Michelle Barker
@michellebark.bsky.social
Senior #editor at DarlingAxe.com. Award-winning #author, Ironman #triathlete. michellebarker.ca
The German Emigration Center is maybe the most incredible museum I've ever visited. Interactive stations bring the history of emigration to life. Moving, effective, eye-opening.
#WritingCommunity #Germany
#WritingCommunity #Germany
September 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The German Emigration Center is maybe the most incredible museum I've ever visited. Interactive stations bring the history of emigration to life. Moving, effective, eye-opening.
#WritingCommunity #Germany
#WritingCommunity #Germany
Bremerhaven! What an unexpectedly wonderful little town in Northern Germany. Highly recommend! Plus, it's amazing to finally see in person a place you've been writing about.
#WritingCommunity #Germany
#WritingCommunity #Germany
September 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Bremerhaven! What an unexpectedly wonderful little town in Northern Germany. Highly recommend! Plus, it's amazing to finally see in person a place you've been writing about.
#WritingCommunity #Germany
#WritingCommunity #Germany
August 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Here you go :-) My coauthor and I deconstructed 21 classic novels to reveal the method behind the magic. It's a master class in narrative structure for authors.
August 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Here you go :-) My coauthor and I deconstructed 21 classic novels to reveal the method behind the magic. It's a master class in narrative structure for authors.
Just finished reading Hitler's People by Richard J. Evans. Great book. One thing that struck me was the number of high-ranking Nazis who were talented musicians. Like, a lot of them. Music didn't have the power to redeem them. I'm trying to figure out why.
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #History
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #History
August 22, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Just finished reading Hitler's People by Richard J. Evans. Great book. One thing that struck me was the number of high-ranking Nazis who were talented musicians. Like, a lot of them. Music didn't have the power to redeem them. I'm trying to figure out why.
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #History
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #History
#Writers, are you using the weather in your fiction to its full potential? Winter means snow, which means leaving footprints behind. Summer heat can amplify tension. Rain can create delays, reflect mood. Choose your setting with intention.
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
August 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
#Writers, are you using the weather in your fiction to its full potential? Winter means snow, which means leaving footprints behind. Summer heat can amplify tension. Rain can create delays, reflect mood. Choose your setting with intention.
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
YES! It is fabulous. There is also one in Penticton that is wonderful (The Book Shop on Main Street) and has a similar vibe. I went to one in Paris that looked like this:
August 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM
YES! It is fabulous. There is also one in Penticton that is wonderful (The Book Shop on Main Street) and has a similar vibe. I went to one in Paris that looked like this:
At McLoughlin Gardens I was often up with the sun. I would grab a coffee, sit out on the deck and write as the sun rose. Couldn't ask for more inspiration than that.
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
August 15, 2025 at 11:21 PM
At McLoughlin Gardens I was often up with the sun. I would grab a coffee, sit out on the deck and write as the sun rose. Couldn't ask for more inspiration than that.
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
Sharing another photo from my magical month as writer in residence at McLoughlin Gardens.
Sometimes when I couldn't sleep, I'd stand on the deck and look at the stars. No light pollution. It was fantastic.
#WritingCommunity
Sometimes when I couldn't sleep, I'd stand on the deck and look at the stars. No light pollution. It was fantastic.
#WritingCommunity
August 14, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Sharing another photo from my magical month as writer in residence at McLoughlin Gardens.
Sometimes when I couldn't sleep, I'd stand on the deck and look at the stars. No light pollution. It was fantastic.
#WritingCommunity
Sometimes when I couldn't sleep, I'd stand on the deck and look at the stars. No light pollution. It was fantastic.
#WritingCommunity
Hey, #writers, if you happen to be on Bowen Island the weekend of September 13-14, there's a great writing festival taking place: Write on Bowen. Come to our workshop! We'd love to meet you and talk story structure (one of our favorite topics).
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
August 14, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Hey, #writers, if you happen to be on Bowen Island the weekend of September 13-14, there's a great writing festival taking place: Write on Bowen. Come to our workshop! We'd love to meet you and talk story structure (one of our favorite topics).
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
Sharing one of my sunrises from the residency I just finished at McLoughlin Gardens on Vancouver Island. Absolutely magical. Great place to get lots of #writing done.
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
August 11, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Sharing one of my sunrises from the residency I just finished at McLoughlin Gardens on Vancouver Island. Absolutely magical. Great place to get lots of #writing done.
