Michelle Barker
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michellebark.bsky.social
Michelle Barker
@michellebark.bsky.social
2.4K followers 4.5K following 370 posts
Senior #editor at DarlingAxe.com. Award-winning #author, Ironman #triathlete. michellebarker.ca
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michellebark.bsky.social
Hey #writers, very excited to have a post on the blog Writers in the Storm on one of my favourite topics: dialogue beats.
writersinthestormblog.com/2026/09/dont...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting
Don’t Just Sit There. Do Something with Dialogue Beats!
Used effectively, dialogue beats can be story-changers, not only in filling out a scene but also in developing character. Michelle Barker show you how.
writersinthestormblog.com
September 28, 2026 at 9:06 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey #writers, check out my new post on Substack, all about the way we prioritize things that are fast and easy and what we might be losing as a result.
michbarker.substack.com/p/fast-and-e...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting #BookSky
Fast and Easy
Work in Progress
michbarker.substack.com
September 8, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Michelle Barker
evalangston.bsky.social
@michellebark.bsky.social @septimusbrown.com @darlingaxe.com
August 17, 2026 at 5:48 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey writers, if you happen to be in BC and are looking for a fun way to spend the weekend, the Write on Bowen conference is happening Sept 19-20.
www.writeonbowen.com

Join us!
#WritingCommunity #amwriting
WELCOME | Write on Bowen
www.writeonbowen.com
August 30, 2026 at 7:53 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
My colleague @septimusbrown.com and I had the honour of being on @evalangston.bsky.social's podcast, The Long Road to Publishing. You can catch the episode here:
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting #BookSky
Editors & Co-Authors Writing in Many Genres | The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston
with David Griffin Brown & Michelle Barker
shows.acast.com
August 14, 2026 at 6:50 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey writers, my new post is up on Substack, all about #poetry, the new Mary Oliver film, and savouring every moment.

michbarker.substack.com/p/pay-attent...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting
Pay Attention
Work in Progress
michbarker.substack.com
August 11, 2026 at 11:54 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
#Writers, my post is up on the Writers Helping Writers blog about omniscient narration:
writershelpingwriters.net/2026/08/omni...

#WritingCommunity #BookSky #amwriting
Omniscient POV: Pitfalls and Best Practices
Omniscient POV should be an intentional choice that makes sense for the novel rather than a fallback because it seems “easier.”
writershelpingwriters.net
August 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
#Writers, I have a new post up on Substack that digs into how it feels to let go of your manuscript and if you ever feel ready to do it.
michbarker.substack.com/p/let-it-go

#WritingCommunity #BookSky #amwriting
Let It Go
Work in Progress
michbarker.substack.com
August 4, 2026 at 3:59 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey, #writers, if you ever wondered how long it takes to learn to write fiction.... read on.

michbarker.substack.com/p/ten-years-...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting
Ten Years of Violin Lessons
Work in Progress
michbarker.substack.com
July 28, 2026 at 5:34 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey, #writers, new post is up on my Substack, all about Ann Patchett and tackling big challenges a little at a time. michbarker.substack.com/p/how-to-eat...
#WritingCommunity #booksky #amwriting
How to Eat a Whole Elephant
Work in Progress
michbarker.substack.com
July 22, 2026 at 1:35 AM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey, check out my newest post on #Substack all about the "dogs" we get sold these days: things that are overhyped or don't do what they're supposed to or make us spend more money than we should.
#amwriting #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/michbark...
Don't Sell Me a Dog
Work in Progress
open.substack.com
July 7, 2026 at 1:40 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hi #WritingCommunity. New post is up on my #Substack:
michbarker.substack.com/p/work-in-pr...

#amwriting
Work in Progress
Random Thoughts on Some Pretty Good Things
michbarker.substack.com
June 23, 2026 at 4:48 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hi #WritingCommunity. I'll be reading this year at #CanadaFictionFest2026 from my novel, My Long List of Impossible Things. Hope you can join us!
davethecamel.bsky.social Stephen Randle 🍁🍁🍁 @davethecamel.bsky.social · May 18
I'm honoured to have been included in this year's Canada Fiction Fest, where I'll be doing a reading from Trace Evidence on June 23rd at 1:30 PM Eastern alongside other YA authors! You can register to see me and other Canadian author readings and panels here!

