Katie Holloway
@katiehwrites.bsky.social
I'm an award-winning flash fiction writer, now in the midst of editing my first novel (apart from the vampire fiction I wrote as a teenager, obviously!)
https://loseyourselfbooks.wordpress.com
https://loseyourselfbooks.wordpress.com
Pinned
Question about querying agents (UK). Some asked to be let know if another agent has requested a full manuscript. I let those ones know at my first full request.
1) should I let them know that now three agents have requested the full, or is that a bit pushy?
1) should I let them know that now three agents have requested the full, or is that a bit pushy?
October 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Question about querying agents (UK). Some asked to be let know if another agent has requested a full manuscript. I let those ones know at my first full request.
1) should I let them know that now three agents have requested the full, or is that a bit pushy?
1) should I let them know that now three agents have requested the full, or is that a bit pushy?
We're going on holiday soon to a static caravan. I'm tempted to bring my air fryer. I've never felt more British.
August 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
We're going on holiday soon to a static caravan. I'm tempted to bring my air fryer. I've never felt more British.
I thought that an external keyboard would boost my novel writing productivity, so I bought this on Vinted for £4.
Turns out it does this the entire time it's plugged in… Not sure that's going to be THAT productive… 🤦🏻♀️
Turns out it does this the entire time it's plugged in… Not sure that's going to be THAT productive… 🤦🏻♀️
August 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I thought that an external keyboard would boost my novel writing productivity, so I bought this on Vinted for £4.
Turns out it does this the entire time it's plugged in… Not sure that's going to be THAT productive… 🤦🏻♀️
Turns out it does this the entire time it's plugged in… Not sure that's going to be THAT productive… 🤦🏻♀️
Reposted by Katie Holloway
We're asking the hard questions: like how do you keep writing over the summer holidays without DYING (no hyperbole)
writershq.co.uk/writers-surv...
Featuring: @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @matgost.bsky.social @kathyhoyle.bsky.social @katiehwrites.bsky.social
writershq.co.uk/writers-surv...
Featuring: @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @matgost.bsky.social @kathyhoyle.bsky.social @katiehwrites.bsky.social
July 25, 2025 at 11:01 AM
We're asking the hard questions: like how do you keep writing over the summer holidays without DYING (no hyperbole)
writershq.co.uk/writers-surv...
Featuring: @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @matgost.bsky.social @kathyhoyle.bsky.social @katiehwrites.bsky.social
writershq.co.uk/writers-surv...
Featuring: @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @matgost.bsky.social @kathyhoyle.bsky.social @katiehwrites.bsky.social
7yo: We've got our end of term party soon!
Me: Fun! What will you do at it?
Him: Probably party work, like soduko and stuff. We can't party ALL day! (Said like this is a good thing)
He's more like me than I think!
Me: Fun! What will you do at it?
Him: Probably party work, like soduko and stuff. We can't party ALL day! (Said like this is a good thing)
He's more like me than I think!
July 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
7yo: We've got our end of term party soon!
Me: Fun! What will you do at it?
Him: Probably party work, like soduko and stuff. We can't party ALL day! (Said like this is a good thing)
He's more like me than I think!
Me: Fun! What will you do at it?
Him: Probably party work, like soduko and stuff. We can't party ALL day! (Said like this is a good thing)
He's more like me than I think!
Last year my novella-in-flash 'Cups of Tea at the End of the World' shortlisted for the @bathflashaward.bsky.social Since, I've struggled to find a publisher for it. I think it's too niche. SO I'm thinking of serialising it and publishing on substack. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that!
July 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Last year my novella-in-flash 'Cups of Tea at the End of the World' shortlisted for the @bathflashaward.bsky.social Since, I've struggled to find a publisher for it. I think it's too niche. SO I'm thinking of serialising it and publishing on substack. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that!
My seven- year-old's ‘swear word’ of choice recently has been BUM CHEEKS! But he's just switched it up to NOSTRILS!
July 9, 2025 at 6:42 AM
My seven- year-old's ‘swear word’ of choice recently has been BUM CHEEKS! But he's just switched it up to NOSTRILS!
I'm pretty certain we won't reach 1000 hours outside this year (probably any year!) BUT every one of these coloured squares represents an hour of family time where all four of us were in nature together. No screens. Just the sky and us. I know we'll reap the benefits of that!
July 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I'm pretty certain we won't reach 1000 hours outside this year (probably any year!) BUT every one of these coloured squares represents an hour of family time where all four of us were in nature together. No screens. Just the sky and us. I know we'll reap the benefits of that!
"Romance novels are unfeminist!"
"Romance novels promote lust!"
And other things I've heard...
Here's my response: open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
"Romance novels promote lust!"
And other things I've heard...
Here's my response: open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Are Romance Novels Unhelpful?
Tl;dr: yes... and no.
open.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 11:12 AM
"Romance novels are unfeminist!"
"Romance novels promote lust!"
And other things I've heard...
Here's my response: open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
"Romance novels promote lust!"
And other things I've heard...
Here's my response: open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Reposted by Katie Holloway
This is 40! And to celebrate my continuing existence, I'd like to offer ten free query edits to anyone planning to dive into the trenches. RT and like to enter, and I'll pick ten people tomorrow. Tell your friends!
