Hi Bluesky, I haven't been around as much lately as I like to. Life has been kicking my butt, and the wonderful @khonri.com has decided to help me out with the tip jar 🥹🫶😭 Please don't feel obligated if you are also struggling financially, but I'd be so grateful for any little bit of help ❤️❤️❤️

Not been around much lately. Enjoying taking a break from SM. I'm making steady progress on my 2nd draft and enjoying the summer. Hope all my writing friends are well!

Tomorrow my daughter is having a “Space Day” at school to celebrate their topic. We had a crazy idea. We executed said crazy idea. And it turned out… well, pretty crazy unsurprisingly—but also awesome, and we love it, and my hands are now covered in acrylic paint and super glue, but it was worth it.

Summer goal: Finish final draft of ‘We Always Come Back’ It’s a big job. I’ve only just started the 2nd draft, and I’ll need at least 3. I’m so eager to send this book to my agent. I’ve got big hopes for it. I plan to edit 1 chapter per day. Welcome, fancy new tracker. Now keep me accountable.

Made a stand for my meagre collection of fountain pens today with Illustrator and my Glowforge. It's been on my to do list for a while, and I'm really happy with how it turned out—though I definitely spent way too much time on the design. No excuse not to buy more pens and fill it up.

We’re thrilled to welcome @jenbrownwrites.bsky.social and her necromantic sapphics to the Ki Agency. Jen will be represented by @knifewitch.bsky.social

Finished the 1st Draft of 'We Always Come Back' yesterday. Some stats: Started: 27/01 Finished: 20/05 Word count: 185,720 Words that will need to be jettisoned into space during editing: >55k Writing days: 53 Max words in a day: 10,121 Times my chapter titles made me laugh at myself: Yes

Wrote another 10k today. My subconscious knew I was near the end, even though my skeleton plan included an extra act. I realised mid-MC’s emotional breakdown that THAT was the book’s true climax. The rest can wait for Book 2. I’m going to finish this book tomorrow, and I couldn’t be happier.

Headed to the British Library yesterday for the first time. Amazing place. Almost felt too grand to sit and write my irreverent space opera WIP. Hit the shop on the way out and couldn’t resist a few items. It’s only a 20 min train ride from my corner of London, so I will definitely be going back.

Controversial take...? Looking at shortlisted SFF books in the Nibbies, I wonder if it should be split into separate categories. Only 1 in 6 is SF; the rest fantasy. I love both genres, but I do feel SF always plays second fiddle to its more popular cousin. I went looking for SF recs. Only got 1.

My kids are at the grandparents tonight, and I managed to get 10k written on WACB. Sat at my desk from 4pm until 2am. I’m seeing double, my forearms hurt from the edge of the desk, and my sore bones are letting me know sitting still for so long at 41 is asking for trouble—BUT I am wildly pleased.

Hi, I’m Charlotte and I’m not a big deal but I’m just not going anywhere with my life and I’m just trying not too hard. (Oh my god, predictive text! I feel so seen!) For real: I write SFF stories about unresolved wounds disguised with layers of found family, bantery ensembles, and lots of healing.

April review: - 40k written in We Always Come Back - finally finished reading a book that has been weighing me down but I could not DNF (I’m finally free!) May goals: - Finish WACB 1st draft - if there’s time, start outlining a rewrite of Fractured (Book 1 of epic science-fantasy series)

I am so excited about this release. Every snippet I've read of this book has left me eager for more! Emily has created something truly special with these characters, this mythology, this world. I'm so happy I have it in my hands at last!

A glorious, albeit windy, day here in Londontown, and I'm sitting in my favourite spot of the house to write. The trees are roaring outside, the house is peaceful, and I have a couple of hours to lose myself in my manuscript. Bliss.

Breached 100k in my experimental POV WIP today. I've had two great writing days in a row, completing a chapter apiece. Yesterday's 3700 word combined with today's 6700 tipped me over the 100k milestone. Still having lots of fun with this WIP—and still dreading the eventual cuts I'll need to make!

✨🌟✨COVER REVEAL TIME✨🌟✨ I present to you all the front cover of The Stars Will Be Our Ocean, projected for release in July! (I'll confirm the date when I announce pre-orders/ARCs soon). The art is by the incomparable @aowna.bsky.social! There's a full wrap-around version too (reveal TBD 👀).

Film you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars/Trek, HP, LOTR, Marvel.

No writing in the draft today, but I did outline the next 5 chapters (around 4000 words) in between a much-needed spring clean of my kids' toys and clothes. I am so excited to write these next few chapters. 90k words in, and I'm approaching the end of Act 2. This novel is so much fun.

Me: *Drafting in the sunshine* Him: Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Me: The doors are all open, buddy. Just come on down. Him: Hey! Hey! Hey! Me: You are aware you have legs? Him: Heeeeey! Me: And they do, in fact, work? Him: *sad eyes* Me: *trudge all the way upstairs* Him: *runs away*

Very exciting news! A new timely-wimey Claire North is coming in October (and it’s brilliant so shoo, go preorder it). Published by Orbit UK and US

Kids finally all back at school today. Wrote half a chapter this morning and a blog post. Winning.

When you're writing a space opera and you fall down a four-hour quantum mechanics rabbit hole to come up with a flimsy theory for why your symbiotic plant-animal priestess can burst into blinding light and irradiate a couple of bounty hunters into a pair of puddles on the landing pad.

