Sara
@rathersmall.bsky.social
Brit. I like knitting, books, ducks, nature, tea.
Reposted by Sara
An excellent piece by Yasmin Khan in @theguardian.com – and I’m very relieved the preposterous case against her has been dropped. www.theguardian.com/food/comment...
I called my recipe book Sabzi – vegetables. But the name was trademarked. And my legal ordeal began
The granting of patents and trademarks to foods and words from the global south is part of a long colonial grab. It’s time to realise we share what we cook, and what we call it
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
An excellent piece by Yasmin Khan in @theguardian.com – and I’m very relieved the preposterous case against her has been dropped. www.theguardian.com/food/comment...
Reposted by Sara
It has just been brought to my attention that the greatest ever video in this genre is, in fact, cat jump fail vs Sail by AWOLNATION...
October 8, 2024 at 5:32 PM
It has just been brought to my attention that the greatest ever video in this genre is, in fact, cat jump fail vs Sail by AWOLNATION...
Reposted by Sara
After everything that has happened this year, choosing WHITE as the color of year is REALLY QUITE A CHOICE, PANTONE.
Pantone’s 2026 color of the year is technically not a color at all — meet Cloud Dancer, the first-ever white shade to receive the designation from the world’s color authority.
Pantone makes a surprising choice for its 2026 color of the year
We did not see that coming.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
After everything that has happened this year, choosing WHITE as the color of year is REALLY QUITE A CHOICE, PANTONE.
Reposted by Sara
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
Reposted by Sara
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 AM
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
Reposted by Sara
Bristol folk! Come help me celebrate the launch of my latest novel ITCH! in Stanfords
@stanfordstravel.bsky.social this Thursday!
I'm being hosted by my dear friend, screenwriter and playwright Becca Wilcox. It'll be brilliant fun 🖤🐜
A few tickets left here:
bristol.stanfords.co.uk/2025/08/21/g...
@stanfordstravel.bsky.social this Thursday!
I'm being hosted by my dear friend, screenwriter and playwright Becca Wilcox. It'll be brilliant fun 🖤🐜
A few tickets left here:
bristol.stanfords.co.uk/2025/08/21/g...
October 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Bristol folk! Come help me celebrate the launch of my latest novel ITCH! in Stanfords
@stanfordstravel.bsky.social this Thursday!
I'm being hosted by my dear friend, screenwriter and playwright Becca Wilcox. It'll be brilliant fun 🖤🐜
A few tickets left here:
bristol.stanfords.co.uk/2025/08/21/g...
@stanfordstravel.bsky.social this Thursday!
I'm being hosted by my dear friend, screenwriter and playwright Becca Wilcox. It'll be brilliant fun 🖤🐜
A few tickets left here:
bristol.stanfords.co.uk/2025/08/21/g...
Reposted by Sara
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 999:
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
October 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 999:
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
It’s not just the story that matters, it’s the person telling it. Your stories are filtered through your experience, your culture, your upbringing, your identity. Don’t be afraid to let it show. Those things matter. You matter.
Reposted by Sara
My hot take is that none of these are structure. These are all recipes that describe structure.
Structure is the Salt, Fat, Acid Heat of writing.
3-Act/Hero's Journey etc are recipes.
You can make great meals without using a recipe if you understand the principles of structure.
Structure is the Salt, Fat, Acid Heat of writing.
3-Act/Hero's Journey etc are recipes.
You can make great meals without using a recipe if you understand the principles of structure.
So #WritingCommunity how do we feel about structure?
Do you use the 3 act structure? The 5 act?
Hero's Journey? Save the Cat? Super Structure Method? Story Genius Method?
Something else?
What have you got?
Do you use the 3 act structure? The 5 act?
Hero's Journey? Save the Cat? Super Structure Method? Story Genius Method?
Something else?
What have you got?
October 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
My hot take is that none of these are structure. These are all recipes that describe structure.
Structure is the Salt, Fat, Acid Heat of writing.
3-Act/Hero's Journey etc are recipes.
You can make great meals without using a recipe if you understand the principles of structure.
Structure is the Salt, Fat, Acid Heat of writing.
3-Act/Hero's Journey etc are recipes.
You can make great meals without using a recipe if you understand the principles of structure.
Reposted by Sara
I *suspect* that the pressure to have flawed characters and 'conflict' comes from a Greek/Aristotlian framework of understanding theatre.
Studying a wide variety of materials, modes, and types of stories, I think it's broader to hold to a dilemma based framework...
Studying a wide variety of materials, modes, and types of stories, I think it's broader to hold to a dilemma based framework...
