Helen Thwaite
@helenrosethwaite.bsky.social
Pinned
Drop an iconic scene
December 8, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Drop an iconic scene
Why the bloody hell is anyone giving Johnson oxygen? If he's visited by three ghosts this Christmas
a) I will not be surprised, and
b) they'll have their work cut out
a) I will not be surprised, and
b) they'll have their work cut out
Can we think of any reasons why Boris Johnson in particular might have cause to believe that people could be grasping selfish bastards who are only ever out to grab as much as they can for themselves, by legal means or otherwise.
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Why the bloody hell is anyone giving Johnson oxygen? If he's visited by three ghosts this Christmas
a) I will not be surprised, and
b) they'll have their work cut out
a) I will not be surprised, and
b) they'll have their work cut out
I have to say that, as an older woman and a writer of sff romance, I'm *thrilled* that Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Colonel Christofer Ibrahim are together. He is such a caretaker as well. I melted. #TheWarBetween
December 8, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I have to say that, as an older woman and a writer of sff romance, I'm *thrilled* that Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Colonel Christofer Ibrahim are together. He is such a caretaker as well. I melted. #TheWarBetween
Reposted by Helen Thwaite
Spotify is garbage on every count: Its treatment of artists, its ICE advertising, the CEO's investment in military AI, its leading role in the commodification and AI slopification of music, its terrible audio quality—you name it.
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
How to quit Spotify
This Black Friday, here's a guide to finding the best Spotify alternative
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Spotify is garbage on every count: Its treatment of artists, its ICE advertising, the CEO's investment in military AI, its leading role in the commodification and AI slopification of music, its terrible audio quality—you name it.
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
Merry Monday, #Smutcember!
In your stories, do you prefer a slow burn or fast feelings? What appeals to you the most about writing your preferred pacing?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
In your stories, do you prefer a slow burn or fast feelings? What appeals to you the most about writing your preferred pacing?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 8, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I've got two and they were fantastic. 😊
Want me to to wish a happy holiday to that Star Trek/Marvel/12Monkeys/Originals/SPN/DnD nerd in your life? Head on over to my Cameo. We can make it personal special fun. Click on over!
v.cameo.com/e/Ey4wQxkOUYb
v.cameo.com/e/Ey4wQxkOUYb
Todd Stashwick - Personalized videos on Cameo
Todd Stashwick on Cameo! Cameo lets you request a personalized video message for any occasion.
v.cameo.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I've got two and they were fantastic. 😊
Reposted by Helen Thwaite
Life advice:
- be kind
- tip well
- read banned books
- stay on the good side of the twig witch
- never enter into a verbal agreement with a squirrel
- dress like the Muppet you wish to be in the world
- be kind
- tip well
- read banned books
- stay on the good side of the twig witch
- never enter into a verbal agreement with a squirrel
- dress like the Muppet you wish to be in the world
December 7, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Life advice:
- be kind
- tip well
- read banned books
- stay on the good side of the twig witch
- never enter into a verbal agreement with a squirrel
- dress like the Muppet you wish to be in the world
- be kind
- tip well
- read banned books
- stay on the good side of the twig witch
- never enter into a verbal agreement with a squirrel
- dress like the Muppet you wish to be in the world
Oh, ffs.
December 7, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Oh, ffs.
The first thing mentioned is how Volker's smile makes Lenore's heart skip. Then she admits to a friend that he has nice arms.
As for what Volker finds attractive about Lenore...
“There is nothing,” he says, voice soft but unyielding. “Nothing that would make you ugly in my eyes.”
#Smutcember
As for what Volker finds attractive about Lenore...
“There is nothing,” he says, voice soft but unyielding. “Nothing that would make you ugly in my eyes.”
#Smutcember
To wrap our first week of #Smutcember, tell us:
What do your characters find *physically* attractive about each other? (We'll get into the more intangible traits later.)
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
What do your characters find *physically* attractive about each other? (We'll get into the more intangible traits later.)
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 7, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The first thing mentioned is how Volker's smile makes Lenore's heart skip. Then she admits to a friend that he has nice arms.
As for what Volker finds attractive about Lenore...
