The pitches that caught my eye quickly introduced characters, setting & premise. They also asked a question (whether literal or figurative)
Writing was confident & clear, & I could tell each writer had a deep understanding of their work
Well done! It was a pleasure leaving short bursts of feedback
Looking forward to reading through Mselxia salon member pitches today at lunch and offering a little bit of feedback to a few of the writers 🖤
still receiving emails in the year of our book lord 2026 addressed to 'dear sir'
The price of paper has been going up every year & publishers have been shrinking fonts on the page to cram as much in. It's exhausting reading tiny type. Let's not forget accessibility implications either.
Feel for all my fellow UK migraneaurs who must also be suffering with this atrocious weather that is unrelenting
I'm playing to review the submissions for the first 300 word surgery next week, so keep your eyes peeled 👀
Sign up to The Shape of Words to read
theshapeofwords.blog
LAST CHANCE!
🖤 SUBMISSIONS CLOSE ON SUNDAY, 1ST FEBRUARY, 20:00 GMT🖤
Wild Hunt Books are seeking short stories (1500-5000 words) for our upcoming anthology, Modern Decadent. The anthology embraces the fin de siècle literary and arts of the decadents & more
www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/blog/now-ope...
so unfair!
I will never forgive @yorkshiretea.bsky.social for discontinuing toast & jam and they have the gall to still advertise it on their website nearly 2 years on
(and don't @ me about that cherry Bakewell nonsense)
had a good rush of submissions overnight
looking forward to reading how everyone interpreted the brief
I'm tired of reading about ministers talking about UBI and how great it is. How about actually enacting it???
*weekly editor gripe*
using AI to proofread/copy edit your manuscript makes it sound soulless and hollow
just saying
had a good rush of submissions overnight
looking forward to reading how everyone interpreted the brief
i was not expecting a hurricane today
Really proud to see Good Boy make the ballot
Often small press publishing and editing feels tough and lonely but then you get a win. This book was such a pleasure to commission. So glad readers are loving it, too 🖤💙
Well done, Neil!
Today's Pitch Surgery is open!
If you want to try out a brief pitch for your work-in-progress on a supportive audience, you've got until 3pm to post your pitch in the Salon. ✨ mslexia.co.uk/salon/ ✨
#amwriting #writingcommunity
@mslexia.bsky.social @writelikeagrrrl.bsky.social @chillsubs.bsky.social @horrortree.com
little over a week left to send me your stories for consideration in this anthology by @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social! it's gonna be grand 💚🖤
It's funny how all these big publishers have been setting up new imprints like this in the past 2 or so years when small independent press publishing has been releasing these sorts of books for, like, ever with a devoted and delightful readership 💷💵
www.thebookseller.com/news/tor-lau...
Only one, please!
last chance! i'll probably close the form this week so i have to review for an early february feedback surgery.
this is your time to potentially receive *free* feedback on the first 300 words of your manuscript
#booksky #pitch #writingopportunity
We're looking at pitches later this week. This is your last chance to get them in 🖤
There's lot of dread, which I'm enjoying!
Lunch break reading 🍣
I'm delighted to announce that I'm now open to short story submissions for the anthology, Modern Decadent. You can find all the info and guidelines on the submission page.
#booksky #writingopportunity #publishing #amwriting
very excited to edit this anthology. send me your stories for consideration! submission info and form below 👇
you have until 1 Feb before I close the sub portal
i've been enjoying the variety of opening 300-words from everyone's novel manuscripts
do you want *free* feedback on your opening? here's your chance!
#booksky #amwriting #amquerying
unsolicited editor advise:
a few clients this month have asked to send their manuscripts over in a file that isn't word doc (for various reasons)
the thing is, publishing runs on editable word docs. agents, editors, typesetters, etc need your ms in doc or docx.
i've been enjoying the variety of opening 300-words from everyone's novel manuscripts
do you want *free* feedback on your opening? here's your chance!
#booksky #amwriting #amquerying
Have you read Bear Season yet? Use promo code READING25 at checkout to receive 25% off paperbacks this week*
What happened to Jade Hunter after entering the Alaskan wilderness? Blood was discovered, but her body wasn't found...
www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/books/p/bear...
