Writing | Penny Zang

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Pre-order DOLL PARTS by Penny Zang

COMING AUGUST 26, 2025

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Christmas cheer photo dump with my favorite Dolly holiday song—all in an effort to un-Grinch myself while grading final exams. Almost there.
#grinchmas #teacherlife #dollypartonchristmas

Christmas cheer photo dump with my favorite Dolly holiday song—all in an effort to un-Grinch myself while grading final exams. Almost there.
#grinchmas #teacherlife #dollypartonchristmas

Got my glasses on my head—ready for final exams.
Send chocolate and cat pics!
#teacherlife #sendchocolate

Got my glasses on my head—ready for final exams.
Send chocolate and cat pics!
#teacherlife #sendchocolate

Cozy holiday reading. What’s everyone else reading this weekend?
#amreading #research #winterreading #booklover

Cozy holiday reading. What’s everyone else reading this weekend?
#amreading #research #winterreading #booklover

I will probably be late with all of my end-of-the-year reading updates, but wanted to share this reading tracker that I absolutely love from @novellyyours. I used it in 2023 but didn’t buy one this year and I really missed it. It is hefty (in a good way) and really well put together.

And for anyone who is trying to avoid reading reviews on Goodreads like me next year, this might be perfect.
#readingtracker #booklover #2025debut

I will probably be late with all of my end-of-the-year reading updates, but wanted to share this reading tracker that I absolutely love from @novellyyours. I used it in 2023 but didn’t buy one this year and I really missed it. It is hefty (in a good way) and really well put together.

And for anyone who is trying to avoid reading reviews on Goodreads like me next year, this might be perfect.
#readingtracker #booklover #2025debut

This is the one where I compare the cat to both Steve Buscemi and a potato while also watching Rick Astley videos.

Writing a 5 Things Essay is one of my favorite challenges. This time, the challenge also involved lots of drawing.

#5amwritersclub #momswritersclub #writingcommunity #substack #drawing

This is the one where I compare the cat to both Steve Buscemi and a potato while also watching Rick Astley videos.

Writing a 5 Things Essay is one of my favorite challenges. This time, the challenge also involved lots of drawing.

#5amwritersclub #momswritersclub #writingcommunity #substack #drawing

Feeling burned out and a little Grinchy but that’s typical for the end of the semester, it seems. Thankfully, there’s always a little sweetness to cushion these last few weeks.

My teacher friends (or anyone in need of some serious wintering), hang in there. 🩵
#teacherlife #wintering #catstagram

Feeling burned out and a little Grinchy but that’s typical for the end of the semester, it seems. Thankfully, there’s always a little sweetness to cushion these last few weeks.

My teacher friends (or anyone in need of some serious wintering), hang in there. 🩵
#teacherlife #wintering #catstagram

November was a really tough month, a really busy month, made better by books.

Some favorites:
💊 All Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky
🎮 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
🎨 All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
🪜 The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

#reading #booklover #bookstagram

November was a really tough month, a really busy month, made better by books.

Some favorites:
💊 All Night Pharmacy by Ruth Madievsky
🎮 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
🎨 All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
🪜 The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

#reading #booklover #bookstagram

“The writer can choose what he writes about but he cannot choose what he is able to make live…”—Flannery O’Connor

Feels like the perfect time of year to draw spirals.
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #writingquotes

“The writer can choose what he writes about but he cannot choose what he is able to make live…”—Flannery O’Connor

Feels like the perfect time of year to draw spirals.
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #writingquotes

As usual, I did not take enough pictures, but let me tell you how much I enjoyed books and drinks with @noelle__salazar at @mjudsonbooks last week. Get a copy of The Lies We Leave Behind ASAP.

#bookpeoplearethebestpeople #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram

As usual, I did not take enough pictures, but let me tell you how much I enjoyed books and drinks with @noelle__salazar at @mjudsonbooks last week. Get a copy of The Lies We Leave Behind ASAP.

#bookpeoplearethebestpeople #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram

Cover reveal!

DOLL PARTS is a dual timeline suspense following one woman as she begins to uncover the truth of the death of her estranged best friend and the Sylvia Plath adoring sad girls they attended college with decades ago, all while holding a secret that will slowly unravel her new, suburban dream life.

DOLL PARTS comes out next August, but you can already pre-order a copy and add it to your Goodreads page.

I am thrilled to share this story with you! 🖤✨👻
#darkacademia #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #bookstagram

Cover reveal!

DOLL PARTS is a dual timeline suspense following one woman as she begins to uncover the truth of the death of her estranged best friend and the Sylvia Plath adoring sad girls they attended college with decades ago, all while holding a secret that will slowly unravel her new, suburban dream life.

