Sign in

Bothersome Words

@bothersomewords.bsky.social
606 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

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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"
13963454
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Awwww!!! I love this.
010
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
(Shout-out to the person who is reading and listening to all the backlists of two specific authors that I am also reading. We’ve exchanged holds multiple times in the past few weeks 🤣)
030
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.
media.tenor.com
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
240
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”…
140
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
020
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.
010
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. 😑
media.tenor.com
Hands Loop GIF
ALT: Hands Loop GIF
010
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. 😩
040
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
021
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.
media.tenor.com
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
020
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
😬 I will go hunting!
000
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.
media.tenor.com
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
230
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
020
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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...
042
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...
042
Reposted by Bothersome Words
Damon Young @damonyoung.com.au · 28/05/2025
Good folk of Melbourne: come holler at me at Readings Carlton! 👇
022
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Thanks so much for the call out ❤️
000
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.
030
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
050
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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"
3208
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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
28045
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! ❤️
3293
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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
3142
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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.
092
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
I clearly need to introduce you to my little ratbag 🤣❤️
110
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
That’s not sleeping on the job. That’s the very important Thought Marinating Process. Her hindbrain is concentrating VERY HARD. ❤️
110
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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…
372
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Congratulations! ❤️
010
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Congratulations! ❤️
110
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…
020
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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
1123
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.
020
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
“Brought” is to “bring” as “bought” is to “ka-ching”. #writingtips
media.tenor.com
bugs bunny is holding a stack of money in his hands
ALT: bugs bunny is holding a stack of money in his hands
030
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Dude 😩❤️‍🩹
010
Reposted by Bothersome Words
Kylie @kyliemmason.com · 01/04/2025
*chef's kiss*
072
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🤣
000
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
I’m just going to copy and paste them all into my library app…
000
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
I love these posts because there’s always one or two I haven’t read yet so you are like my backup tbr pile 🤣 (Because I need another one…)
110
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🔥
100
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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
053
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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
211
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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…
035
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
OMG. I hope you get some respite soon. 😢
100
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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
033
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Never stand and watch it. I’ve gone off to do something else for 10-20mins after seeing the “0.01” claim and STILL had to wait.
110
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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!
141
Reposted by Bothersome Words
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…
022
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
That’s what I did when you said you drink it cold 🤣
020
Bothersome Words @bothersomewords.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Same. Sssh.
010