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
Did my last long run last weekend. Long taper for the #BMOmarathon, hopefully not too long, we'll see. Hope everyone's training/taper is going well!
#Marathontraining #running #Vancouver
#Marathontraining #running #Vancouver
April 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Did my last long run last weekend. Long taper for the #BMOmarathon, hopefully not too long, we'll see. Hope everyone's training/taper is going well!
#Marathontraining #running #Vancouver
#Marathontraining #running #Vancouver
Does anyone still read the classics anymore? If so, which ones are your faves and why?
#WritingCommunity
#BookSky
#WritingCommunity
#BookSky
April 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Does anyone still read the classics anymore? If so, which ones are your faves and why?
#WritingCommunity
#BookSky
#WritingCommunity
#BookSky
I had the great privilege today of attending the Banksy exhibition in #Vancouver. If it comes to your city, I would urge you to go. He is so incredibly creative, clever and talented. Loved it!
March 9, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I had the great privilege today of attending the Banksy exhibition in #Vancouver. If it comes to your city, I would urge you to go. He is so incredibly creative, clever and talented. Loved it!
Kind of already are...
March 9, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Kind of already are...
Today's run was a combination of run/errand to the university. Short one, post-swim. Easy week.
#Marathontraining #running #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
#Marathontraining #running #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
March 8, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Today's run was a combination of run/errand to the university. Short one, post-swim. Easy week.
#Marathontraining #running #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
#Marathontraining #running #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
Did my first run up part of Camosun hill today and...forgot to take any photos. So, here's a little #running wisdom instead.
#marathontraining #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
#marathontraining #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
March 6, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Did my first run up part of Camosun hill today and...forgot to take any photos. So, here's a little #running wisdom instead.
#marathontraining #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
#marathontraining #BMOmarathon #Vancouver
Day off...
And yes, I know, I have a lot of running shoes (the ones I've retired for walking are not shown 😅).
#Marathontraining #BMOmarathon #running #Vancouver
And yes, I know, I have a lot of running shoes (the ones I've retired for walking are not shown 😅).
#Marathontraining #BMOmarathon #running #Vancouver
March 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Day off...
And yes, I know, I have a lot of running shoes (the ones I've retired for walking are not shown 😅).
#Marathontraining #BMOmarathon #running #Vancouver
And yes, I know, I have a lot of running shoes (the ones I've retired for walking are not shown 😅).
#Marathontraining #BMOmarathon #running #Vancouver
Tuesday's run. Oddly it looks dry in the photo but in fact it was pouring rain and muddy.
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
#BMOmarathon
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
#BMOmarathon
March 5, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Tuesday's run. Oddly it looks dry in the photo but in fact it was pouring rain and muddy.
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
#BMOmarathon
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
#BMOmarathon
One of many spectacular views from yesterday's long run.
Marathon training is awesome!
#BMOmarathon
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
Marathon training is awesome!
#BMOmarathon
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
March 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
One of many spectacular views from yesterday's long run.
Marathon training is awesome!
#BMOmarathon
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
Marathon training is awesome!
#BMOmarathon
#marathontraining #running #Vancouver
I can't say enough about the incredible talent of Ronnie Burkett. We saw Wonderful Joe yesterday at the #Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Absolutely brilliant.
Anyone else see any good shows this weekend?
#WritingCommunity
Anyone else see any good shows this weekend?
#WritingCommunity
February 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I can't say enough about the incredible talent of Ronnie Burkett. We saw Wonderful Joe yesterday at the #Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Absolutely brilliant.
Anyone else see any good shows this weekend?
#WritingCommunity
Anyone else see any good shows this weekend?
#WritingCommunity
What better way to spend family day than at a piano concert with one of my kids. Lucas Debargue was incredible! The third movement of the Moonlight Sonata made me cry.
February 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
What better way to spend family day than at a piano concert with one of my kids. Lucas Debargue was incredible! The third movement of the Moonlight Sonata made me cry.
Look what arrived while I was away!
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
February 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Look what arrived while I was away!
#WritingCommunity
#WritingCommunity
Yes, sharing another #writingretreat photo because it was just so lovely. This was where we held our workshops and readings, and where people wrote or chatted during down times. Writers, tell me about a retreat you attended and what you loved most about it.
February 15, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Yes, sharing another #writingretreat photo because it was just so lovely. This was where we held our workshops and readings, and where people wrote or chatted during down times. Writers, tell me about a retreat you attended and what you loved most about it.