I've challenged myself to 'perform' classic tales over on the YouTube. If you want to hear someone read the best tales with a thick Scots accent, check me oot.  #shortfiction https://f.mtr.cool/yxfowtthfr

Don't shy away from being the true you. Ignore the 'should' and the 'can't'. #creativity

After every classic story analysed, after studying and studying over the course of my writing life, this is what I keep coming back to. Quality will get you seen. Quality is the answer. Quality is how you break through the noise and touch hearts. #writing

I put forth that now, and forevermore, that 'twilighty' is indeed a word.

Loved this from E.F.Benson. He’s fast becoming one of my fave short story writers ever. These Delphi collections are great value for money on kindle, too, btw. Two bucks for everything the greats have ever written? Yeah I’ve bought almost all of them…

This is the power of reading. There are studies that show that, when reading, your brain actively models whatever the character is going through. Another reason to read more! It helps our brain grow. #books

Currently editing a novella to giveaway for free when people sign up to a newsletter. Anybody ever done this before? I feel strange doing it, excited even.  Has something like this worked for you before? Any tips?  #IndieWriters

I've got a new tale in this very cool anthology. If you like reading who's coming up in the horror game, these anthologies are the place to start.  @burialbooks  Buy the collection from Burial Books here: https://f.mtr.cool/xpwdyddujx #books #horror #collection #bookstagram #booktok

George Saunders puts it more eloquently tham I ever could. Readers, any readers, will be my friends, always. #books

What a tale by Kev Harrison! Everything you want in a story. Interesting idea, executed perfectly. These 'Lost' collections are well worth checking out if you love a creepy tale. Some of the best anthologies I've read in a while. #ShortStories #Horror

Got a new motto for life - Unless I read it in a book, I'm not believing it. Truth and reality on the internet are dead. So is kindness. #books

I love this quote from J.M.Barrie (he who wrote Peter Pan). Only the ones who fail the most become the best. #motivational

Anybody here have any experience / thoughts on running a small press? I’ve given it some serious thought over the years, but finally feeling brave enough. #AuthorThreads #Books

Seriously, what happened to capital letters in poetry? Not a huge fan of this whole lower case thing. Is Instagram to blame?   I can't believe using em-dashes and capital letters are what will make me stand out from the crowd! #Poetry  And no, em-dashes do not belong to AI...

The deeper I get into this writing business, the more I learn to trust my own intuition. Don't hold yourself back. If you keep learning, keep reading the greats, it'll sharpen your intuition, cutting down on the amount of time you spend going back and forward with yourself. #writers

Keep going... #writers

Taking an oath to stop telling people when I start a project. Announcing it on social media makes my muse dry all the way up. So, they shall remain a secret (and buried with no shame!).

For all my creative peeps out there, take a break sometimes. It can be easy to wrap our entire worth and identity into 'being an artist', but real life is what matters. Art comes from life, not the other way around. Make room for it. #creativity

Why do I feel so seen? Thank you, Stephen King 🤣😅 #writers

Starting a new tale is a scary thing for a pantser. Like, what the hell am I even doing? Will it turn out? Stay tuned to watch my breakdown.  #Writing

I think it's important to listen to our soul when writing (or creating anything). My mind says I should take it easier and write a few short stories after completing a novel, but my soul says start the next novel. That's the story I want to write. So, I shall.

Is it weird that one of my biggest motivations for writing stories and novels is that one day, when I'm gone, my grandkids might find a suitcase full of dusty books I wrote and think, 'Grandad was weird, eh?' #writing

Technology and social media really are insidious. I thought I had a grip on it, but I'm shocked at how much time I've been spending listening to YouTube videos under the guise of learning and improving. There's only so much it can help with before it starts to get in the way.

I swear, the end of my writing career will come because I type 'brian' instead of 'brain'.  Some character will get injured, his skull will be fractured and you can see the innards of his Brian.  #writers

Had a rather blissful day writing Haikus for most of the day. It's such a great form to practise and such a nice change of pace after finishing a novel. They work out muscles and help you 'see' things in a different way.  #Haikus #Booksky

Any other writers here still need to google the difference between 'affected' and 'effected'? Just me?  #writers

Keep this in mind when anyone tries to beat you down. Fight. Don't let them keep you from your purpose. #motivational

Ah man, I ruined it...

