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Bothersome Words

@bothersomewords.bsky.social
605 followers 924 following 192 posts

Editor, writing mentor and coach as Bothersome Words. Agent at Large with Alex Adsett Literary. Spec fic, crime, romance. Sometimes open to queries. TL;DR: Words. Cats. Occasional peeves. linktr.ee/BothersomeWords

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Tricia Dearborn @triciadearborn.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
If you're thinking about using gen-AI to "write" books, this 🧵 is for you. I’m a highly experienced editor who’s been in the biz a long time. Recently I’ve had manuscripts come to me where the author has used gen-AI – not for writing, I’ve been assured, but for “structuring” or "organising"
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Tinder but for making friends via library loans. Lender? Helps you find and friend the people from your local library who are going through the same reading binge as you.
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a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it
ALT: a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Me, emailing: I hope you have a lovely break planned for the festive season. Autocorrect: Wait! I know I said this was fine but how about we just quickly change that before you send - “I hope you have a lovely break-up planned for the festive season”…
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Petition for an app that lets your phone identify the cooking smells coming from your neighbour’s house and then give you the recipe.
media.tenor.com
a painting of a landscape with a tree in the middle
ALT: a painting of a landscape with a tree in the middle
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Never mind crumpets and Percy Pig, when is someone going to start importing Hula Hoops on a regular, easily accessible basis? apple.news/Ajgss8RYiSuu...
apple.news
Coles finally confirms $6 cult British snack is coming in days: 'Giving millions of Aussies a chance' — Yahoo Lifestyle Australia
British expats in Australia will no doubt go wild over this.
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
My fellow indoctrinated left-handers, do any of you find you sometimes forget which hand you use for stuff? Frequently I’ll pick up a gadget in the kitchen and have a mental blank and both ways feel wrong. 😑
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Hands Loop GIF
ALT: Hands Loop GIF
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
WHY is my phone email reminding me of a job deadline from July LAST year? I am worried enough about CURRENT deadlines. 😩
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
I would be a rubbish Cinderella for many reasons, not least of which is that having lost one slipper, I’ve now misplaced its pair as well.
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a picture of a vase of flowers is on a wall next to a sign that says es pn
ALT: a picture of a vase of flowers is on a wall next to a sign that says es pn
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
It has taken me MONTHS since the Great Email Disaster to track down various folders and emails. Still not complete. Spent some time yesterday re-setting up email rules to try and get things back in order. Friends, I have… regrets.
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a woman is crying while holding a napkin in front of a box with the letter i on it
ALT: a woman is crying while holding a napkin in front of a box with the letter i on it
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
Bloops, is it just me and my admittedly shocking eyesight, or is the font on Amazon Prime (TV) impossible to read? I’m having to either guess or Google based on titles coz I can’t for the life of me read the blurbs.
media.tenor.com
a bald man wearing a plaid shirt is making a face
ALT: a bald man wearing a plaid shirt is making a face
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Confused about publishing? Not sure what to do with your manuscript next? Wondering how and to whom you should pitch or submit your manuscript? Curious about self-publishing? I’m an editor and literary agent - maybe I can help. Book a 1hr chat and ask me anything: tidycal.com/bothersomewo...
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Confused about publishing? Not sure what to do with your manuscript next? Wondering how and to whom you should pitch or submit your manuscript? Curious about self-publishing? I’m an editor and literary agent - maybe I can help. Book a 1hr chat and ask me anything: tidycal.com/bothersomewo...
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Damon Young @damonyoung.com.au · 28/05/2025
Good folk of Melbourne: come holler at me at Readings Carlton! 👇
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Can anyone recommend trustworthy, miracle-working IT expert who works in the Sydney area? OneDrive and Outlook got into a secret relationship behind my back and after I made them get divorced everything completely broke and every single one of my emails from the past 20years has run away from home.
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Just a heads-up to anyone waiting for things from me: 1. I am deep in the throes of vertigo, which means not much work or reading is getting done. 2. My email has died and at the moment I have lost every single email and calendar item I have ever sent or received or set up. Please bear with me
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Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Winner of the Aurealis Awards for Best Fantasy Novel 2024, Thoroughly Disenchanted is a cosy romantic fantasy about four friends, a magical country manor and a weekend away that has lasted a century. Available in bookstores now or online: www.harpercollins.com.au/978146076604...
