Ready to run this morning’s Finding Your Self in the Landscape workshop

I'm starting the reading for my upcoming online book group, 'Reading Like A Writer', which kicks off on Thurs 9th Oct with Catherine Lacey's BIOGRAPHY OF X - described by the Guardian as “an impressive and enchantingly strange novel”. A few places left - details here: victoriamackenzie.net/teaching/

Hope it goes ok xx

It's weird how Tylenol caused autism (first diagnosed in 1943) before it was even invented (1955). What a clever drug.

The annoying thing here is that the Lib Dems talk policy quite a lot and get ignored by the media, which is what Davey's stunts were a response to in the first place. I don't think he's addicted to stunts. I'm sure he'd love it if his policies got covered www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

I have just put the big duvet on. The season has officially turned.

This online non-fiction workshop with @wendypratt.bsky.social looks really good 👇

Sorry I seem to do nothing but plug my writing workshops right now, but it’s how I make my living. The cringe factor of self promotion is something I’ll never get over.

In October I’ll be running some writing workshops based on the John Atkinson Grimshaw exhibition at Scarborough art gallery. Come join me? www.ticketsource.com/whats-on/nor...

Come and join me next Saturday to take up space and explore the ways in which we connect, physically, to the landscape. www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-yo...

Agree

This is great news

For paid subscribers to my substack, an excerpt from my 2010 diary. Grief, self loathing and jealousy. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

Well done channel Four.

I still have places left on my upcoming zoom workshop: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/finding-yo...

THIS is the last bump for my @chorltonbookfest.bsky.social event tonight. There are a couple of tickets left and (pay what you feel) sales close shortly. Come along to Chorlton Library tonight and talk about male failure with me.

imagine getting qt dunked by ed davey. unrecoverable. you’re furious and he is serenely going down a log flume in bognor regis.

Seeing your actual book in an actual bookshop never gets old.

Is it too early in the year to wear boots? If I wear boots am I going to look like a div because it will get hot by the afternoon and folk will be in sandals and shorts again? Welcome to Yorkshire in September.

Can writing across genres ruin your chances of success as a writer? open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

This Sunday! helmsleyarts.co.uk/whats-on/hel...

Before Coffee After Coffee

My god, that’s not good for the nerves, is it.

Good morning

Alien Earth (2025)

What’s on offer to paid subscribers of my substack Notes from the Margin? Behind the scenes essays Write-alongs Writer surgeries open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

This tree fell across a path on Greenham Common 40yrs ago. For many years thereafter, I flew over it on lots of different horses, sometimes leading a string of riders. Fell off in other places, but not here. It was bigger then. Can still feel the rush of wind, the exhilaration of commitment to fly.

My mentee Helen Dewbery has a kickstarter for her new book. If you’re interested in pushing your own poetry in different directions, if you’re interested in poetry film as a medium, this book is a must have. Let’s help Helen get it published! www.kickstarter.com/projects/hel...

Just been to put the bin out and found the most perfect early autumn morning.

I’m listening to Leonard and Hungry Paul on audiobook right now and it is absolutely brilliant. Can’t wait for this adaptation.

Grimsby v Man U : bloody hell. Never sen anything like it.

My former paper doing some good splashes of late. A rare example of taking Farage on instead of cuddling him into No 10.

Last night I returned to poetry for a while, and it was blissful. Chapel Allerton, as part of the arts festival. Welcomed back to the poetry community. Found it very moving and exhilarating to get in front of an audience again. Thank you x

When I'm not incandescent about bombed and starving civilians, I do also teach creative writing and I like thinking/talking about books in a great detail. Do join me from October as we revel in some brilliant writing!📚😍📖

Word of the Day is ‘theic’ (19th century), defined as ‘one given to immoderate tea-drinking; a tea drunkard’.

The third part of my ekphrastic writing course open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

Hello everyone. New post from An Ecology of Love & Ruin, an emotional one to write. In the post-Twitter world, I'd love your support, if you like it: a share or subscribe to my blog or Substack (both free) & if you're feeling it, even a cheeky @ko-fi.com Thank you x nicolachester.com/2025/08/20/a...

Five dragonflies and four mayflies. Coloured engraving by J. Newton, ca. 1780.

The truth is, I am a chronic self doubter. There is no fixing it. It is part of the strangeness of my brain. The only way of living with it is noticing it, embracing it, and doing the thing anyway. open.substack.com/pub/wendypra...

We are racing back to an Edwardian / Gilded Age-style resurrection of the servant class for the rich, and bots for the rest of us.

A V of geese has just flown over the house. The first ones I’ve seen. Autumn is officially on its way.

Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York — called one of the five great northern churches. Today it leans humbly into the street, a crooked yet remarkable survival that briefly shone as a centre of European enlightenment, producing illuminated manuscripts.

Are you a writer wishing to locate themselves physically within the landscape, but feeling disconnected? Do you want some jumping off points to further your own narrative non fiction? I’m running this workshop on Sat 27th September 10-1pm uk time. Come join me www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-yo...

Are you writing an historical novel? Want some guidance and support this September? Still places left on my online Historical Fiction course starting Tues 2nd Sep for 4 weeks! ✒️📚 2569 Online: Moniack in a Month – Historical Fiction with Victoria MacKenzie - Moniack Mhor share.google/zvBYzjnZnOJw...

Every day’s a school day

Did u know? To help Dragonflies view & catch prey in your outside space, put up little perches for them to launch themselves off. They also use perches close to water to claim mating territories. This young male Common Darter was using my dwarf apples to peruse his kingdom for food & fillies 🪲🌍🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱💧

This week research for my historical fiction novel took me to King’s Manor in York. Originally the Abott’s house of St Mary’s abbey it was the seat of the council of the north. Henry 8 stayed there with Catherine Howard, and James 1/6 stayed there on his way to be crowned. It did not disappoint.

I’ll be at the newly refurbished Chorlton Library on September 16th as part of the Chorlton Book Festival talking about Broken Biscuits and Other Male Failures with the brilliant @stevenkedie.bsky.social Tickets below. Pay what you feel. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adam-farre...

I thought the swifts were all gone, but I’ve just seen one! Late joy. A little miracle.

Letter of the day (in the Times)