Jess Popplewell
@jesspopps.bsky.social
I know writers who use subtext, and they’re all cowards.
Author: THE DARK WITHIN US.
Rep’d by: Louise Lamont at LBA.
See also: Careers Consultant; views own & not representative of employer, obviously.
See more of my nonsense at jesspopplewell.com
Author: THE DARK WITHIN US.
Rep’d by: Louise Lamont at LBA.
See also: Careers Consultant; views own & not representative of employer, obviously.
See more of my nonsense at jesspopplewell.com
Pinned
Jess Popplewell
@jesspopps.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Hello! I’m Jess, I wrote a book called THE DARK WITHIN US. It’s a YA portal fantasy inspired equally by Dante’s INFERNO and 2007-era SKINS.
Jenny is looking for a way to fix her life so when a demon tells her she doesn’t have a soul, she agrees to go with him on a journey to Hell to get it back.
Jenny is looking for a way to fix her life so when a demon tells her she doesn’t have a soul, she agrees to go with him on a journey to Hell to get it back.
Editing Advent Day 4:
I’m actually ahead of myself, so I gave myself a night off (it’s the last night of my holiday anyway).
Tomorrow I have 5 hours on a train to do plenty more!
I’m actually ahead of myself, so I gave myself a night off (it’s the last night of my holiday anyway).
Tomorrow I have 5 hours on a train to do plenty more!
December 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Editing Advent Day 4:
I’m actually ahead of myself, so I gave myself a night off (it’s the last night of my holiday anyway).
Tomorrow I have 5 hours on a train to do plenty more!
I’m actually ahead of myself, so I gave myself a night off (it’s the last night of my holiday anyway).
Tomorrow I have 5 hours on a train to do plenty more!
Editing Advent Day 3:
I’ve made notes on 55 pages out of 191, which feels like good going!
I’ve made notes on 55 pages out of 191, which feels like good going!
December 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Editing Advent Day 3:
I’ve made notes on 55 pages out of 191, which feels like good going!
I’ve made notes on 55 pages out of 191, which feels like good going!
Day 2 of Editing Advent:
Didn’t achieve loads today because I had windmills to look at, but I made some notes on 2 early chapters to address a couple of editing points (introducing backstory, that kind of thing).
Now celebrating with a hot chocolate. The Dutch are VERY good at hot chocolate.
Didn’t achieve loads today because I had windmills to look at, but I made some notes on 2 early chapters to address a couple of editing points (introducing backstory, that kind of thing).
Now celebrating with a hot chocolate. The Dutch are VERY good at hot chocolate.
December 2, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Day 2 of Editing Advent:
Didn’t achieve loads today because I had windmills to look at, but I made some notes on 2 early chapters to address a couple of editing points (introducing backstory, that kind of thing).
Now celebrating with a hot chocolate. The Dutch are VERY good at hot chocolate.
Didn’t achieve loads today because I had windmills to look at, but I made some notes on 2 early chapters to address a couple of editing points (introducing backstory, that kind of thing).
Now celebrating with a hot chocolate. The Dutch are VERY good at hot chocolate.
As a sort of advent calendar for me this year, I’ve split my edits for my current WIP (I call it “the vampire book”) into 24.
Today I:
- changed a character’s name
- changed a different character’s age, which has subtly changed that character and her relationships with the main storyline.
Today I:
- changed a character’s name
- changed a different character’s age, which has subtly changed that character and her relationships with the main storyline.
December 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
As a sort of advent calendar for me this year, I’ve split my edits for my current WIP (I call it “the vampire book”) into 24.
Today I:
- changed a character’s name
- changed a different character’s age, which has subtly changed that character and her relationships with the main storyline.
Today I:
- changed a character’s name
- changed a different character’s age, which has subtly changed that character and her relationships with the main storyline.
Hello I know complaining on the internet is what old people do but I’m old so buckle up.
I need a blood test. Like, I’ve had these symptoms before (extreme tiredness even after full night’s sleep, aching muscles, brain fog) and the problem is either a vitamin deficiency or my thyroid meds (1)
I need a blood test. Like, I’ve had these symptoms before (extreme tiredness even after full night’s sleep, aching muscles, brain fog) and the problem is either a vitamin deficiency or my thyroid meds (1)
November 24, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Hello I know complaining on the internet is what old people do but I’m old so buckle up.
I need a blood test. Like, I’ve had these symptoms before (extreme tiredness even after full night’s sleep, aching muscles, brain fog) and the problem is either a vitamin deficiency or my thyroid meds (1)
I need a blood test. Like, I’ve had these symptoms before (extreme tiredness even after full night’s sleep, aching muscles, brain fog) and the problem is either a vitamin deficiency or my thyroid meds (1)
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading and highly enjoying Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anton for some epic fantasy back in my life. What are you reading at the moment?
November 2, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading and highly enjoying Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anton for some epic fantasy back in my life. What are you reading at the moment?
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Shall we talk about ebooks?
It might be a bit of a weird thing for a physical bookshop to do, but bear with me. There's a reason.
Take a seat for a short thread. 1/?
It might be a bit of a weird thing for a physical bookshop to do, but bear with me. There's a reason.
