Sally O-J
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sojseaside.bsky.social
Sally O-J
@sojseaside.bsky.social
Literary editor & writers' mentor. Sarah Waters, Viv Albertine, Jacqueline Crooks and other fab authors. Cheshire Novel Prize judge. Black Girl Writers Mentor. www.sallyoj.com
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Of course I'd love to work with you on your manuscript. But if you just fancy a chat to talk about any aspects of your writing, especially work in progress, that'd be lovely too. Read about what we can do together, or see some How To... videos here:
sallyoj.com
sallyoj.com
Hello all. Sorry I've been AWOL, I haven't been very well. Far from me to be dramatic, but I was in hospital for six days with sepsis, which was awful. But I'm well on the mend now, touching wood as I type. Nice to be back.
June 29, 2025 at 11:23 AM
An oldie but goodie for a Monday afternoon.
April 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Sally O-J
It’s all about getting a team around you. Just like trad publishing except you get to chose them. I had @sojseaside.bsky.social and @depesando.bsky.social in my corner, which made all the difference.
April 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Thank you so much for this amazing testimonial Reeta Chakrabarti. All I can say is that I love every minute of working together. Finding Belle, out on 8th May 2025. An absolute cracker of a debut novel.
March 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The Janklow & Nesbit UK Fiction Prize 2025: Literary Love Stories
janklowandnesbit.co.uk
February 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Now this is what I call an acknowledgement:
February 12, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Absolutely.
Great advice for any writer.
Superb advice to the journalist. My favourite is this: "If in doubt, assume the reader knows nothing. However, never make the mistake of assuming that the reader is stupid. The classic error in journalism is to overestimate what the reader knows and underestimate the reader's intelligence."
February 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
It's #WriterWednesday! Having a showdown with Show don't Tell? Strugggling with Structure? Problems with Pacing? My videos are all free and if nothing else you can laugh at my hair.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Ask The Book Doctor sessions - YouTube
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Writers! Happy #TransformationTuesday! Come and have a look at my webpage (including the link to my YouTube page) to see if I can offer anything that might make your journey a little, or a lot, smoother.

www.sallyoj.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Happy #MotivationMonday!

My video channel has loads of Ask The Book Doctor sessions, covering a wide range of writing issues. And there will be some new ones up soon...

Apologies for the very Lockdown feel (and hair!) of the early ones. But here they all are:

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Sally O-J, Book Doctor
I'm a book doctor, literary editor and writers' mentor, based in Brighton, UK. I have worked with Sarah Waters on all of her books and with Viv Albertine on both of her autobiographies. Since 1998, I...
www.youtube.com
January 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Sally O-J
This. Pretty much every cool opportunity I've ever got came about because someone went "Oh, you should speak to...", and I've done the same for others whenever possible. A rising tide lifts all boats, and all that.
Actual pro tip: the best way to break into any creative profession is by helping to support and advance other creators. Your peers are not your adversaries. They are your support group.
January 15, 2025 at 11:14 AM
December 29, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Happy this time of year! I'm trying to link to this video which is hilarious so please do click on the link because it's a bit of ho ho ho for those of us of a literary bent.

fb.watch/wN5Er2oMod/
fb.watch
December 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Hands up everyone who identifies with this.
December 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM
If I get a Chat message (and this had started happening on T*****r too) that just says "Hello" or "Great to make contact" or something, but doesn't mention my name or have any other message, I'll block you because, suss. So if you're genuine and I've blocked you, that's why and sorry.
December 8, 2024 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Sally O-J
I often say to the authors I'm working with that, should it get published, THIS is how they want their readers to feel when they're reading their book. PAGETURNABILITY people.

#BookSky
December 4, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by Sally O-J
New Starter Pack, if you're a sensitivity reader and want included please let me know
This is a start but will add more as I find or people ask/tell me about others

go.bsky.app/4vha4aa
December 4, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Editing humour. Excellent.

#BookSky
December 4, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Sally O-J
Latest indie bookshop directory page added to the Indie Bookshops website

#BookSky 💙📚 #IndieBookshop #Bookstore #ChooseBookshops

www.indiebookshops.com/2024/12/04/t...
December 4, 2024 at 11:27 AM
I am an e-di-tor. And I scroll and I scroll and I scroll...

#BookSky
December 4, 2024 at 2:19 PM
I often say to the authors I'm working with that, should it get published, THIS is how they want their readers to feel when they're reading their book. PAGETURNABILITY people.

#BookSky
December 4, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Oh happy days.
Today in pulp I look back at the simple idea that launched a thousand fanzines: Letraset!

Launched in 1959 by Dai Davies and Fred Mackenzie it heralded a graphic design revolution that brought funky fonts and trendy typefaces to the masses... #fontsunday #booksky
December 4, 2024 at 2:09 PM
Nothing to add to this.
Support your local bookstores.
Support your local bookstores.
Support your local bookstores.
Support your local bookstores.
Support your local bookstores.
Support your local bookstores.
Support your local bookstores.
#BookSky #BlackBookSky ☕️📚
December 4, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Sally O-J
A little bit of news
December 4, 2024 at 1:49 PM