Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · 3d

The most brilliant news for Claire AKA Ellie, one of our @jerichowriters.bsky.social #SelfEditAlumni from back when the course first started. 💜💜💜💜💜

Claire Waller / Claire Lunn @clairesnonsense.bsky.social · 3d

ARRRGGGHHHH! FINALLY! I CAN FINALLY SHARE!!

Unfortunately, the actual announcement is behind a paywall, so I’ve screenshotted it for you all 🥰

I’m writing this one under the name Ellie Graves, because I clearly can’t have enough names

www.thebookseller.com/rights/trans...

#booksky #transworld

Announcement of my Transworld Debut, MANEATER:
Transworld has acquired horror-thriller crossover novel Maneater by debut author Ellie Graves. Editor Nicole Witmer acquired world rights from Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq.

The debut’s synopsis reads: "Maneater follows Renee Landis as she finally quits her dead-end job at a chicken shop after landing the coveted role of junior chef at London’s pristine NOVA restaurant. But it’s not the restaurant that draws Renee in – it’s the executive chef.

"Gracie Fitzgerald is as legendary as she is secretive, known for her succulent, signature dishes and the notorious methods in which she runs her kitchen. No one can touch her workspace with bare hands. No other chef can taste her signature dishes. And no one, under any circumstances, is allowed to enter her personal freezer…"

Sawicka said: "I am beyond thrilled to have worked on this deliciously dark novel with Ellie and Nicole, who are just a dream team. Can’t wait for the audience to sink their teeth into Gracie and Renee’s story."

Witmer added: "Maneater is an incredibly fun take on the good-for-her femgore readers love to see in this genre. Gracie Fitzgerald has filled the Miranda Priestly-sized hole in my reading. Ellie’s writing is equal parts delicious and terrifying, keeping readers guessing until the very last line."

Graves said: “I’m not sure I should admit to the amount of fun I had writing Maneater… it turns out, playing ‘I wonder how far you can push this?’ when it comes to food in horror is ‘quite far’!

"I can’t wait for readers to meet Renee and everyone at NOVA – and I especially can’t wait for the world to meet Chef Gracie."

Maneater will publish in hardback, e-book and audio in March 2026.

Article continued (whole transcript in last picture)

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · 23d

A snippet of Space Oddity from @singeazychoir.bsky.social for your listening pleasure. 🎶🎶 www.instagram.com/reel/DOyDAN3...

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Sep 3

Grace needs - and deserves - a home. C'mon, agents!

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Reposted by Debi Alper

Jonathan Main @booksellercrow.bsky.social · Aug 29

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 29

New pix!

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 26

Bursary klaxon! 📢 Deadline 28 August! 👇

Jericho Writers @jerichowriters.bsky.social · Aug 7

Did you know...? Typically, *one in four* of our Self-Edit Your Novel alumni go on to publishing success. Even better, if you apply before 28 August you could win a bursary place on our next course, starting 9 September. Visit our website for all the details you need! buff.ly/LlVC7Fj

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 17

Stuffed marrow, red cabbage slaw, and honey roasted carrots, all still in the ground a few hours ago.

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 17

From pic 1 to pic 2. Pic 3 is carrot tops prepped for pesto. All from our community allotment. 💚

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 16

Bursary alert! Please apply if you're eligible and join me and @emmadarwinwriter.bsky.social in September.

Jericho Writers @jerichowriters.bsky.social · Aug 7

Did you know...? Typically, *one in four* of our Self-Edit Your Novel alumni go on to publishing success. Even better, if you apply before 28 August you could win a bursary place on our next course, starting 9 September. Visit our website for all the details you need! buff.ly/LlVC7Fj

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 7

Sending love xx

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Reposted by Debi Alper

Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 6

For anyone who wants to learn more:

jerichowriters.com/six-tips-for...

And if you're after an editing course, I highly recommend Debi Alper's self-editing course at Jericho Writers. I've not yet done it myself, but I've been in several of Debi's workshops at conferences and she's brilliant!

Self-Editing Course: Polish Your Manuscript – Jericho Writers

Our self-editing course is led by publishing professionals, and will help you get your manuscript to industry standard.

jerichowriters.com

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Aug 6

Thanks for the shout-out. 💜

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Reposted by Debi Alper

Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 6

Hello #SummerOfStory

Day 6: The Narrative Triangle

@kiraofthewind.com reminded me there is another technique with this name, so sorry for any confusion. This 🔼 is an editing technique by the marvellous @debialper.bsky.social, used for assessing the narrative drive of your story.

