Ian’s here! Ian’s here!

Today is Plough Monday - by tradition the start of the agricultural year Artist: John Berry (The Farmer, 1963)

My current poetry collection, Blackbird Dinging at Dusk, currently on sale at @ninearchespress.bsky.social for just £6.99!!! grab a bargain! ninearchespress.com/shop#!/Black...

On creativity and accountability. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

This on a big sign. Get asked most times we’re out and it’s more than tiresome. Better than the people who won’t leave it alone, or those who send emails or sm messages to the shop with conspiracy theories but it’s all apart of the same sense of entitlement and casual harassment.

Unbelievably, #DuvetKnowItsChristmas generates such good will on social media that over the years we've raised somewhere approaching a quarter of a million quid for homeless charities. If you can spare a bob or two, sling some to Centrepoint, and here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/duvet-know...

Celebrating Emily Dickinson's 195th b-day & more with @victoriamoul.bsky.social @wendypratt.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @jntod.bsky.social @annettemakino.bsky.social @myheadtheforest.bsky.social @johnglenday.bsky.social @writtenbyallison.bsky.social 2/4 www.vianegativa.us/2025/12/poet...

SPOTLIGHT #poetry book, Blackbird Singing at Dusk by @wendypratt.bsky.social , an illuminating, lyrical exploration of place, nature, rural working-class lives, ancestors & history. 'This book will absorb your heart, mind & soul' - @janeburn.bsky.social In our sale, £7.99 ninearchespress.com/shop

Still places on my #shortstory course which some* writers have found fun and interesting previously. Read 8 contemporary short stories with me in the new year and work on your own fiction too. Expect irreverence, enthusiasm and some debunking of the usual creative writing nonsense. *Allegedly.

Order by 2pm Wednesday 17 December for delivery in time for Christmas (within the UK). We can gift-wrap, add a handwritten note, and/or send to a different UK address (no extra charge).

Reposting for no particular reason 👀 (with apologies for uncorrected typos @lithub.com.web.brid.gy). Increasingly think the failure to twig the lies is not just lack of diversity in publishing + adherence to a certain convenient narrative about disability, but a wide failure in critical thinking.

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 14 ‘Ponies in the Snow’ Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

Some brave souls choose to face the feare of failure and the terror of a blanke page. Thrugh harde worke and luck thei come back wyth storyes that bringe us mirthe, or horror, or thrilles, or beautye, or wisdom, or delighteful surreal confusioun. Gen A.I. ys nothinge lyke that. Long live artists.

The first of my new Dear Wendy/Dear Writer segments - a writer wondering how to begin writing again after chronic illness derailed her career. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

Cheddar Man, 9th millennium BC (Mesolithic) found in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, UK

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 10 Artist: Ronald Lampitt

Warn your old folks about these scamming bastards. It would be so easy to get caught out by one of these texts.

A constant blazing terror that somewhere, somebody might be getting a free cheese sandwich. Or indeed brief use of a wheelchair.

'Fox in the snow" by contemporary printmaker Cat Moore #WomensArt #December6th #ArtAdvent

Last year I did very little on the submission front as I was promoting books I’d written. In 2026 I’m setting myself a goal of two submissions a month: flash, fiction, poetry, pitches and I hope a novel at some point! Do you have a pitch goal for 2026?

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 4 ‘Winter Village’ Artist: Ronald Lampitt

This week at Notes from the Margin: having a tough talk with myself about the way I value myself as a writer. The Fear is on Me. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

'Way home' by contemporary German artist Katja Lang #WomensArt

It was a real pleasure to spend a quiet hour in the zoom room tonight x

Really thrilled for all the budget coverage which features abled politicians and commentators endlessly discussing how disabled people are just too expensive 🙃

What’s coming up on Notes from the Margin this winter? All this and a 20% discount on annual subscriptions. For one week only. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

This week in the poetry blogs w/ @shawnalemay.bsky.social @robmclennan.bsky.social @wendypratt.bsky.social @hanvanderhart.bsky.social @richardjnewman.bsky.social @pearlpoet.bsky.social @billymills.bsky.social @kent-nj.bsky.social @salenagodden.bsky.social 1/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...

Had a fab time chatting about my memoir, The Ghost Lake on the Bookable Space podcast: shows.acast.com/bookable-spa...

The work of contemporary Northjmbrian printmaker Rebecca Vincent ##ReframingWomenPrintmakers

Friday morning reading. Have you read it?

Blood month in the writing room open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

Yuko Hosaka, contemporary Japanese illustrator and printmaker #WomensArt

It may well be the case that small, independent presses are the lifeblood of literature, and a vital feature of our cultural landscape, providing an essential service in a complex ecosystem, like wrasses or shrimps. What is undeniably the case is that we have sold a total of five books this month.

Oh this is so wise and helpful.

Sarah Ross-Thompson, fine art printmaker based on the West Coast of Scotland #ReframingWomenPrintmake

Only 8 days left to enter the Cafe Writers competition - Jessica Mookherjee is the judge and she reads all entries - no sifters. www.cafewriters.co.uk/home/poetry-...

On my Christmas list every year …

If you're able, please do read. A wonderful book by a brilliant writer.

Happy Fenton Day to all who celebrate. Jesus Christ, fourteen years. youtu.be/3GRSbr0EYYU

On the back of performing at Whitby Lit Fest, some thoughts on performing as an author of a memoir. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

Reading from LIVES OF THE FEMALE POETS tonight at Todmorden Library with Sarah Corbett as part of their literary festival @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/roc...

Writing room view

Anna Ancher,  Evening sun in the artist’s studio, c.1913 Danish painter #WomensArt

This week in Notes from the Writer’s Diary, I’m managing energy levels, writing around my mum’s diagnosis. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

Ooooh, a bit of hopescrolling for a change. Nice.

Oh ... what's this that's on the radio on sunday?

Broken Biscuits and Other Male Failures is published in the US today. I know that we've all got a lot on our plates right now, but there's always room for biscuits/cookies. #booksky www.amazon.com/Broken-Biscu...

Sneaking a chapter in before work.

Ready to start the week.

Absolutely appalling use of ad space in the @theguardian.com app today. Do not call yourself a news channel if you place advertisements over the content. Utterly ridiculous. This ad is repeated over all the breaking story feed and when you remove it it leaves a grey square that can’t be moved.