Charlotte Francis
@cfranciswrites.bsky.social
(Charlotte Harris) SFF writer. On submission with my debut novel. Welsh/Dutch Londoner 🏴🇳🇱. Former teacher. Mum of 3. Rep: @helenlane.bsky.social
My website: https://charlotte-francis.com
My website: https://charlotte-francis.com
I’m taking a writing hiatus for the rest of November and December. Massive burnout. It felt really liberating to shut down Scrivener yesterday. Spent the evening making a Viking costume for the tiniest one.
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I’m taking a writing hiatus for the rest of November and December. Massive burnout. It felt really liberating to shut down Scrivener yesterday. Spent the evening making a Viking costume for the tiniest one.
Should have been writing this afternoon, but took two of my tiny people to see Wicked 2 today at the cinema instead, then somehow ended up in this predicament. I have no regrets.
November 23, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Should have been writing this afternoon, but took two of my tiny people to see Wicked 2 today at the cinema instead, then somehow ended up in this predicament. I have no regrets.
Yesterday marked 2 years since I lost the most important woman in my life. Not a day that goes by that I don't wish she was still here, but I'm glad to be past the raw, aching stage of grief. Now, I can remember her not as her awful illness, but as the wonderful woman she was. I miss you, Mum.
November 8, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Yesterday marked 2 years since I lost the most important woman in my life. Not a day that goes by that I don't wish she was still here, but I'm glad to be past the raw, aching stage of grief. Now, I can remember her not as her awful illness, but as the wonderful woman she was. I miss you, Mum.
But when the characters also don't know themselves? That's proved much harder than I anticipated. The first chapters will need serious edits.
I've finally got into some sort of groove now, where I'm more familiar with the characters. And they've come to this realisation. (Warning: VERY 1st drafty)
I've finally got into some sort of groove now, where I'm more familiar with the characters. And they've come to this realisation. (Warning: VERY 1st drafty)
November 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
But when the characters also don't know themselves? That's proved much harder than I anticipated. The first chapters will need serious edits.
I've finally got into some sort of groove now, where I'm more familiar with the characters. And they've come to this realisation. (Warning: VERY 1st drafty)
I've finally got into some sort of groove now, where I'm more familiar with the characters. And they've come to this realisation. (Warning: VERY 1st drafty)
#Writevember Week 1 was all about steady progress. I had a crazy busy week, so for the most part, I only got to write from 10pm onwards. I hit my targets, but usually, I'd be further ahead by this point. Hoping for a quieter week next week so I can knuckle down and get a lot more words on the page.
November 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
#Writevember Week 1 was all about steady progress. I had a crazy busy week, so for the most part, I only got to write from 10pm onwards. I hit my targets, but usually, I'd be further ahead by this point. Hoping for a quieter week next week so I can knuckle down and get a lot more words on the page.
FUCK AI.
Show me something you made without the use of AI.
It would be pretty hard to make these with AI, but still. I'm damned proud of them. I spent 70+ hours working on them, turning architectural drawings into vectors and layering the buildings from laser cut mdf+plywood.
Show me something you made without the use of AI.
It would be pretty hard to make these with AI, but still. I'm damned proud of them. I spent 70+ hours working on them, turning architectural drawings into vectors and layering the buildings from laser cut mdf+plywood.
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
FUCK AI.
Show me something you made without the use of AI.
It would be pretty hard to make these with AI, but still. I'm damned proud of them. I spent 70+ hours working on them, turning architectural drawings into vectors and layering the buildings from laser cut mdf+plywood.
Show me something you made without the use of AI.
It would be pretty hard to make these with AI, but still. I'm damned proud of them. I spent 70+ hours working on them, turning architectural drawings into vectors and layering the buildings from laser cut mdf+plywood.
“What? This is a totally normal way to sleep. Stop laughing!”
(Check out his creepy single open eye—I honestly thought he’d had some sort of cat stroke. But he’s fine.)
(Check out his creepy single open eye—I honestly thought he’d had some sort of cat stroke. But he’s fine.)
November 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
“What? This is a totally normal way to sleep. Stop laughing!”
