Philippa Ball Lewis
@philippablewis.bsky.social
Writer, reader, climber, skier, runner, swimmer in Snowdonia, UK. Freelance editor for fantastical fiction, short stories and outdoors literature. CIEP member and partner member of ALLi.
www.lexicalpeaks.com
www.lexicalpeaks.com
Feeling very honoured to be part of this line up! Can't wait to read everyone else's pieces.
#WritersOfBlueSky #AmWriting
#WritersOfBlueSky #AmWriting
FEATURING:
Sophie Mackintosh
Pamela Petro
Rachel Dawson
@joedunthorne.bsky.social
Jay Griffiths
Durre Shahwar
Anthony Shapland
Joshua Jones
Brigid Lowe
@philippablewis.bsky.social
@mayajones.bsky.social
Liberty Smith
Eluned Gramich
Mari Huws Jones
Sophie Mackintosh
Pamela Petro
Rachel Dawson
@joedunthorne.bsky.social
Jay Griffiths
Durre Shahwar
Anthony Shapland
Joshua Jones
Brigid Lowe
@philippablewis.bsky.social
@mayajones.bsky.social
Liberty Smith
Eluned Gramich
Mari Huws Jones
January 24, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Feeling very honoured to be part of this line up! Can't wait to read everyone else's pieces.
#WritersOfBlueSky #AmWriting
#WritersOfBlueSky #AmWriting
Reposted by Philippa Ball Lewis
Piranesi shouldn't be on a shelf, it should be on a plinth in the centre of every bookshop, bathed by the glow of a warm, soft spotlight, and when you are wise enough to ask for a copy to purchase, everyone else in the shop should break into applause and offer you champagne and Malteasers
While I was waiting for my work meeting, I was in waterstones browsing, and it really amazes me how books are shelved.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Piranesi - regular fiction
The Scarlet Gospels - Clive Barker in SFF
The Book Eaters and Camp Damascus in Horror
Like....yeah, no.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Piranesi - regular fiction
The Scarlet Gospels - Clive Barker in SFF
The Book Eaters and Camp Damascus in Horror
Like....yeah, no.
January 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Piranesi shouldn't be on a shelf, it should be on a plinth in the centre of every bookshop, bathed by the glow of a warm, soft spotlight, and when you are wise enough to ask for a copy to purchase, everyone else in the shop should break into applause and offer you champagne and Malteasers
2025 reads: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. Surprisingly jolly for horror! People keep recommending T. Kingfisher to me so I'm glad to have finally got acquainted with one of her books. #BookSky #AmReading
January 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
2025 reads: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. Surprisingly jolly for horror! People keep recommending T. Kingfisher to me so I'm glad to have finally got acquainted with one of her books. #BookSky #AmReading
I've technically been off on maternity leave since last March, but I seem to have spent quite a lot of time thinking about stories and books anyway. Here's a little update about how I've been keeping myself busy (feral baby aside), and the best things I read in 2024.
lexicalpeaks.com/blog/materni...
lexicalpeaks.com/blog/materni...
How an editor spends maternity leave
Excellent fantastical books I've read this year, short stories I've had published, and coaching for writers.
lexicalpeaks.com
January 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I've technically been off on maternity leave since last March, but I seem to have spent quite a lot of time thinking about stories and books anyway. Here's a little update about how I've been keeping myself busy (feral baby aside), and the best things I read in 2024.
lexicalpeaks.com/blog/materni...
lexicalpeaks.com/blog/materni...
Had a brilliant time at my local book club last night! We chatted about our favourite reads of 2024, which was lovely apart from now I have even more books to add to my TBR list and it is already several lifetimes long. #BookProblems
January 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Had a brilliant time at my local book club last night! We chatted about our favourite reads of 2024, which was lovely apart from now I have even more books to add to my TBR list and it is already several lifetimes long. #BookProblems
An incredible weekend out on the snowy hills of Eryri. I spent Saturday out on my skis, and then on Sunday I took my baby on a lovely sunny stroll in the hills. Today I am VERY achy but very happy!
January 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
An incredible weekend out on the snowy hills of Eryri. I spent Saturday out on my skis, and then on Sunday I took my baby on a lovely sunny stroll in the hills. Today I am VERY achy but very happy!
Spectacular snowy scenes in the mountains yesterday. It's strange not heading up with skis or ice axes for a big day - but if I didn't have to do a baby-paced day, I'd have missed this wonderful view. The mountains will still be there next year!