How do you make sure your characters are flawed - but in unpredictable, non-formulaic ways? Or do you care about that? 🤔
October 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I *suspect* that the pressure to have flawed characters and 'conflict' comes from a Greek/Aristotlian framework of understanding theatre.
Studying a wide variety of materials, modes, and types of stories, I think it's broader to hold to a dilemma based framework...
Studying a wide variety of materials, modes, and types of stories, I think it's broader to hold to a dilemma based framework...
Reposted by Sara
I enjoy a well-thought-out, rule-based magic system in fiction as much as anyone, BUT I also think that we should give more props to what Terry Pratchett did in the Discworld books, where it was less about rules and more about vibes and, more importantly, what fit a given story the best.
🧵
🧵
October 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
I enjoy a well-thought-out, rule-based magic system in fiction as much as anyone, BUT I also think that we should give more props to what Terry Pratchett did in the Discworld books, where it was less about rules and more about vibes and, more importantly, what fit a given story the best.
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Sara
Newcastle says no to fascism.
The far right brought a hundred or so with them, bussed from far and wide. This city turned out 1000s, from local communities, estates and streets. Geordies of all backgrounds coming together and outnumbering the purveyors of hate by some distance.
Newcastle united.
The far right brought a hundred or so with them, bussed from far and wide. This city turned out 1000s, from local communities, estates and streets. Geordies of all backgrounds coming together and outnumbering the purveyors of hate by some distance.
Newcastle united.
September 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Newcastle says no to fascism.
The far right brought a hundred or so with them, bussed from far and wide. This city turned out 1000s, from local communities, estates and streets. Geordies of all backgrounds coming together and outnumbering the purveyors of hate by some distance.
Newcastle united.
The far right brought a hundred or so with them, bussed from far and wide. This city turned out 1000s, from local communities, estates and streets. Geordies of all backgrounds coming together and outnumbering the purveyors of hate by some distance.
Newcastle united.
Reposted by Sara
‘I was writing at my lowest ebb’: Scottish author Len Pennie on domestic abuse and the power of poetry
‘I was writing at my lowest ebb’: Scottish author Len Pennie on domestic abuse and the power of poetry
Len Pennie won praise and faced criticism for exploring domestic abuse in her award-winning debut. She talks about partying sober, writing in Scots, and why she’s rooting out stigma in her follow-up collection
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
‘I was writing at my lowest ebb’: Scottish author Len Pennie on domestic abuse and the power of poetry
Reposted by Sara
We want the media and politicians to recognise there's a large number of women who are supportive of the trans+ community. We call on them to report truthfully about the sources of violence against women and to address the systems that perpetuate harm. notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...
Not In Our Name: Women in support of the trans+ community - Not in our name
notinourname.org.uk
September 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
We want the media and politicians to recognise there's a large number of women who are supportive of the trans+ community. We call on them to report truthfully about the sources of violence against women and to address the systems that perpetuate harm. notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...
Reposted by Sara
For those who pay attention to UK politics, the Liberal Democrats and #LDConf
A bunch of TERFs tried first thing this morning to impose a transphobic policy on our internal elections (they wanted to exclude trans women from the gender balance criteria)
They failed, spectacularly.
A bunch of TERFs tried first thing this morning to impose a transphobic policy on our internal elections (they wanted to exclude trans women from the gender balance criteria)
They failed, spectacularly.
September 20, 2025 at 9:16 AM
For those who pay attention to UK politics, the Liberal Democrats and #LDConf
A bunch of TERFs tried first thing this morning to impose a transphobic policy on our internal elections (they wanted to exclude trans women from the gender balance criteria)
They failed, spectacularly.
A bunch of TERFs tried first thing this morning to impose a transphobic policy on our internal elections (they wanted to exclude trans women from the gender balance criteria)
They failed, spectacularly.
Reposted by Sara
And this morning the Shed is a tiny coach, made from a single walnut-shell, and drawn by a team of bumble-bees…
September 18, 2025 at 7:56 AM
And this morning the Shed is a tiny coach, made from a single walnut-shell, and drawn by a team of bumble-bees…
Reposted by Sara
New polling in the Telegraph. Despite all the talk from Musk and Robinson about young people turning to Reform, it’s just the usual pack of lies.
Read on for the Telegraph’s headline accompanying the piece.
Read on for the Telegraph’s headline accompanying the piece.
September 14, 2025 at 12:34 PM
New polling in the Telegraph. Despite all the talk from Musk and Robinson about young people turning to Reform, it’s just the usual pack of lies.
Read on for the Telegraph’s headline accompanying the piece.
Read on for the Telegraph’s headline accompanying the piece.