This one's for all my horror writers out there. Roll up your sleeves and ignore all the commentary about horror being a lesser genre. There's horror in everything. #Writers

If I see you posting a 'top ten books you should read' list and it doesn't include any fiction on it, we can't be friends.  You're out.   #Booksky

Personal growth is being scared of moths, and writing a short story about huge killer moths. What horrible creatures. #ScaryYuckYuck

I've been spending a lot of time juggling writing with social media presence, creating my own covers and trailers, etc. I'm finding an unexpected benefit. Yes, it takes a lot of time, but I find that I don't burn out on any specific task, so I'm motivated going between each task.

What's really behind all this gen AI slop is laziness. On the surface, being able to produce at an astonishing rate is something we all want, but robbing yourself of the work and the experience is not the way to produce anything of quality. Just do the work. It's so much more fulfilling.

I love my mechanical keyboard. It makes such a difference when you have the right tools. All that clicky-clack noise is heavenly. Don't be scared to invest in the tools that will make a difference (if you can).  #writers

I've just analysed a classic short story, 'Eyes Do More Than See'by Isaac Asimov. Come check it out and join us if you want to get into short fiction. https://f.mtr.cool/kvhmntnjpx #shortstories

As I pay close attention to what I read, I realise that it's the ones who clearly love what they do (the ones that would do it for free) that resonate with me. The ones who churn are the ones who don't leave a mark. Is it just me? Does anyone else feel this way? #reading

“The hard work is the only work that matters in the long run.” This is a line from the novel I’m polishing off about AI and the power of hard work and determination (i.e. AI robs us of that).  We stand to lose so much if we let AI do the work for us.  #Creativity

I've spent so long editing my novel, that I forgot how much of a joy it is to tuck into something new. It's so freeing and joyful.  I need to make sure I don't rush through this bit.  #writers

Readers - what's the one thing that turns you off the most in books? Mine's is when the chapters jump around too much in time. I don't mind two different timelines (like IT) but anything that hops about is an instant no for me. Maybe I'm too dumb, but it just snaps me out the story. #reading

Writing novels is like playing Roblox. You can play for days and days, but the only way to really win the game is to pay to play. Like everything else in life, it's stacked against working class folks who may not have the funds to do just that.  PS - Roblox is a total rip off. #writing

Thinking of doing a post ranking my top ten Shirley Jackson stories, but how the hell does one pick a top ten from such a huge catalogue of amazing tales?? Send help! #ShirleyJackson

It's a small thing, but social media has robbed me of the ability to do creepy rhymes with 'Tick, Tock' in them. Or has it? I feel that it would snap people out of the story and pick up their phone to scroll TikTok, never coming back.  Am I right to be scared by this small thing?

I think I found my new writing moto. I love this. I gave it my all, and you may love it, or not. I can't do anything else. #writing

If I was given the choice to either only read or only write for the rest of my life, I think I would choose to read. As much as I love writing, reading comes first. Without it, we wouldn't want to write ourselves onto the page.  That's why AI bros will fall down, as they don't know what quality is.

Whatever you're up to, keep going, and keep reminding yourself of why you started. It would be so easy to quit, but we ain't quitters, am I right? The only one stopping you is you. Don't be the hope killer. #motivational

Don't forget to join us over at Short Story Club before my analysis of this classic tale goes up on Monday. It's the place where all the cool kids hang out.  #booksky

Sometimes it feels like giving yourself homework, but deep reading something, writing notes, reading it a second, third, fourth time is how we truly learn from the masters. #writing

Don't forget to join us over at Short Story Club before my analysis of this classic tale goes up on Monday. It's the place where all the cool kids hang out.  #booksky

Why does everyone have to gatekeep and shout at people that they must follow 'rules'? Can't we just gush over the things we love and bond that way?

100% true. Don't lose that child-like curiousity. Don't let yourself be talked away by others.