Judith Leask | Fiction Editor
@judithleask.bsky.social
Fiction editor, creative writer, CIEP member, reader of multiple genres, improving cyclist, pop choir singer, neurodiversity and queer ally, socialist (Green Party member), night owl, drinker of far too much tea.
W: justrightediting.co.uk
W: justrightediting.co.uk
I'm with Mary Shelley - they should put her quite at the end!
One day I'm sure I'll get a whole novella in this format and it'll be amazing 😅
One day I'm sure I'll get a whole novella in this format and it'll be amazing 😅
Guillermo del Toro: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of frankenstein
del Toro: but
del Toro: this frankenstein is a little different
Bram Stoker: yes we know, guillermo, this frankenstein is hot
del Toro:
del Toro: oh
del Toro: i've mentioned this before?
del Toro: but
del Toro: this frankenstein is a little different
Bram Stoker: yes we know, guillermo, this frankenstein is hot
del Toro:
del Toro: oh
del Toro: i've mentioned this before?
November 17, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I'm with Mary Shelley - they should put her quite at the end!
One day I'm sure I'll get a whole novella in this format and it'll be amazing 😅
One day I'm sure I'll get a whole novella in this format and it'll be amazing 😅
“It isn’t people seeking sanctuary who are tearing our country apart. It’s toxic, racist narratives and the scapegoating of migrants for crises they did not cause.”
Carla Denyer challenges the Home Secretary's new immigration reforms saying they just fuel far-right narratives.
Carla Denyer challenges the Home Secretary's new immigration reforms saying they just fuel far-right narratives.
November 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM
YA and New Adult fiction - I now know more about the difference between the two, thanks to a thorough analysis at a session of the CIEP Fiction Focus group.
It's interesting to think of NA as a marketing category rather than a genre, because New Adults can enjoy many genres.
#writingcommunity
It's interesting to think of NA as a marketing category rather than a genre, because New Adults can enjoy many genres.
#writingcommunity
November 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
YA and New Adult fiction - I now know more about the difference between the two, thanks to a thorough analysis at a session of the CIEP Fiction Focus group.
It's interesting to think of NA as a marketing category rather than a genre, because New Adults can enjoy many genres.
#writingcommunity
It's interesting to think of NA as a marketing category rather than a genre, because New Adults can enjoy many genres.
#writingcommunity
Writers - have you thought about how you're using tense in your story? It's possible to use both past and present (and other tenses) within a story to create an engaging style of narration.
#writingcommunity
www.justrightediting.co.uk/post/intenti...
#writingcommunity
www.justrightediting.co.uk/post/intenti...
Intentional tenses
Learn how to use tense effectively for your story in the past, using a narrator's voice in the present.
www.justrightediting.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Writers - have you thought about how you're using tense in your story? It's possible to use both past and present (and other tenses) within a story to create an engaging style of narration.
#writingcommunity
www.justrightediting.co.uk/post/intenti...
#writingcommunity
www.justrightediting.co.uk/post/intenti...
The beauty of this video, and the poem read, is that it's given without explanation. In the context of Tory comments about 'no white faces', the message is clear. We feel and understand it. It's so much more powerful than dry knowledge through explanation.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
November 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The beauty of this video, and the poem read, is that it's given without explanation. In the context of Tory comments about 'no white faces', the message is clear. We feel and understand it. It's so much more powerful than dry knowledge through explanation.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
I've just put the finishing touches on the autumn/winter programme of Fiction Focus sessions for the CIEP fiction special interest group. It always feels like a combination of a treasure hunt and a juggling act to get all the pieces in place!
#writingcommunity
www.linkedin.com/posts/judith...
#writingcommunity
www.linkedin.com/posts/judith...
I've just put the finishing touches on the autumn/winter programme of Fiction Focus sessions for the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) fiction special interest group. It alway...
I've just put the finishing touches on the autumn/winter programme of Fiction Focus sessions for the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) fiction special interest group. It always fe...
www.linkedin.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I've just put the finishing touches on the autumn/winter programme of Fiction Focus sessions for the CIEP fiction special interest group. It always feels like a combination of a treasure hunt and a juggling act to get all the pieces in place!
