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Dawn McLachlan

@deemclachlan.bsky.social

1.8K followers 1.1K following 380 posts

Poet and author for hire or loan. Won some prizes. Account is stuff from a small town in NE Scotland. Hoping to kickstart #HaikuAltText & #PoemAltText See #FridayPoem She/Her https://dawnmclachlan.com/dawnmclachlan-author/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-pdlbl

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Time for another #poemsabout day and the theme this week is #ImperfectMe
Thanks to @alanparrywriter.co.uk and @thebrokenspine.co.uk as always and everyone sharing and supporting #poets
#poetrycommunity #poemalttext #poetry #poems

Wear the Gloves by Dawn McLachlan

In those muddled days after When all was opened doors
And emptied drawers
I remember them
Butter-soft and finest leather
Stitching like the whisper of the needle
Wrapped still in silvered tissue
Faded tags of festive gifting
Unworn
Saved for a "best" too late to know So if you think me too showy
With misplaced colours and gaudy cloth
Fine jewellery worn for no good reason
It is because I have learned to Wear the damn gloves

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Tracie Renee (she/her) @tracierenee.bsky.social · 1d

A #LiftToTheSky to @alanparrywriter.co.uk, who does so much for the writing community. #PoemsAbout is my favorite corner of Bluesky, because (even when I'm not brave enough to post) it challenges me to keep writing, revising, and engaging with others on the same journey.

Cheers to you, Alan.

Alan Parry He/Him @alanparrywriter.co.uk · 3d

This is me right now.

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d

You usually have to be signed up to our newsletter to read it. However, this week is too important, and I wanted to share it more broadly.

preview.mailerlite.io/preview/5022...

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 1d

#PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould starts Friday. Write into rupture. Smash the cast. Snap tradition. Ideas: leaving home, shedding skin, saying no. Don’t post early. Use Alt Text. Tag it. Get your weekly edge in the inbox: shorturl.at/0Xm7A

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 2d

#LiftToTheSky I’d like you to know that this wonderful community of poemsabout and The Broken Spine have been an incredible source of motivation for me in my writing journey and am ever so thankful to you. Your energy and dedication in making this space vibrant is truly appreciated. I… 1/2

Alan Parry He/Him @alanparrywriter.co.uk · 3d

This is me right now.

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d

You usually have to be signed up to our newsletter to read it. However, this week is too important, and I wanted to share it more broadly.

preview.mailerlite.io/preview/5022...

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 1d

Special offer on pre-orders of the paperback edition of VIANNE until 23.59 Friday 17th October! Enter “OCTOBER25” to get 25% off via the Waterstones website and the Waterstones app.
Link: www.waterstones.com/book/vianne/...

Vianne by Joanne Harris | Waterstones

Buy Vianne by Joanne Harris from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

DrNaturegirl @drnaturegirl.debbiemross.co.uk · 2d

Today for #LiftToTheSky we should give a boost to our lovely wee indie presses who are often run by solo enthusiasts wanting to give a voice to lesser known poets. They put in a lot of hard graft to curate anthologies, run social media accounts and workshops and support poets in untold ways. 1/2

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

DrNaturegirl @drnaturegirl.debbiemross.co.uk · 2d

2/2 so shout out to @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social of @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @markantonyowen.com @iambapoet.com & After These guys are the definition of dedicated and supportive and work long hours for little reward. There are others too #poetryheros

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 2d

Reposting this thread on the brilliant Louise Glück on the anniversary of her death #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky 👇

Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · Apr 29

Some writers seek ‘relatability’ in ancient myth. Others look to recreate alien remoteness. But in her use of Homeric or bible tales, Louise Glück sets up dialogue between her own family relations & mythic ones. The latter aren’t lazily appropriated. Rather the immediate & the mythic mutually enrich

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 2d

📣 CALLING POETS 📣

Opportunity to lead poetry workshops at a unique location to creatively and sensitively explore untold stories: personal, historical, or imagined.