DOLL PARTS comes out next August, but you can already pre-order a copy and add it to your Goodreads page.

I am thrilled to share this story with you! 🖤✨👻
#darkacademia #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #bookstagram

Weekly photo dump: Poe, sunrises, tech issues, and cats watching TV. Not enough writing or reading but it’s that point in the semester. I’ll regain my schedule soon enough!

It’s also been an exciting week with the cover reveal for Doll Parts and my first marketing meeting. Many months of book promotion to come but I’ll keep filling in the gaps with pics of cats and book stacks. 🖤
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

Weekly photo dump: Poe, sunrises, tech issues, and cats watching TV. Not enough writing or reading but it’s that point in the semester. I’ll regain my schedule soon enough!

It’s also been an exciting week with the cover reveal for Doll Parts and my first marketing meeting. Many months of book promotion to come but I’ll keep filling in the gaps with pics of cats and book stacks. 🖤
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

It has been THE BEST term ever, leading the Fall Intensive with WriteShare and the amazing @mjudsonbooks. Community, not solitude, is essential for creatives, and I’m just so honored to be a part of this particular community.

Greenville friends, if you are thinking about making a bigger commitment to your writing, the next intensive starts in January. Check out @writesharegvl.

(I didn’t take enough pictures but maybe that’s because we were having too much fun.)
#yeahthatgreenville #writeshare #writingcommunity

It has been THE BEST term ever, leading the Fall Intensive with WriteShare and the amazing @mjudsonbooks. Community, not solitude, is essential for creatives, and I’m just so honored to be a part of this particular community.

Greenville friends, if you are thinking about making a bigger commitment to your writing, the next intensive starts in January. Check out @writesharegvl.

(I didn’t take enough pictures but maybe that’s because we were having too much fun.)
#yeahthatgreenville #writeshare #writingcommunity

Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate and share the cover for Doll Parts. The vibes are strong with this one: grunge, ride-or-die friendship, Sylvia Plath, and some ghosts that just wouldn’t go away.

Please pre-order, add to Goodreads, share, and listen to ALOT of Courtney Love in the meantime. 🫶
#dollparts #2025debut #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate and share the cover for Doll Parts. The vibes are strong with this one: grunge, ride-or-die friendship, Sylvia Plath, and some ghosts that just wouldn’t go away.

Please pre-order, add to Goodreads, share, and listen to ALOT of Courtney Love in the meantime. 🫶
#dollparts #2025debut #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

Cover reveal!

I am so excited to share the cover of DOLL PARTS, coming August 2025. Thanks to the wonderful team at @sourcebooks and @browneandmiller.

DOLL PARTS is a dual timeline suspense following one woman as she begins to uncover the truth of the death of her estranged best friend and the Sylvia Plath adoring sad girls they attended college with decades ago, all while holding a secret that will slowly unravel her new, suburban dream life.

DOLL PARTS comes out next August, but you can already pre-order a copy and add it to your Goodreads page using the links in my bio.

I am thrilled to share this story with you! 🖤✨👻

Cover reveal!

I am so excited to share the cover of DOLL PARTS, coming August 2025. Thanks to the wonderful team at @sourcebooks and @browneandmiller.

DOLL PARTS is a dual timeline suspense following one woman as she begins to uncover the truth of the death of her estranged best friend and the Sylvia Plath adoring sad girls they attended college with decades ago, all while holding a secret that will slowly unravel her new, suburban dream life.

DOLL PARTS comes out next August, but you can already pre-order a copy and add it to your Goodreads page using the links in my bio.

I am thrilled to share this story with you! 🖤✨👻

We are building the hype and I hope it involves cake and glittery stickers. Book lovers, especially the online ones, are needed! Link to the Doll Parts Street Team in bio.

(Fair warning: more updates and book promotion coming this week than usual, but then I will return to my regular posts about cats and other author’s books).
#5amwritersclub #momswritersclub #writingcommunity #2025debut

We are building the hype and I hope it involves cake and glittery stickers. Book lovers, especially the online ones, are needed! Link to the Doll Parts Street Team in bio.

(Fair warning: more updates and book promotion coming this week than usual, but then I will return to my regular posts about cats and other author’s books).
#5amwritersclub #momswritersclub #writingcommunity #2025debut

Find me on Bluesky if you’re there!
#writingcommunity #5amwritersclub

Find me on Bluesky if you’re there!
#writingcommunity #5amwritersclub

Filling my brain with the good stuff.
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #takingnotes

Filling my brain with the good stuff.
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #takingnotes

It is a gray and cloudy Monday but a friend brought me a thermos of coffee, unprompted, made just the way I like, and I have a bag of books to share with my students. This is my way of starting to reset, to feel like myself again, pink highlighter in hand.

