I often get these "Brilliant Ideas" on how to streamline a process... only for it to take me five times as long than the process I already had. #IWishIKnew how to tell the "Bad Ideas" fairy to piss off and just let me stick with the tried-and-tested process that actually works! #WritersLife

And we are definitely feeling that southernly front. Rain. Sleet. Hail. And snow. Sometimes, all in the same 20 minutes. Brr! It's cold! #FirstWorldProblems

MetService NZ@metservice.com · 2d ago

🐧 The penguins have arrived! 🐧 🌨️ The polar blast bringing sea level snow has been swept right off the Antarctic ice shelf, 48 hours ago the air over the country was hanging out with Penguins! 🧊 Temperatures will plunge tonight, with severe frosts in many places. Beware of icy roads and drive safe.

You know you're finished editing when someone has taken your manuscript away from you. That's the real check, right? #MondayBlogs #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

4 signs you have finished editing your manuscript

When do you know you've finished editing? It's a loaded question, but here are some checks to help you know you're ready for the next stage in the publishing.

judylmohr.com

Check out the latest review of my novel "Dancing in the Purple Rain". It's a little smile from me... because it identifies an audience that I hadn't consider before. #BookSky #SciFi #Thriller #Dystopian akiwisbookreviews.wordpress.com/2026/07/18/r...

Review of Dancing in the Purple Rain – Judy L Mohr

Being special can make you a target. In a poisoned world, Michaella, a genetically engineered telepath, uncovers a web of lies and implanted memories when her closest friend is killed. Michaella mu…

akiwisbookreviews.wordpress.com

I'm hearing horror story after horror story where writers have been accused of using AI to write their stories and publishing contracts are canceled with no proof, just the accusation. The AI Witch Hunts need to stop! It's out of control. #WritingCommunity #MondayBlogs judylmohr.com/2026/07/03/a...

The AI Witch Hunts Have Started

"I just know" is not a good enough excuse to accuse anyone of using AI if they say they didn't. Writers need to feel confident in the work they put out there.

judylmohr.com

Even if your emails are consistently going to your subscribers' inboxes, encourage them to whitelist your email. #OnlinePresence

The Importance of Whitelisting

Most of us don't think about whitelisting at all, myself included. An email has found our inbox, so we think that everything is all hunky-dory. And in an ideal world, that would be a fair assumption. However, the moment anything changes, communications that have been finding the inbox can suddenly be moved to spam… or some other folder that removes it from view. And that's exactly what happened with the move of my email list to a different email management system in 2026. I always knew that I would need to rebuild my "trust" with the delivery systems. This would have happened regardless of the system I moved to, simply because the email header information would have changed, and systems like Gmail need to reassess it. And this is where whitelisting plays a role. In today's post, let's talk about the importance of whitelisting and why it's important to advise subscribers to your newsletter to whitelist your email address or domain even if they are getting your emails direct into their inbox.

judylmohr.com

#IWishIKnew that some people won't look at bios to see the years of experience that a writer might have. Instead, many people just assume that you're new to this writing and publishing thing... just because they've never heard of you. So frustrating. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky

While external accountability can be beneficial, when that accountability become reliability on another person, that habit is no longer sustainable. #WritingCommunity #MondayBlogs #WriteSky

Accountability is a good thing… until it becomes reliability

While external accountability can be beneficial, when that accountability become reliability on another person, that habit is no longer sustainable.

judylmohr.com

Oh sure, the first moon walk will always be the most exciting, but you can't walk the moon just once. Moons need lots of exercise. You gotta take them from one end of the sky to the other. And let them out when they have to go. I don't want to find another puddle of regolith on the carpet, okay?

A lot of times people want to know what the "ideal length" is for a chapter. Our hosts explore chapters as a pacing tool rather than a fixed unit of length. writingexcuses.com/2...

