I work 32 hrs/wk over 4 days, meaning I get Fridays off. This is my first Friday all year where I don't have any editorial client work. Just me and my WIP. All day. I'm so looking forward to it. Yes, yes, I love editing work. But a stretch of several hours working on MY stuff? I've missed that

Kill the Gods: Epic Fantasy Religion - @abeaumontbooks.bsky.social in conversation with @annasmithspark.bsky.social , @justmarvewrites.bsky.social, @willwiles.bsky.social and me. 6pm, Waterstones Covent Garden, 13th November #SciFi #London @waterstones.bsky.social @britfantasysoc.bsky.social

Editing slots are filling up for 2026 already!!! Now booking for June onwards. If you'll have a manuscript ready for developmental or line editing next summer or later, get in touch at [email protected] to secure your slot. Prices at www.thewriteadvice.co.uk ~ Anna

I really enjoyed the mass signing event at WorldCon on Saturday. I signed a few books, had some fun conversations, and I got invited to do a bookshop event because I got chatting with a lovely reader, even though they didn't have a book for me to sign. It was all very wholesome and worthwhile.

Weird times. Attended a friend's funeral last week who died very suddenly and unexpectedly, followed by the joys of friends and panels and books and dnd at World Fantasycon, then a couple of CT scans yesterday for Things of the Body. Awaiting results. And so we write. For what else is there?

Need to cut 6k from this section off The Book. Finished reading and editing the section. 500 words cut. Balls.

So quite a few people have bought Project Hanuman! And I love you for it. If you have the time and could drop a review somewhere that would be extra awesome :-)

Two favourite line edit comments so far from @annasmithwrites.bsky.social - obviously for different reasons.

Where this is reported to us we can/will investigate - there will be no tolerance for this kind of bullshit. Trans rights are human rights.

Last night, while trying to eat dinner and DM, I managed to burn the roof of my mouth enough that it blistered. Those blisters burst a few hours later, and my mouth is now so raw that I taste blood when I talk. Fun times! Don't eat salt and vinegar crisps if you're in a similar state. Yikes.

Back from @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and have been poodled to within an inch of my life. Dog kisses before spouse kisses. As is the way when you have a dog.

It was great to catch up with so many people @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social and meet new folks. Especially good to catch up with the wonderful @jamesbennett.bsky.social and to spend time with agency sibs, editorial clients, mentees and, of course, my Magic and Mayhem DnD adventuring party!

The cover for THE TRUTH OF CARCOSA is revealed! Fantastic work by @corraldesign.bsky.social. I feel like it conveys things that are key to this novel: its retro SFF aesthetic, metafictional play, and vision of worlds within worlds

Last panel of the con: Disposable Bad Guys with @jasonwhittleauthor.bsky.social, @annasmithwrites.bsky.social, Ann Marie Wilson and Ananda Lima

Japan's "Mundane Halloween" costume contest is back! Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary. Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest! #MundaneHalloween

As ever, insightful education from Stew, who doesn't have to educate us assholes, but does so anyway.

IT'S ALIVE! Ahem... I mean the book's now live on amazon for purchase, in ebook and paperback www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0FX...

I love this book so much! Get it!!

Poodle on lap is a rare occurrence for me, but after the vet last night, where they finally identified the source of his pain - an elbow issue - he needs all the reassurance, which means lots of cuddles and me occasionally sobbing over him. 😭😭😭

‘Independent publishing is facing an existential crisis’: illustrated.

I see the CEO of a major publishing house is spouting the benefits of AI while at the same time saying only big name writers will ever be popular because, apparently, they already are popular? Or something.

"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"

I dread to think what ailments he'll have when he's actually old...

If you're @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social my new novel, Project Hanuman, is launching there two weeks early at 2pm on Friday 31st. I will be joined by the amazing Peter F Hamilton to talk about the novel and there'll be macarons, wine and goodies. #SciFi #SpaceOpera #SFF

Did you know if you are an attending or online member of #WorldFantasy2025 you can get a bunch of free eBooks right now (including two that feature me)? Just log in and look for the Members Only Content button!

The Houses of Royce and Davinos are attacked by the focused might and undead horror of House Tachonis, while the secrets Bolaire has kept for years tumble into the light...💀🎭 #CriticalRole Campaign 4, Episode 4 - "Stone Faced", is now available on YouTube! WATCH NOW ⬇️ https://youtu.be/jfUPvccklhY

Not too bad for once! What about you? 😅

Wow, applied for a job and got turned down within 17 minutes. AI to check CVs?

