iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 10h

This month, I focused solely on Vampires Everywhere! A lengthy scaffolding outline was written for each book in the trilogy. I added 12,000 words to the once-empty page. I hope to complete the first draft of book one by the end of October. #writing #drafting #outlining

September Progress
1. Completed scaffolding outline for Vampires Everywhere! trilogy
2. Revised character arcs and themes
3. Wrote 12,000 words of first draft

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 12h

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received? (It can encapsulate everything from craft to mindset to philosophy.) #writingcommunity #writingadvice

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Grief is a complicated beast. It's not as simple as recovering from a loss or healing after heartbreak. It can take years to finally reach a point where the mere thought of someone no longer has the power to cripple you on your worst days. Feel the pain, but don't wallow in it. #philosophy #quote

Pain demands to be felt. - a quote from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Liam Higginson's debut is a harsh novel about Welsh folklore, nostalgia, enduring love, obsession, and the marks we leave on this earth. The dark plot is complemented by a gentle narration. While this is certainly horror, it leans literary. ★★★★★ #horror #welsh #folklore #booksky

Cover of The Hill in the Dark Grove - a sheep puffing steam from its open mouth

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#WritingCommunity: What book/film/series/game most influenced your writing?

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is an awakening of self. It's a queer and sexual coming-of-age (even if the MC is 29). But it's also about nostalgia and how stories become facets of our identities. It's a film that shouldn't be missed. #horror #film #queerhorror

Two women covered in blood but looking like unstoppable badasses

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Flashback Friday: High school. Senior year, 2010. When we all thought bathroom shots and moody lighting were cool. Meet emo Amber. It was never a phase. #flashbackfriday #selfie #emo

Young Amber. Short red hair. Spider bite piercings (two neighboring lip piercings). Dark eyeliner. A green and black plaid shirt. Emo.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Badasses never compromise on their artistic visions, values, or morals. There's a time and place for flexibility. Honest art leaves no room for cowardice or self censorship. #punktipoftheweek #writing #art #punk

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

@barbaratruelove.bsky.social's novella is humorous, visceral, and timely. I devoured it. If a quick read about a "trad wife" that just so happens to be undead sounds appealing, you won't be disappointed. Releases February 2nd. #horror #booksky

Cover of The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives: A woman bathed in blood

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Reposted by Amber Herbert

Weeknight Writers @weeknightwriters.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It's officially the first day of fall, which makes this the perfect time to remind you that #FirstDraftFall - our answer to NaNoWriMo - starts very soon on October first! Check out the full details of the challenge by following the link below:

weeknightwriters.com

#FirstDraftFall - Weeknight Writers

The Weeknight Writers answer to NaNoWriMo, #FirstDraftFall is a challenge to write a first draft in October - December.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'm running a special editing rate until October 31 for horror manuscripts. I offer developmental and copy edits as well as editorial letters. Five-page sample edits are complimentary and non-binding. For more info, visit amberherbert.com/editing/ or DM me. #horror #editors #writingcommunity

Spooky season editing rate slasher!
Horror and dark fantasy only
25% all editing packages
Developmental edits: $30 per hour
Copy edits: $18 per hour
Editorial letters: $260 to $450
Offer ends October 31
Credentials: BA in English, published author, 9 years of editing experience

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Need a dose of heady sci-fi to work that gray matter? The OA, Russian Doll, and Dark (all Netflix originals) are just what the doctor ordered. #scifi #TV

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Looking for a sci-fi tinged crime thriller with twists, compelling characters, and themes that spark nuanced conversations? Check out @eclecticacademic.bsky.social's forthcoming novel, The Jehovah Project. It drops November 10th. #booksky #scifi #crimethriller

amberherbert.com

The Jehovah Project by Catlyn Ladd

The Jehovah Project, a seemingly straightforward crime novel, evolves into something far more compelling at the midpoint and only gets crazier and more engrossing from there. What begins as an…

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I'm looking for new-ish horror book recommendations. What's your favorite horror novel/novella of the past five years? What author are you obsessed with? Inquiring minds want to know. #horror #booksky

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Photo Friday. No filter, just the gauzy twilit sky in early September. #photography #sunset

Orange and pink clouds set over a treeline. Sunset in September.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We're sold one dream as if there's a single path to fulfillment. That's bollocks. We create our own definitions of success. There's no right or wrong answer, only a personalized marker of progress and merit. Make sure you're following your dream, not theirs. #punktipoftheweek #writing #art

