Author | Lightnews

Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 4h

It seems my muse is properly fired up for the November writing madness! Last night it started sparking off new ideas and expanding upon existing ones.

The writing begins soon!

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/l...

Liminal Spaces

Last night, as I was about to drift off to sleep, my mind latched onto something. For once, it wasn’t instant inspiration. No, instead it was a stray thought about my post here yesterday. Of …

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 1d

This close to a writing challenge month, I actually find it hard to *not* write all of my ideas down *now*!

The prep work has gotten my muse into hyperdrive!

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/30/r...

Resisting Writing

This close to the start of the writing month challenge, when a lot of the prep work has been done, I always end up struggling with one issue. Not to write too much before the first! I love the iron…

vevancollie.wordpress.com

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 2d

I've decided on my goal for this November: 200k words!

A lot, I know, but I've got quite a few different pieces I want to work on, so this should keep me going each day.

Anyone else setting themselves a goal #writingcommunity?

#writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/g...

Goal Setting

Part of why NaNoWriMo worked so well for me when it existed is because of the goal it helped me set for the month. Whether I did a traditional NaNo or a multiple thereof. This is part of why I swit…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 6d

It's funny how conditioned it can get, isn't it?

I wish you good luck and many words this November!

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 6d

Anyone else so conditioned to November being a writing month that you're gearing up to do so even without the Home Office?

My local group is a go!

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/h...

How Time Flies

It’s a bit scary how quickly we’re approaching both Halloween and November. Where does time go? Today, at the write-in, those of us who showed up were all talking about next month&#8217…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 12d

I couldn't leave it alone, the above article stuck with me, so I looked at it from a writing perspective, too.

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/19/8...

&#*$@!

This morning, when looking through the news online, I came across a very interesting article on The Guardian website. It was on cursing and the differences between different languages and cultures.…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 12d

Interesting article on swearing and the differences between languages and cultures.

Words and how we use them says so much about us. It's fascinating!

#writesky #writingcommunity

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Italian blasphemy and German ingenuity: how swear words differ around the world

Once dismissed as a sign of low intelligence, researchers now argue the ‘power’ of taboo words has been overlooked

www.theguardian.com

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 17d

Someone asked me just how many works in progress (stories/fics) I have...

Does anyone else have A LOT of them?

#writesky #writingcommunity

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/a...

A Numb3rs Game

In the comments of my post yesterday, I was asked how many stories I was cooking. Which I took to mean as works in progress, which may or may not have been what was intended. I honestly couldn&#821…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 18d

It's October, autumn is well and truly here, and I need to start thinking about what I'll focus on for my big writing project in November.

My local group will still gather despite it now being without any bigger organization.

#writesky #writingcommunity

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/13/u...

Upcoming… Something

Due to the weather we had this summer, things are even more autumnal here in the UK than normal this year. The trees, in particular, are gorgeous and remind me of when I lived in New England. It&#8…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 23d

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

– Louis L’Amour

#writesky #writingcommunity #grimm

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/08/g...

Grimm Beginnings

While I’ve had Louis L’Amour’s quote on my list to use for a while now, it really felt relevant the other day. It explains, exactly, why I ended up writing fics for a new fandom. I trie…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · 27d

After far too much time away, I'm back with a new blog post and more #writing!

I had to go through a new fandom to get there, but it's finally happened!

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/a...

A Wandering Journey

Okay, I think this has been my longest absence here since I first started this blog. Sorry about that! When I last posted, I was just about to have company over, which is often a risk to the regula…

vevancollie.wordpress.com

Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Sep 20

So disappointed in #BBC for using #AI in their latest "Crime Next Door" podcast instead of voice actors.

Is this what the license fee is now being used for? To take jobs away from people?

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Sep 7

Not sure what the UK government did to the emergency service notification system but this test was worse than last time.

Then I got the notification on time & it was nice and loud - enough so to be heard if my phone was in my bag.

This time I got it 5 minutes late and it was *really* quiet!

Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Aug 3

“Wearing down seven number-two pencils is a good day’s work.”

– Ernest Hemingway

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/w...

Writing Implements

So, the reason I chose Ernest Hemingway’s quote is the same reason why I’ve suddenly gone AWOL. I wrenched my back again. As a result, I really wasn’t able to sit much for a few d…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 23

Inspiration is odd.

Even knowing this, I'm quite confuddled by the bouncing back & forth of my latest inspiration. It goes from driving my writing on, to hopelessly distracting me from it, and then inspiring whole new worlds...

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/07/23/w...

Wellspring

Not surprisingly, my newfound inspiration is doing what inspiration does best: begetting more inspiration! And last night was absolutely no exception. After my post here, I spent some time jumping …

vevancollie.wordpress.com

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 21

A #haiku written really quickly when remembering today's National Belgium Day!

Fête nationale belge
De dag van de oprichting
Königreich Belgien

#writesky #poetry #haikufeels #micropoetry #belgium #skyverse

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/07/21/n...

National Belgium Day

For once, I actually remembered to acknowledge this day rather than forgetting until it’s passed. A disadvantage to living outside your country of birth! Due to the world heritage day challen…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 15

“Pen–bereavement is a serious matter.”

– Anne Fadiman

Agree? Disagree?

#writingcommunity #writesky #pens

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/a...

A Serious Matter

Okay, while I take my pens seriously in a lot of ways, I definitely wouldn’t go so far as Anne Fadiman does and call it a pen-bereavement when I finish one. On the contrary, I often celebrate…

vevancollie.wordpress.com

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 12

As inspiration can strike at anywhere, I carry at least 2 pens and a notebook with me in whatever bag I'm using.

Those numbers go up if I'm traveling.

I don't want to be caught unaware! It's a good thing I have so many pens...

#writingcommunity #writesky

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/07/12/p...

Portable Writing Kits

Because someone expressed interest, I figured I’d go into a bit more detail with what I really mean when it comes to always carrying a notebook. First off, as I alluded to the other day, this…

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 11

Lol, you'd be surprised how many authors like to write on yellow legal pads!

I have to admit, I don't really get it as I like pretty notebooks, but whatever works is definitely the way to go with writing.

These days, I do a mix of handwritten and computer written, depending on circumstances.

Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 11

Ah, yes, those pens. I used a lot of them in school! Haven't had one for years.

And now I want to get one...

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 10

Never done that, but I do grab ones from hotels - they make me smile when I use them later as they trigger those memories!

Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 10

😂

I, too, have lots of different pen holders all over the place. The photo is of a bigger set I have in my desk as I ran out of other things to put them in!

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 10

I keep meaning to settle on just one pen - likely reverting back to a fountain pen if the notebook permits - but I have so many still that I keep putting it off.

I am getting better at not just grabbing any free pen anymore that I see.

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jul 10

As someone who writes a lot (and by hand at times), I may have more than a passing obsession with pens...

Anyone else want to confess to being a secret (or not so secret) penholic?

#writingcommunity #writesky #pen

vevancollie.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/p...

Pens, Pens, Pens

V.E. Vancollie – Just a few of my many, many pens!

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Valerie E. Vancollie @vevancollie.bsky.social · Jun 29

Such a cutie!