I am super proud to have a short story in this beauuuuutiful book (forthcoming from @uncertainstories.com in June) — a tale about pancakes, rocket launches (and crashes), and grief in the desert... Even better, they chose my title for the anthology, too! www.uncertainstories.com/books/anthol...

Recognising all these emotions @jmgatford.bsky.social is calling out - fear, doubt, confusion, impatience - during the editing process. Will I love it by the end of 90 minutes? Tune back later, dear reader. #flashfiction #flash #writerslife #amediting #prefertobefirstdrafting

AKA how I learned to stop worrying and love the edit... Hilariously, this was not staged. But it did pave the way for the last 10 years of editing other people's work and tonight's webinar: Make It Less Sh*t — How to Enjoy the Editing Process: luma.com/3vt8qixe

On my way to play a busking gig in the middle of town in full carnival costume including TIGHTS, a floofy flamenco dress and flower crown, and I can already feel my face melting off…

Today’s mermaid mood is the emotional embodiment of an interrobang.

If you want to watch me get positively EVANGELICAL about the joys of editing next Tuesday evening then please get yourself a ticket to this:

We’re gonna need a higher calibre of measurement than “unit” for this one.

This month's #FromTheCoursesMouth including fab-sounding stuff from @jmgatford.bsky.social @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @smokelong.bsky.social @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social and more!!! fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/may-june-2...

I couldn’t have put my collection together without Jo. She puts so much time and care into your work and has a brilliant, bonkers, brain. If anyone needs a nudge, a fresh pair of eyes, go for Jo, I would. @jmgatford.bsky.social

Today’s mermaid mood comes courtesy of a messed up gal with a cricked neck and one boob who’s just trying to get through the day without murdering anyone. Good luck out there, mer-pal!

New writing hack: stop looking at your phone

Never underestimate a feral, hormonal teenage girl…

It’s been a spectacularly shitty few weeks, so the only logical solution was to throw a secret disco in an abandoned barn.

A message from Mary, a 72-year-old Amazon worker from North Carolina projected onto Jeff Bezos’s $120 million penthouse before tonight’s #MetGala, chaired by Bezos.

Why editing is like clearing out the cupboard under the stairs: "I think a lot of people think they hate editing because they’ve reached that point of sitting on the hall floor, overwhelmed by the mountains of unsorted detritus..." fixioning.substack.com/p/why-editin...

was fixing our propane grill yesterday and ended up setting it on fire (the outside of the grill not the inside) and thought I was going to have to start over, but then I screwed one bolt a little tighter and now it works perfectly (this is an editing post)

It's my job (and a privilege) to help you find the right words for your story. Book a mentoring & feedback session here: www.jogatford.com/creative-coa...

If you’ve ever emerged from the honeymoon first draft phase with a whole pile of words, a tangled mess of a plot, and several questions about your life choices — this workshop is for you! Make It Less Sh*t: How to Enjoy the Editing Process — Tues 12th May @ 7pm BST: luma.com/3vt8qixe

We have always lived in the slush pile.

These guys get it.

Early draft characterisation.

A lot of the most important “plotting” work happens AFTER you’ve written a draft. Structural stuff, connecting dots, figuring out cause and effect… That doesn’t mean pants (verb) with wild abandon, but stop trying to shove your story into a box when it’s the size of a universe.

my brain, screaming, constantly:

Celebrating life's greatest achievements. buff.ly/nplGkz3

The next Unfuck Your Writing online hangout is TODAY at 6.30pm BST and our topic of the month is DECISION PARALYSIS — so don’t even think about it, just book your place… luma.com/i86d02pq

I'd love to do a thing where crafty writers get together for an hour (maybe more?) of knitting, art, kintsugi (whatever floats your boat) while chatting about writing craft. A free thing. Very informal. Once a month? Would anyone else find this fun / interesting? Let me know!

Honestly, it is ROUGH out there right now. I've always loved this essay of Matt's for showing such a good breakdown of the effort that goes into freelancing. Especially at times when life is coming at you sideways and you simply don't have the cans to wear all the different hats. (✨ HIRE ME! ✨ lol)

If you’ve ever emerged from the honeymoon first draft phase with a whole pile of words, a tangled mess of a plot, and several questions about your life choices — this workshop is for you! Make It Less Sh*t: How to Enjoy the Editing Process — Tues 12th May @ 7pm BST: luma.com/3vt8qixe

Hey ho, my next creative drop-in session is on Tues 28 Apr @ 6.30pm (BST) — for anyone who needs a friendly space to talk about their writing process, explore what works (and what doesn't), and get a little motivational boost to keep you going. More info & booking here: luma.com/i86d02pq

In this month's #FromTheCourseMouth, workshops from @dreenawriting.co.uk @jmgatford.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @sfreligh.bsky.social @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @finnwritesstuff.bsky.social + New things from ME!!! fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/apr-may-26...

