A post about the Fuggler of Redemption and upcoming events, services, and workshops…
This is a Fuggler. Tom gave it to me as part of my Christmas present last year (‘last year’ feels like 2024, but I mean 2025).
It hangs from the desk lamp on the study table we share and we’re using it as a kind of fetish to hold all our feelings about the Current State of Affairs when it all gets A Bit Too Much.
Isn’t it apt? That sort of sick, tired, grin-and-bear-it, hold-on-for-one-more-day expression on its face; the pull around the mouth, trying to smile through the pain, the eyes squeezed and stretched, and just, just managing to keep it together—is it smiling? Is it crying? Is it grimacing?
Difficult to tell. Let’s make it all three.
Now, when we can’t express our feelings about the enshittification of all things that continues apace, we’ll just point to the Fuggler and be understood.
Now, when we can’t carry the feelings anymore, we’ll just touch the Fuggler and let it hold all our pain, tired disbelief, and hopeful despair.
Oh Fuggler! Oh Fuggler! Bear thee our great sorrow!
I joke, of course. Nothing can hold the despair of being subjected to cruel and shallow and selfish men.
Listen, that sounds more despondent than I feel.
Weirdly, despite all the political and socioeconomic nastiness, I left 2025 with a spring in my step and a light in my heart.
Probably because, for the first time in six years, I felt like I was coming back to myself and the world again*; probably because I’d made peace with the fact that The Witch of Benbar’s Cross was going to be self-published and instead of feeling poo about it I decided to feel empowered by it. Probably because I’d decided to stop buying into the horror of reality.
I don’t know what 2026 has in store. I won’t even hope to imagine.
But I know that the only way through it is to focus on what’s directly within my sphere of influence: my relationships, my garden, my art, my writing, service to my community… Oh and trying to make some goddamn ching ching.
Part of being in the world again also means I can take on more clients and more work, which I’m pretty excited about.
Although I’m still committed (in theory) to my great pivot and to rearranging my brain to understand that writing is a hobby not a career, my main source of income remains writing, editing, and coaching and so I should probably tell more people about it.
To wit! I am listing all the ways I shall be available to writers and publishers on this page, but here’s the short version:
Workshops
- March: JUMP! A crash course in storytelling for first-time novelists. See here for more information.
- April: Self-publishing, Step by Step With Tanya Meeson and Lucinda Hooley. See here for more information.
- June: Submission. Manuscript development for new and newish authors of fiction. See here for more information.
Coaching, editing & reader reports
I’ve been working as an editor in various capacities since 2009. I started out in the magazine industry, moved to business editing, and now help other writers and publishers in a few ways. Click through to read more about the details.
Writing & copywriting
I’m not available for ghostwriting anymore but I am available for script writing and doctoring, columns and features and helping you edit and rewrite your work. I’ve also started a little copywriting side gig, TNTWordBangers.com. Oh yes.
Events
Book launch: The Witch of Benbar’s Cross, Tuesday 24 March at The Book Lounge. Details to come.
Otherworld: Saturday 25 July, Exclusive Books. Details to come.
Did you see that little sneaky book launch date? You heard it here first folks. The Witch of Benbar’s Cross will be launched on 24 March at The Book Lounge.
And I’ll also just add here that pre-orders will open on 1 February. I’m super excited about it and will be splashing all the publicity as much as I can as far as I can very shortly.
I’m also considering recording myself reading my newsletters since some people want to listen to them and I’m not so keen on the AI voices? I don’t know. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to mail me.
Until week after next (or maybe sooner if i get my cover finished before then),
Keep frosty,
Tanya
*Please, please, please: if you’re female and reaching 35, and definitely if you’re 40 +, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD IN THE WORLD, please start paying attention to any physical, mental and emotional changes and get on HRT as soon as you can. Read this, if you’re still not certain. If you don’t want to read that whole thing, then at least scroll down to the links and see the resources. And please take supplements seriously.)
TANYA MEESON 