#writingcommunity
www.linkedin.com/posts/judith...
#writingcommunity
www.linkedin.com/posts/judith...
No surprise that the people who think being pro-Palestine is antisemitic can't recognise real antisemitism in their own material. I'm not going to repost Reform's Nazi-style depiction of Zack Polanski here, just give that heads-up
November 4, 2025 at 1:06 PM
No surprise that the people who think being pro-Palestine is antisemitic can't recognise real antisemitism in their own material. I'm not going to repost Reform's Nazi-style depiction of Zack Polanski here, just give that heads-up
The Overton Window is already on the move ...
Good.
This isn't instead of a proper wealth tax though, right, Rachel?
This isn't instead of a proper wealth tax though, right, Rachel?
November 3, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The Overton Window is already on the move ...
Oof, yes, please approach prologues with caution. Done well, and they can intrigue. Done badly, and they can be a huge wall of background information that gets in the way of the action.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
Been warned against using a prologue?
I often issue that warning. But prologues do have a place in some stories, if they're done well.
Several different types of prologues are reviewed here, along with examples of effective ones, from @marykabiaggio.bsky.social.
I often issue that warning. But prologues do have a place in some stories, if they're done well.
Several different types of prologues are reviewed here, along with examples of effective ones, from @marykabiaggio.bsky.social.
Prologues That Work and Why | Jane Friedman
Prologues get a bad rap as backstory or info dumps but, done well, they can intrigue readers and ignite interest in the story to come.
janefriedman.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Oof, yes, please approach prologues with caution. Done well, and they can intrigue. Done badly, and they can be a huge wall of background information that gets in the way of the action.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
Thoughts about tense: if you're writing in the past tense, are you clear about when the 'now' of the story is? Does the narrator also speak in the present tense, from the time of narration? Do they foreshadow things later in the story, but in the past from the time of narration?
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
October 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Thoughts about tense: if you're writing in the past tense, are you clear about when the 'now' of the story is? Does the narrator also speak in the present tense, from the time of narration? Do they foreshadow things later in the story, but in the past from the time of narration?
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
Reposted by Judith Leask | Fiction Editor
🚨BREAKING : The Green Party has passed 150,000 members 🥳
Thousands are joining right now to help us replace Labour and take the fight to Reform.
Are you in?
Make hope normal again. Join the Green Party now ⤵️
Thousands are joining right now to help us replace Labour and take the fight to Reform.
Are you in?
Make hope normal again. Join the Green Party now ⤵️
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
🚨BREAKING : The Green Party has passed 150,000 members 🥳
Thousands are joining right now to help us replace Labour and take the fight to Reform.
Are you in?
Make hope normal again. Join the Green Party now ⤵️
Thousands are joining right now to help us replace Labour and take the fight to Reform.
Are you in?
Make hope normal again. Join the Green Party now ⤵️
Lots of conflation of 'Jew' and 'Israeli' going on right now. Let's remind ourselves what happened when the Israeli club played in Amsterdam, and that we banned apartheid South Africa from the Olympics for decades. Nor would we host a Russian club right now.
www.theguardian.com/world/video/...
www.theguardian.com/world/video/...
How the unrest unfolded in Amsterdam – video timeline
The Guardian analysed footage posted across social media to try to construct a timeline and understand what led to clashes
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Lots of conflation of 'Jew' and 'Israeli' going on right now. Let's remind ourselves what happened when the Israeli club played in Amsterdam, and that we banned apartheid South Africa from the Olympics for decades. Nor would we host a Russian club right now.
www.theguardian.com/world/video/...
www.theguardian.com/world/video/...
Building a nation of neighbours 💚
October 17, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Building a nation of neighbours 💚
Under the avenue of trees in Shakespeare's churchyard, a couple were chasing falling leaves, and I couldn't help joining in.
