Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Amy Lord

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 1d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

34 580 1.7K

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 2d

👻👻 Getting in the spooky season mood? I'm running an online writing workshop focused on the ghost story this month! 👻👻

📆 Wednesday 22 October, 7pm

Book here: www.amylordauthor.com/events 🎃 #WritingCommunity

writing workshop the ghost story
Wednesday 22 October 7pm-8.30pm on zoom £15/£7 amylordauthor.com

writing workshop the ghost story
Wednesday 22 October 7pm-8.30pm £15/£7
Create your own haunting this Halloween, as we explore and experiment with the ghost story.

In this fun writing workshop, we’ll think about what makes a chilling or creepy ghost story, while focusing on a key aspect: the spirit themselves.

We’ll think about who’s doing the haunting – and why – and who’s being haunted.

This workshop will take place on Zoom. There are a limited number of places available for those on a low income.

We’ll be doing a variety of writing exercises during the session, which will be designed to get you working on a ghost story of your own.

amylordauthor.com

1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 3d

Book 91: Deadline by Steph McGovern.

Picked this up at an author event during the Crossing the Tees Festival, intrigued to learn that a lot of the story is set in the North of England. It's always amazing to read a book written in a proper northern voice.

A copy of the book Deadline by Steph McGovern

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 7d

So close to the end of this novel redraft, but I've only been able to dip in and out occasionally since April, while working on other things, and trying to pick it back up again properly is a bloody nightmare 😫

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · Jul 6

One of the problems with trying to juggle writing around work is lack of continuity.

I'm restructuring the second half of the novel I'm working on (60k words). Took a week off in April and got a massive chunk done, then managed a few writing sessions here & there before work commitments ramped up.

1 1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 8d

Oh great, thanks for the recommendation 👍

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 9d

Some great upcoming writing workshops listed here 👇

Thanks for including my sessions too, Matt!

Matt Kendrick @mattkendrick.bsky.social · 9d

This month's round-up of courses, workshops and events from your friendly neighbourhood freelancers:

fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/oct-nov-25...

Includes stuff from @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @megpokrass.bsky.social @retreatwest.bsky.social @stillsquirrel.bsky.social

Oct / Nov 25: Upcoming courses, workshops & events

Here’s what’s coming up from your your friendly neighbourhood freelancers, lit mags and awesome independents over the next couple of months.

fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com

1 1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 10d

Book 90: Audition by Katie Kitamura.

The unspooling of family life, in theatrical fashion.

1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 10d

Understandable feelings with everything going on, but please don't do yourself down when it comes to writing, you can absolutely do this 💪💪💪

1 1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 11d

Book 89: Playing Big by Tara Mohr.

Aimed at women, this is a really great guide for addressing self doubt and the unconscious desire to stay small. Follow your dreams, ladies! 💪

Two books stacked on a sofa, with Playing Big by Tara Mohr on top

1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 11d

Book 88: Stone & Sky by Ben Aaronovitch.

Finishing off a couple of books, including the latest Rivers of London, which sees Peter & family (magical & otherwise) head to Aberdeen to investigate evidence of a mysterious large cat, leading to a supernatural intrigue offshore with a local oil company 🐙

Hand holding the book Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch

1 1

Reposted by Amy Lord

Freelancers Make Theatre Work @freelancersmake.bsky.social · 11d

A report published about The Basic Income for the Arts pilot in Ireland shows that it produced over €100 million in Social and Economic Benefits and for every €1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return.

👉 www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

12 29

Reposted by Amy Lord

Tajja Isen @tajjaisen.bsky.social · 12d

I spent the summer reporting this essay on why it seems harder than ever to sell a book right now—especially if it isn't a debut and comes with the dreaded "sales track." I'm grateful to the writers, agents, editors, publishers & experts who spoke to me for this piece: thewalrus.ca/the-publishi...

The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus

Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it

thewalrus.ca

22 350 860

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 13d

Writers: does anyone have a recommendation for a really useful craft book on the short story? Thank you! ✍️

1 1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 13d

I listened to the audiobook, which is read by the author, who performs the song at the end. Lovely!

1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 13d

So far I've read this and Seascraper from the Booker longlist. I did enjoy The Land in Winter, but much preferred Seascraper.

1 2

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 15d

Still time to book for tonight's workshop if you're in the writing mood! ✍️

www.amylordauthor.com/events

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 16d

Busy prepping for this week's workshop on folklore-inspired stories.

There are still places available if you'd like to join us on Zoom for an evening of writing.

www.amylordauthor.com/events

Writing workshop exploring folklore Wednesday 24 September 7pm-8.30pm £15/£7 amylordauthor.com

Writing workshop exploring folklore Wednesday 24 September 7pm-8.30pm £15/£7
Does folklore spark your imagination? Do you enjoy stories that show the world in an unexpected way? In this workshop we will experiment with Writing a folklore inspired tale, building and shaping our own mythologies. We'll think about how folklore can be tied to place and culture and how it might be used to create the foundations for a new story. This workshop will take place on Zoom. We'll be doing a variety of writing exercises during the session which will be designed to get you working on a folklore inspired story of your own.

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 15d

Lovely evening in Newcastle at an event for author @joannapocock.bsky.social and her book Greyhound.

A really interesting, thoughtful conversation on travel, community and America. Can't wait to read the book!

A copy of the book Greyhound on a coffee shop table beside a glass containing sugar sachets and stirrers

1 1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 15d

Book 87: Seascraper by Benjamin Wood.

This is a gorgeous little book about a young man working a tough job by the sea, when an encounter with a stranger makes him reassess his life. Such a shame this didn't make the Booker shortlist.

Audiobook artwork for Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

1 3

Reposted by Amy Lord

Carnyx Press @carnyxpress.co.uk · 16d

There's one week left for writers in the North of England to send us their stories!

We're looking for folklore-inspired tales to publish in our first anthology.

It's been a real treat to read all the submissions so far, but we'd love to squeeze a few more in 🙏

carnyxpress.co.uk/submissions

One week left: submissions close midnight 30th September

1 48 48

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 16d

Busy prepping for this week's workshop on folklore-inspired stories.

There are still places available if you'd like to join us on Zoom for an evening of writing.

www.amylordauthor.com/events

2 2

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 18d

Have the same problem here 👀

1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 20d

Book 86: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix.

Wow, chewed through this very long audiobook in a few days. A dark, sometimes painful story of teen girls forced into a home for unwed mothers in Florida 1970, where they fall into witchcraft to save themselves from pain, humiliation & abuse

Audiobook cover for witchcraft for wayward girls by Grady Hendrix

1

Reposted by Amy Lord

SRL Publishing @srlpublishing.bsky.social · 20d

"A hand grenade of a debut."
"An unflinching tale of resistance in dark political times."

What if reading the wrong book could get you arrested

THE DISAPPEARED, set in a broken Britain where books are banned.

Both hardback and paperback ON SALE on our website

1 1

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 22d

I'm a novelist and short story writer from Teesside.

This autumn, I'm running a series of fun, generative Zoom writing workshops, starting next week with a session on Exploring Folklore.

www.amylordauthor.com/events

Autumn writing workshops
Exploring Folklore Wednesday 24 September 7pm-8.30pm
The Ghost Story Wednesday 22 October 7pm-8.30pm
Alternative Lives Wednesday 26 November 7pm-8.30pm
Plotting a Christmas Mystery Wednesday 17 December 7pm-8.30pm on Zoom £15/£7
Amylordauthor.com/events

2

Amy Lord @tenpennydreams.bsky.social · 22d

Congratulations Stephanie, that's fantastic!

1 1