Punk Tip of the Week: Their doesn’t have to be your dream.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Each of these shows left its mark. I found Skins when I was 17 (at the tail end of series four) and have rewatched it at least five times. The End of the F***ing World is a gem. In My Skin is powerful and tense. If you liked Euphoria, give these much better shows a watch. #TV #recs #teendramas

UK Teen Drama Recs
Skins
The End of the Fucking World
In My Skin

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Happy release day to Still Floating: 40 Years of Pennywise, required reading for every member of the extended Losers Club. My review: amberherbert.com/blog/still-f... #booksky #stephenking #horror

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

For the 40th anniversary of @stephenking.bsky.social's It, I'm sharing my deep dive into the novel and its two adaptations. For twenty-five years, The Losers Club has held a special place in my heart. Here's to Bill, Ben, Bev, Richie, Eddie, Mike, and Stan! #stephenking #pennywise #losersclub

amberherbert.com

Stephen King's It and Its Many Forms

There's something about Stephen King's It that sunk its claws in deep and made roots in my chest. I was first introduced to Pennywise in the early 2000s, when I was eight or nine. For years, Tim…

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Happy 40th anniversary to an absolute horror classic! This first edition is still in great condition. I received it from my 'rents (my mom's been a fan forever). I've been obsessed since I first met the Losers Club in 2001 (when I was 8). #stephenking #it #booksky

Front cover of Stephen King's IT. A green, scaly claw pierces through a drain. Georgie's paper boat sails precariously close to the monster.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I recommend @davidmbarnett.bsky.social's Scratch Moss to anyone seeking a folk horror novel spanning 160 years. If you dig the small-town and eerie nature of King's Derry, you'll find plenty to adore about Scratch Moss and its citizens. My review: amberherbert.com/blog/scratch... #booksky #horror

Cover of Scratch Moss by David Barnett -- a black cover with yellow font and a sketched magpie (in white).

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Just finished this brilliant coming-of-age novella by @stephenking.bsky.social. Stand By Me was one of my favorite films growing up, and I thought it was high time I read the original story. It's definitely worth the journey, even if you've seen the film adaptation. #booksky

The Body by Stephen King, the standalone print of a story originally published in a collection.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

September's reading list includes @stephengrahamjones.com, @haileypiperfights.bsky.social, @claymcleod.bsky.social, and Liam Higginson. Not pictured: ARCs for The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives by @barbaratruelove.bsky.social and How to Disappear Completely by @lizkerin.bsky.social. #booksky #horror

Covers of Stephen Graham Jones's Killer on the Road; Hailey Piper's The Worm and His Kings; Liam Higginson's The Hill in the Dark Grove; and Clay McLeod Chapman's Wake Up and Open Your Eyes.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Lots of fun watches on this list. Weapons. Eden Lake. The Long Walk. Obsession.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Flashback Friday. My honeymoon in England, 2019 (then four years overdue). The famous Stonehenge. For those who've never visited, you can't get close due to past vandalism and structural damage. #flashbackfriday #stonehenge #england

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The world will not wait for you. It spins on its axis whether you make something of yourself or not. Be brave enough to stare darkness in the face and persist even when it’s hard. #punktipoftheweek #writingadvice #art #punk

Badasses don't quit. They persist, adapt, evolve.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

An excerpt from the first draft of my work in progress, The Bones of Hollow (a small-town folk horror with Stephen King vibes). #writing #wip #excerpt #horror

Excerpt from The Bones of Hollow

Our past trailed behind us like the dirt road meant to lead into Hollow. What remained of who we were before entering the small town floated away, the bridge between now and then personified by the dried and withered foliage that dwindled into nothing before blooming into lush greenery foreign to our slate-gray, big-city expectations of normal.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Looking for strong female leads hellbent on violence and/or revenge? Check out Maeve Fly by @ceejthemoment.bsky.social, Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, and Furious (Hulu's new crime/thriller series). #booksky #femmefatale #horror #crimefiction #watchlist

Feminine rage recs:
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
Furious (Hulu series)

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It's easy to feel lost, irrelevant, or mediocre before success. Remember that every writer who came before you felt the same doubt, the same uncertainty, and the same imposter syndrome. No one became who they are without stumbling a bit along the way. #writing #impostersyndrome

"No one is anyone until they are." - Kneecap, Irish film

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I'm sitting on seven ARCs, 68 library holds, and more than 50 unread books on my shelf. Is this a regular reader problem or a me problem?