Reposted by Sara
We’re in the business of keeping independent bookstores in business 🤍📚
September 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
We’re in the business of keeping independent bookstores in business 🤍📚
Reposted by Sara
"I spent decades saying, ‘Come on, it’s got to be more complex than this.’ But I think it’s not. I think that almost everything can be explained by this deep hatred that the majority of white Americans have for black Americans. It’s the only thing that makes sense.” inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Lee Child: 'I'd rather be a multi-millionaire than a credible author'
The best-selling author on abandoning America, his utterly fascinating writing process (which involves exactly 90 days and zero planning) - and his aim to write one more 'Jack Reacher'
inews.co.uk
September 7, 2025 at 7:55 AM
"I spent decades saying, ‘Come on, it’s got to be more complex than this.’ But I think it’s not. I think that almost everything can be explained by this deep hatred that the majority of white Americans have for black Americans. It’s the only thing that makes sense.” inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Sara
I'm scared I will draw the Wrath of the Fanboys, but... this week on my newsletter I wrote about why I think the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" writers have so little appeal to a huge swathe of today's SF/F writers & readers.
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
this is why we don't read the Golden Age anymore.
There are so many histories of the future.
Spinning through timespace, studying this apocalypse, a key part of my undercover mission is studying stories about the future. When and where and how were ...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io
September 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I'm scared I will draw the Wrath of the Fanboys, but... this week on my newsletter I wrote about why I think the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" writers have so little appeal to a huge swathe of today's SF/F writers & readers.
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/this-is-why-...
Reposted by Sara
⚠️ Women in the UK don’t need to be told what danger looks like — we live it every day.
⛔ One woman is killed by a man every three days in this country (Femicide Census, 2023)
⛔ In 2023, 1.7 million women experienced domestic abuse (ONS, 2023).
It is not trans people who perpetrate these crimes.
⛔ One woman is killed by a man every three days in this country (Femicide Census, 2023)
⛔ In 2023, 1.7 million women experienced domestic abuse (ONS, 2023).
It is not trans people who perpetrate these crimes.
September 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM
⚠️ Women in the UK don’t need to be told what danger looks like — we live it every day.
⛔ One woman is killed by a man every three days in this country (Femicide Census, 2023)
⛔ In 2023, 1.7 million women experienced domestic abuse (ONS, 2023).
It is not trans people who perpetrate these crimes.
⛔ One woman is killed by a man every three days in this country (Femicide Census, 2023)
⛔ In 2023, 1.7 million women experienced domestic abuse (ONS, 2023).
It is not trans people who perpetrate these crimes.
Reposted by Sara
Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival
August 31, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival
Reposted by Sara
With news of a reported settlement with Anthropic I went back to check the class action form and it now allows authors outside the US to input their address, so it may be worth adding your known pirated titles (from the LibGen pirate database) www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
Anthropic Authors’ Rights Class Action – Author Contact Page – Lieff Cabraser
www.lieffcabraser.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
With news of a reported settlement with Anthropic I went back to check the class action form and it now allows authors outside the US to input their address, so it may be worth adding your known pirated titles (from the LibGen pirate database) www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
Reposted by Sara
The indispensable @janefriedman.com looks at four key ways publishing has changed in the past 10 years janefriedman.com/how-publishi...
How Publishing Has Changed Since 2015 | Jane Friedman
To mark the 10-year anniversary of this newsletter’s launch, here’s a look at some of the biggest industry changes in the past decade.
janefriedman.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The indispensable @janefriedman.com looks at four key ways publishing has changed in the past 10 years janefriedman.com/how-publishi...
Reposted by Sara
On 27th August 2015, The Shepherd's Crown, the last book Sir Terry Pratchett completed before he died, was published.
To mark the ten year anniversary, we have a message from Rob Wilkins:
To mark the ten year anniversary, we have a message from Rob Wilkins:
August 27, 2025 at 8:35 AM
On 27th August 2015, The Shepherd's Crown, the last book Sir Terry Pratchett completed before he died, was published.
To mark the ten year anniversary, we have a message from Rob Wilkins:
To mark the ten year anniversary, we have a message from Rob Wilkins:
Reposted by Sara
Also related (or maybe the same): Suspense is not generated by the reader not knowing what happens next. It's generated by the reader CARING what happens next.
Related (or maybe the same) is that "I'm going to trick the reader haha" is not a good path to reader investment, but "I am going to delight the reader, haha!" is. They look the same on the surface but they're not. I always advise being generous to readers, not adversarial.
August 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Also related (or maybe the same): Suspense is not generated by the reader not knowing what happens next. It's generated by the reader CARING what happens next.