January 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Spectacular snowy scenes in the mountains yesterday. It's strange not heading up with skis or ice axes for a big day - but if I didn't have to do a baby-paced day, I'd have missed this wonderful view. The mountains will still be there next year!
Reposted by Philippa Ball Lewis
The most effective editing move is still the one I stole from George Saunders: read your draft over and over and over again, out loud, until you have to fix the bad parts because you will literally die if you have to read them more time
December 18, 2024 at 7:05 PM
The most effective editing move is still the one I stole from George Saunders: read your draft over and over and over again, out loud, until you have to fix the bad parts because you will literally die if you have to read them more time
In more cheerful news, I'm super proud to have a short story in Dark Mountain Project's latest anthology, Dark Ocean. (I have tried endless times to post this with a photo and BlueSky keeps refusing to post it soooo you'll just have to take my word for it!) #WritersOfBlueSky #SpecLit #AmWriting
December 10, 2024 at 11:51 AM
In more cheerful news, I'm super proud to have a short story in Dark Mountain Project's latest anthology, Dark Ocean. (I have tried endless times to post this with a photo and BlueSky keeps refusing to post it soooo you'll just have to take my word for it!) #WritersOfBlueSky #SpecLit #AmWriting
I very rarely (never?) talk about chronic pain stuff publicly because it is just boring and miserable, but I felt a bit less alone after reading this post and the replies to it ❤️
December 10, 2024 at 11:44 AM
I very rarely (never?) talk about chronic pain stuff publicly because it is just boring and miserable, but I felt a bit less alone after reading this post and the replies to it ❤️
My laptop is once again in laptop hospital, so this evening I'm re-drafting a short story by hand. I actually really enjoy re-writing like this but rarely find the time/focus/energy to do it. The slowness makes me consider every word and often takes me down paths I wouldn't have expected. #AmWriting
December 4, 2024 at 8:56 PM
My laptop is once again in laptop hospital, so this evening I'm re-drafting a short story by hand. I actually really enjoy re-writing like this but rarely find the time/focus/energy to do it. The slowness makes me consider every word and often takes me down paths I wouldn't have expected. #AmWriting
Probably one of my favourite ways to hang out with the baby is watching him snooze through the monitor whilst I'm enjoying a slow breakfast with a book. Turns out it is possible to love someone more than you could ever express and still be delighted that they are not awake yet.
November 20, 2024 at 8:44 AM
Probably one of my favourite ways to hang out with the baby is watching him snooze through the monitor whilst I'm enjoying a slow breakfast with a book. Turns out it is possible to love someone more than you could ever express and still be delighted that they are not awake yet.
Spending my evening reading Emily Henry's Beach Read and it is a delight. Highly recommended if bookish romances are your thing! #booksky #AmReading
November 16, 2024 at 8:01 PM
Spending my evening reading Emily Henry's Beach Read and it is a delight. Highly recommended if bookish romances are your thing! #booksky #AmReading
Hello again! Is this where everyone's hanging out now? I'm Philippa and I like to chat about books, writing, editing, cats, mountains, and the sea. I've had a baby since I was last on here so I will probably mostly be around between the hours of 1am and 6am and in a slightly delirious state.
November 14, 2024 at 10:44 AM
Hello again! Is this where everyone's hanging out now? I'm Philippa and I like to chat about books, writing, editing, cats, mountains, and the sea. I've had a baby since I was last on here so I will probably mostly be around between the hours of 1am and 6am and in a slightly delirious state.
Lunchtime swimtime! Getting pretty chilly out there but I always feel approximately a billion times better afterwards (once I've stopped shivering).
November 17, 2023 at 3:11 PM
Lunchtime swimtime! Getting pretty chilly out there but I always feel approximately a billion times better afterwards (once I've stopped shivering).
