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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · 2d

Marketing a book is one aspect of being an author (even if you're trad pubbed). Colin Brush has a set of posts all about selling your book; the first one is about writing the blurb, or cover copy.
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/04/22/1...

1) How to sell Your Book in a Few Words, by Colin Brush

This is the beginning of a series of weekly how-to posts by Colin Brush reprinted from Summer 2020. Follow this blog to get all the instalments. ‘If you think you have a book evolving, now is the t…

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Vera Brook @verabrook.bsky.social · 12d

I wrote about my first Milford SF experience. Spoiler: It was terrific.

@milfordsff.bsky.social #MilfordSF #SpeculativeFiction #Writer

milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/09/25/m...

My first (but definitely not last) Milford SF experience – by Vera Brook

Let me cut to the punchline: If you can attend the Milford Speculative Fiction Writers’ Workshop, do it. I had a terrific experience, learned a ton about the writing craft, met wonderful writers wo…

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · 8d

Milford loves to welcome new writers/attendees into the fold, and @verabrook.bsky.social describes that experience from a first-timer's point of view: milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/09/25/m...

My first (but definitely not last) Milford SF experience – by Vera Brook

Let me cut to the punchline: If you can attend the Milford Speculative Fiction Writers’ Workshop, do it. I had a terrific experience, learned a ton about the writing craft, met wonderful writers wo…

milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com

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Vera Brook @verabrook.bsky.social · 20d

Huge congrats to Ana Sun on her short fiction collection! Just out from NewCon Press (while we are at Milford SF Writer Workshop.) 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

@singingtotigers.bsky.social
@milfordsff.bsky.social
#speculativefiction #solarpunk #climatefiction #newrelease

www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.as...

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Vera Brook @verabrook.bsky.social · 19d

The last day at Milford Speculative Fiction Writers’ Workshop. Very bittersweet after a week full of intense writing craft discussions, mutual encouragement & community. So happy to be part of this group.

I already reserved my spot for September 2026.✨✍️✨

@milfordsff.bsky.social #MilfordSF

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Vera Brook @verabrook.bsky.social · 19d

Lunch at The Glynne Arms pub & restaurant in Hawarden on the last day of Milford SF Writers’ Workshop. Great food, great conversation! 🍻

@milfordsff.bsky.social #MilfordSF

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · 14d

The 2025 Milford critique week just ended, and we have reports! @jaceybedford.bsky.social gives us a look at how it gets off to a start (and what we did before email!): milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/09/09/m...

Milford 2025 – By Jacey Bedford

It’s that time of year again! Milford’s annual critique week will be happening from 13th to 20th September. Right now, the fifteen participants will be deeply into reading the pieces submitted, som…

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Vera Brook @verabrook.bsky.social · 21d

The face of a writer who just wrote a brand new story (a flash). 🥳

With thanks to Milford Speculative Fiction Writers Workshop for the time, place & inspiration! ✨✍️✨

Now to revise the story that the Milford group critiqued for me…

www.milfordsf.co.uk/about.htm

@milfordsff.bsky.social #MilfordSF

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · 21d

Welcome to Vera and the rest of the crew busy this week at the workshop!
The Milford SFF Writers' Workshop is going on RIGHT NOW at @gladlib.bsky.social in North Wales. It happens every year. To join us next September, find out more here: milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/about-milfor...

Vera Brook @verabrook.bsky.social · 25d

At Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden. Ready to read & write some speculative fiction and meet some fellow writers. ✨✍️✨

#MilfordSF #writer #writerslife #writingworkshop #GladstonesLibrary @milfordsff.bsky.social

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · 21d

Landing a literary agent is the dream for many writers, but it's not easy. @felipeazucares.bsky.social tells us about his journey and gives some important tips on how to approach this big step for many writers: milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/04/15/a...

All the ways I failed to get a Literary Agent – Until I didn’t – by Phil Suggars

Why did I want an agent? Self publishing is really popular and I get why. The traditional route to having your book in your sweaty little mitt is long, fraught and paved with ha…

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · 21d

Yay! So happy you found it so beneficial! (and now you're one of us! one of us!)

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Sep 3

Pete Sutton hits us again with #11 in his series of Writing About Writing About Writing in which he looks at writing guides to see what's good and what isn't terribly helpful!
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/04/08/w...

