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Matt Cruse

@mattcruse.bsky.social
93 followers 46 following 197 posts

Writer and occasional filmmaker battling with the modern world. CBC Marian Keyes alum. Film: The Watcher Self. BBC in a previous life. linktr.ee/MattCruse

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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
You know when you’re supposed to be writing a novel but spend half of Friday afternoon crawling around the inside of a communal recycling bin looking for your house keys, then find them in your pocket? That. #AuthorLife #WriterSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Forty years ago today I returned from my Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition in the Yorkshire Dales. My feet have never been the same since. 👣
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I’m really looking forward to next weekend because I’m going to a deodorant party. Roll on Saturday.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
From a certain perspective, the United Kingdom totally won the Eurovision Song Contest. 🇬🇧🎶 #Eurovision
Eurovision Song Contest score board totally showing the UK won.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Today’s displacement activity: Repeatedly typing “I like apples” and “I don’t like apples” into Google Gemini to see if I can blow its circuits. 🍏 #AuthorLife #WriterSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
I pondered lonely as a cloud. ☁️ Then made a cup of tea. 🫖 #AuthorLife #WriterSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
I think my plan to watch Cleopatra on this Bank Holiday Monday has gone awry as I didn’t get up early enough. #AuthorsLife
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Just lately I’ve been finding my attention span... Hi there! ✍️ #AuthorLife #WriterSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
The kettle has gone through a major double descaling operation but I noticed some rogue bits of limescale when I made my tea. It feels like that bit at the end of a film when the Final Girl thinks the killer is dead but then discovers him hiding in the grandfather clock. 💦 #AuthorLife #WriterSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Is it fair that I equate the latest shrinkage of Jaffa Cakes in both size and number to watching Ben-Hur on a 1980s portable TV in 4:3 aspect ratio? 📺 #WritingCommunity #WriterSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
“This man sprinkles pressure on his breakfast cereal” has got to be the best line of commentary of the entire Winter Olympics, let alone the Freeski Halfpipe. Writers kill to invent lines like that. ⛷️ #WinterOlympics #WritingCommunity
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Today’s “am writing” status update: Nothing. Not a sausage. 🌭 Today’s “am watching the Winter Olympics” status update: Backside fused to sofa since breakfast. ⛸️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Writing day so far: ☑️ Wake up too early ☑️ Go back to sleep ☑️ Wake up at normal time ☑️ Get up ☑️ Stagger around like The Walking Dead ☑️ Compile component parts of breakfast in wrong order ☑️ Fall asleep into Cornflakes #AuthorLife #AmWriting (when I've woken up)
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
ME: Why do my Cornflakes taste funny? INNER ME: Because you poured water on them instead of milk. ME: Where’s the milk? INNER ME: Boiling in the kettle and slowly destroying it. ME: You couldn’t write this stuff! 🐄🥣 #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
As I stayed up late last night to watch the Super Bowl in its entirety, today I will mostly be trying to stop my head from falling onto my keybjd9[o=3oerohfkf,;' sfjs
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
It’s time for the Winter Olympics. I’ve already watched a whole Curling match BEFORE the opening ceremony! Am I in some kind of time warp? If so, does this mean I’ve finished my novel without actually realising it? 🏔️⛸️📚 #AuthorLife #WritingSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
I’ve mentioned my main character’s Marks & Spencer joggers six times in the first 15,000 words of my novel. NOTE TO SELF: Wash own Marks & Spencer joggers. 👖🧺 #AuthorLife #WritingSky
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
I knew it! Ghosts are real! 👻🎃 societyofauthors.org/2025/10/24/g...