Tomorrow, my debut novel goes out into the world. Follow along with Jason and Ayana as they investigate an occult conspiracy in this action-packed, high-stakes, cosmic horror thriller about the monsters we choose. Preorder your copy today! amshilling.com/books #WritingCommunity #Booksky 💙📚🩸

Can't wait to watch this after kiddos are in bed. Very excited for this release, and I'm eager to hear all about the nuts and bolts that went into making it.

Just got back from a fun-filled, booze-soaked, action-packed week in the Alps with family & friends. Managed to get the tiniest amount of writing done. Had the best time, but I am excited to detox and get back to my WIP. Setting myself the lofty goal to get the first draft done in a month. Let’s go!

Just pre-ordered my copy. 😊 Can't wait to read it!

WACB update: Work continues in bursts, but I'm making good progress. 63k-ish atm. I've realised I have to split this into a duology (no surprises there). Currently nearing the mid-point of Book 1. It's pretty bloated with narratorly hijinks right now. My plan: cut heavily, aim for 120k eventually.

Whoop!!!! I cannot wait for this one!! Every snippet I've ever read of this has hooked my attention and never let go, and just look at that art work! Divine. (Pun intended)

Querying update: will be open again on 1st April.

Nearly 7500 words today. A beast of a writing day. Felt great. Slight segue into the most stressful hour of the year this afternoon, but it resolved, and thankfully I was able to get the flow back. Left the last scene unfinished in an attempt to pick up the same momentum tomorrow.

Well, this is glorious. One of my favourite places to write in the house, and today it’s just about warm enough to have the garden doors open. The sun’s shining, there’s a woodpecker in the ash tree behind our house, and our neighbour’s magnolia is starting to bloom.

Never give up! I mean it. I wrote the book 5 years ago and it's been through several iterations since while I kept trying to place it. I can barely absorb the fact that it's going to be a thing! But I also know it wouldn't be the thing it is without that journey. Nothing wasted. Keep writing. 📚💙🏳️‍🌈

Back home in the London rain. Wish I was still at the beach with a G&T. Post holiday blues. On the upside though, kids are off to the grandparents tomorrow for the night, and I intend to get my write on.

Happy book birthday to Olivia Jackson and HUNTER’S TREASURE! Out now from One More Chapter. This thrilling adventure rom-com is now available from your preferred seller of books. A desert island read if I’ve ever seen one… 🌴🌴🌴

Yes, that’s U.S. Champion Amber Glenn and Olympic champion Alysa Liu with the nuiMO version of my OC Chloé LaFleur. And both of them have said they want to read my book when it’s published. Is this a brag? Abso-fucking-lutely.

At the beach for a few days. Beautiful sunshine, freezing cold, scaffolding up around the flat, but still delightfully happy to get away from the London rain. Hoping to get a lot of writing done.

#Febchantment Day 14 The most terrifying thing about the magic that permeates my world is its unpredictability. One small mistake, and everyone ends up as cinders. Or flamingos. Or soup tureens. Occasionally, all at once.

Is it ever going to stop raining? Like, seriously, the Atlantic must be empty at this point.

Seriously, Pantsers, how do you do it? I have tried and failed to pants my latest book. I started out with a rough roadmap. It started out fine. But by the second chapter, I was already mapping out the scenes before I got started on each one. And now, I've completely derailed.

Gone a bit quiet because I'm fully invested in writing at the moment. Something has awoken with a vengeance. Almost 5000 words on the page today. I'm having so much fun with it. The ensemble cast have just arrived, and it's pure chaos. My snarky narrator is having the time of her life.

Today on the Dev Blog, I discuss some of my design principles around species. From the special role of tieflings & dragons to how no humans exist in my story and campaign setting of the megadungeon city of Felcrown. walkerharris.net/felcrown/blo... #DnD #ttrpg #fantasy #levelup #a5e #pf2e 📚⚔️

I was today year's old when I discovered it's strait-laced, not straight-laced. Embarrassingly, I always thought it referred to STRAIGHT as in CONVENTIONAL 🙈 For anyone who wants to know: It's from the 16th century, uses STRAIT as an old form of TIGHT, and compares people to tightly laced corsets.

Got into a good routine with writing We Always Come Back. I've worked in an hour's break at my favourite cafe in the park every day, and I've steadily made progress. Not quite the late nights I usually spend locked in my study, but it's working. Got 10k on the page now. Very happy with it so far.

#WIPSnips #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #writesky Oh boy this scene is so spoilery but I'm going for it 😆 Mireia & Kena explore somewhere they probably shouldn't be. How'd they get there? What did she feel? 🤷‍♀️ Also yes they can turn invisible lol From Book 2 of my #Atlantis trilogy.

#fantasy #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WIPSnips #confident Just after yesterday’s snip. Virgil contemplates Rushak, Cerel, and his own decisions with a disturbing conclusion - and typical angst. - From Brother’s Keeper, my fantasy WIP about two brothers bound by a misunderstood power.

Happy #WIPSnips 3 - confident! From the third Bludeye Beach book. I swear Edie doesn't spend all of her time falling to pieces 😬

Which character do you think most embodies confidence for today's #WIPSnips? 🤔😂

Hiding from the rain at one of my favourite cafes this morning. Got 1000 new words on the page. Looking forward to finishing the chapter later… and for the rain to stop. Seriously. It needs to stop.

One thing I tell people over and over and over again is just how much luck I have had in my career... plus, you know, privilege, which is a systemic boost that makes luck more likely for some. Yes, I'm good at what I do. So are a lot of other people who have not had my luck. No shame to admit it.