At 171,848 words the first draft is done. It has taken 3 years and 7 months to get to this point, but pride is being felt. So, we are taking a couple of days to reflect and cuddle the cat and then we will start the read-through and note-making before the joy of the second draft! #writersky

Just finished Your Knife, My Heart. K.M. Moronova knows how to make me kick my feet with glee! The dark characters and setting are exactly my jam and I live for the horrendous pain she puts them through. Racing on to My Blade, Your Back now!

So, life finally called down enough for me to sit and read, I finally finished Crowntide by the, quite frankly, awesome Alex Aster and I remain jealous of her characters and her ability to brutally force me into loving all of them. I am now patiently waiting for the next in the series. #booksky

From Neil, Toby, and I, we wish you the very best at this Christmas time and hope you are warm, safe, and well. Bec X

What the actual fuck just happened? I spoil books for my husband quite often. I am the meme where I race in from the other room waving the book and raving to him about what just happened even though he had not the faintest clue what I am banging on about. (1/2) #booksky

This is my job. I sit by @outofmytree looking gorgeous, keeping her away from the book she really wants to read until she has written the required amount. This is my job and I do it well. #writersky #catsky

So, we are about 2/3rds of the way to our target word count so still a ways to go but we just crested over the hill of 100k and we are having a cup of tea and a chocolate hobnob to celebrate before getting back to it.

Look, I know I should be working but come on! Empire of the Dawn is whispering to me and I am ready to have my heart broken again by @misterkristoff.bsky.social I am ready, right? #booksky

We passed 91k words today in the first draft. We celebrated by accidentally waking up the cat. Oops. #writersky #catsky

I didn't know I needed to cry today. My heart knew it though. Absolutely stunning fanfilm. youtu.be/jVIn93ycAvk?... #acotar #fanfilm #whimsygossip

So.. I wasn't feeling well so went for a small nap. That turned into 5 hours and I have missed all the trick or treaters. Husband is giggling with delight surrounded by chocolate and sugar! #halloween

The yearning! Oh, sweet and fluffy lord! I read Oro first and had flipped to being on his team and then I read Grim and was stuck again. Alex Aster is just making this choice as painful as possible and I am here for it! (Also, the artwork by Kalisami is some of the most beautiful I have ever seen!)

Do you ever feel like you are being watched? Toby deciding to terrify me while I continue the first draft. #writersky #catsky

Okay, if you are comfortable and are having your armpits scritched, it is not unreasonable to grab hold of the said scritching hand to keep it where it is instead of allowing it to continue tapping on a keyboard, right? I mean, seriously, how dare she! #catsky

They woke me up. They put me in a bag. They took me to the vets (who were very nice and gave me treats). There was a needle and I was told I was perfect. Then they put me in a bag again, brought me home, and fed me. I did some magnificent sad miaows. I really am perfect. #catsky

75,247 is the current word count of our 1st draft, and it is flowing quite nicely. I believe I deserve a little treat so it is book and coffee time. #writersky

I feel absolutely breathless. Tahereh Mafi is one of those writers that grabs you by the throat and just does not let go. I could wax lyrical about her gorgeous rich prose and fascinating characters but I just want to read more of her work! Patiently waiting for the next installment. #booksky

Toby has a vet visit (nothing serious, just his check up) in an hour and he had taken this opportunity to go out for a morning stroll. The last few days he has been asleep on the bathroom rug when I get up but today? No no no. Hoping he appears and I don't have to reschedule again. #catsky

I am writing but I think I have an excuse not to get a lot different today. Toby wanted cuddles and who am I to say no? #catsky #writersky

The Twilight 20th anniversary edition is in my hands and I am so happy. I went to an anniversary event and was surrounded by people who just wanted to have fun. We made bracelets where I declared my eternal love for Jasper, and our team won the quiz. Thank you to the Waterstones Preston team!

This story by Lauren Roberts has been on my shelf since its release and I am ashamed to say I have only just read it, but I am very glad that I have. Its gentility with the characters, that were treated sometimes so brutally in the Powerless trilogy, brought a warm glow to my heart. #booksky

A Signature Latte and (hopefully) another thousand words written? Oh yes please. #writersky

I finally completed a fight scene chapter after two weeks of staring at the damn thing and hating every sentence. I'll fix it in the edit. #writersky

What the hell did I just read?! This book is insane! The characters are wonderful, the world building is brutal and feels real. And, I mean, the ending? I was screaming! (Sorry husband!) This is a high recommendation! #booksky

This book is unbelievably good. The writing, the characters, the story, the ending! I yelled so loudly the cat shot off the couch! If you enjoy passionate and traumatic characters with flaws and logical reasons for things then I implore you to read this as soon as humanly possible! #booksky