societyofauthors.org
Ghosts Are Real in celebrity-authored children's fiction - The Society of Authors
This Halloween we are standing up for ghostwriters of celebrity-authored children’s fiction - calling for them to be more visible in the world of publishing.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Chuffed to hear Ken Whitmore’s radio play “The Gingerbread House” introduced by @tobyhadoke.bsky.social in the 7th Dimension on Radio 4 Extra. This was my suggestion for the “All Request Weekend”. Listen on BBC Sounds while you have the chance. 🏚️🔊 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Gingerbread House by Ken Whitmore
Cynthia believes her stepchildren must face up to the threats of the real world.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
A very enjoyable and inspiring children’s fiction writing workshop this evening with Liz Hyder (@londonbessie.bsky.social). Thanks to Brunel University for this series, plus the usual admirable hosting duties from Helen Cullen (@wordsofhelen.bsky.social)! ✍️
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
For today's writing displacement activity, I will mostly be playing "The Pyramid" on the Commodore 64. Mutant typewriters; lethal scissors; psychopathic teddy bears; funny shaped things I can't put a name to. It's everything you want from a fever dream. 🕹️
Cassette cover image of Commodore 64 game The Pyramid featuring a painting of a dark pyramid standing under a sparkling moonlit sky in the middle of a desert.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Thank you @clareswatmanauthor.bsky.social for enduring five weeks of my pointless piffle on this excellent @cbcreative.bsky.social course. ✍️ And a special thank you to the wonderful @mariankeyes.bsky.social for her calm and inspiring video lessons. 📺 www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...
curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
Writing Fiction with Marian Keyes | Online Course
Marian Keyes, Ireland’s biggest-selling author, gives her unique take on how to find your authentic writing voice and have a beautiful time working on your novel.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
It is important for writers to engage with their audience via the power of social media. Please find attached a picture of a boiled egg. Like books, eggs are important. For maximum effect, look at this boiled egg whilst eating cheddar cheese just before bedtime, then enjoy the fever dream. 🥚🧀😴
A boiled egg.
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Reposted by Matt Cruse
Jane Casey @janecasey.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Top tip: if you can't make your illegal pdf download of a book work, the author is not your next port of call.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Back in the day, I used to give writers a very specific piece of advice: never start a line of dialogue with “As you know”. As in: “As you know, we’ve just been to Waitrose.” (Sitcom) “As you know, I’m your son.“ (Sitcom) “As you know, you rejected my script last month.” (Covering letter) ✍️
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
National reading stats on World Book Day! WARNING: Contains numbers. 📚🧮 www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
theguardian.com
New poll finds 40% of Britons have not read a book in the past year
The median British adult has read or listened to three books in the past 12 months with reading habits also split along gender, class and political divides
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
I’m currently going through a phase I’ve decided to call “writer’s treacle”. It’s sort of like writer’s block but with slightly less constipation. ✍️🍯
Black treacle in a white bowl with a silver spoon.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
A pleasant afternoon spent at @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly, including a browse around the new Booker Prize Library. I bought a Spike Milligan memoir (not a Booker Prize winner but should've been). 📚
The Booker Prize library at Waterstones Piccadilly. Bookshelves lined with books. Obviously.
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Reposted by Matt Cruse
Anna Mazzola @annamazz.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Thought I'd demystify publishing language for debuts. 'Structural edit' = rewrite your book 'Line edit' = all these sentences are wrong 'Copy edit' = your chronology is wrong 'Proof read' = there are still loads of errors 'Second proof read' = how the hell is your punctuation still up the spout?
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
I’ve been struggling with the novel a bit lately. There are many videos on the Tube of You giving tips on “how to fall in love with your writing again” and these have proved invaluable. As such, I've been looking at the areas of the book I enjoy writing most and managed to do 1000 words today. ✍️
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Some nice bookmarks with today’s delivery from Booksplease. Reminds me of the good old days of Book Depository! 📚☕
Three cardboard bookmarks with a variety of pretty designs.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
I’m on a mission to read all the unread books I’ve accumulated over the years. I completely forgot that I’d bought “The Rebecca Notebook” by Daphne du Maurier at the same time as “Rebecca”. It was on one of my shelves under a book about how to solve the Rubik’s Cube. 📚
Paperback book edition of "The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories" by Daphne du Maurier on a green carpet background.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
What a wonderful episode of BBC Inside the Factory showing us how the Penguin Clothbound Classics edition of “Pride and Prejudice” is made. 📚🦢 @penguinbooksusa.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC One - Inside the Factory, Series 9, Hardback Books
Paddy McGuinness visits a factory producing three million books every week.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Just say “no”. Not a Grange Hill reference but wise words for writers from @nadinematheson.com. ✍️ nadinemathesontalks.substack.com/p/i-have-the...
nadinemathesontalks.substack.com
I Have The Power
Wielding the mighty sword of 'No!'