(Check out his creepy single open eye—I honestly thought he’d had some sort of cat stroke. But he’s fine.)
(Check out his creepy single open eye—I honestly thought he’d had some sort of cat stroke. But he’s fine.)
Had a lovely time at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social yesterday. Interesting panels, lovely people, and I had fun spotting some of my favourite authors at the bar! I especially loved spending the day with my agent @helenlane.bsky.social and the talented @jamesbennett.bsky.social.
November 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Had a lovely time at @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social yesterday. Interesting panels, lovely people, and I had fun spotting some of my favourite authors at the bar! I especially loved spending the day with my agent @helenlane.bsky.social and the talented @jamesbennett.bsky.social.
My #Writevember challenge is to write the 1st draft of Dark, a sci-fi thriller I've had on the back burner for a while. My aim is 100k, but I'm likely to overshoot that. Got a busy weekend ahead, so I won't be getting too much done until Monday.
Good luck to everyone doing a challenge!
Good luck to everyone doing a challenge!
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
My #Writevember challenge is to write the 1st draft of Dark, a sci-fi thriller I've had on the back burner for a while. My aim is 100k, but I'm likely to overshoot that. Got a busy weekend ahead, so I won't be getting too much done until Monday.
Good luck to everyone doing a challenge!
Good luck to everyone doing a challenge!
Also, snap. Izzy did the same one
October 30, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Also, snap. Izzy did the same one
1 hour per day? That explains a lot! Amazing perseverance.
She's definitely building good habits. She can't stop drawing. She's always been like that, and has always been very good. Forgive my mummy brag, but she just brought this to show me. It's for a friend.
She's definitely building good habits. She can't stop drawing. She's always been like that, and has always been very good. Forgive my mummy brag, but she just brought this to show me. It's for a friend.
October 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
1 hour per day? That explains a lot! Amazing perseverance.
She's definitely building good habits. She can't stop drawing. She's always been like that, and has always been very good. Forgive my mummy brag, but she just brought this to show me. It's for a friend.
She's definitely building good habits. She can't stop drawing. She's always been like that, and has always been very good. Forgive my mummy brag, but she just brought this to show me. It's for a friend.
Light Mode VS Dark Mode
Which would you choose?
Which would you choose?
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Light Mode VS Dark Mode
Which would you choose?
Which would you choose?
I’m entrenched in planning madness and scrambling to get this done for Saturday to start #Writevember. Planning this book has been much harder than others. The sheer size of the crew, their amnesia, the technical hard sci-fi elements. It’s a lot. I’ve run out of wall space. This is the overflow.
October 28, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I’m entrenched in planning madness and scrambling to get this done for Saturday to start #Writevember. Planning this book has been much harder than others. The sheer size of the crew, their amnesia, the technical hard sci-fi elements. It’s a lot. I’ve run out of wall space. This is the overflow.
Dang it. Should have thought more about this before I posted. THIS is much more representative for Skye. She is 99% puppy, and 1% terrifyingly powerful bundle of barely-contained destructive energy.
October 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Dang it. Should have thought more about this before I posted. THIS is much more representative for Skye. She is 99% puppy, and 1% terrifyingly powerful bundle of barely-contained destructive energy.
Sadly, I don't have any artwork of my characters yet (and my many attempts to find real people who look like the characters in my head always end in failure)
I had to add another box for Isaac (could've added 3 more—and my husband should be in the influences, but the rules disqualified him)
I had to add another box for Isaac (could've added 3 more—and my husband should be in the influences, but the rules disqualified him)
October 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Sadly, I don't have any artwork of my characters yet (and my many attempts to find real people who look like the characters in my head always end in failure)
I had to add another box for Isaac (could've added 3 more—and my husband should be in the influences, but the rules disqualified him)
I had to add another box for Isaac (could've added 3 more—and my husband should be in the influences, but the rules disqualified him)
Pax approves of the new self-heating blanket I got him for my desk. Instant purring and biscuit making.
October 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Pax approves of the new self-heating blanket I got him for my desk. Instant purring and biscuit making.
Phew! We’re home! He was so brave and managed to do it without general anaesthetic. Two hours instead of who knows how many if he had to go to surgery. His sisters were ready when we got home with the cutest get well soon cards.