A book cover: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need by Jessica Brody (Based on the Books by Blake Snyder). The bottom half of the cover is a photograph of an orange striped cat hanging onto a rope against a white background.

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Aug 19

We share the sad news that a past Chair of the Milford SF Conference, author David Gullen, passed away a few days ago. Dave was an award-winning writer and a funny, witty & wonderful person. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Gaie Sebold, his family, his friends, and the writing community.

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Aug 13

Are you a newer writer hoping to publish but not totally sure how the industry works or what you might need to do to get your book seen? @jaceybedford.bsky.social talks about what she wish she'd known:
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/m...

My Debut Novel – What I Know Now That I Wish I’d Known Before Publication – by Jacey Bedford

My first book, Empire of Dust, a space opera, came out in October 2014. I was excited, pleased and nervous all at the same time. A week or so before publication my author copies arrived, all packed…

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 31

Pete Sutton is back with another Writing About Writing About Writing post. This time: a couple of practical guides, a book on writing 21st-century fiction (which is odd seeing as how we are only 25 years in!), and one about writing Interactive Fiction.
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/03/25/w...

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 24

David Gullen continues his insights on his read of The Iliad:
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/03/18/t...

Thoughts on Reading the Iliad – Part II – The Writer – by David Gullen

Introduction This is the second half of my thoughts on reading the Iliad. In the first part I focused on thoughts as a modern reader. Here, I have my writer’s hat on but there is inevitable overlap…

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 22

Pete Sutton gives us more titles in his series of Writing About Writing About Writing. This time, he takes a look at two books on horror writing, one on Choose Your Own Adventure books, and another on editing. Which ones have you read?
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/03/11/w...

The image is a book cover with a dark blue-grey background. The text reads Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner. The central image is a fountain pen nib with two skull-like eye holes.

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 17

We love it!
(and we love the play on words ;) So clever!)

Now we are imagining what that would look like....

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 17

That's a fun one!

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 17

Ok, gang, share your recent twisted research searches!

Here, the Milford Mandrake had to look up how strong (or not) bones from a mummified corpse would be!
#writing

Janet Forbes @worldanvil.bsky.social · Jul 17

Dear FBI agent,
I apologise for today's search history trauma, but I needed it for a book 😅😭
Sincerely,
-- a f*cked up fantasy writer

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Lauren (LJ) McMenemy @laurenwrites.bsky.social · Jul 17

"I want to believe so badly, in a truth beyond our own," says Agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files - arguably Ground Zero for today's internet theoreticians.

It's that kind of thing we'll be discussing at Writing the Occult: Belief on 6 September. Details via writingtheoccult.carrd.co

The background image is a misty forest pictured in black and white.

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Min Hyoung Song @minsong.bsky.social · Jul 17

It was incredibly helpful as a graduate student to see how works in progress need constant revision and testing to get better. Finished products don’t just start off finished, and the struggle is what allows the better version to be made.

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 17

What happens when you read a "classic" as a writer with some experience of the world? Author and Milfordite David Gullen read The Odyssey as a younger person but now visits The Iliad as an adult. His thoughts are as fascinating as the story he read: milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/03/04/t...

Thoughts on Reading the Iliad: Part I – The Reader – by David Gullen

Introduction I read the Odyssey in my teens, when I was going through a stage of reading the books I thought I ‘should’ read. War and Peace, Gilgamesh, Paradise Lost, War of the Worlds, Frankenstei…

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 14

Jacey Bedford continues describing her publishing journey, from working with an agent on changes to the book to what a style sheet is.
milfordsfwriters.wordpress.com/2025/02/25/i...

I Got a Publishing Deal – What Happened Next – by Jacey Bedford

See last week’s blog for what went before… The goal I’d always struggled for was within my grasp. I’d got an agent – the lovely Amy Boggs of the Donald Maass Agency in New York – and I’d been offer…

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Milford SFF Conference @milfordsff.bsky.social · Jul 10

Get writing, everyone! Short submission window for (short) short and dark SFFH stories!

Lauren (LJ) McMenemy @laurenwrites.bsky.social · Jul 9

I give you cats, you give me dark SFFH short stories, yes? This is the deal? @horrortree.com TWF's July short story submission window is open - but only until next week, so get in quick!

Illustrations of cats, skulls and candles in a mirror image

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