•Theme: Untold Stories
•Fee: £200 per workshop
•Workshop Dates: Sat 17 & 24 Jan 2026
•The New Scriptorium, Arbroath Abbey, Scotland

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 2d

I love how autumn can make scruffy look fabulous

#allotmentlife #allotmentuk #autumnuk #aberdeenshire #scotland #autumninscotland #scottishautumm #autumnvibes

A scruffy pumpkin patch with golden trees

A cherry tree with autumn leaves falling

Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Alan Parry He/Him @alanparrywriter.co.uk · 3d

This is me right now.

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 3d

You usually have to be signed up to our newsletter to read it. However, this week is too important, and I wanted to share it more broadly.

preview.mailerlite.io/preview/5022...

Thank You — and Some Honesty

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 4d

Such a shame he’s closing. Lovely wee shoppie.

Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you! You’re so kind.

Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you so much. I honestly can’t tell you how much I appreciate your feedback.

Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Merril D. Smith @merrildsmith.bsky.social · 5d

Good morning! I wasn't going to do this prompt for #PoemsAbout #imperfectMe but started writing it yesterday @paulwritespoems.bsky.social writing group. It's still rough. Thanks as always to @alanparrywriter.co.uk and @thebrokenspine.co.uk

Poem:

Still Standing

The scar on my right breast
a faint tracing,
the charcoal under the artist’s paint,

tattooed dots,
ellipsis signaling the story continues—

always a before
and an after--

so far, always an after--

the sagging of flesh, the greying of hair,
points for endurance, if not for style,

as vain as anyone, I suppose,
but embracing the imperfect,
me.

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 5d

For this #PoemsAbout I’ve found the perfect #ImperfectMe (no lying🤥) and now that the 🐱 out of the 🎩 (was it a 🛍️?) I’m gonna 💨 for the day (JK…) Thanks to host @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk
also for #haikuchallenge #anecdote for host @bleuowl.bsky.social
#tanka #Oulens #blueskypoetry

Confessions of an unabashembellisht
- C. Oulens

Oi, I’m a hatful
of lies that hurts umm… no one?
okay… almost.— there!

you browse your own bags while I
~embellish~>
anecdotes of…
nowhere—… .. . _ -

Afterword

* if I’ve to ‘embellish’ (instead of ‘spin’) ‘anecdotes’ (instead of ‘tales’) it’s reasonable that I be permitted 2 extra syllables in the #tanka for my extra-churned services…?🤔

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Teefs!

Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 5d

I’m really looking forward to this!

World Fantasy 2025 @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social · 5d

It's just 28 days to WFC. PR3 has gone out and with it the news about our new MC. We are very sorry to lose Sarah Pinborough but delighted to welcome Joanne Harris.
Joanne Harris was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has written over 20 novels, published in over 50 countries.

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you! I know most of it is about luck not Pareidolia but I had this idea of “it’s just burnt bread” in my head so ran with that.

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you so much! Loving the ren faire garb for everyday life vibe. I’m definitely not saving things for “best” anymore. This is as best as it gets!

Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Ann Tigone @anntigone.bsky.social · 5d

Lying in satisfied
silence as we
"smoke cigarettes"—
old Hollywood
movie code to keep
the censors happy,
hair as disheveled
as my sense of self,
responsibilities
trapped in
ruffled bedsheets,
wondering if I should
have said "no"
when he asked
if I needed anything.

#BedroomEyesPrompt
#Ishouldhave

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

The Poetry Society @handle.invalid · 5d

An excerpt from 'On a Haybale, Off Route 57' by Harrison Hamm, which is featured in the latest issue of The Poetry Review and available to read in full for free on our website. 📚

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Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 5d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you so much! I’m honoured.

Reposted by Dawn McLachlan

Wild Hunt Books @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social · 5d

*Submission reminder*

We're open to unagented subs from 6-12 Oct. For this submission period we are looking for novellas only (35K-50K). We're specifically looking for novellas that play w horror, mystery, weird & the unusual.

More info below🐐
www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/blog/pop-up-...

Pop up submission window — wild hunt books

Wild Hunt Books are open to unagented submissions  from 6-12 October 2025. For this submission period we are looking for novellas only (35K-50K words with a grace of 1000 words, over/under)...

www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk

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Dawn McLachlan @deemclachlan.bsky.social · 5d

And it’s a true story. My late father-in-law and a drawer full of things “saved for best”
A lesson never forgotten