Debbie Thomas-Tayali
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debbiethomastayali.bsky.social
Debbie Thomas-Tayali
@debbiethomastayali.bsky.social
Weaving fiction, craft, and the creative life - one thread at a time.
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
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.
substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:05 AM
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
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.
substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
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
November 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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...
October 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
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-...
October 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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
July 19, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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
January 23, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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
January 9, 2025 at 11:02 PM

‪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...
Writing in the dark
Circadian rhythm be damned...there's something to be said for writing late, and I mean very late at night.
debbiethomaswrites.substack.com
January 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
💙📚
Beloved by Toni Morrison – a hard-hitting feat of storytelling by one of my favourite authors.
#booksky
#books
December 28, 2024 at 10:58 PM
💙📚
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – just had to share this very unusual book that gripped me from start to finish.
#booksky
#books
December 27, 2024 at 7:40 PM
💙📚
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
December 27, 2024 at 6:55 AM
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
December 27, 2024 at 6:35 AM
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.
November 26, 2024 at 12:13 AM