Debbie Thomas-Tayali

Sunlight and distractions I’m learning that finishing a novel isn’t only about pushing through. It’s also about knowing when to shove it to one side...and come back to it later.

Finishing a novel is less about gluing myself to my chair, and more about knowing when to slip away and refuel. Here's to bringing work and rest together in ways that actually work. substack.com/home/post/p-...
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersOfBluesky #CreativeLife

First novel - a labour of love The final edits to my novel have taken far longer than I thought they would, but they've shown me a thing a two.

As I edge closer to completing the last round of edits to my first novel, I've taken a few minutes to highlight what this is teaching me. Nothing earth shatteringly deep; just a few, back-of-a-fag-packet musings.
substack.com/@debbiethoma...

#WritingLife #AmWriting #NovelEditing #WritersOfBluesky

Thank you!

It was! And polished it off in record time too! :-)

I decided to celebrate finishing an article I just wrote for a legal journal with a morning coffee at my local coffee shop. Tomorrow I'll be back to the novel edits in earnest. ;-)
#WritingLife #LegalWriting #FreelanceWriter #AmWriting #NovelEditing #WritersOfBluesky #DailyWriting #WritingCommunity

No More Margins - Literary Journal - Issue 1: Liberation

My first published short story ‘Escaping the Scar Tissue’ explores change & liberation. It's been published in this new literary journal - and while you're there check out the poetry and prose of other writers: www.nomoremargins.com/literary-jou...

Novel nearly there - and close to the finish line.

Ten months after leaving my corporate job (and 5 years of stop-start writing), I’m finally finishing my novel.

A short story and an article published is proof enough: I’m a writer.

The excitement’s back; this week it’s just me and the manuscript.

#WritingCommunity

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Novel November: A 30 Day Writing Challenge Join the only writing challenge that takes you from blank page to first draft in just one month with the help of bestselling authors.

Nanowrimo no longer exists - but you're in time for something similar. It's NovNov - Novel November with Pro Writing Aid, which I discovered recently. More details here: prowritingaid.com/novel-november

Chuffed to learn that one of my short stories has been selected to be published in the inaugural issue of a new literary journal: No More Margins! ✍️📚🎉✨
#Writer #amwriting #AmRevising #AuthorLife #WriteGoodNews

Facing what's holding me back from finishing my novel I’m writing this post to hold myself fully accountable for procrastination - and to do something about it!

open.substack.com/pub/debbieth...

I did art for 30 days and this happened... How a 30-day art challenge is helping to shape the rest of the year...

debbiethomaswrites.substack.com/p/i-did-art-...

#art #creative #writing

Applying art to life Art can be a way to find clarity and gain inspiration and I am appreciating how a 30-day art challenge can help to shape the rest of the year - and beyond

debbiethomascoaching.substack.com/p/applying-a...
#art #creativity #writing #creativewriting #perfection #goodenough #books

Content mentoring - with Debbie Thomas Coaching

Would you like to:

Sharpen your writing, craft impactful content—and leave a lasting impression on your audience?

Content mentoring could be the answer.
www.debbiethomas.co/content-ment...

#mentor #mentoring #writing #freelancer #contentdesign #website #content

2024 Celebration Jar - to mark the highs of the year

What better way to start the year than to celebrate all the high points of the last 12 months?
I created this celebration jar🎉 in Jan 2024 and added post-it notes to it throughout the year.
Reliving those moments of joy has been a real treat.
#joy #gratitude #newyear #books #memories #creative

Grabbing the time that's available is a sound approach.

Ouch - that's early! I might give it a try - closer to 6ish though.

Writing in the dark Circadian rhythm be damned...there's something to be said for writing late, and I mean very late at night.

‪Debbie Thomas‬ ‪@debbiethomas.co‬
Calling all writers and lovers of writing. I tend to write at night and am curious when others like writing. I've had a recent wake-up call about it though...
#books #writing #creativewriting #fiction
debbiethomaswrites.substack.com/p/writing-in...

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Beloved by Toni Morrison – a hard-hitting feat of storytelling by one of my favourite authors.
#booksky
#books

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Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – just had to share this very unusual book that gripped me from start to finish.
#booksky
#books

Ah 1984...takes me back to 6th Form; it was one of our Eng Lit titles.

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An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma - loved reading this book when I discovered it 4 years ago! Full of twists and turns - and tears during the sad scenes.
#booksky
#books

A life transition is period during which a lot of change is taking place in our lives.
How well we cope with them depends not only on the number and intensity of life transitions we are experiencing, but, also on how adaptable we are to embracing our ‘what next?’
#lifetransitions #beginnings

Part of the life transitions journey involves letting go of uncertainty to make way for one or more new beginnings. A positive thought or even a hint of joy about what the future might hold are important first steps.