iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Did not do the writing today. Thought about doing the writing and not doing the writing alot tho. Maybe that counts.

Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Uh. The White House is running a very weird ad on Fox News. A promo for Trump? Indicating that it is paid for by the White House. Quite sure this isn't ethical. Taxpayer funds For a campaign style ad for the man in office? I'm just...

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Writers: do you have trouble finding reliable beta readers? Especially if you prefer to trade rather than pay beta readers? I'd love to hear your experiences, good and bad, difficulties finding, ghosting, best experiences. I am working on a solution. #writing #writinglife #editing #betaread

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Started a silly side project, novella length modern satire of techbroligarch culture based on Agatha Christie and joke's on me it wants to be a real book so now that is happening? This is not funny ha ha.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Book one is out on submission. Finished chapter five of book two (while also updating series Bible, character arcs and figuring out how to incorporate a whole new character who just wrote themselves in). Whee! ##amwriting

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Aaaaaaa. Just sent the final final version of the novel to one more round of paid beta reads and to my favorite writer people (for accountability). Pending beta responses, next stop is the agent who asked for it. GAH. #booksky #amediting #maybeimdonewiththisbook

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy Summer Solstice from Grebenhain Germany!

A local orchestra plays volksmusic at a festival in a tent in Grebenhain Germany

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Judith Light is delightfully unhinged in Devil in Silver. Really enjoying the writing.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The rhododendron is spectacular this year. #PNWLife

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

I don't post selfies often. Mostly I don't like pictures of me. Trying to get over that. Every once in a while I like one. Me, at Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026. 60 is going to be a good year. In spite of ::gestures vaguely to everything::

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Its either love or 'why are you talking to me lady.' One of those. #catsofbluesky

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Successfully pitched my m manuscript to an acquiring editor, who told me to get an agent and had great things to say. Then pitched an agent who loved my query letter!!!!! #booksky #ampitching #amquerying

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

That I can't stop tweaking the manuscript doesn't mean it isn't done. It's done enough. It better be because it went to the editor last night. #booksky #amediting

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

If you've "finished" your manuscript but you don't still somehow have more editing to do, are you really even a writer? #booksky #amediting

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

A friend who is Beta reading my novel just made a comment that she wishes she had 'thing x, just like Character' and it took me a minute to realize she was referencing my book. It's a first for me and I am FLOORED. #amwriting #booksky

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Looking to trade beta reads with 2 people each for 2 separate novels. 1) 77k word Comedic fantasy/workplace satire 2) 65k offbeat mystery. Strong female MCs. Not romance. I will read anything tho I'm least good at hard scifi. #booksky #betareads

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Well I guess Ozzy owns my hoodie now. #catsky

An orange cat snug under a black hoodie. All you can see is one ear, an eye, a nose, and a paw.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

The specific ways we use language flavor understanding and interpretation. "Latest" in this screen cap of a CNN story is indicating we have accepted and normalized the idea of ICE et al killing citizens.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Today, avoiding the awful means editing for 'ghosts,' or things that are on the page but that I did not set up or reveal. Also for decisions that were made off page but would be better as full scenes. Wish I wrote 100k and edited down. I write 50k and edit UP. #amwriting #amediting #booksky

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

I am weaponizing my apex procrastination skills by avoiding the news and the American apocalypse by actually finishing my novel.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Passive voice is a tool of obfuscation.

Screen shot of a NYT post stating A person was shot dead today during a struggle with federal agents in Minneapolis, according to officials.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Help. I am looking for covers of well known songs by unexpected artists or in unexpected styles. Think punk Sinatra or bossa nova Ramones. Links very much appreciated. #amwriting #booksky

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Wrote some blues Went down to the office, man, they shook my hand Said, "We fixed the problem, now you’ll understand" They said, "We got a meal plan, it’s simple and neat" Then they slid me a paper with somethin’ to eat

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

It's probably mostly me but does anyone else obsess over recognizing locations used in multiple TV shows/movies? Like the Findlay Teller Building is a mental hospital in Prodigal Son AND Bronx General Hospital in Brilliant Minds. Some days I wish I could shut my brain off. Or get a better filter.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Having trouble disentangling from the horror of...gestures to all of it vaguely...and last night the giant orange cat curled up on my pillow basically cradling my head and purred in my ear and it was magic and I'm pretty sure we don't deserve cats

Big orange tabby, Ozzy, AKA Tippy, demonstrating his excellent sleep skills. You may NOT scritch his belly tyvm

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Today I typed THE END on a novel I've been writing FOR YEARS. There's still an editing pass to go but in the last two weeks I basically wrote the missing 30k words of the plot. I don't have words to explain how meaningful this is based on life stuff the past 5 years. But it's a big deal. #writing

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

I dont know whthe. did to deserve such bounty, but my feed is filled with flowers and sunsets and lovely pets today and I am just pretty happy with that and that's my holiday Deb Talk thx.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

"Write every day" was invented by someone with fewer tabs open.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

I'm not saying I'm old, but, I seriously considered getting champagne to celebrate that the extra firm innerspring mattress I've wanted to replace the POS spongy bullshit that I HATE went on sale at a price that roughly matched the hole I finally made in my credit card and I could pull the trigger

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Uh. How do you resign from a job you weren't legally placed in?

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

So apparently there's an age -probably different fie everyone- when you just fucking cry at the drop of a hat. Like. Commercial? Cry. Car started? Cry. Dog is cute? Cry. Dinner is amazing. Cry. WTF?????

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

For reasons I am compiling a list of very strange song covers. Tops: Don Ho covers Peter Gabriel Shock the Monkey. Paul Anka covers Soungarden Black Hole Sun. The Neanderthal Spingecake cover Quiet Riot Metal Health. The world is full of delightful oddities! #amwriting

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

My fave thing on a rainy day: stare at thin processed tree slices that have been decorated in colored liquid to induce hallucinations of another life and world. With a proper cup of tea of course. #booklife

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

You might think you'd write more if only you had more discipline or weren't so lazy. But maybe it just requires retraining your brain. I write about how, here #writinghabits medium.com/@deb.courtne...

medium.com

Positive Manipulation: Ten Ways to Hack Your Brain Into Wanting to Write

Writers often think they’re supposed to force themselves to the page. That discipline means self-coercion. That productivity means…

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

A lot of writers secretly think they are lazy, or untalented or doomed to never finish a project. Maybe all they need is to lean into being stubborn. In the right hands, stubbornness is a superpower. medium.com/@deb.courtne...

medium.com

The Stubborn Creative: Why Persistence Beats Talent

Many creative people I know think their biggest flaw is inconsistency. They tell me they’re lazy. They tell me they procrastinate. They…

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Oh hey so of course the ~40 year old oven that was installed when the house was built up and dies yesterday and anyway who knew grilling a turkey was even a possibility so now you and I both know. #turkeyday

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

My new holiday favorite: Cranberry Curd Tarts. Tried a nut/graham cracker combo crust this year. Cooling in the fridge. Pretty. Tangy. A gorgeous experience.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Reading @itsafronomics.bsky.social The Double Tax over the next few days. Glad to have time to read what I suspect (and expect) to be an important look at economics for Black women, and therefore for all of us.

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Deb Courtney @debcourtney.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Apologies to the kids who picked the street in front of my house to park in. Again. That your car keeps showing up in front of my house freaked me out. But. Uh. Sorry I interrupted all that? So awkward.

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