JL Copeland
jlcopelandwriter.bsky.social
JL Copeland
@jlcopelandwriter.bsky.social
Writer of horror and dark fiction with an even darker sense of humour.

Clean criminal record. Mostly odourless.

Jlcopeland.com/newsletter
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💥What if you knew how to avoid every accident?

Simon Hattersley’s learned every way you might die. Now he’s almost invincible… or so he thinks.

📚 Get my free short story 'One in a Million'
by subscribing to my newsletter at

jlcopeland.com/newsletter/

#shortstory
#writingcommunity #writerslife
A man terrified of injury works at a personal injury firm.

He starts to believe he’s invincible.

That’s when things go wrong.

Read One in a Million — my free short story about fear, control, and stupidity for free at 👇

books.bookfunnel.com/gone-for-the...

#comedy #legal #shortstory
December 1, 2025 at 12:21 AM
A man terrified of injury works at a personal injury firm.

He starts to believe he’s invincible.

That’s when things go wrong.

Read One in a Million — my free short story about fear, control, and stupidity for free at 👇

books.bookfunnel.com/gone-for-the...

#fear #comedy #shortstory
November 29, 2025 at 8:04 PM
A man terrified of injury works at a personal injury firm.

He starts to believe he’s invincible.

That’s when things go wrong.

Read One in a Million — my free short story about fear, control, and stupidity for free at 👇

books.bookfunnel.com/gone-for-the...

#comedy #legal #shortstory
November 28, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I have just read Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang.

This is an excellent collection of imaginative sci-fi stories. Many of the stories feel near-future, of days yet to come, but certainly coming.

Highly recommended, especially for sci-fi fans.

#scifi #goodreads #shortstories
November 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
My writer friend AK Nevermore will be signing books at The Spice Cabinet Wallingford, CT, on December 13th. Go check her out!

aknevermore.com/events/spice...

#booksigningevent #spicyreads #romanceauthor
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
My fave Stephen King novel is Christine.

It's criminally underrated.

I think many readers see the cover & think, 'A killer car? That's silly.'

But of all the endings of all the horror stories I've read, it still lingers.

'His unending fury' indeed.

#greatreads #horror #stephenking
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 AM
My current read by Miranda July. Yeah, that one who wrote that novel (All Fours) that made your friend of a friend blow up their marriage and join an experimental dance troupe.

She is a master at establishing bone-deep characters in just a couple of pages.

Recommended.

#shortstories #greatreads
November 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
💥 What if you knew how to avoid every accident?

Simon Hattersley’s learned every way you might die.

Now he’s almost invincible… or so he thinks.

Check out my short story, One in a Million, included in a huge free book giveaway!

books.bookfunnel.com/free-sci-fi-...

#shortstory #mortality #fear
FREE Sci-fi & Fantasy November-December
Searching for your next favorite story? Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for a limited time.
books.bookfunnel.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:47 AM
4/4

The above is an extract from my five-part series on top tips for fiction writers in the early stages of their career.

You can find part one here:

www.jlcopeland.com/everyone-has...

#writingtips #WritingCommunity
Everyone has a different start line: 5 pieces of Advice for Writers
Stop comparing yourself to other writers. Tip number one: Everyone has a different start line. Focus on yourself and see how far you can run.
www.jlcopeland.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
3/4

What does this mean?

Scintillating prose + ‘meh’ idea = adored in high-brow literary circles but a trickle of sales.

‘Meh’ prose + scintillating idea = ignored by the high-brows, but who cares when a tsunami of punters rolls up for your book.

#writerslife
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
2/4

The average reader isn’t picky. They don’t give a damn about perfect prose; they’re here for ideas (character + story).

Because ideas trump the quality of the writing.

(If you’ve got the idea AND the writing chops, you can fill out the order for the Lear Jet now).

#writers
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
1/4

My favourite writers are Annie Proulx and Hilary Mantel.

When I began writing, I thought if I wanted to be a successful author, I had to write like them.

I knew even if I had as many extra lives as Mario, I'd never get close.

But ideas trump the quality of writing.

#writingtips #writing
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Oasis played. I stood outside like a sad meerkat.

A tale of music, melancholy, and trying not to cry in a kimbab wrapper.

Read my latest blog post here:

jlcopeland.com/oasis-played...

#blogger #Oasis
#oasislive25 #korea
November 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM
On my way home from our last performance at the Seoul Players 10 Minute Play Festival, I was feeling dejected.

We hadn't made the final; our little cohort's journey had ended.

Then I got this text from my 10-year-old daughter.

She's a good lass.

Happy birthday, kid.

#seoulplayers #inspiration
November 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Mucho Millions crew.

Last weekend, we smashed it at the Seoul Players 10 Minute Play Festival.

We didn't make the final, but we had great fun. It was one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

Tickets are still available; go check out the eight brilliant finalists!

#seoulplayers
November 11, 2025 at 12:02 PM
They told me Korea was a safe country.

Well today I had to shepherd my kids away from this crackhead.

#crack #crackhead #crackedup
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 PM
My short story, One in a Million, has been included in the Short Story Smorgasbord free giveaway.

Check it out and many other great stories here:

books.bookfunnel.com/short-story-...

#shortstory #fiction #writing #shortfiction
November 5, 2025 at 11:39 AM
AK Nevermore will be at the 2025 Connecticut Book Festival.

Go check her out!

#literaryfestival #books
November 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
The Find by Anna Holmes is a great read.

It has the right mix of thrills and historical intrigue. I think endings are really difficult, but the ending in this story feels almost perfect.

Highly recommended.

Her new release, Dance of the Earth, is out now.

#greatreads
November 3, 2025 at 9:22 AM
They said Let’s Go Play at the Adams’ was “nasty” and “exploitative.”

They were right.

I still can’t shake it.

Horror fans only. The rest of you: run.

Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I like.

#horror #HorrorCommunity #scary
October 31, 2025 at 12:10 PM
My current read is If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland.

Ueland says writers should “waste time” and let ideas simmer.

I tried.

Got anxious.

Boiled instead.

(And that dude on the cover is sooo me).

#BookSky #WritingSky #writingcommunity #writing
October 30, 2025 at 12:02 PM
My short story, One in a Million, was inspired by my time at a firm of personal injury lawyers in Manchester, UK.

A dark sense of humour was essential for survival.

Just in time for Halloween, find it in the Treasures of Darkness giveaway:

books.bookfunnel.com/treasuresofd...

#humor #fiction
October 29, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I will be appearing in 'Mucho Millions' in Program B in the Seoul Players 10-Minute play Festival on Saturday, 8th November at 8 PM and Sunday, the 9th at 4 PM.

Snap up your tickets quick to avoid disappointment!

seoulplayers.org/ten-minute-p...

#comedy #actor #theater #seoul
October 28, 2025 at 11:37 AM
If there was ever a reason to check out AK Nevermore, you've got one now.

She's now an Amazon #1 bestselling author!

#BestSeller #BookLovers #Amazon
October 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
My current read is The Trope Thesaurus: Horror by Jennifer Hilt.

I'm halfway in, but think it's quite limited.

I think a Google search of 'horror tropes & examples in popular fiction,' would give you 80% of the content of this book. Not much for $8.

#writingtips #writingcraft #writingcommunity
October 24, 2025 at 11:39 AM