“There is nothing,” he says, voice soft but unyielding. “Nothing that would make you ugly in my eyes.”
#Smutcember
As for what Volker finds attractive about Lenore...
“There is nothing,” he says, voice soft but unyielding. “Nothing that would make you ugly in my eyes.”
#Smutcember
If you see this, repost with your model of positive masculinity
December 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
If you see this, repost with your model of positive masculinity
Yep.
December 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Yep.
Things to do this week:
🔸choir gig tomorrow
🔸write Christmas one-shot
🔸write inclusivity seminar
🔸choir gig tomorrow
🔸write Christmas one-shot
🔸write inclusivity seminar
December 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Things to do this week:
🔸choir gig tomorrow
🔸write Christmas one-shot
🔸write inclusivity seminar
🔸choir gig tomorrow
🔸write Christmas one-shot
🔸write inclusivity seminar
Movie you've watched more than six times with a GIF. Hard mode: no Stars (either Wars or Trek), LOTR or Marvel.
Labyrinth
The Princess Bride
Galaxy Quest
Flash Gordon
Labyrinth
The Princess Bride
Galaxy Quest
Flash Gordon
Movie you've watched more than six times with a GIF. Hard mode: no Stars (either Wars or Trek), LOTR or Marvel.
Doddle!
Casablanca
The Shawshank Redemption
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Riddle in the Sands
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Hot Fuzz
(To my shame) 28 Days
To Have and Have Not
Doddle!
Casablanca
The Shawshank Redemption
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Riddle in the Sands
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Hot Fuzz
(To my shame) 28 Days
To Have and Have Not
December 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a GIF. Hard mode: no Stars (either Wars or Trek), LOTR or Marvel.
Labyrinth
The Princess Bride
Galaxy Quest
Flash Gordon
Labyrinth
The Princess Bride
Galaxy Quest
Flash Gordon
Reposted by Helen Thwaite
December 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Smoochies, heading towards smutchies. #Smutcember
December 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Smoochies, heading towards smutchies. #Smutcember
I have a smooch for #FridayFling! From A CERTAIN DARKNESS:
I cup his face. The mask is smooth beneath my palms but I can see the awful wound in my mind’s eye. But I don’t *want* to forget it. I want to remember who he is, because he’s incredible. I lean forward and let my lips brush his.
I cup his face. The mask is smooth beneath my palms but I can see the awful wound in my mind’s eye. But I don’t *want* to forget it. I want to remember who he is, because he’s incredible. I lean forward and let my lips brush his.
Today’s #FridayFling snippet is from ROCKS & RAPIERS, the second romantic fantasy story in BOOKS & BROADSWORDS.
Zenira only planned to sell her rocks, but she’s met with an icy scowl, a muddy manor, & the overwhelming urge to mend the mess—owner included.
The prompt is “forward.”
#Romancelandia
Zenira only planned to sell her rocks, but she’s met with an icy scowl, a muddy manor, & the overwhelming urge to mend the mess—owner included.
The prompt is “forward.”
#Romancelandia
December 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I have a smooch for #FridayFling! From A CERTAIN DARKNESS:
I cup his face. The mask is smooth beneath my palms but I can see the awful wound in my mind’s eye. But I don’t *want* to forget it. I want to remember who he is, because he’s incredible. I lean forward and let my lips brush his.
I cup his face. The mask is smooth beneath my palms but I can see the awful wound in my mind’s eye. But I don’t *want* to forget it. I want to remember who he is, because he’s incredible. I lean forward and let my lips brush his.
From the pattern chart to finished piece to the Nerd Lair. 😊
December 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
From the pattern chart to finished piece to the Nerd Lair. 😊
How do I build chemistry? Mostly like this:
“Get you being able to heat up food,” I murmur. “Go me for bonding a domesticated demon.”
“Fully house trained.”
“Vaccinated and chipped?”
He returns my grin. “No fleas.”
I laugh softly. “I should hope not. They’re a bugger to get rid of.”
#Smutcember
“Get you being able to heat up food,” I murmur. “Go me for bonding a domesticated demon.”
“Fully house trained.”
“Vaccinated and chipped?”
He returns my grin. “No fleas.”