There is more than one path to publication. Which one you choose needs to be a personal choice. #WritingCommunity #Books

The Paths to Publication

Not all writers start their writing journey wanting to publish their stories. Sure, many of us smile at the thought, but many of us also believe that it's just a pipe dream. But what if it's not a pipe dream? At that point, it becomes a question of how to turn that whisper of an idea into something tangible. And it all starts with knowing your options. In today's post, I want to explore the options for publication that exist in today's market.

judylmohr.com

When cost is a major consideration, it's very tempting to use an AI-generated cover for our books. BUT there are consequences of such an action. For example, an AI cover means your entire book needs to be listed as AI-generated on IngramSpark. #BookSky #WriteSky

To AI covers or not to AI covers?

There is a level of perception that comes with the use of AI-generative technology for anything. Do you really want to taint the perception of your book?

judylmohr.com

At times, Book marketing feels like throwing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something will stick. (And we watch the meatballs go splat on the floor.) #IWishIKnew that we don't need to use the tactics others use. Instead, we should lean into our personality and strengths. #BookSky #WritingCommunity

It's far too tempting to take shortcuts, rushing through the publication process. But do so at your peril. Readers know when you're rushing things. And certain shortcuts make your work look cheap and false. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #MondayBlogs

The Rush-The-Process Dish: Volume 2

There are many different flavours to the Rush-The-Process dish, and any one of them can lead to regret and career suicide before it even begins.

judylmohr.com

Hey #PretendPanel, Talking about visual aids today. For me, some settings need photos or maps, particularly if they are real locations. But characters are loose for me. I have a vivid imagination, so I don't need visual inspiration to spark ideas. #WriteSky

Lizzie Blackwood@lizzieblackwood.bsky.social · 3w ago

It's Friday and I have a fresh haircut - let's dive back into #PretendPanel! Pulling back the curtain, what visual aids (if any) do you use when planning your story? Do you try to pin down specifics, or just cultivate the vibe?

My profile image was taken in 2020. My hair is longer now, and more blonde/gray. I would like to update it, BUT I have never considered using AI. It's about being uniquely me. I'm not something that was spat out of some machine. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky danblank.substack.com/p/writers-ph...

Writers, photos, and AI

Are you creating distance between you and your readers?

danblank.substack.com

OMG... The nerd in me is super-excited to see that Magic: The Gathering is getting a Star Trek edition. I'm sure I can convince my hubby to make this the family present for Christmas this year. (The decks get released in November.) magic.wizards.com/en/news/feat...

Collecting Magic: The Gathering® | Star Trek™: A First Look

Spaceships, captains, and interstellar adventures await! Join us for a first look at Magic: The Gathering | Star Trek!

magic.wizards.com

My "mouth" filter is slipping, and it's because I refuse to put others in boxes. #WritersLife

My “mouth” filter is slipping

I'm not sure if it's my age, my confidence within myself, or something else entirely, but I've noticed that I'm no longer afraid to have an opinion on public channels about certain topics. Maybe this is tied to my decision to self-publish. Or maybe I've just gotten tired of trying to be politically correct all the time that I'm losing sight of me. Whatever the reason, I see this as both a good and bad thing. It's good, because I'm being me and no longer hiding portions of myself that bleed into everything that I do. There are ways that I phrase things that always creep into my writing, because my writing is just my thoughts on paper… even if I'm writing in the voice of another character. It's bad, because I'm opening up myself to the lynch mob. I could so easily say something that could be taken out of context, at which point, the "politically correct" mob would have a field day at my expense. But that too can also be seen as a good thing, because I know that the people who get me will be willing to help me defend myself if a lynch mob ever attacks. I can't please everyone, and I've stopped trying. Instead, I write what I feel needs to be said in the way that I feel my characters need to say it. I know that some readers might find the way I say things as offensive, but to quote my daughter: "That's a them problem, not a me problem."

judylmohr.com

Good question! For me, I guess it was part of my training as a developmental editor. I have to always try to read between the lines for the story intent, so I know what will serve the story the most when providing feedback. That eye has bled into my personal editing too. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Hutom Ghostveil@hutomghostveil.bsky.social · 3w ago

The right beta reader understands what your story is trying to be before suggesting what it should change. What finally helped you figure out whose feedback was worth keeping?