Royal blue book cover that looks kind of magical, with illustrated stars and an old house lit up at night, with gates and old lamps, a dog and a horse and other random squiggles. Title Thoroughly Disenchanted by Alexandra Almond, silver sticker "aurealis awards winner"
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Alan Baxter @alanbaxter.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
Beyond grateful to see I'm closing in on 10,000 followers. Amazing! Thank you all. How about a giveaway to help me get there? If you dig what I do, please repost this to help me spread the word about my work. I'll pick one random share for a signed copy of their book of choice once I pass 10k. 🖤
a graphic showing all my books covers and how they relate to each other. it shows also my website which is alanbaxter.com.au
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
Congratulations to AAL’s very own @alexandraalmond.bsky.social for winning an Aurealis Award for Thoroughly Disenchanted! ❤️
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Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
I am absolutely stoked that Thoroughly Disenchanted won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel 😊 Thanks to all involved at @aurealisawards.bsky.social , to my agent @bothersomewords.bsky.social, and the team at HC including @shannonkelly.bsky.social #booksky #romancelandia #aurealisawards
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Damon Young @damonyoung.com.au · 23/04/2025
I’m wearing a Batman T-shirt here, but the Caped Crusader actually doesn’t feature in this book. You do get Star Trek, ballet, Black Sabbath, Gundam, and so much more.
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Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
So, umm, Thoroughly Disenchanted is shortlisted for best fantasy novel in the Aurealis Awards. 😮🫢😊 shorturl.at/X4o09
shorturl.at
2024 Aurealis Awards Shortlist Announcement
Now in its 30th year, the 2024 Aurealis Awards, Australia’s premier speculative fiction award, attracted more than 830 entries across 15 categories, including 34 nominations in the tri-annual…
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Congratulations to all the shortlistees for the 2024 Aurealis Awards! Special shout-out to Alex Adsett Literary’s very own @alexandraalmond.bsky.social, whose debut novel, Thoroughly Disenchanted, is in stellar company on the fantasy novel list ❤️ aurealisawards.org/2025/04/15/2...
aurealisawards.org
2024 Aurealis Awards Shortlist Announcement
Now in its 30th year, the 2024 Aurealis Awards, Australia’s premier speculative fiction award, attracted more than 830 entries across 15 categories, including 34 nominations in the tri-annual…
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Damon Young @damonyoung.com.au · 11/04/2025
Lovely to wake up to this: a copy of IMMORTAL GESTURES, just bought from @hatchards.bsky.social at St Pancras. I can’t be in the UK right now, but my book can travel. (📷 : Brendan Colley)
A photograph of someone holding the book immortal gestures by Damon Young, which is a white book covered in blue hands
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
I just got one of those “<Person> has accepted this meeting invitation” emails… only I misread it as “<Person> has accepted this situation” and frankly that feels more apt. Also shoutout to <Person>. Acceptance is the hardest step.
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
“Brought” is to “bring” as “bought” is to “ka-ching”. #writingtips
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bugs bunny is holding a stack of money in his hands
ALT: bugs bunny is holding a stack of money in his hands
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Kylie @kyliemmason.com · 01/04/2025
*chef's kiss*
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Cassandra O'Leary @cassandraoleary.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Here's a good article from The Guardian Australia on the AI book stealing situation. Love the quote from Holden Sheppard! Livid is exactly the word I used too. 💙📚 www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
‘No consent’: Australian authors ‘livid’ that Meta may have used their books to train AI
A searchable database showed titles from former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and John Howard, as well as journalist Tracey Spicer
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CYA Conference @cyaconference.com · 22/03/2025
Abigail Nathan will be doing one-on-one assessment sessions at this year’s CYA Conference. With experience as an editor and literary agent, she will be providing feedback on a range of genres, including commercial fiction, crime, fantasy, YA, middle grade, & more. www.cyaconference.com/assessments
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Kylie @kyliemmason.com · 18/03/2025
My guide to self-editing the first draft of your novel is an incredibly affordable way to get a polished second draft you'll be excited to send to publishers and agents. Just AU$9.99!
kyliemmason.com
After the First Draft Workbook
A writer’s guide to self-editing manuscripts. Writing a novel is an amazing achievement! Congratulations! Take a moment to celebrate what you’ve accomplished, because it’s incredible. But wha…
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Kylie @kyliemmason.com · 18/03/2025
Finally got a new gate installed after our old one was destroyed by Sydney's January storms. Yay! Now I have to find a way to pay for it. Boo! Do you need your manuscript read or edited? I love to help authors fine-tune their manuscripts and I'm available from April. Get in touch: kyliemmason.com
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Dr Meg Caddy @megcaddy.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
It's been a long road, but I just signed a contract with UQP for the publication of my YA historical fiction, A Flash in the Dust!