I laugh softly. “I should hope not. They’re a bugger to get rid of.”
#Smutcember
#Smutcember, it's time to talk about our work! To start off:
How do you build chemistry between your characters? You can speak in general terms or give specific examples, whichever you prefer.
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
How do you build chemistry between your characters? You can speak in general terms or give specific examples, whichever you prefer.
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
How do I build chemistry? Mostly like this:
“Get you being able to heat up food,” I murmur. “Go me for bonding a domesticated demon.”
“Fully house trained.”
“Vaccinated and chipped?”
He returns my grin. “No fleas.”
I laugh softly. “I should hope not. They’re a bugger to get rid of.”
#Smutcember
“Get you being able to heat up food,” I murmur. “Go me for bonding a domesticated demon.”
“Fully house trained.”
“Vaccinated and chipped?”
He returns my grin. “No fleas.”
I laugh softly. “I should hope not. They’re a bugger to get rid of.”
#Smutcember
Ooh! I probably wouldn't choose to eat peanuts with this as I don't like the taste, but it'd be FABULOUS not to stress over meals out or even food brought to choir. Especially at this time of year when manufacturers shove nuts into everything.
By blocking a molecule that pushes the immune system into overdrive, a vaccine protects mice from life-threatening anaphylaxis
Experimental vaccine prevents dangerous allergic attack for a year
By blocking a molecule that pushes the immune system into overdrive, a vaccine protects mice from life-threatening anaphylaxis
www.newscientist.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Ooh! I probably wouldn't choose to eat peanuts with this as I don't like the taste, but it'd be FABULOUS not to stress over meals out or even food brought to choir. Especially at this time of year when manufacturers shove nuts into everything.
I read much wider than I write. #Smutcember
Last establishing question, #Smutcember:
Do you read different kinds of smut than you write, or is that Venn diagram a circle?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Do you read different kinds of smut than you write, or is that Venn diagram a circle?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I read much wider than I write. #Smutcember
Reposted by Helen Thwaite
Shopping small is meaningful!
November 29, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Shopping small is meaningful!
Reposted by Helen Thwaite
The Cass Review is the worst kind of pseudoscience & has at least 13 peer-reviewed critiques of it (all ignored by mainstream media).
Streeting now wants a Cass Review for Autism, ADHD, etc.
I have characterised these as “contrived authority” strategies (referring to the work of Max Weber)
1/2
Streeting now wants a Cass Review for Autism, ADHD, etc.
I have characterised these as “contrived authority” strategies (referring to the work of Max Weber)
1/2
Considering Streeting's well stated belief autism, ADHD etc, along with mental health issues, are "overdiagnosed", I won't hold my breath for this doing anything other than being used to cut support, along with opportunities for diagnosis, for people who need it. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnosis
The health secretary said the aim was to tackle a rising demand for services and the increased pressure on the NHS.
www.bbc.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The Cass Review is the worst kind of pseudoscience & has at least 13 peer-reviewed critiques of it (all ignored by mainstream media).
Streeting now wants a Cass Review for Autism, ADHD, etc.
I have characterised these as “contrived authority” strategies (referring to the work of Max Weber)
1/2
Streeting now wants a Cass Review for Autism, ADHD, etc.
I have characterised these as “contrived authority” strategies (referring to the work of Max Weber)
1/2
I think I prefer to write it. That moment where the characters can no longer pretend their attraction isn't there and give into their desire.
But I love reading it for the same reason. Makes me tingly. 😜
#Smutcember
But I love reading it for the same reason. Makes me tingly. 😜
#Smutcember
Continuing our #Smutcember setup:
Do you have a preference between reading smut or writing it, or perhaps engaging with it in a different form of media entirely? If so, what about that form of engagement appeals to you the most?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Do you have a preference between reading smut or writing it, or perhaps engaging with it in a different form of media entirely? If so, what about that form of engagement appeals to you the most?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 4, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I think I prefer to write it. That moment where the characters can no longer pretend their attraction isn't there and give into their desire.
But I love reading it for the same reason. Makes me tingly. 😜
#Smutcember
But I love reading it for the same reason. Makes me tingly. 😜
#Smutcember