Guillermo del Toro on wealth: "a wealthy man is a man who has enough, not a man that needs more. If you have enough to invite someone for a beer? You're rich. If you have a yacht, planes, islands, and you still need more? You're not rich."

Monday mornings. Same, buddy, same.

Make 2026 the year you get that novel written with my January course - LET'S WRITE A NOVEL is coming soon! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-write... #novel #novels #novelwriting #novelists #writing #writers #authors #newyear #newyearsresolutions

My proposal would be for up to 15 or so commissioned essays/advice in book form from various minority and marginalised "movers and shakers", covering topics from technique to industry experience. With room for an open submission period, of course. And an appendix for further reading and resources.

Hoo boy, okay, time for a crisis. How do people have more than one creative talent? I write. I'm pretty good at writing, I think. But I can't sing, play an instrument, dance, paint, draw... Yes, this is a post about gifting painted minis to friends and the extent to which I'm regretting the offer 😱

Last night's update was a lie. NOW the minis are finished. I think. Actually, they have to be. I legit do not have time for any more work on them. But what fun it was to paint them!

Almost finished working on the copy edit for @angelacleland.co.uk and, guys, it is SO GOOD. It has such a unique rhythm and style that I'm having to adapt my feedback and not be The Grammar Guy, so it fits. But look out for it, and give her a follow, too! ~ Anna

And now the minis are finally finished. I bought all the players a version of their character and badly painted it. As I like to say, they are made with love, not skill. I have taken so much unexpected joy from painting them, and that's all i can say. I hope they like them. These are NPCs.

Finally got the battle maps planned for our first ever in-person dnd session next weekend. I've had way too much fun - and spent way too much money - buying terrain and painting minis for a single IRL game when we otherwise play online. But I don't care! It's time to face the Big Bad and get TPK'd!

Folks out here paying $500 for book boxes when you can buy a v*br*tor for under $20 bucks and read sm*tty fanfic on ao3 for free.

Hey, so another piece of advice for people who are S-Corps: there is a company called Opolis that acts as your employer of record and will provide health insurance and other benefits.

“Average musician makes $12 a month on Spotify. The fact that they are not even able to sell a record and it’s taken from them by rich motherfuckers on streaming platforms who get paid royally by record labels,Ticketmaster, merch companies. They’re all fucking getting paid, except for the musician.”

Been seeing some accusations of DnD going 'woke'. DnD... The game YOU imagine into being... The game where the entire draw for most people is that YOU decide what happens... I'm starting to believe that the biggest issue with right wing reactionaries is a terminal lack of imagination.

We are thrilled that A WOMAN OF OPINION has been shortlisted for the Saltire Book Awards 2025! A huge congratulations @seanluskauthor.bsky.social! 🎉

If you're @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social my new novel, Project Hanuman, is launching there two weeks early. @aptshadow.bsky.social called it 'A gem, breathtaking in scope and concept, pushing the boundaries of the genre.' #scifi #projecthanuman @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social

The dog (and the husband) got me a dragon dice hoarder for my birthday! It's so pretty!

Congratulations to @tomekmoss.bsky.social - whose debut novel JONNY - a haunting portrait of obsession, desire and the lies we tell ourselves to stay close - will be published by Borough Press in spring 2027! shorturl.at/Iwe6w

Just had the busiest month of my life, with copyedits and marking and finishing my PhD. As someone who's never used ChatGPT, I didn't find myself thinking 'AI would make this easier', even in moments of great stress. I'm now very proud of myself for getting through it all. You see how that works?

Let me tell you a story about how a 17th century painter accidentally made one of the most powerful pieces of intersex representation in art, whilst (probably) trying to make an offensive joke for horny nerds...

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

AI audio means publishers can choose to utterly screw over narrators (whose work no doubt went into training the AI) and insist on keeping as profit that 90% reduction in costs. Whoever decides to do this deserves all the abuse, even if its my employer www.thebookseller.com/news/ai-audi...

TIL I learned that I share a birthday with Oscar Wilde. I shall henceforth be far more whimsical and ungovernable, though I will attempt not to die in quite such penury.