fictionfest.ca/events/

#BookSky
June 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Michelle Barker
canadafictionfest.bsky.social
Hello #BookSky #ReaderSky! Fiction Fest is coming this summer and we have an AWESOME schedule of author readings and panel discussions that anyone with an Internet connection can attend for FREE! Check out our event page and register for whichever ones you're interested in: fictionfest.ca/events/
Screen shot from our events page showing the week 1 schedule for Fiction Fest: SUNDAY, June 21 12:00pm | Falling in Love with Love: Why Romance? 1:30pm | Mystery Author Readings (Group 1) 3:00pm | But What Made You Pick THIS Story? The Inspiration Behind the Book (Group 2) 4:30pm | Science Fiction Author Readings (Group 2) 7:00pm | Literary Fiction Author Readings (Group 2) MONDAY, June 22 12:00pm | Small But Mighty: Canadian Perspectives on the Publishing Industry 1:30pm | Science Fiction Author Readings (Group 1) 7:30pm Exploring the Unknown in Science Fiction: From Dystopian Futures to Outer Space TUESDAY, June 23 12:00pm | Mystery Author Readings (Group 2) 1:30pm | YA Author Readings (Group 2) 7:00pm | General Discussion: What Made You Want to Write? How do You Stay Creative? Etc. WEDNESDAY, June 24 12:00 | Middle Grade Author Readings 1:30 | Fantasy Author Readings (Group 4) 6:30pm | Climate Change Fiction: Reckoning and Resilience 8:00pm | Elements of Fantasy World-Building THURSDAY, June 25 12:00pm | Hooked on Books: What Kinds of Stories Turn Kids into Lifelong Readers? 7:00pm | But Do They Kiss? Romantasy and Romantic Fantasy FRIDAY, June 26 12:00 | Literary Fiction Author Readings (Group 1) 8:00pm | “But What Made You Pick THIS Story?” The Inspiration Behind the Book (Group 1) SATURDAY, June 27 12:00pm | Diversity in Fiction: Seeing Ourselves and Each Other in Stories 1:30pm | Fantasy Author Readings (Group 2) 7:00pm | Horror Author Readings (Group 2) Screen shot from our events page showing the Fiction Fest week 2 schedule: SUNDAY, June 28 12:00pm | Accuracy vs Poetic License in Historical Fiction 1:30pm | YA Author Readings (Group 1) 3:00pm | Out of the Ashes: Finding Hope Through Dystopia MONDAY, June 29 12:00pm | Romance Author Readings 1:30pm | Mixed Genre Author Readings 7:00pm | From the Urban to the Epic: What Makes it Fantasy? TUESDAY, June 30 6:30pm | Horror Author Readings (Group 1) 8:00pm | Screams, Spooks, and Supernatural Scares WEDNESDAY, July 1 It’s Canada Day! No sessions scheduled today, so go have fun with friends and family! THURSDAY, July 2 12:00pm | Fantasy Author Readings (Group 1) 7:00pm | Building a Mystery: What Makes a Satisfying Sleuthhound Story? FRIDAY, July 3 12:00pm | The Rise of Cozy Fiction 7:00pm | Literary Fiction Author Readings (Group 3) SATURDAY, July 4 12:00pm | Fantasy Author Readings (Group 3) 2:00pm | Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: The Enduring Appeal of Horror
May 20, 2026 at 10:59 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Hey #WritingCommunity. Please join us for this panel at #CanadaFictionFest2026. Always cool to hear where ideas come from.
#Booksky
canadafictionfest.bsky.social Canada Fiction Fest @canadafictionfest.bsky.social · May 23
Also on June 21st, a mixed-genre panel discussion on the inspiration behind the books! And did we mention that all our live sessions are FREE and online so anyone in the world can attend? Register now at: FictionFest.ca/events
#ReaderSky #BookSky #CanCon
Canada Fiction Fest banner for panel discussion on "But What Made You Pick THIS Story? The Inspiration Behind the Books", featuring authors Michael Nest, Michelle Barker, Linda Mah, and Andy Leblanc, and host Steve Hugh Westenra.
June 17, 2026 at 4:59 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
New #substack post is up:
open.substack.com/pub/michbark...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting
Squirrels on a wooden garden fence
June 16, 2026 at 10:00 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
New post is up on my #substack
michbarker.substack.com/p/work-in-pr...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting #booksky
Work in Progress
Ultraprocessed Fiction
michbarker.substack.com
June 9, 2026 at 7:33 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Ha, let's try that again with a link. Here is a link to my newest substack post: michbarker.substack.com/p/work-in-pr...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting #amreading #booksky
Work in Progress
Summers Are for Reading
michbarker.substack.com
June 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
Very pleased to have a guest spot on Jane Friedman's blog today with my colleague, @darlingaxe.com David Griffin Brown:
janefriedman.com/from-personn...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting #booksky
From Personnage to Personne: Creating Character Authenticity | Jane Friedman
When building a character, roles can be efficient shorthand—hard-boiled detective, dutiful nurse—but the best characterizations require going deeper.
janefriedman.com
June 2, 2026 at 2:20 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
A great post from an editing client of mine who also happens to be in cyber security:
open.substack.com/pub/cherylan...
QWERTY1234
A friendly primer on passwords, passkeys and backups
open.substack.com
May 29, 2026 at 2:41 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
My new post is up on Substack!
michbarker.substack.com/p/work-in-pr...

#WritingCommunity #amwriting #amquerying #BookSky
Work in Progress
Why Rejection Isn't the Worst Thing (even though it feels like it is)
michbarker.substack.com
May 26, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Reposted by Michelle Barker
rozmorris.bsky.social
Is your reader pleasantly intrigued or annoyed and baffled? When to withhold information, when to tell them - @michellebark.bsky.social at @AngelaAckerman writershelpingwriters.net/2026/05/art-... #writingcommunity #writinglife #authorlife
The Art of Withholding Information
Withholding information can create a satisfying read that allows readers to participate in the fictional dream, or it might frustrate them.
writershelpingwriters.net
May 25, 2026 at 7:25 AM
michellebark.bsky.social
New post is up on my Substack: michbarker.substack.com/p/work-in-pr...
#WritingCommunity #amwriting
Work in Progress
Writers Who Walk
michbarker.substack.com
May 19, 2026 at 3:37 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
New post up on #substack, all about the need to rest after you complete a big project. It might be the last thing you want to do, but for me at least, it's really important to create that buffer.
#WritingCommunity #amwriting #booksky
Cat sleeping on a wooden chair in front of bookshelves
May 12, 2026 at 12:18 PM
michellebark.bsky.social
My post is up on Substack!
#WritingCommunity #Booksky #amwriting
michbarker.substack.com/p/work-in-pr...
Work in Progress
The Hidden Costs of Using AI
michbarker.substack.com
May 5, 2026 at 11:27 PM