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Kylie @kyliemmason.com · 11/03/2025
Recently finished the first draft of your novel and not sure what to do next? Why not give self-editing your manuscript a go? I've created a simple guide that helps you identify areas you can improve in your next draft - get your copy here: #writing #editing #manuscript #novel
kyliemmason.com
After the First Draft Workbook
A writer’s guide to self-editing manuscripts. Writing a novel is an amazing achievement! Congratulations! Take a moment to celebrate what you’ve accomplished, because it’s incredible. But wha…
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Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Thanks for a lovely review, Amelia and Newtown Review of Books ❤️
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Loving the “new business festival event” aimed at freelancers and sole traders, promising to align with freelancers’ needs, unlike other business events that are “too corporate”. Promising. I guess that means they understand freelance budgets too? Just looked at the ticket prices. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Closing MIDNIGHT tonight! If you’re interested but you’ve been too busy (or procrastinating - no judgement) you have just over 4 hours to slide into my bookings…⏳
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Colourful text tile reading “Thanks for all the likes and reports, everyone! We shall return to the usual sarky memes and cat pics once clinic bookings close at the end of today!”
Beneath there are photos of two spoilt ragdoll cats with cartoon speech bubbles reading “Thank goodness.” And “About time, too.”
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
I am currently reading a not-for-work book and almost every single chapter breaks mid-scene and then the next picks up where it left off - continuing the conversation or whatever and it is SO JARRING.
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
🚨LAST DAY TO APPLY!🚨 The Bothersome Words Writing Clinic includes workshops, writing exercises, personal mentoring sessions and written feedback. It’s a safe, supportive creative space designed to help you finish your manuscript. Click link to apply: bothersomewords.com/services/wor...
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Applications close TOMORROW!
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Only 3 days left to apply! The Bothersome Words Writing Clinic includes workshops, writing exercises, personal mentoring sessions and written feedback. It’s a safe, supportive creative space designed to help you finish your manuscript. Click the link for more! bothersomewords.com/services/wor...
bothersomewords.com
Bothersome Words Writing ClinicEmailFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterEmailFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitter
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
4 days left to apply….
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
FINAL week to apply for the Writing Clinic! Spend 8 weeks in a safe, supportive, creative space focused: * 6 weeks of workshops to help you work through your own manuscript * PLUS 2 weeks of focused writing * 1-hr mentoring call * manuscript feedback * and more! Bookings close Friday.
bothersomewords.com
Bothersome Words Writing ClinicEmailFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterEmailFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitter
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Just caught myself clicking my fingers at the Roomba to encourage it towards the sofa as if it were one of the cats. How’s YOUR Sunday?
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Bookings for the Bothersome Words Writing Clinic are open NOW. Classes begin March 10 and space are limited. Learn more and apply here: bothersomewords.com/services/wor...
bothersomewords.com
Bothersome Words Writing ClinicEmailFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterEmailFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitter
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Alexandra Almond @alexandraalmond.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
My first library talk at Warragul on Wednesday night. Lovely people with interesting questions; the time flew by.
Long haired woman sitting facing an older audience, with a poster of the book "Thoroughly Disenchanted" beside her. She's smiling as if in response to a comment from the audience.
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Who wants to finish their novel and get it out in the world this year?
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Who wants to finish their novel and get it out in the world this year?
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
“We are always here to assist you,” says the sign-off from the tech support person who has literally just finished an email explaining that they are NOT, in fact, here to assist me and I should go somewhere else (possibly Hell.) Even though it is their product. And their broken website.
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a man is screaming with his mouth wide open
Alt: a man is screaming with his mouth wide open
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Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
As a professional editor and literary agent with over 20 years experience in the publishing industry, my number one goal has always been to help writers get the story in their head onto the page. The Writing Clinic is designed to help YOU with that process! bothersomewords.com/services/wor...
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