I wrote this morning and I will write again. Happy Monday, friends. 🩷
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #mondaymood

It is a gray and cloudy Monday but a friend brought me a thermos of coffee, unprompted, made just the way I like, and I have a bag of books to share with my students. This is my way of starting to reset, to feel like myself again, pink highlighter in hand.

I wrote this morning and I will write again. Happy Monday, friends. 🩷
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #mondaymood

Copyedits: submitted.

Another milestone, another cake reward.

#5amwritersclub #dollparts #2025debut

Copyedits: submitted.

Another milestone, another cake reward.

#5amwritersclub #dollparts #2025debut

I am not scrolling this week, not responding or discussing. (and once I post this, I will unplug again). But I am always writing.

Here is what helps—an essay, a prompt, or both.
(Link in bio)

I am not scrolling this week, not responding or discussing. (and once I post this, I will unplug again). But I am always writing.

Here is what helps—an essay, a prompt, or both.
(Link in bio)

Fall Break, family, hiking, big fishbowls of beer, and election distraction.

Fall Break, family, hiking, big fishbowls of beer, and election distraction.

Spooky, thrilling, creative—I read more books than I realized in October. Part of that was not having electricity at the beginning of the month due to the hurricane. I got a lot of reading done!

what book is next on your TBR? My stack keeps getting bigger and bigger.
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #readinglist

Spooky, thrilling, creative—I read more books than I realized in October. Part of that was not having electricity at the beginning of the month due to the hurricane. I got a lot of reading done!

what book is next on your TBR? My stack keeps getting bigger and bigger.
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #readinglist

Is Canva fatigue a thing? If so, my antidote is hand-drawn.

To quote Mary Oliver:
Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

#5amwritersclub #maryoliver #writingcommunity

Is Canva fatigue a thing? If so, my antidote is hand-drawn.

To quote Mary Oliver:
Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

#5amwritersclub #maryoliver #writingcommunity

Book updates! (then I’ll go back to talking about my favorite books and Edgar Allan Poe and cats).

✨ Link to Mourning Pages in bio. ✨

Book updates! (then I’ll go back to talking about my favorite books and Edgar Allan Poe and cats).

✨ Link to Mourning Pages in bio. ✨

I voted. Then I had a cocktail. Happy Friday!

I voted. Then I had a cocktail. Happy Friday!

Getting my hands dirty (aka drafting book 2) this week.

Here’s the current mantra: you can’t revise if it doesn’t exist. So, I’m going to keep writing in those little pockets of time between class and swim practice and making dinner. Never a dull moment. 👻

#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #momswritersclub #dollparts #2025debut

Getting my hands dirty (aka drafting book 2) this week.

Here’s the current mantra: you can’t revise if it doesn’t exist. So, I’m going to keep writing in those little pockets of time between class and swim practice and making dinner. Never a dull moment. 👻

#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #momswritersclub #dollparts #2025debut

A dream over 20 years in the making. My book is available online for pre-order (at Target too!). The pre-order links are in my bio. Ahhhhhhh!!

This particular milestone is making it feel even more real. And I can’t wait to share the cover. 😻 Stay tuned!
#5amwritersclub #momswritersclub #writingcommunity #dollparts #2025debut

A dream over 20 years in the making. My book is available online for pre-order (at Target too!). The pre-order links are in my bio. Ahhhhhhh!!

This particular milestone is making it feel even more real. And I can’t wait to share the cover. 😻 Stay tuned!
#5amwritersclub #momswritersclub #writingcommunity #dollparts #2025debut

Friday photo dump for the longest week ever. But with lots of bright spots: coffee dates to talk about writing, a new pillow, and lots of silliness.

Have a good weekend!
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

Friday photo dump for the longest week ever. But with lots of bright spots: coffee dates to talk about writing, a new pillow, and lots of silliness.

Have a good weekend!
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

Someone knew I would never buy it for myself. Thank you @angelfacepatrick524 👻🖤✨

Someone knew I would never buy it for myself. Thank you @angelfacepatrick524 👻🖤✨

I didn't know the term "mood reader" until about a year ago and it definitely describes how I choose what to read next.

Cheers to big moods and big recs! (Link in bio)
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #bookrecs

I didn't know the term "mood reader" until about a year ago and it definitely describes how I choose what to read next.

Cheers to big moods and big recs! (Link in bio)
#5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #bookrecs

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