Tracey Byrnes
@tbyrnes.bsky.social
Full-time book editor, part-time author, and voracious reader.
Things that are keeping me busy lately.
Lesser-known holidays, writing, and other goings-on stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/lesser-kno...
Lesser-known holidays, writing, and other goings-on stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/lesser-kno...
Lesser-known holidays, writing, and other goings-on
The quick catch-up from my writer's cave, saints included
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com
March 18, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Things that are keeping me busy lately.
Lesser-known holidays, writing, and other goings-on stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/lesser-kno...
Lesser-known holidays, writing, and other goings-on stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/lesser-kno...
After writing ~4,289 words, I’m ready for sleep.
A little over 36k words still needed to hit my goal for this book. Assuming the story doesn’t decide it needs more.
A little over 36k words still needed to hit my goal for this book. Assuming the story doesn’t decide it needs more.
February 22, 2026 at 8:02 AM
After writing ~4,289 words, I’m ready for sleep.
A little over 36k words still needed to hit my goal for this book. Assuming the story doesn’t decide it needs more.
A little over 36k words still needed to hit my goal for this book. Assuming the story doesn’t decide it needs more.
Assembled my new office chair last night. So far today, it’s performed excellently. Comfortable, supportive, and keeps me cool while working.
February 21, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Assembled my new office chair last night. So far today, it’s performed excellently. Comfortable, supportive, and keeps me cool while working.
Another 930 words added to the WIP’s running total.
Time for sleep.
Time for sleep.
January 25, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Another 930 words added to the WIP’s running total.
Time for sleep.
Time for sleep.
Another 4,303 words written between yesterday and today. Excluding front and back matter, this WIP now stands at 78,290.
Time to let the creative brain rest and return to exercising my editing brain.
Time to let the creative brain rest and return to exercising my editing brain.
January 23, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Another 4,303 words written between yesterday and today. Excluding front and back matter, this WIP now stands at 78,290.
Time to let the creative brain rest and return to exercising my editing brain.
Time to let the creative brain rest and return to exercising my editing brain.
Added 2,720 words to a WIP during an editing break. The story got talkative!
Now back to my regularly scheduled editing. Different genre, characters, and world. Switching keeps things interesting and sharpens my mind.
Now back to my regularly scheduled editing. Different genre, characters, and world. Switching keeps things interesting and sharpens my mind.
January 20, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Added 2,720 words to a WIP during an editing break. The story got talkative!
Now back to my regularly scheduled editing. Different genre, characters, and world. Switching keeps things interesting and sharpens my mind.
Now back to my regularly scheduled editing. Different genre, characters, and world. Switching keeps things interesting and sharpens my mind.
Side quests: They're not just for fictional characters.
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/genesis-of...
#talesfromthewritingtrenches #writingcommunity #pantser
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/genesis-of...
#talesfromthewritingtrenches #writingcommunity #pantser
Genesis of a side story
Better known as "the muse had an [insert adjective(s)] idea"
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Side quests: They're not just for fictional characters.
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/genesis-of...
#talesfromthewritingtrenches #writingcommunity #pantser
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/genesis-of...
#talesfromthewritingtrenches #writingcommunity #pantser
The muse ambushed me with 967 words in a short story I’m working on in connection with my fantasy WIP.
Still wrestling with whether the concept idea will work overall.
Still wrestling with whether the concept idea will work overall.
January 13, 2026 at 6:33 AM
The muse ambushed me with 967 words in a short story I’m working on in connection with my fantasy WIP.
Still wrestling with whether the concept idea will work overall.
Still wrestling with whether the concept idea will work overall.
Oh, how I’ve missed being able to immerse myself in writing stories for large chunks of time. So needed today.
+/- 5,036 words added to one of the WIPs pining for me, bringing it to 72,402.
Now back to editing others’ books. 🖊️📚 And maybe a short nap. 😴
+/- 5,036 words added to one of the WIPs pining for me, bringing it to 72,402.
Now back to editing others’ books. 🖊️📚 And maybe a short nap. 😴
January 11, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Oh, how I’ve missed being able to immerse myself in writing stories for large chunks of time. So needed today.
+/- 5,036 words added to one of the WIPs pining for me, bringing it to 72,402.
Now back to editing others’ books. 🖊️📚 And maybe a short nap. 😴
+/- 5,036 words added to one of the WIPs pining for me, bringing it to 72,402.
Now back to editing others’ books. 🖊️📚 And maybe a short nap. 😴
Happy New Year!
Cheers to a year filled with new adventures, fresh starts, and endless possibilities.
Cheers to a year filled with new adventures, fresh starts, and endless possibilities.
January 1, 2026 at 5:31 AM
Happy New Year!
Cheers to a year filled with new adventures, fresh starts, and endless possibilities.
Cheers to a year filled with new adventures, fresh starts, and endless possibilities.