#WritingPrompt

1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction

This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text 'August 6th' at the top and the writing prompt 'Narrative Triangle' in bold script letters. There's also note attributing credit to Debi Alper, whose handle appears beneath the title. There is a typewriter in the corner with a note saying 'TOOLS not RULES'. On the right, there is a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and a palm leaf background.

Transcription:
August 6th
Narrative Triangle
by Debi Alper
@debialper.bsky.social

What's your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before — or do you avoid it?

Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you'd use it in a scene.

2: What and Why
This slide is a piece of lined paper with 'What?' and 'Why?' highlighted at the top and middle. It explains what the Narrative Triangle is as a writing technique and why it's useful. There is a Bluesky butterfly and palm fronds in the background.

Transcription:
What?
Every scene should move the story forward somehow, whether that's through plot, character development, or raising the stakes. One quick way to check is by using the Narrative Triangle: where do you start, what happens, and where do you end up? If, by the end of the scene, nothing's really changed—your characters, the plot, or the stakes are all right back where they started—that's a sign the pace has stalled and the scene might not be pulling its weight.

Why?
It ensures each scene earns its place and ups narrative momentum.

3: In Practice

This slide looks like a piece of graph paper and features a triangle diagram labelled 'Start of the scene', 'Events during the scene', and 'End of the scene'. Inside the triangle is a reminder: If, at the end of your scene, there has been no progression in plot, stakes, or character development, then it's better to cut the scene. Speech bubbles explain that if a scene only repeats a shift already shown, it might need trimming. There is a speech bubbles shaped note about Debi Alper's self-editing course and a Bluesky butterfly in the background.

Transcription:
Check out Debi Alper's self-editing course at Jericho Writers to learn more about this concept and other great practices.

What if it's a repeat of a shift we've already seen?
If another scene delivers the same change more powerfully, this one might be dragging. Don't just ask if something changes — ask if it needs to.

Sometimes we need to look beyond full scenes and examine the smaller units of action — conversations, choreography, travel, introspective beats. Ask yourself: 'Is this changing anything?' If not, it probably needs to go. Kill those darlings. It hurts, but it's worth it for a cleaner, more engaging story.

4: What do you think?

This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using the Narrative Triangle in editing. There is a speech bubble repeating 'TOOLS not RULES', a Bluesky butterfly, and palm fronds in the background.

Transcription:
What do you think?

So, what's your take on using the Narrative Triangle in editing? Any overwriters out there considering using this to trim down? Do you think every scene in a book should contribute to character, plot, or stakes?

Why not share your experience or a snippet with the community?
Hot takes welcome — just please don't set anyone on fire!

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 27

Zinzi picking her way across a narrow cage

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 27

Community allotment update, activity overseen by Zinzi.

Box containing lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, basil.

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Reposted by Debi Alper

Sarah Slade @sladey.bsky.social · Jul 24

Just in case you find yourself in SE15 with a tenner in your hand tonight…

Local band Pretty Trees are launching their long-awaited album at The Ivy House.

Great pub, great beer, great music…

Poster advertising an album launch party for Pretty Trees, a local London band on Thursday 24 July. Doors open 7:30pm. Tickets £10 on the door.

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 24

Balcony update.

Close-up of peach-coloured gladioli blossom

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 19

Someone on the @jerichowriters.bsky.social self-edit course just said, 'Debi is a bit like a forensic scientist, who can glean so much from a tiny DNA sample,' and I feel so SEEN!

a woman wearing purple gloves and goggles is holding a glass of water .

ALT: a woman wearing purple gloves and goggles is holding a glass of water .

media.tenor.com

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 19

Holding a new novel by one of our @jerichowriters.bsky.social' #SelfEditAlumni is my favourite thing. Huge congrats to John Taylor 🎉🎉🎉

Copy of Angels and Blackbirds by John Alex Taylor

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Reposted by Debi Alper

singeazychoir.bsky.social @singeazychoir.bsky.social · Jul 16

Local band The Pretty Trees (feat. SingEazy’s own Dan Maitland) are launching their new album, ‘Universes Please’ at The Ivy House, Nunhead on Thursday 24th July. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 at the door. Special guests, SAS.
Want a sneak peak? Https://prettytrees.bandcamp.com

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 13

A community allotment on our council estate. Currently two raised beds but we have funding for four more. 💚

Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 13

Potential new profile pic?

Me holding a giant red cabbage, grown on the community allotment on our estate

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 9

How lovely to have travelled this road together for all these years. 🥰🥰

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jul 1

My succulent has flowered for the first time!

A sprig of star-shaped flowers, shades of pale punk to deep red.

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Debi Alper @debialper.bsky.social · Jun 30

The traditional #SelfEditAlumni photo at #LFoW25 @jerichowriters.bsky.social

Large group of people standing on stage. I'm seated in the middle with outstretched arms

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