(and yes, my impersonations of art are unrivaled)
(and yes, my impersonations of art are unrivaled)
July 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
This is 40! And to celebrate my continuing existence, I'd like to offer ten free query edits to anyone planning to dive into the trenches. RT and like to enter, and I'll pick ten people tomorrow. Tell your friends!
(and yes, my impersonations of art are unrivaled)
(and yes, my impersonations of art are unrivaled)
What I Read in June 2025
Five books - all four stars or above!
open.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
My favourite litmag has had one of my stories for considerably longer than the two-day rejection I usually get. So I keep opening my email hoping NOT to have received a Submittable notification!
June 29, 2025 at 6:22 AM
My favourite litmag has had one of my stories for considerably longer than the two-day rejection I usually get. So I keep opening my email hoping NOT to have received a Submittable notification!
Now that my kids are 7 and 9, here are some tips I've picked up:
1) Buy more cheese. You will always get through more cheese in a week than you think you will.
2) Trust God. He'll equip you for what comes up, and aside from Tip 1, you can't control much of that.
1) Buy more cheese. You will always get through more cheese in a week than you think you will.
2) Trust God. He'll equip you for what comes up, and aside from Tip 1, you can't control much of that.
June 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Now that my kids are 7 and 9, here are some tips I've picked up:
1) Buy more cheese. You will always get through more cheese in a week than you think you will.
2) Trust God. He'll equip you for what comes up, and aside from Tip 1, you can't control much of that.
1) Buy more cheese. You will always get through more cheese in a week than you think you will.
2) Trust God. He'll equip you for what comes up, and aside from Tip 1, you can't control much of that.
Hands up, who's heard someone say that becoming a writer has ruined reading for them? Here's my post pushing back against that! Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Why Writing Hasn't Ruined Reading for Me
And how you, fellow writer, can keep your love of reading alive, too!
open.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Hands up, who's heard someone say that becoming a writer has ruined reading for them? Here's my post pushing back against that! Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Somebody just wished me a ‘lonely weekend’. I know it was a typo, but honestly it sounds quite appealing!
June 27, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Somebody just wished me a ‘lonely weekend’. I know it was a typo, but honestly it sounds quite appealing!
Whoever came up with the name for this stickers brand doesn't have kids!
June 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Whoever came up with the name for this stickers brand doesn't have kids!
Four weeks until the end of term and my kids will be on summer holidays! I feel torn between longing for a rest for us all and some good time together, and from the feeling of 'oh no, I've only got four weeks to cram on all the writing I want to get done!'
June 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Four weeks until the end of term and my kids will be on summer holidays! I feel torn between longing for a rest for us all and some good time together, and from the feeling of 'oh no, I've only got four weeks to cram on all the writing I want to get done!'
I recon I might get a blissful half an hour with this combo!
June 22, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I recon I might get a blissful half an hour with this combo!
Yesterday I shared this post; it's my Pushcart-nominated story 'I Once Swallowed a Rollercoaster' plus a look behind the scenes at how and why I wrote it. I hope it's helpful!
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Behind a Prize-Winning Story: I Once Swallowed a Rollercoaster
Part Two in my series dissecting my prize-winning stories
open.substack.com
June 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Yesterday I shared this post; it's my Pushcart-nominated story 'I Once Swallowed a Rollercoaster' plus a look behind the scenes at how and why I wrote it. I hope it's helpful!
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Look! Look! The harvest is happening!!
June 20, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Look! Look! The harvest is happening!!
My watch broke, but I hate looking at my phone all the time. So at the moment I'm carrying this around with me!
June 16, 2025 at 5:43 PM
My watch broke, but I hate looking at my phone all the time. So at the moment I'm carrying this around with me!
Who is the right beta reader for your book? How many beta readers is ideal? How do you avoid being ghosted by your betas? I cover all this and more in my latest post! I hope it’ll be helpful to you, fellow writers! open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
How to get the best from your beta readers
How to find, keep, and best utilise beta readers, while keeping everyone happy!
open.substack.com
June 15, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Who is the right beta reader for your book? How many beta readers is ideal? How do you avoid being ghosted by your betas? I cover all this and more in my latest post! I hope it’ll be helpful to you, fellow writers! open.substack.com/pub/loseyour...
Saturday, at a Bible conference: Lord, help me to be more vulnerable and open about my weaknesses with the women I minister to.
Monday: Hi all, I have to cancel our Bible study this morning because my son was sick in the night. Pray for me, I'm terrified of vomit! #answeredprayer
Monday: Hi all, I have to cancel our Bible study this morning because my son was sick in the night. Pray for me, I'm terrified of vomit! #answeredprayer
June 9, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Saturday, at a Bible conference: Lord, help me to be more vulnerable and open about my weaknesses with the women I minister to.
Monday: Hi all, I have to cancel our Bible study this morning because my son was sick in the night. Pray for me, I'm terrified of vomit! #answeredprayer
Monday: Hi all, I have to cancel our Bible study this morning because my son was sick in the night. Pray for me, I'm terrified of vomit! #answeredprayer