Look, I am awesome at drawing. Awesome. This is how I plan battles. Yes I had to label the horse as "horse" so I didn't forget. #writersky

I sometimes fall asleep on the couch. Today I woke up like this. This is not my cat. Sigh. #notmycat #catsky

We plotted the book properly after getting stuck. Tomorrow we start the writing again and we don't stop until we have the draft done. #writersky #writerlife #writing #bookplotting

Just so you know, this entire bed is mine. You are only allowed in it if you bring me the appropriate amount of treats which is all of them. #catsky

Mum told me that she was putting me on a diet. Oh, how I laughed and laughed. Then I yawned at her dullness. I informed her I am not putting up with her nonsense. Dad got me a plate of tuna. #catsky

Okay. As both a writer and a reader I am fucking horrified. Our first book has an audiobook by a human narrator but was published by KDP, and is currently on KU. I am going to be spending my day seeing how bad this is, and how easy it is to not be a part of this. Petition ⬇️ youtu.be/2BJIZA_OpDw?...

Look, headache, that's enough. I have got shit to do today and I can't be pandering to you all day. So, if you wouldn't mind just fucking off that would be wonderful. I'll let you back in when I need an excuse to avoid a social situation, okay? With the very kindest regards, etc. etc.

Last year I was running a roleplay game in the world that husband and I are writing our book in. Today I found all the maps I drew for the game and it ignited a want to tell so many more stories in the world than the ones in the book. Now I just have to not get distracted. #writersky

Once a week, we read through what we have so we make sure we know where we are going; we love everything and hate it with equal measure. Today we realised that I have not described what anyone looks like, and I feel like I'm back at school trying to get the images out. #writersky

So, I have had a migraine for what feels like a million years, my football team lost their first game of the season & I have a tiny bit of writer's block BUT I am watching The Newsroom & laughing at the genius comedy stylings of Aaron Sorkin coming out of the mouths of Olivia Munn & David Harbour.

Completely accurate

We wrote 4000 words today and filled another plot hole. THEN my characters went rogue and now I have an uh-oh to fix. My major problem right now is giving enough time for a character's hair to grow from tidy/short a little unruly/sexy . There are (semi) serious reasons for it. #writersky

I don't really understand #internationalcatday🐱 because EVERY DAY is Cat Day, hence why I am a little grumpy. Also the screens do not have my fish game on then, or my bird watching videos, and do you see any snacks? What kind of celebration is this? I want to see the manager. #catsky

Get a needle in your eye, look spacey for a while. Fair swap!

I wake up, pull back the covers, and get this look from Toby I get it, baby boy. I wish I could stay hiding away from the world all day too. #catsky

Went outside to move things JUST IN CASE #stormfloris gets miffed with us and found the blackberry bush had hidden some berries from the birds. Not many but enough for me. #fruit #blackberries🍇 #gardening

Time to do this again... Judge away! #onrepeat #spotify

"Let's watch High Fidelity.", he said. "We have the DVD somewhere." "I'm writing." (This was technically true, although I was in the blank screen staring part of the process) "In a bit then." "Well it might wake up the muse." It's not really procrastinating if it's warming up my brain, is it?

A sweet love story with a whole bunch of murder. 😘 Another touching and hilarious book from @brynneweaver.bsky.social - an absolute joy. Yep, there are a COUPLE of content warnings but it's heart wrenching and warming in equal measures! #booksky

Mummy got out of bed for a few minutes and there was a warm spot so what was I supposed to do? Let it go cold? No. I will not be moving. I need my beauty sleep and I've had a busy night. There are chairs downstairs for her to sleep on. #catsky

That moment when you have created a nest on the couch. You have a book and a snack. The cushions are hitting your back in the right spot and there is a blanket for your feet. Everything is right with the world and you will never be more comfortable. Except YOU LEFT YOUR TEA IN THE KITCHEN. 😥

So, it's #nationalpaperbackbookday and we are celebrating with tea and by not leaving the house. I am just starting Leather and Lark by @brynneweaver.bsky.social ; and my husband is halfway through 'Til Death Do Us Bard @wordsofrablack.bsky.social Are you celebrating with a book too? #booksky

This book! Beautiful prose, and an ending that left me breathless. Highly recommend! #booksky

I arrived in this house 2 years old today! I made the people my personal slaves and took over this house. Since then I have put my nose into everything and covered the rest in fur. They love me and my wet paws, and I love them. Especially the cuddles and food. #catsky

I adored this book. The story is fast paced and full of big realistic characters. @poppyfitzwrites.bsky.social 's writing made me really feel for Caleb and Eloise and their relationship. I will be reading more of this series in the future! #booksky