On the downhill side of moving my household twice in 6 months. I "might" have time to catch up on socials sometime in Q1 2026.
I wish you a better holiday season than you expect with a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year to come.
I wish you a better holiday season than you expect with a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year to come.
December 21, 2025 at 11:37 AM
On the downhill side of moving my household twice in 6 months. I "might" have time to catch up on socials sometime in Q1 2026.
I wish you a better holiday season than you expect with a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year to come.
I wish you a better holiday season than you expect with a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year to come.
Another 1,363 words written in the fantasy WIP between last night’s session and tonight’s.
That doesn’t count the +/- 300 words of setup notes, AKA reminders of things I need to follow up on for open plot points.
That doesn’t count the +/- 300 words of setup notes, AKA reminders of things I need to follow up on for open plot points.
July 19, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Another 1,363 words written in the fantasy WIP between last night’s session and tonight’s.
That doesn’t count the +/- 300 words of setup notes, AKA reminders of things I need to follow up on for open plot points.
That doesn’t count the +/- 300 words of setup notes, AKA reminders of things I need to follow up on for open plot points.
June 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
An episode of “bird TV” for your amusement.
These are the kinds of things I see daily when I surface from my editing and writing cave.
These are the kinds of things I see daily when I surface from my editing and writing cave.
June 13, 2025 at 12:41 AM
An episode of “bird TV” for your amusement.
These are the kinds of things I see daily when I surface from my editing and writing cave.
These are the kinds of things I see daily when I surface from my editing and writing cave.
More wildlife sightings in the yard. Two deer and a big ol’ woodchuck.
June 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
More wildlife sightings in the yard. Two deer and a big ol’ woodchuck.
Little chair thief in my alternate editing spot. Guess that means working at my desk for a while.
May 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Little chair thief in my alternate editing spot. Guess that means working at my desk for a while.
I knew stress sleeping was a thing. However, I didn’t know until recently that stress *writing* was also a thing. Adding over 8k words to a WIP in less than 24 hours when I wasn’t supposed to be working on it delivered that life lesson.
April 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I knew stress sleeping was a thing. However, I didn’t know until recently that stress *writing* was also a thing. Adding over 8k words to a WIP in less than 24 hours when I wasn’t supposed to be working on it delivered that life lesson.
1,481 new words this morning since I woke up at oh dark hundred and couldn’t get back to sleep.
Time for a screen break. Then switch gears and work on an in-progress edit.
What does your Saturday look like?
Time for a screen break. Then switch gears and work on an in-progress edit.
What does your Saturday look like?
March 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
1,481 new words this morning since I woke up at oh dark hundred and couldn’t get back to sleep.
Time for a screen break. Then switch gears and work on an in-progress edit.
What does your Saturday look like?
Time for a screen break. Then switch gears and work on an in-progress edit.
What does your Saturday look like?
Chatty characters equaled 1,622 new words in the fantasy WIP. I love that they were vocal. Less so that they wouldn’t let me sleep.
I foresee being an active member of Team Nap today.
I foresee being an active member of Team Nap today.
March 28, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Chatty characters equaled 1,622 new words in the fantasy WIP. I love that they were vocal. Less so that they wouldn’t let me sleep.
I foresee being an active member of Team Nap today.
I foresee being an active member of Team Nap today.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Also, Happy St. Gertrude’s Day.
May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends. –an Irish saying
May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends. –an Irish saying
March 17, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Also, Happy St. Gertrude’s Day.
May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends. –an Irish saying
May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends. –an Irish saying
7,288 new words in WIP 1 yesterday. Plus a surprise character role.
This is why I love being a pantser. I get to discover new characters and aspects of the worlds they inhabit as I write.
This is why I love being a pantser. I get to discover new characters and aspects of the worlds they inhabit as I write.
March 16, 2025 at 8:36 AM
7,288 new words in WIP 1 yesterday. Plus a surprise character role.
This is why I love being a pantser. I get to discover new characters and aspects of the worlds they inhabit as I write.
This is why I love being a pantser. I get to discover new characters and aspects of the worlds they inhabit as I write.
The last couple of nights of Plans vs. Life vs. The Muse in a Royal Rumble-style match have me quoting Bugs Bunny: “I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque.”
March 2, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The last couple of nights of Plans vs. Life vs. The Muse in a Royal Rumble-style match have me quoting Bugs Bunny: “I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque.”
The latest incident report from the writer's cave, brought to you by icy, windy weather and a recalcitrant muse.
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/in-which-m...
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/in-which-m...
In which my muse became a hibernating hobbit
Tales from the (writing) trenches, 19-Feb edition
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The latest incident report from the writer's cave, brought to you by icy, windy weather and a recalcitrant muse.
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/in-which-m...
stories-by-tracey.beehiiv.com/p/in-which-m...