dusk on the shortest day of the year." This is a bit of a cheat, seeing as I have this line (which is mirrored for the first and last line of the book), and I have a vague premise, I just don't really know much else yet. But I do like the line.

I'm proud of SO MANY things but chief among them is publishing a book that I really enjoy and I'm really really proud of it and the crazy thing is that people like it #pretendpanel

Hands down my proudest achievement this year is something I have been striving for across 15 years and 3 books: getting an agent (and a fabulous agent at that!). I first started querying the first book I ever wrote when I was a non greying, wrinkle-free 25-year-old. Back then, 🧵

Hiatus continuing to go well. Day 2: another 4000 words on the random story about this character I can’t get out my head. Day 3: fantasising about making a silk dress for next summer inspired by Cersei’s wrap dress in GOT. Got a wedding to go to in August. Could be fun to go full Westeros.

It's official; BLUDEYE BEACH will be released early 2026 😄 This book is incredibly near and dear to me, and this all feels so surreal! Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey ❤️ (Graphic is not the actual cover; that will get its own reveal 😘) #writingcommunity #hqpress #writesky

First day of my hiatus, and what do I do? Write a 5000-word story about a character I can’t get out of my head. Felt so good to write for pure fun again, just letting the words flow with no concern about anyone reading it.

Some truly awesome humans (and some of the best writers I've had the privilege of calling friends) have started an Indie Press. Can't wait to see what they come up with.

Hello, friends. We are Hook & Quill Press, an indie press representing a collective of indie authors, unabashedly authentic and celebrating our unique selves. We believe in uplifting writers, investing in our community, and working to help each other accomplish our goals.

I’m taking a writing hiatus for the rest of November and December. Massive burnout. It felt really liberating to shut down Scrivener yesterday. Spent the evening making a Viking costume for the tiniest one.

Should have been writing this afternoon, but took two of my tiny people to see Wicked 2 today at the cinema instead, then somehow ended up in this predicament. I have no regrets.

Finally hitting my stride with my November book. Over 8000 words yesterday. It’s been hard going, seeing as I’m a highly character-driven storyteller, but the book needed a lot of plot, tech, and intrigue. Into the 2nd act now, and I’m diving deeper into these characters. Feels like safer territory!

What is with the scourge of AI animal videos all of a sudden? I'm skeptical of everything I see now. Who knew 1984's "The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears" (because everything is fake as F) would become my guiding principle of 2025? We're through the looking glass.

Yesterday marked 2 years since I lost the most important woman in my life. Not a day that goes by that I don't wish she was still here, but I'm glad to be past the raw, aching stage of grief. Now, I can remember her not as her awful illness, but as the wonderful woman she was. I miss you, Mum.

#Writevember Week 1 was all about steady progress. I had a crazy busy week, so for the most part, I only got to write from 10pm onwards. I hit my targets, but usually, I'd be further ahead by this point. Hoping for a quieter week next week so I can knuckle down and get a lot more words on the page.

FUCK AI. Show me something you made without the use of AI. It would be pretty hard to make these with AI, but still. I'm damned proud of them. I spent 70+ hours working on them, turning architectural drawings into vectors and layering the buildings from laser cut mdf+plywood.

“What? This is a totally normal way to sleep. Stop laughing!” (Check out his creepy single open eye—I honestly thought he’d had some sort of cat stroke. But he’s fine.)

Had a lovely time at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social yesterday. Interesting panels, lovely people, and I had fun spotting some of my favourite authors at the bar! I especially loved spending the day with my agent @helenlane.bsky.social and the talented @jamesbennett.bsky.social.

Hello #Writevember! I'm Charlotte, and I'm writing Dark, a hard sci-fi thriller...or it's a philosophical deep dive into the nature of selfhood and memory... or possibly both. My goal is to write the whole first draft this month (aiming for 100k, but I fear it will go over).

My #Writevember challenge is to write the 1st draft of Dark, a sci-fi thriller I've had on the back burner for a while. My aim is 100k, but I'm likely to overshoot that. Got a busy weekend ahead, so I won't be getting too much done until Monday. Good luck to everyone doing a challenge!

I wasn't going to share SpaceWIP's title until November, but then I stayed up late last night making this mood board, and I can't *not* share it. So... Introducing THE CRUCIBLE OF THE BROKEN MOON, Book 1 of the Katorgan Saga. #PlotTober

Light Mode VS Dark Mode Which would you choose?

I am SO excited, thrilled, over the moon (all the adjectives!!!) To announce that my debut novel WHEN THE FOREST WHISPERS will be published by Orbit UK & US in early 2027. This still feels completely surreal. #horrorbooks #publishingdeal #publishingnews #debutauthor #fictionbooks

Yay. Proud agent!!!!!!

We’re over the moon to share that Marianne Gordon’s ALISTAIR FALL AND THE RESTLESS DEAD has sold to Del Rey in a two book deal! Read more: www.ki-agency.co.uk/post/deal-an...

I've learned my lesson. Never try to sleep right after outlining in bed. My brain was still in go-mode for an hour after lights out. Ideas kept sparking up like a damned meteor shower. My phone is full of typo-riddled notes that I'm struggling to decipher this morning. Why didn't I just read?

I’m entrenched in planning madness and scrambling to get this done for Saturday to start #Writevember. Planning this book has been much harder than others. The sheer size of the crew, their amnesia, the technical hard sci-fi elements. It’s a lot. I’ve run out of wall space. This is the overflow.

Announcing #Writevember! Whether you're doing classic NaNoWriMo or setting your own writing goals, join the tag for weekly progress updates, accountability, and community. I'll post the week's prompt on each date for folks to quote repost. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompt #AmWriting

Thanks again for giving me an opportunity to yap, Laken! You're awesome 😁🫶

One of my writing friends @professoremily.bsky.social was interviewed for Laken's blog! Definitely check it out—her YA fantasy THE GODS OF ATALANTIS is a huge treat. I was lucky enough to beta read it earlier this year, and Emily is such a master of the English language. Her prose is magnificent.

Sadly, I don't have any artwork of my characters yet (and my many attempts to find real people who look like the characters in my head always end in failure) I had to add another box for Isaac (could've added 3 more—and my husband should be in the influences, but the rules disqualified him)

Pax approves of the new self-heating blanket I got him for my desk. Instant purring and biscuit making.