October 23, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Phew! We’re home! He was so brave and managed to do it without general anaesthetic. Two hours instead of who knows how many if he had to go to surgery. His sisters were ready when we got home with the cutest get well soon cards.
At the hospital with my poor boy, who’s getting stitches after getting injured at school yesterday. In for a long wait, but at least I have something to read! Just released this morning. I’ve been waiting for this final book in Lyra’s journey for years. I’m hoping it’s less bleak!
October 23, 2025 at 7:45 AM
At the hospital with my poor boy, who’s getting stitches after getting injured at school yesterday. In for a long wait, but at least I have something to read! Just released this morning. I’ve been waiting for this final book in Lyra’s journey for years. I’m hoping it’s less bleak!
Woke up with a tiny piece of glass in the ball of my foot, which I can't get out. Painful as hell, and I have no idea how it got there. It's creeping me out.
Did I step on it 5 years ago and it's finally grown out? Did I sleep-smash things and walk through the debris? Am I just producing glass now?
Did I step on it 5 years ago and it's finally grown out? Did I sleep-smash things and walk through the debris? Am I just producing glass now?
October 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Woke up with a tiny piece of glass in the ball of my foot, which I can't get out. Painful as hell, and I have no idea how it got there. It's creeping me out.
Did I step on it 5 years ago and it's finally grown out? Did I sleep-smash things and walk through the debris? Am I just producing glass now?
Did I step on it 5 years ago and it's finally grown out? Did I sleep-smash things and walk through the debris? Am I just producing glass now?
This tree is ridiculous. I can’t get over the way the colour melts from maroon to yellow. This autumn has been absurd so far. I can’t stop staring at trees.
October 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
This tree is ridiculous. I can’t get over the way the colour melts from maroon to yellow. This autumn has been absurd so far. I can’t stop staring at trees.
I can't wait 😂
This really reminds me of a picture book series my kids were into: Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam. Scruffy would fit right in.
This really reminds me of a picture book series my kids were into: Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam. Scruffy would fit right in.
October 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I can't wait 😂
This really reminds me of a picture book series my kids were into: Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam. Scruffy would fit right in.
This really reminds me of a picture book series my kids were into: Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam. Scruffy would fit right in.
Today has been enormously successful:
- 7500 words added to the plan—hashing out the overarching plot at the moment, then back to detailed chapters
- Made a deck plan of the ship to send over to my ESA-dad to check for realism
- Made a tracker for Nov's writeathon
- Got crazy excited about this book
- 7500 words added to the plan—hashing out the overarching plot at the moment, then back to detailed chapters
- Made a deck plan of the ship to send over to my ESA-dad to check for realism
- Made a tracker for Nov's writeathon
- Got crazy excited about this book
October 18, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Today has been enormously successful:
- 7500 words added to the plan—hashing out the overarching plot at the moment, then back to detailed chapters
- Made a deck plan of the ship to send over to my ESA-dad to check for realism
- Made a tracker for Nov's writeathon
- Got crazy excited about this book
- 7500 words added to the plan—hashing out the overarching plot at the moment, then back to detailed chapters
- Made a deck plan of the ship to send over to my ESA-dad to check for realism
- Made a tracker for Nov's writeathon
- Got crazy excited about this book
The central theme in the book I've been outlining. Except in my book, the ship is literally called Theseus, and the thought experiment is about the people themselves.
October 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The central theme in the book I've been outlining. Except in my book, the ship is literally called Theseus, and the thought experiment is about the people themselves.
Outlining a new project this afternoon at the recently renovated cafe at my local park—nestled inside a former stately home. Hoping to get the whole 1st draft written in November for the Kronkers Writeathon. Today's outlining has got me super excited to dive in straight away. Is it November yet?
October 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Outlining a new project this afternoon at the recently renovated cafe at my local park—nestled inside a former stately home. Hoping to get the whole 1st draft written in November for the Kronkers Writeathon. Today's outlining has got me super excited to dive in straight away. Is it November yet?
My little corner of London is autumning hard. Love it.
October 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
My little corner of London is autumning hard. Love it.