#stetwalk
#amediting
#stetwalk
#amediting
October 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Under the avenue of trees in Shakespeare's churchyard, a couple were chasing falling leaves, and I couldn't help joining in.
#stetwalk
#amediting
#stetwalk
#amediting
Dickens's novels were big on social commentary, often in a heavy and caricatured way. Kingsolver deftly weaves on her social commentary and points of history in a way that's beautiful to behold. I'm learning so much from this novel.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
October 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Dickens's novels were big on social commentary, often in a heavy and caricatured way. Kingsolver deftly weaves on her social commentary and points of history in a way that's beautiful to behold. I'm learning so much from this novel.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
I'm sure I'll have lots more to say about this one, but the first is - oh boy, does it have a voice. A friend says she didn't get past the first few pages, and I think a strong voice can take some getting used to. But this one is full of personality - and makes sense.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
October 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I'm sure I'll have lots more to say about this one, but the first is - oh boy, does it have a voice. A friend says she didn't get past the first few pages, and I think a strong voice can take some getting used to. But this one is full of personality - and makes sense.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
I like the 'nation of neighbours' idea. People want investment, opportunity and respect, not division.
“Britain is a nation of neighbours, not strangers — and it’s time we built a politics of hope that reflects that.”
Zack Polanski with a message of unity and hope having been out door knocking Handsworth today.
Zack Polanski with a message of unity and hope having been out door knocking Handsworth today.
October 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I like the 'nation of neighbours' idea. People want investment, opportunity and respect, not division.
Do books make good insulation? Asking for a friend
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
October 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Do books make good insulation? Asking for a friend
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
Can't pretend I'm not excited about this. I hate the term 'fangirl', but that's how my daughter and I are behaving at the moment 😄. This man is such a good communicator, and suddenly someone is saying all the right things. Membership now 88k 😍
youtu.be/qxt4HCjd7VA?...
youtu.be/qxt4HCjd7VA?...
Let's Make Hope Normal Again - Green Party Political Broadcast
YouTube video by Green Party of England & Wales
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Can't pretend I'm not excited about this. I hate the term 'fangirl', but that's how my daughter and I are behaving at the moment 😄. This man is such a good communicator, and suddenly someone is saying all the right things. Membership now 88k 😍
youtu.be/qxt4HCjd7VA?...
youtu.be/qxt4HCjd7VA?...
October 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Daughter is delighted to have had a lovely sofa chat with @zackpolanski.bsky.social and I now have a photograph for the Christmas calendar 😄
October 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Daughter is delighted to have had a lovely sofa chat with @zackpolanski.bsky.social and I now have a photograph for the Christmas calendar 😄
I asked my hubby what his book is about (No 6 in a series) and he spent 5 minutes telling me plot points and I still don't think I know what it's ABOUT.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
October 1, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I asked my hubby what his book is about (No 6 in a series) and he spent 5 minutes telling me plot points and I still don't think I know what it's ABOUT.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
Reposted by Judith Leask | Fiction Editor
Can you imagine this happening in the UK? 🤦♀️
Bravo, Italians
Bravo, Italians
Italy was on strike in solidarity with Palestinians last Monday.
Hundreds of thousands demonstrated blocking roads, ports & railway stations. In Rome, many drivers found themselves stuck in traffic — & were happy about it, saluting demonstrators & condemning Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
Hundreds of thousands demonstrated blocking roads, ports & railway stations. In Rome, many drivers found themselves stuck in traffic — & were happy about it, saluting demonstrators & condemning Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
September 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Can you imagine this happening in the UK? 🤦♀️
Bravo, Italians
Bravo, Italians
Now reading this in a lovely spot! It's told in the first person as a letter, so there's a distance between the time of the events and the time of narration, with plenty of foreshadowing. The narrator can pause and address the recipient of her letter, and philosophise. Beautiful.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity
September 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Now reading this in a lovely spot! It's told in the first person as a letter, so there's a distance between the time of the events and the time of narration, with plenty of foreshadowing. The narrator can pause and address the recipient of her letter, and philosophise. Beautiful.
#writingcommunity
#writingcommunity