For 20 years, I wore my 'Business Hat', but good grief did it itch. So now I wear a hat that's much more me: soft and colourful. Because it turns out you can be both professional AND creative. charliepippawilson.com/business-hat/

#freelancing #creativebusiness #creativejourney #creativelife

This is me – #writer, #editor, #booklover – as drawn by the fabulous @katieabey.bsky.social.

YOUR words and voice matter too, and carry power. What are you #writing, or aching to write? What do you need to say?

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 668:
All authors need an editor. Your editor is your first reader; gives feedback; sees the things you're too close to see. A good editor knows the genre you're writing in; understands the business; knows how to help you make your book as good as it can possibly be.

Four days until the kids' summer hols. Plan to do a LOT of editing in that time. Deep, focused work in silence: glorious.

Then realise I only have two days, really, when accounting for all the interruptions: appointments, school careers morning, school play, etc.

Ah well. On with the juggle.

My old library at @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is just as it was 25 years ago - still that heady smell of old books and signs reminding us to shhhh. But also not just as it was. A café with book-lover cushions on comfy sofas? Never in my day. I am a fan.

#booksky #books #libraries #nottingham

My oldest book, dating to 1976.

There's such comfort in revisiting books from childhood. I wish I had every book I ever loved as a child.

Please don't coax children to clear out books without careful thought!

#booksky #books #oldbooks #readingcommunity #childrensbooks

Do you fancy the chance of winning £1000 for your writing?!

Well, the Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2025 is now open for entries and the 1st prize is just that.

Open internationally and with no set theme, genre or subject, anyone can enter!

Find out more here⬇️
bit.ly/CWICOMP

What's your oldest book? The one that's so well thumbed, it's on the brink of falling part? Mine is The Color Purple.

On my blog today, I share a little about why this book, which I've kept with me for nearly 30 years, means so much to me. tinyurl.com/tha3cu36

#booksky #books #reading

The tower at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent – at the top of which is Vita Sackville-West's writing room.

Imagine not only having 'a room of one's own' in which to write, but a TOWER room. Yes, please.

#writesky #writersky #writingcommunity #writer #writers #famouswriters #writingspaces

My son and I took the history tour yesterday at Bromley House Library, Nottingham. Such a beautiful place. Makes me want to read... and write.

#books #booksky #bookcommunity #library #libraries

I've spent many hours in the past week watering my new lawn to help it establish. Time I could have been writing. Sometimes, we need to just accept that the WIP isn't growing because the grass needs to grow. And the grass is beautiful.

#writersky #writesky #writer #writingcommunity #writerlife

According to recent research, young people aged 8–18 are writing less – much less. Only 1 in 4 say they enjoy writing in their free time.

This makes me so sad, as a mum and as a writer. We need to help kids fall in love with writing.

tinyurl.com/s6rjdv5w

#writing #writersky #writingcommunity

Is it too much for a writer to WEAR her passion for writing? Nope. Makes me happy.

Also... typewriters. I love typewriters. Way less fiddling about. Just writing the next word and the next, and then at the end: a Real-Thing-You-Made.

#writersky #writesky #writerlife #writingcommunity #amwriting

Your very own 'Lake Isle of Innisfree' (WB Yeats)? 'And I shall have some peace there...' We can but dream.
#yeats #poetry #poem
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

So you love to write and you're developing your craft. Question: are you OVERwriting? Over on my blog, I explain overwriting, share my own journey to write more simply, and suggest some ways you can gently edit your writing. tinyurl.com/y8x5bh7k #writing #writersky #writesky #writingcraft #amwriting

How to be a writer, #36899:
Open WIP
Think: this looks okay
Edit WIP
Think: actually this sucks
Re-read WIP
Watch as WIP spontaneously combusts and disintegrates into radioactive dust which blows away on nuclear wind
Gently close WIP
Tea.

I've been editing books for 20 years, and in that time I've learned: what you need when you edit (or your work is edited) is compassion. Editing really doesn't have to be merciless, ruthless. It can gently polish.

#writesky #writersky #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting #amediting #editing

Having loved Suzanne Collins' latest book, Sunrise on the Reaping, I decided to reread the Hunger Games trilogy. And I couldn't resist the new special editions by @scholasticuk.bsky.social.

Books, beautiful books. I wish more books had special editions.

#booksky #books #amreading

First post = pressure to write something pithy/witty. Ach, who needs that pressure? Instead, I'll share a post from my blog: 'On writing while pregnant: nine months, five novels'. tinyurl.com/89vcb9er

#writing #writingmama #writingcommunity #writersky #writesky #writers #writerslife #authors #hsp