Starting a new developmental edit for an author today, which means I get to have one of my favourite type of editing days: manuscript on tablet to read through, notebook, sofa, cat snuggles. What a dream. #AmEditing #FreelanceEditors #EditorsOfWords #EditingCommunity
November 13, 2023 at 12:54 PM
Starting a new developmental edit for an author today, which means I get to have one of my favourite type of editing days: manuscript on tablet to read through, notebook, sofa, cat snuggles. What a dream. #AmEditing #FreelanceEditors #EditorsOfWords #EditingCommunity
Endlessly bemused by the contrast between how much of a joy it is to edit other people's stories and how much of an absolute battle it is to edit my own. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStories #AmEditing #EditorsOfWords
November 10, 2023 at 3:14 PM
Endlessly bemused by the contrast between how much of a joy it is to edit other people's stories and how much of an absolute battle it is to edit my own. #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStories #AmEditing #EditorsOfWords
Not saying I'm tired but this morning I sat down at my computer and very confidently opened up all the editing documents (manuscript, style sheet, time tracker...) for entirely the wrong book. #AmEditing #FreelanceEditors #EditorsOfWords
November 1, 2023 at 9:50 AM
Not saying I'm tired but this morning I sat down at my computer and very confidently opened up all the editing documents (manuscript, style sheet, time tracker...) for entirely the wrong book. #AmEditing #FreelanceEditors #EditorsOfWords
My husband and I are at a relative's house today so we're both working at the same dining table. I feel like I'm in school and going to get told off every time I check my phone or stare off into space for a few moments.
October 26, 2023 at 8:48 AM
My husband and I are at a relative's house today so we're both working at the same dining table. I feel like I'm in school and going to get told off every time I check my phone or stare off into space for a few moments.
Silky sunrise sea swim. First one this season that's felt properly chilly! It was an absolute delight (once I'd stopped faffing around on the slipway whining about it being cold) and totally worth getting up early for. #coldwater #seaswimming
October 10, 2023 at 9:02 AM
Silky sunrise sea swim. First one this season that's felt properly chilly! It was an absolute delight (once I'd stopped faffing around on the slipway whining about it being cold) and totally worth getting up early for. #coldwater #seaswimming
Today has been a lovely mix of big storms and big rainbows. The brightest one in the photo stretched all the way across the sky! Now it's just cold and half dark and very, very windy - perfect cosy reading weather.
September 27, 2023 at 6:07 PM
Today has been a lovely mix of big storms and big rainbows. The brightest one in the photo stretched all the way across the sky! Now it's just cold and half dark and very, very windy - perfect cosy reading weather.
Good morning, I have just discovered this thing called iced coffee, not sure if anyone else has heard of it yet but turns out it is amazing. Considerably nicer than regular coffee 😍
September 26, 2023 at 10:02 AM
Good morning, I have just discovered this thing called iced coffee, not sure if anyone else has heard of it yet but turns out it is amazing. Considerably nicer than regular coffee 😍
Reposted by Philippa Ball Lewis
Well hey seven of my books have been stolen by Meta, ChatGPT etc to train their AI. That's *my work*, pirated and used without payment or permission to make more tech bro billionaires and let a bunch of lazy scammers generate 'books' for Kindle Unlimited.
From the bottom of my heart, fuck you all.
From the bottom of my heart, fuck you all.
September 26, 2023 at 6:37 AM
Well hey seven of my books have been stolen by Meta, ChatGPT etc to train their AI. That's *my work*, pirated and used without payment or permission to make more tech bro billionaires and let a bunch of lazy scammers generate 'books' for Kindle Unlimited.
From the bottom of my heart, fuck you all.
From the bottom of my heart, fuck you all.
Really gutted in general about The White Review closing, but the loss of their short story prize in particular will have a massive impact. Such a huge, huge shame to lose that and the Costa prize within a couple of years - both were so key for getting new short story writers started. #AmWriting
Honestly nothing else similar in the UK literary landscape at the moment. The short story prize alone consistently announced significant new writers. But arts funding is all over the place right now. I think we’re very confused about what art should be doing.
September 25, 2023 at 2:07 PM
Really gutted in general about The White Review closing, but the loss of their short story prize in particular will have a massive impact. Such a huge, huge shame to lose that and the Costa prize within a couple of years - both were so key for getting new short story writers started. #AmWriting
Treated myself to a few minutes reading a chapter of the updated edition of The Bone Season before starting work today. It's so much tighter than the original and despite knowing exactly what happens, I still struggled to drag myself away from it. Is there an #AmReading feed yet...?
September 22, 2023 at 9:03 AM
Treated myself to a few minutes reading a chapter of the updated edition of The Bone Season before starting work today. It's so much tighter than the original and despite knowing exactly what happens, I still struggled to drag myself away from it. Is there an #AmReading feed yet...?