Take a seat for a short thread. 1/?
a woman in a suit and tie is smiling with #schitts creek written on the bottom
Alt: a woman in a suit and tie is smiling with #schitts creek written on the bottom
media.tenor.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Shall we talk about ebooks?
It might be a bit of a weird thing for a physical bookshop to do, but bear with me. There's a reason.
Take a seat for a short thread. 1/?
It might be a bit of a weird thing for a physical bookshop to do, but bear with me. There's a reason.
Take a seat for a short thread. 1/?
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Delivering a face-to-face workshop today about how to write winning flash fiction. Look out NQW contestants, we have some newbies in the wings ready to take the crown!
October 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Delivering a face-to-face workshop today about how to write winning flash fiction. Look out NQW contestants, we have some newbies in the wings ready to take the crown!
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 154:
Feed your writing daily. Feed it with fiction, non-fiction, news, games, theatre, films, art. Feed it with conversation. Feed it with experience. Feed it with curiosity. Don't expect to get anything out unless you also keep putting in.
Feed your writing daily. Feed it with fiction, non-fiction, news, games, theatre, films, art. Feed it with conversation. Feed it with experience. Feed it with curiosity. Don't expect to get anything out unless you also keep putting in.
October 17, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 154:
Feed your writing daily. Feed it with fiction, non-fiction, news, games, theatre, films, art. Feed it with conversation. Feed it with experience. Feed it with curiosity. Don't expect to get anything out unless you also keep putting in.
Feed your writing daily. Feed it with fiction, non-fiction, news, games, theatre, films, art. Feed it with conversation. Feed it with experience. Feed it with curiosity. Don't expect to get anything out unless you also keep putting in.
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
#KidLitUK a great letter
An Open Letter to the Book Trade, Educators and Reading Community from Walker Books: In defence of stories that challenge, inspire and transform
Read the full open letter: www.walker.co.uk/an-open-lett...
Read the full open letter: www.walker.co.uk/an-open-lett...
October 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
#KidLitUK a great letter
Kitty - Patricia Routledge (1929-2025)
YouTube video by comedy_express
youtu.be
October 6, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
Happy International Translation Day!
A big thank you to the translators that have helped us publish well over 100 translations at Clarkesworld. Your work is valued here.
A big thank you to the translators that have helped us publish well over 100 translations at Clarkesworld. Your work is valued here.
September 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Happy International Translation Day!
A big thank you to the translators that have helped us publish well over 100 translations at Clarkesworld. Your work is valued here.
A big thank you to the translators that have helped us publish well over 100 translations at Clarkesworld. Your work is valued here.
Duality is knowing that a) I would really enjoy having a device that could record my inner monologue so I could review it later for interesting nuggets and equally, b) I would NEVER trust a government or private entity with that kind of data about myself.
September 30, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Duality is knowing that a) I would really enjoy having a device that could record my inner monologue so I could review it later for interesting nuggets and equally, b) I would NEVER trust a government or private entity with that kind of data about myself.
Honestly, Educating Yorkshire brings me so much joy. It’s the accents, I want more Yorkshire on my screen, always.
September 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Honestly, Educating Yorkshire brings me so much joy. It’s the accents, I want more Yorkshire on my screen, always.
Just moved house to discover the kitchen sink isn’t connected properly, rendering it entirely useless for its intended purpose, so I’ve been washing up in the bathroom LIKE A SIM and I’m not thrilled about it.
September 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Just moved house to discover the kitchen sink isn’t connected properly, rendering it entirely useless for its intended purpose, so I’ve been washing up in the bathroom LIKE A SIM and I’m not thrilled about it.
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
If you’re in driving distance of the Central Coast, join me for one or both of these lively in-person workshops!
It’s ridiculously cheap ($8??? Thank you Central Coast Council! 🙏🏻)
Let me know if I will see you there!
libraries.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-on?tit...
It’s ridiculously cheap ($8??? Thank you Central Coast Council! 🙏🏻)
Let me know if I will see you there!
libraries.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-on?tit...
September 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
If you’re in driving distance of the Central Coast, join me for one or both of these lively in-person workshops!
It’s ridiculously cheap ($8??? Thank you Central Coast Council! 🙏🏻)
Let me know if I will see you there!
libraries.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-on?tit...
It’s ridiculously cheap ($8??? Thank you Central Coast Council! 🙏🏻)
Let me know if I will see you there!
libraries.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-on?tit...
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
This, from the Quakers, is a pretty good example of how to resist pressure from bigot lobbying groups. Effectively “we legally can allow trans people to use the loo, we morally should, and we tried it and nothing bad happened”
www.quaker.org.uk
August 28, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This, from the Quakers, is a pretty good example of how to resist pressure from bigot lobbying groups. Effectively “we legally can allow trans people to use the loo, we morally should, and we tried it and nothing bad happened”
Just discovered a diary of sorts I wrote about 6/7 years ago, and I am reminded that I am SO FUNNY but also I can’t prove it because if I showed any of this to anyone else I’d have to immediately destroy at least one of us.
August 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Just discovered a diary of sorts I wrote about 6/7 years ago, and I am reminded that I am SO FUNNY but also I can’t prove it because if I showed any of this to anyone else I’d have to immediately destroy at least one of us.
Reposted by Jess Popplewell