Last call for my workshop on creating authentic settings in your writing — tonight at 7.30pm (BST)! Expand your setting description writing skills and build vivid, realistic (or realistically fantastical!) worlds in your fiction — with prompts, techniques, sharing & feedback: luma.com/dy1r2gd9

Come and build beautiful worlds with me on my nextwriting workshop — exploring how to create authentic, realistic story settings by borrowing details, atmospheric vibes and sensory elements from familiar places. Live on Zoom Tues 31 March 7.30pm BST (recording available): luma.com/dy1r2gd9

Last minute call for anyone who wants a break from this glorious sunshine 😅 to chat about writing and creative stuff with me this afternoon!

I have been quiet here (and everywhere) lately — partly because, well, *life*, and partly because I've been WRITING (imagine that) — but here's a short round-up of things going on in and outside of my brain. First: harvest stories from your local graveyard: fixioning.substack.com/p/hanging-ar...

This month's #Mondettes picked by @mizuki-yama.bsky.social ⚡Ten wonderful flash fictions 🔍Ten splashes of analysis as to why Mizuki made these brilliant picks 🪴Three fantastic prompts to get you writing mondettes.substack.com/p/march-2026

This month's #FromTheCoursesMouth includes wonderful-sounding stuff from @stillsquirrel.bsky.social @sagetyrtle.bsky.social @pleomorphic2.bsky.social @taniahershman.bsky.social @jmgatford.bsky.social @tenpennydreams.bsky.social fromthecoursesmouth.substack.com/p/mar-apr-26...

"The breakfast shift rolls in on a smog of cigarettes and suburban dew that turns the hotel parking lot into a dry ice stage." New fiction: "The Fourth Law of Motion" by Jo Gatford aka @jmgatford.bsky.social www.matchbooklitmag.com/mb/gatford/t...

Don’t mind me, I just have dried superglue all over my hands and will now be screaming every time I touch anything forever.

My beloved writers! Come and hang out with me tonight to chat about creative fuckery (and unfuckery), and all the things that spark and stifle our writing: open.substack.com/pub/fixionin...

I want to be the writer in residence somewhere but I'm going to need someone to do my real life for me like a body double or something

Upcoming workshop: Write What You Know: Setting & Place — Tues 3 Mar @ 6.30pm GMT  Bring your worldbuilding to life by starting with what you know, using memories, observation and details to create vivid, realistic settings (even if they’re entirely fantastical)… www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...

"Validation is ostensibly a slap on the haunches to keep moving. Because the writing is the thing I’m chasing." Wonderfully honest assessment of writing, submissions and not-quite-acceptances from @jmgatford.bsky.social fixioning.substack.com/p/publicatio...

My washing machine is making the motion detection noise from Alien

Just realised my name on WhatsApp has been “Rick Mattress” for an unknown period of time and an entirely unknown reason. Also: why has no one told me this?

Treating myself to a signed real life copy of this beautiful book because crying on my e-reader just isn't the same. (I like to watch the tears sink right into those pages...) forms.gle/SN3EFQrGSg7C... This really is a treasure of a novella by @pleomorphic2.bsky.social

"If art and creation is needed most when the world is particularly irrational ... why is it so fucking hard to write when life knocks us sideways?" Wonderful post (as always) from @jmgatford.bsky.social fixioning.substack.com/p/how-to-be-...

Going to LONDON for a THING <vagueness vogues into the horizon>

First publication of the year and a vibe I intend to continue throughout 2026: kickingyourass.org/issue-no-3/ Thanks @kickingyourass.bsky.social

Three things that have sparked my creative synapses so far this week: 1. A big knitted poncho/shawl thing I found at a charity shop — not only is it keeping me bundled up while I work but every time I pass a mirror I get to cosplay someone different: hedge witch, medieval peasant, cowboy etc…

I do love working with such lovely writers ❤️ And I get to read the coolest stuff before it goes out into the world 🐙