Vanessa Harbour
@nessharbour.bsky.social
Author. 📚♿️PhD. Academic. Programme Leader BA Creative Writing. Uni of Winchester. SoA. Always looking for the positive in a complicated life
I love this so much. I read that Dolly always wanted a pony growing up and whilst that never happened the love of horses never left. She once said I may look like a show pony but I’m workhorse! Our favourite books about horses, human strength & love @nessharbour.bsky.social #BeMoreDolly #KidLitUK
Our annual online conference 'On Writing for Young People' returns 5-6 Nov 2026. At this point, we warmly invite proposals from our wider community for topics they would like to present on at the conference, or a writing workshop they would like to run. Details: ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/conference
www.thebookseller.com/news/some-ed... The idea of this is horrifying. That editors would be that careless with someone else's work is appalling. And nothing of what follows is in any way intended to excuse or mitigate the damage done to authors if this has actually happened. ...
“I get melancholy if I don't [write]. I need the company of people who don't exist.” ― William Trevor
We use suspense in fiction to get the reader on the edge of their seat and make it as difficult as possible for them to put the book down 📚 So what are some of the devices and tricks that a writer can deploy? Here are some tricks for building suspense in your novel:
How to make your writing suspenseful
We often associate suspenseful writing with spooky, thrilling and chilling genres, particularly crime fiction, psychological thrillers, horror and supernatural novels. But actually the toolbox of…
curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 151: You don't need to describe characters in detail as soon as you introduce them. We don't tend to notice things all at once: we notice one or two main features first, then maybe add details later. Your characters can do the same. Let them learn as they go along.
When you’ve had a bad day at work but your grown up son sends you a photo of a message from one of his school friends where said friend is holding a picture of your novel that he’s got for his school. Good #authormoment #writercommunity #writing #kidslit @fireflypress
this is 💔 I spent yrs educating myself. Wrote many practice novels. Had the support of talented editors Then a greedy, lazy, cheap social media company & scrapes my work along with countless others for free from a pirate site that illegally provided my work & millions of others. #writers
There are small highs as an author like when a fellow author has spotted your books in Waterstones in Piccadilly. Very Happi-Ness!
a little girl is dancing in front of a no smoking sign
ALT: a little girl is dancing in front of a no smoking sign
media.tenor.com
The garden is telling me spring is coming. There is sunshine. Love it! Makes all the other pressures tolerable. Time to #write
Spent this morning talking to 25+ classes from several schools as part of #worldbookday and #nationalcareersweek. Talking about the things I am passionate about - my portfolio career and the reality of being an author. Feeling grateful today
If ever there is a time with a need to escape into a good book that time is now. Time also for me to escape into #writing #books #reading
a dog wearing glasses and a hoodie is sleeping on the floor reading a book
ALT: a dog wearing glasses and a hoodie is sleeping on the floor reading a book
media.tenor.com
I'm having a chat to someone who wants to get into editorial in children's books, preferably picture books but also early readers/chapter books. Basically younger kids, lots of pictures. I've been out of the biz for 5 years...any tips from anyone with more recent experience? #KidLitUK #PublishingUK
Love this. One of my fabulous colleagues talking to a lovely student about our #creativewriting degree youtube.com/watch?v=3pr_...
youtube.com
Sometimes I use method writing. It’s been time to get out the embroidery silks as the main character in my WIP embroiders! I love doing research. #writing #creativewriting #writer #writingcommunity #research
When you meet with your mentor and they ask if you’ve thought about writing a motivational book 😳 she can’t mean me. I spent all last night panicking after giving a talk at an awards event that I was ‘too much’! Scuttles back under her rock 😂
a dog is hiding under a pink curtain next to a shelf with books on it .
ALT: a dog is hiding under a pink curtain next to a shelf with books on it .
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Judith Butler saying what we need to hear Trump is unleashing sadism upon the world. But we cannot get overwhelmed | Judith Butler www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump is unleashing sadism upon the world. But we cannot get overwhelmed | Judith Butler
Those who celebrate his defiance and sadism are as claimed by his logic as those who are paralyzed with outrage
theguardian.com
Today this happened. The kitten sat on my back purring the whole time I pruned the roses in my garden. It was tiny and lost. It has since been reunited with owner. I am a dog person but I confess it was cute
Last day of January. Thank goodness! Right now let’s get on with the rest of the year
a woman in a gold dress is dancing on a stage with the words `` let 's go !!! ''
ALT: a woman in a gold dress is dancing on a stage with the words `` let 's go !!! ''
media.tenor.com
Writing, writing, writing tonight which makes for a very happi-Ness!
a cartoon of a girl typing on a laptop with the website debbieohi.com visible
ALT: a cartoon of a girl typing on a laptop with the website debbieohi.com visible
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It’s PLR statement day and I am feeling humble and grateful. The thought that so many wonderful people borrowed my books blows my mind. Libraries were my safe place as a teenager. They are still so important. Thank you #libraries and #librarians
So when you get bitterly cold at the Uni Open Day you come home and rewatch #TheSplitBarcelona for the sunshine and to be inspired by Abi Morgan’s brilliant writing as I am marking! #creativewriting #academiclife
Perfect afternoon escaping to the beach rather than marking. Cold but peaceful
First post on Substack. Could this be something new for 2025?