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Cute little pumpkin boy at Spirit Halloween. #halloween #horror

Pumpkin boy holding a knife and wearing a gray, ghost-riddled onesie.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Hey there! I write dark fantasy and horror. I'm a member of Women in Horror and SpecFic Writers. I own Shade & Sorcery Editing. If you like genre media, horror films, antisocial emos, book nerds, British humor, or macabre content, you're in the right place. #writer #horror #fantasy #elderemo

Amber bakes in the summer sun waiting for her kids to get out of school. She's wearing black Ray Bans, a Terrifier t-shirt, and a headband adorned with skeletons. She's a fair-skinned ciswoman with gauges, spider bites, and an alternative vibe.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Well, it looks like I've added a dozen more books to my never-ending TBR.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Life's too short to censor your vision so it better aligns with society's expectations. Chisel away at the idea that's been scratching to get out. You determine what's meaningful. Screw the mentality that art needs to be profitable to be worth pursuing. #writing #punktipoftheweek #art #punk

Punk Tip of the Week: Create what excites you. Bollocks to everything else.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Stories we consumed as children shaped the writers we grew into. They solidified our genre, trope, and ensemble preferences. Some stories burrow into you and refuse to be exorcised. Mine are young friends, fantastical landscapes, Pennywise, and Santa Carla vampires. #writing #horror #fantasy

Childhood favorites that inevitably shaped the writer I've become
Stand By Me
Labyrinth
IT
The Lost Boys
Harry Potter
The Neverending Story

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This month, I worked on two writing projects and took on literary-adjacent side quests. Not too shabby for a hectic August full of back-to-school shenanigans and far too many errands. #writing #horror #fantasy

August Progress
Completed scaffolding outline & started draft two of Vampires Everywhere!
Annwyn’s “world one” blueprint
Drafted three-year career plan
Applied to paid publishing internships (still awaiting responses)
Relaunched my editing business

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Looking for maternal horror? Look no further than these three gems (Nightborn, The Babadook, and If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You). #horror #filmsky #watchlist

If you liked The Babadook or If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, watch Nightborn.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I'm relaunching my editing side hustle. I edit (and write) horror, fantasy, and sci fi. I have a decade of experience, a BA in English literature, and a background in literary criticism. Reach out for more info or a free sample edit. #writingcommunity #horror #scifi #fantasy #editor

Developmental edits: $40/hr
Copy edits: $25/hr
Editorial letters: $350 to $600 (depending on word count)
Beta reading: free

Credentials: BA in English, published author,
8 years of editing experience

DM for details

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Don't become someone you'd hate for the sake of likeability. Dare to be unapologetically raw. Those worth having around will appreciate the authenticity. #writing #punktipoftheweek #art #punk

Don’t soften your edges to appease others. Those worth having around will think you’re punk as fuck because of them.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I first watched IT in 2001, when I was 8. The miniseries immediately became a favorite (there were so MANY rewatches!). Tim Curry's passing isn’t merely the loss of a national treasure; it’s also a melancholy farewell to a fraction of my childhood. You will be missed.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Colorado Springs and its ominous, late summer weather.

A moody gray sky and a smattering of clouds backlighting a tree

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Reposted by Amber Herbert

FANGORIA @fangoria.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Fango is heartbroken to announce the passing of Tim Curry, whose extraordinary career impacted generations of film, television, theater, music, and pop culture fans. Until we do the Time Warp again.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Current read: Octavia Butler's Earthseed duology. I recommend it to anyone seeking a climate-centric dystopian novel set in the 2020s that feels plausible given America's current trajectory. #booksky #octaviabutler #earthseed

The covers of Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler set on a light-wood table.

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Amber Herbert @amberherbert.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Fantasy writers have the beautiful (and intimidating) task of creating incredible worlds and transporting readers into a setting they've never set foot in before. Some of it's tedious, but a great deal of the work is playful. Here are my favorites. #writing #fantasy #worldbuilding

Refining magic systems
Creating secondary worlds
Building a setting that complements the hero’s journey
Creation myths
Folklore

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