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
“Hundreds of thousands of words written, then rewritten.” It’s how the magic happens, folks! ✍️
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
A Jo Leevers book for a quid. Stick it in your TBR pile! 📚
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Finally, after many years of owning it, I’ve read “Ben, in the World” by Doris Lessing, her sequel to the strange and disturbing “The Fifth Child”. Brilliant, gripping and tragic. Like its predecessor, it’s a nice quick read at 178 pages. I love my Flamingo editions which have “metallic” covers. 📚
Book "Ben, in the World" by Doris Lessing, on fabric surface, with a silhouette on the cover.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
On the subject of good first pages from @cbcreative.bsky.social. ✍️📚 www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/how-to-...
curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
How to write a good first page
These tips from our founder and director Anna Davis will help you craft a compelling first page and instantly capture the imagination of your reader.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Valuable insight from @allisonkwilliams.bsky.social courtesy of @janefriedman.com about different writing routines. I currently write most days – but not every day – and it can be anything from 30 minutes to four hours per session. ✍️ janefriedman.com/dont-write-e...
janefriedman.com
Don’t Write Every Day: 3 Things to Do Instead to Finish Your Book | Jane Friedman
It’s tempting to agonize over the best way to get the words down, but all that matters is to choose a project, write it, and ask for support.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
You can’t beat a bit o’ Old English! I’ve added “uhtcearu” to my vocab book (yes, I still do this). Well, you never know when you might need such a word. 💬
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
I’m slowly getting over the paralysing fear I had for most of 2024 after I made the decision to “pivot” into the world of novel writing. But, somehow, I managed to get 100,000 words down on paper by Christmas. This wonderful and challenging journey continues into 2025... ✍️
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
I absolutely love my Pentel Kerry 0.7 mechanical pencil. I've mostly used the P205 since I was at school but moved up to the P207 as I found the thicker lead nicer for writing. The Kerry is a writer's dream though as it feels like a fountain pen in the hand. ✍️✏️ www.penaddict.com/blog/2019/2/...
penaddict.com
Pentel Kerry: A "postable" mechanical pencil with an unchanging design since 1971 — The Pen Addict
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
My next read just arrived in the post from @blackwells.bsky.social. Booker Prize 2024 winner ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey. A nice slim paperback edition with with French flaps! 📚🚀 @thebookerprizes.bsky.social
Paperback edition of Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
I hit the wall with my first draft a few weeks ago after reaching about 83,000 words. More clambering up the brickwork today after a little festive break to try and push through. ✍️🧱
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
Today I will mostly be falling over in a food coma. Happy Christmas to all writers and festive eaters. ✍️🎄
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Time for a bit of pre-Christmas Sunday writing before "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" on the telly. Yes, I always use the full title (you lose a mark in Film Studies O-Level if you don't). ✍️📺
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Crime and noirish reading for the season. All the classics are here but there are one or two I’ve never heard of so will definitely check out. 📚🎄 www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...
theguardian.com
‘Perfect for winter nights’: the best crime novels to read at Christmas according to Ian Rankin, Bella Mackie and more
From Maigret to Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple, authors choose the whodunnits they love to hunker down with at this time of year
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Agree 100%. Let’s start a movement, people. We want bigger fonts and we want them NOW! 🔍👀
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
James Bond has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm writing at the moment but I'm doing it to the new expanded "Moonraker" soundtrack courtesy of the fine people at @lalalandrecords.bsky.social. The holy grail of my soundtrack wishlist (well, one of them). ✍️🚀
Compact disc cover of the expanded soundtrack to the James Bond film Moonraker released by La-La Land Records.
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Matt Cruse @mattcruse.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
I've been in the writing game for years but I'm a beginner when it comes to novels. So I've signed up for "Writing Fiction with @mariankeyes.bsky.social", hosted by those peeps at @cbcreative.bsky.social. Can't wait to get going in May! ✍️📚🔑 www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writi...
curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
Writing Fiction with Marian Keyes | Online Course
Marian Keyes, Ireland’s biggest-selling author, gives her unique take on how to find your authentic writing voice and have a beautiful time working on your novel.
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