When I first started writing, I tried to get feedback from others. And it was such a mixed bag, ranging from useful critique to stuff that needed to be thrown out with the bath water. #IWishIKnew that you need to be selective of your critique partners and beta readers. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

My SinC interview was such a fun chat about writing, editing, and what it's like in today's industry. You listen to the full episode at: www.sistersincrime.org/page/Judy_L_... #writeSky #BookSky #WritingCommunity

SinCWorldWide@sincworldwide.bsky.social · 3w ago

On this week's Sisters in Crime Writers' Podcast, Executive Director Julie Hennrikus chats with Judy L. Mohr. www.sistersincrime.org/page/podcast

For anyone who remembers the long-running Google Books lawsuit, the allegations in this latest AI training class action infringment lawsuit will seem especially galling www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Publishers, Authors File Class Action Lawsuit Against Google

Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier, as well as author Scott Turow, are looking to block the tech giant from engaging in alleged copyright infringement of millions of texts to develop ...

publishersweekly.com

How many times will I bang my head against my desk today in my attempts to knock this manuscript into shape? Head-banging does seem to be a part of my process as I fight against the inner critic. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #MondayBlogs

The Inner Critic… Will they win?

When you're an editor, it can be a massive struggle to turn off the inner critic long enough to actually write something.

judylmohr.com

I've had enough of the vocal few demanding how the rest of us should behave, silencing our voices for fear that the lynch mob will attack. No more. My voice is MY voice, and I will continue to say things in a way that is uniquely me. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

The vocal few are silencing our voices

It was a comment that could be interpreted in a way that was hateful, but what followed was just an attack of character.

judylmohr.com

If subscribe to my newsletter, please check your emails (including spam folders). Emails to reconfirm your subscription went out on Monday... and if the number of reconfirmations remains unchanged, my list will suddenly drop to approx 40 people. That does not make me feel good. #WriteSky

I believe we naturally gravitate to certain tropes, but I know that my selection process has nothing to do with tropes. It's what grabs me in that moment. #PretendPanel #writingCommunity #WriteSky

Kara Moon 🏴‍☠️💜⚓️@karamoonauthor.com · 12mo ago

#pretendpanel it's time for another of those divisive questions... August 9th: Do you think in tropes when selecting what you want to read and/or write? #WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts

I address the biggest question I get from writers these days.

Should You Use Substack for Your Email Newsletter? Or Something Else? | Jane Friedman

Should authors use Substack for their newsletter? It depends on your purpose—strengthening ties with existing readers, or reaching new ones.

janefriedman.com

#IWishIKnew it would take over a decade to publish my debut. And it wasn't even the first novel I wrote. (The first novel I wrote is still sitting in the metaphorical drawer.) But my debut, "Dancing in the Purple Rain", has been met with amazing reviews. #BookSky #WritingCommunity (Buy link in bio.)

It's frustrating that I need to say this, but to everyone who keeps insisting that I use Substack, please stop! The system doesn't suit my needs. As such, I won't use Substack. If you can't accept that, that's a "you" problem, not a "me" problem. #WritingCommunity judylmohr.com/2026/02/27/w...

Why I’m not on Substack

Substack might be popular among certain writing circles, but I don't use it for a reason.

judylmohr.com

I spend a lot of time in the head of assassin and spy characters. And while their background and skill sets might be different, there are commonalities to the way these kinds of characters behave. #writingCommunity #WriteSky #MondayBlogs

Assassins, Spies and SAS. Oh My…

Assassins, spies, and SAS will come from different backgrounds and have different skill sets, but there will be commonalities to the way they behave.

judylmohr.com